The Pool Noodle Hack Cyclists Need For Their Home Gym

Even if you're into indoor cycling, it can still feel boring and uncomfortable at times, especially if you compare it to the dynamic experience of road riding. This is precisely why many cyclists are intrigued by the idea of enhancing their indoor cycling setup with a rocker plate. Adding a rocker plate to a bike trainer mimics the natural movement of a bike on the road, but it can be pricey. If you find yourself hesitating because of the cost, you're not alone. Fortunately, there's a clever pool noodle hack that you might want to try out: Attach pool noodles to the bike trainer's base to enhance your indoor biking experience.

Sliding pool noodles onto your bike trainer's base aims to replicate the functions of a rocker plate, the soft cushioning providing some lateral movement as you ride. So whether you're looking to bypass the gym, avoid the drawbacks of training outdoors like bad weather, traffic, and pollution, or are deterred by dark, chilly winters, you can make indoor cycling more fun and less static by using a pool noodle.

Keep in mind that this method is effective for trainers with cylindrical legs, such as the Wahoo Kickr, but it may not work well for trainers with broader, more solid bases. To adapt your bike trainer, simply cut a pool noodle to the desired size, slice the pieces lengthwise, and slip them over the legs. You can also stick a length of pool noodle under the front wheel. If you need more movement, consider doubling or tripling the layers of the pool noodle. To prevent them from coming off, secure them with zip ties or cut the pool noodles longer. If you need more movement, another option is to stick hedgehog balance pods (a six-pack of which is available on Amazon for $25.64) under the base instead of pool noodles.

While the lateral motion provided by the pool noodles isn't as much as what you'd get from a rocker plate, bikers have shared online that this hack significantly improved their ride. Not only are the pool noodles cheap, but riders report that they last for months or even years.  Don't worry if you end up with leftover pool noodle scraps; there are plenty of ingenious ways to use pool noodles around the house!