What is the best trainer to buy?

[Deleted User]

Can you please guide me to the right purchase, I purchased a Powertap last year bt did most of my riding on the road, hard to do reall hard tests and I want to take advantage of power during the outseason.

Niels

 

Dino Sarti

Wahoo Kickr. It's expensive, but has ALL the bells and whistles.

Joe Matchette

I really like my CycleOps Jet Fluid PRO. Nice response curve and fairly quiet.

http://www.clevertraining.com/jetfluid-pro-trainer.html

novaavant

Kurt Kinetic road machine or rock n roll.

Mark Stahlkopf

I'll second the Kurt Kinetic road machine. Add the extra flywheel weight.

Paul Hough

I have a Powerbeam Pro (Cyclops) which has been great, but if it ever dies, I will look hard at the Wahoo Kickr.

John Withrow

Can't go wrong with a CycleOps Fluid 2 or a KUrt Kinetic. I think I got my last Fluid2 on eBay for around $175 practically brand new.

John Henault

"Best trainer" is a hard question to answer. What are you looking for? Do you want a power trainer that you can use to set your workouts for you, or do you want to just put your bike on a trainer, control the workouts yourself and read the power numbers from your Powertap?

If the former, I highly recommend the Wahoo Kickr. This is the trainer I have. You can control it with an iPhone or a computer, and can use it with Trainerroad in erg mode to control your workouts, which is a feature I really, really like. Plus, at least last year, all of the OS workouts were in Trainerroad. Another upside for the Kickr is that you remove your rear wheel, so you are not wearing out tires.

If the latter, I agree with the recommendations for the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. It is very solid and has a great reputation.

Scott Alexander

I agree with JW. Those seem to be the two most popular brands/models lately.

Personally, I have a PowerOps Fluid 2, for the last several years. It's been pretty solid for me!

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I am looking for a way to use my own powertap wheel, so it looks like the Kurt is one of the better choices for me. Up until now I have been doing all my indoors training at Lifetime on the spin bikes with power output, great for each session but because each bike is different, it is hard to measure improvement over time. I start looking for one on eBay.

Dave Tallo

I've put a zillion miles on the Kurt unit. This, plus the orange conti training tire, have lasted me maybe eight or nine years and counting, each comprising a lot of use.

I wish more things in tri (and in life!) were this durable.

GMAN 19030

Wahoo KICKR.

Jan Schorpion

Have been looking for a new trainer for the wifey as well. Hadn't looked at these in years and didn't realize how expensive trainers are. 

Jan Schorpion

Just bought a new KK Road Machine. Bought the old model to save money since the way it works is the same, but the store called me today and said they ran out of the old models so they will give me the Road Machine 2 for the same price. 

Jonathan Brown

I ride on the KK Road Machine. works well and does what it needs to do. However, i have a Quarq.

Jan Schorpion

Just installed my KK Road Machine. Well, not much installing required because it comes pre-assembled in the box. Going from Cycleops to KK, I will have to get used a little bit to the different screw in mechanism in the back. It was very easy on the Cycleops to always maintain same pressure on the tire because, but I will need to be more careful with the Road Machine. Anyone feel like their resistance changes between rides? 

zwuba

Elite TurboMuin ... So silent you will hear the slightest fart during your intervals