Bike trainer TV stand

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I had ordered a black Friday deal TV ($199 for thin 32" 720p LED) so that I could setup my bike trainer permanently in another room instead of having to set up and tear it down in the living room every time I use it. Tonight I came home to discover that my TV was waiting for me on my front porch, so with nothing better to do I decided I was going to make my own trainer TV stand.All of the metal for the stand was lying around my garage and came from either the scrap yard or free. The concrete block was a reject top from a coffee table project, so that was just sitting around too.The concrete serves three purposes: weighing down the table to keep it stable (there's metal braces underneath the block that you can't see), leveling the bike with the trainer, and making you feel like you're really on the road! Ok, maybe not the last one.The height of the stand is adjustable, as is the tilt of the TV. I positioned it so that when I'm on the bike and on the low bars, the bottom of the TV pretty much just clears the handlebars. This way I'm looking down as much as possible so that I don't strain my neck.There are still a few things I need to do: the top where the ends are sticking up is going to have a little shelf to keep things handy (remote, timer, water), I need to finish the tilting mechanism (right now there's just something jammed in the bottom to get that tilt), and I need to cut a couple bolts sticking out of the concrete block (which is why it's not sitting flat). Then who knows how much more "refined" I'll make it. But so far, not bad for about 6 hours and $4!Here's hoping that it's going to make using the trainer suck a little less!  Attached Images
Reply:If you want it to feel more like you are really on the road, you need a bracket above the screen to hold a fan to blow on you like you are riding. Maybe connect a generator to the rear wheel to power the fan. That way the faster you pedal, the harder the fan blows on you, just like actually riding. The generator would also provide more pedaling resistance for a better work out, and the fan would provide some cooling effect.
Reply:Nice project!  I'd need to put on my glasses to see a TV that close!JackFort Loramie, OhioMilermatic Autoset 180
Reply:Ian, that's cool.  I might have to borrow that idea for a variation on a book rack for mine.  I'm jealous because I stare out a window of my garage while riding.  Let us know if you have headaches from watching a big screen so closely!  Keep roll'n man . . .-MikeThurston WeldingHuntington, IN
Reply:I put the TV that close because I know people use 30" monitors about that close, but in retrospect I think it will be a little too close to watch my 720p content like that. Also, the table seems quite stable even without the weight of the concrete block, so I think I'll change my plan a little: - Move the stand further away so the bike isn't sitting on it. Not only is it probably too close, but after getting on and pedaling a little harder when everything is sitting on carpet the motion of the bike rocks the stand a little. - Replace the concrete with wood (which I can screw onto the flat bar underneath it) - Once the TV is further away, I won't be able to reach any sort of shelf. So, instead of a shelf that's where I'll install a soundbar (sound from the TV kinda sucks, especially loud when trying to overcome the trainer noise).I might think about installing a fan on it too, but we'll see...a bigger fan further away might be a better option than a small (read: loud) one closer to me.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauIf you want it to feel more like you are really on the road, you need a bracket above the screen to hold a fan to blow on you like you are riding. Maybe connect a generator to the rear wheel to power the fan. That way the faster you pedal, the harder the fan blows on you, just like actually riding. The generator would also provide more pedaling resistance for a better work out, and the fan would provide some cooling effect.
Reply:Nice job on this buy the way.  I like the idea.  My wife is into bike riding and I was thinking about bringing her bike in for the winter and do something like this so she can continue to "train."The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:After a bit of delay, I finally got the stand finished up. As you can tell, I made some design changes: - I realized that the stand was definitely too close for the TV size. So, I moved the bike back. - Since I could no longer reach a shelf from the bike, I decided that a shelf wasn't too useful. So, where the upper shelf was supposed to be, I decided to mount a soundbar instead. - The soundbar is attached to the same mount as the TV and I offset the mount so that it sits flush with the front of the TV. It mounts on screws in threaded rivets. - The tilt adjustment is done using a $3 Harbor Freight clamp that I cut and welded to the frame (though that ****ty metal welded really poorly...I probably should have brazed it). - Added a bottom shelf to keep the media streamer and remote, etc.Everything except for the clamp was scrap, including the somewhat mismatched paint, heh. I might paint and make the stand "nice" once I can get out on the road again (and there's still minor work, like the need for cotter pins in the end of the rod...). Attached Images