Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Bicycle trainer

Anyone here regularly use a rear wheel bicycle trainer? How do you like it? I find I have lots of hours free at night which I'd love to use spinning, but don't want to spend the $$ on a wobbly trainer. I wouldn't mind spending the $$ if it's a good machine though.

I'm considering the Kurt Kinetic and the 1Up.

Let me know your experiences, good or bad, with these or others!

I have a mag trainer, a Minoura I believe. Its been a good machine and have not had ay problems. Some people they can eat tires, I dont know I try not to spend much time on it. If you have nice QR on your wheels Id use a crappy one as my trainer has messed up the chrome on mine.

I've used a Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer for some time. It works great. I do save old road tires to put on as trainers will wear a tire (probably no more than the road will) and I don't like wasting tread on a trainer.
I advise you to get a couple of milk crates to place along side the bike to make getting on and off easier. You've got to block up the front wheel or you'll be heading downhill all the time. I also recamend that you set it up in front of a TV and have your remote control and cordless phone within reach. Don't forget water.

I've used a Cycle-Ops and liked it very much. A front wheel block is absolutely necessary. The ONLY time I've had problems with Richard and the two twins going numb was when I used a trainer and no block. (a phone book works for the short term).

Yes they do go through tires. Also, if you place the rear wheel into a corner (I did) you will end up with rubber dust in the corner.

My Cycle-Ops came with a video and subsequent they put out a series of training videos. I recommend them. Instead of just climbing on a spinning for an hour, they worked on sprints, and big gear work-outs. The diversity made the time go by faster.

My only other recommendation is to either use a fan in front of you to help with evaporation, or get a bunch of towels. You will sweat A LOT! I used to have a pool of sweat at the floor until I used a fan.

Oh yeah last thing, use a cheap quick release. The way it mounts, it cinches around your quick release. You don't want to mar up a nice QR lever, and some of the fancier designs don't allow for a solid hold.

I use an old Nashbar C-Force trainer, which they don't make any more. I think the design was scrapped by every company due to excessive tire wear, since the tire-to-roller pressure is directly produced by sitting on the bike instead of by adjustable spring-tension.
It's a centrifugal clutch resistance mechanism, and has a heavy flywheel so it doesn't have any 'dead spots' in the motion.
I agree with a2psyklnut's statements about getting a wheel block to level things out (I use a phone book, too), setting up a fan so you don't overheat, keep a towel near to mop the sweat, and get a junky QR skewer with domed ends. The clamps go on the QR ends, and they fit the domed ones best. I bought a new rear wheel with an XT hub and skewer, and it wouldn't fit right in the clamps.

I have an Elite fluid trainer with the elsato-gel bit. Nice unit. Smooth, quiet, progressive resistance. I hate the damn thing. Riding indoors is a slice of couped up hell to me.

The two brands that you are considering are probably the two best. I have the 1up and I love it, nice & quiet. I use them with the Carmichael & Spinerval DVD's. A fan is a must. also have a tall table or shelf within arms reach for the remotes, water, etc. is a great idea.

Here is a review that was posted in the road cycling forum

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=222654

I'm considering the Kurt Kinetic and the 1Up.
I have a Kurt, and they say it will hold our tandem and the 385 pounds of tandem team we put on it with no problems. It works well and is fairly quiet for a trainer and with a magnetically coupled impeller no chance of leaking.

During winter I use the trainer about 3 times a week. Yeah it squares off the tyre but only 1 over about 3-4 months. I'd rather use the trainer than not ride at all.

Also, I got a cheapie and because of my weight its bent the main bolt and I'm riding ever so slightly cocked over to the side. Maybe only a couple of centimetres... Gotta get a better new one (its a cheapie no-brand one so can't warn anyone, sorry).

I've got a 1up trainer. I use a seperate wheel with the continental tire designed especially for trainers- it works great and there's no squeaking like traditional softer compound tires. I have no problem with the stability of the 1up- the problem is more with the flexing of my aluminum frame. Some of the Spinerval videos have you riding in a pretty hard gear (big front-12 or 13 in back) and I feel like I'm going to snap the bike with my powerful legs :p OK, my 250 pounds probably has more to do with it than my legs, but that's besides the point... I really like the 1up, but I am sure to check my frame frequently for hairline cracks.

I have the kurt. Love the trainer, hate to use it. It eats my tires like nothing, but since they are usually worn from the summer I just keep riding them and then buy new in the spring. I also use rollers and find I like them much better than the trainer, but they don't have the same resistance.

Oh, and I agree with the poster that said a fan was a must. So is either TV or music. I also recommend buying a cheap yoga pad to put under the trainer/block bike combo to protect your floor. You are going to sweat and drip....better it fall on a washable yoga mat than your carpet.

I'm 220

I have a Kurt, and they say it will hold our tandem and the 385 pounds of tandem team we put on it with no problems. It works well and is fairly quiet for a trainer and with a magnetically coupled impeller no chance of leaking.

That's a good sign. (actually, do 'they' say or do you say :) )

I've got beater bike I can use so I won't wear out the tires on my normal ride. I tend keep old tires which aren't completely worn so I've got several replacements available.

Looks like I can't go wrong either way. I'll call around and see if any LBS have either of these in stock that I can try.

Thanks for all the input everyone!

I picked up the 1Up as it was a tad bit cheaper and was rated for being quieter. Wow, this thing is awesome. I've got my old beater bike set up on it and it makes more noise creaking and squeaking than the trainer. :-)

It certainly isn't as nice as outside, but I can do it at night and I'm not tearing my knees up in spin classes anymore, which is nice.

I also picked up a couple of those spinerval videos. I play them on my laptop so I can also watch tv. I think just watching the spinerval dvd would get pretty dull.

I have a cycleops and love it. Beats the cold PA Fall and Winter.

I have a cycleops and love it. Beats the cold PA Fall and Winter.
By the way, ice biking burns more calories! Get an old beater mountainbike, put studded tires on the thing and ride right through the winter! You'd be amazed how little you actually get cold. Just manage the perpsiration to avoid hypothermia from to much chilloff by wearing good wicking clothing in layers and don't overdress. Protect the ears and face with a thin winter skullcap or balaclavva in really cold air and enjoy the strange looks that you get riding in midwinter wearing winter tights and neoprene shoecovers. A good pair of ski gloves to protect the hands is good as well. It's actually pretty fun!:D
http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06370/WinterRiding.jpg (http://xs.to)