Comfort/discomfort on a trainer vs on the road/trail

[mcneese.chad]

Per my thread:

Rocker Plates for Trainers

My evolving Google Doc meant to cover a range of Rocker Plate Info. What is a Rocker Plate? A “Rocker Plate” is a device used to add one or more motion (degree of freedom) to an otherwise rigid bike & trainer combo. Most designs sit on the floor, and then support the bike, trainer and rider on top of them. The rocker plate has mechanisms (simple or complex) that allow motion for the rigid trainer bike and rider combo. Why use a Rocker Plate with your Rigid Trainer? Comfort In & Out of th…

One particular suggestion from that page (that is easy to try and test):

• When you have a bike that is perfectly comfortable outside, and then leads to problems when ridden inside, I feel it is important to look at what is different. When you do, there are two key differences.
  1. Lack of wind resistance on the body riding inside. That is a difference that I find because you end up with slightly more weight on the hands and arms, because you don’t have the wind pushing your upper body back.
  • To compensate for that, I recommend that people raise the front axle about 1"-2" [25mm-50mm] higher than the rear axle. This shifts the weight slightly back onto the saddle and off the hands and arms.

A rocker plate (the other main focus) is also worth consideration.