Home› General Training Discussions

Suggestions on purchase of a Bike Trainer?

John BayoneJohn Bayone
in General Training Discussions

I have been looking at different cycling trainers online, and would like to get one for riding indoors now that it is getting dark and cold by the time I get home. Has anyone purchased one recently? Or what pros and cons have you come across with the different types you may have purchased,  i.e. fluid resistance vs. magnetic.   Also some have more or less adjustment settings and some had "progressive resistance"/

Looking for any suggestions that some of you might have.  Or if you had to get a new one, what would you prefer.

while there are dozens to choose from, for someone who is a relative novice cyclist, would this do the trick.?

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Produc..._526087_-1

Thank you very much for your help.

Comments

  • Cary BlancoCary Blanco
    I think you'll find most people in haus that are happy with their trainers have either a Cycleops Fluid2 or a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. They are both fluid trainers in a similar price range.

    I have the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and I've been very satisfied with my purchase.
  • Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette
    John - I would avoid going the discount route if you have any suspicion that you might be doing this more than a season. If you are at all thinking this will be more than a "One and Done", then I would recommend highly that you purchase a quality trainer.

    In addition to those mentioned above, I recommend the Jet Fluid Pro (http://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Ops-Jet-Fluid-Pro-Trainer/dp/B001QKJS24/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349915519&sr=8-1&keywords=CycleOps+JetFluid+Pro+Trainer) . I am pretty sure that I got mine from my LBS for only $275 or so.

    It is just like buying furniture. If you buy cheap, you buy twice.
  • thaedrichthaedrich
    I picked up a CycleOps fluid 2 in May and have put a couple hundred miles on it. It runs quite and does the trick.

    About a month ago I purchased a Computrainer and love it.

    Before I put my CycleOps in the closet let me know if you are interested. Happy to give a great deal rather than having it gather dust.
  • Steve WestSteve West
    << CycleOps Fluid2 here as well. Bought it for the 2010 OS - works great and my wife uses it too from time to time. Simple, quiet, smooth.
  • cgres123cgres123
    CycleOps ... save your cash...
  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    X2 on what Cary said. There was an article awhile ago from TrainerRoad stating these where some of the best trainers out there. The goal of the trainer is to maintain consistant watts at a given speed. Many of the cheaper models tend to have watt fluctuations over time as the units heated up - according to TrainerRoad anyway. I've got a Kurt Kinetic and a Computrainer. I had a CycelOps for many years that I aslo enjoyed.
  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    I have been using the same CycleOps fluid 2 since 2008 every winter, all winter and have put about a bazillion miles on it and the unit is still going strong with absolutely zero problems. Much like good running shoes, I get on it, start riding and forget about it. It just does its job for me.

    If you ride indoors I do suggest that you may want to consider purchasing the yellow/orange trainer tire. I have used the same trainer tire for almost as long and it is still going strong as well - little wear and no black tire dust.
  • ezellrhezellrh
    times whatever on the CycleOps Fluid 2, I just upgraded from a CycleOps Mag. Echoing Al, the trainer tire is a must!
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Got my CycleOps fluid 2 several years ago, and it's still going strong!
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    I think you'll find that 90% of the people who train pretty hard indoors on their "reasonably priced" trainer either use a CycleOps Fluid2 or the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. The other cheaper units often are loud, the power curve changes over time, or are not smooth as you increase power. The biggest problem is they often don't supply enough resistance forcing you to spin at very high speeds (with an upper bound to efficiency here) just to get work in. Here are a few other threads where trainers are discussed:


    http://members.endurancenation.us/Training/TrainingForums/tabid/101/aft/7456/Default.aspx#102000

    http://members.endurancenation.us/Training/TrainingForums/tabid/101/aft/5727/Default.aspx#82902

  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

    I use computrainer.   Usually on simple ergo mode.      I may be the most indoor bike trainer in EN.       But I have not used other trainers.     I personally want something with an ergo mode.

    My personal experience with all the trainer tires:::  Tacx is the one.     all the others blow up regularly.

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    I used the Cyclops Fluid 2 for years...rock solid, no issues. I picked up a Cyclops Powerbeam Pro in Sep 2011 and gave the Fluid trainer to my son. I love the PowerBeam pro but it croaked at about 11 months (i.e., the Joule would no longer sync with the power unit). However, Cyclops has 1st class customer service, they sent me a SuperMag loaner with a return shipping label for the PowerBeam -- told me it would be two months or more because they were upgrading the PowerBeams and I would get the updates. SuperMag seemed fine, but clanged like a tire iron on a metal fence if I jumped up and slammed the watts over 400. So I would NOT recommend the SuperMag.

    Well 2 months pass and I get the PowerBeam Pro shipped back. Guess what...I was expecting the old one refurbished, but they sent me the BRAND NEW version. So I got an extra heart rate monitor, an extra cadence sensor, the new Joule Garmin in addition to the Joule 3 I kept from the old one, and all the updates. I could not have asked for better customer service and actually made out like a bandit for having the PowerBeam fail on me in the first place. What I really like about the powerbeam is not having to put my PowerTap wheel on the trainer. That allows me to use a cheap dedicated trainer wheel with the hard rubber trainer tire at all times.
  • John BayoneJohn Bayone
    Wow, everyone that was perfect.
    Thank you very much for all for the feed back, and even the great links to the previous discussions on these units from last year. I will read up on these two you have recommended.

    Thanks again,
    John.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    I am still using the CycleOps Fluid 1 from 1998. Still going strong.
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Don't buy anything until you have read the reviews in dcrainmaker.com. The guy has detailed reviews on all of them!
  • John BayoneJohn Bayone
    Thanks Dino, I always forget about that website and have used his reviewsed his site a few times.
    I saved that site in my favorites menu now.

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Another note on the DC Rainmaker, he is promoting a review in the works where he will do a side by side of all the newest trainers.....
  • DougDoug

     Hi I am looking to buy a newer trainer as well. I live in Ontario Canada and would pay the shipping.  Here is my email. djowett@rogers.com. Thanks Doug. ( newbie)

  • DougDoug

     I have been responding to these posts and would buy the trainer. I would pay the shipping to the great white north

    Cheers Doug

    djowett@rogers.com

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Looks Ray Maker is very bullish on the Wahoo Kickr being the Computrainer killer. Here is his top line review of the trainer landscape:

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/10/my-2012-trainer-recommendations-early.html
Sign In or Register to comment.