Road Cycling - Just used my Nashbar Fluid Trainer for the first time... Impressions

First of all, I'd like to say that Nashbar is one of the best out there for customer sevice. I received my Fluid Trainer with a missing QR skewer so I called up their tech support line and the guy was really cool and professional: He apologized and said they'd send one out right away. In the meantime, I had an old QR skewer lying around so I used that. This thing is SMOOTH. I used a Mag trainer before, and the Fluid type trainers are day and night compared to the magnetics. Also, one of the first things I noticed was how well built it was, and how it really looks like my uncle's Elite trainer. So, when I was on the phone with the tech support guy I mentioned the similarity, and he confirmed that they are indeed made by Elite. Cool. I got it on sale for $129 - 20%, plus overweight shipping charges it came to $110. (Reg.$209.00) He also said he didn't have any issues with one leaking, but they would back it 100% if it did leak... I'm not really sure what he meant by that, but Nashbar's always been good with that kind of stuff. Here's some pics of it as soon as I set it up:

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool05/C8/C0/F3/20/6D/B8/11/DB/84/58/C2/6D/18/22/50/63/oma/10/10DBFA108BCD11DB915FFED918225063.jpg

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool05/C8/C0/F3/20/6D/B8/11/DB/84/58/C2/6D/18/22/50/63/oma/10/1177EBF08BCD11DB881CE4D218225063.jpg

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool05/C8/C0/F3/20/6D/B8/11/DB/84/58/C2/6D/18/22/50/63/oma/10/112F71408BCD11DB9575DD5018225063.jpg

Nice!

You must have had a hell of a time pedalling that thing without any pedals!;)

You must have had a hell of a time pedalling that thing without any pedals!;)
Ha-ha! Yeah I just disassembled and cleaned the drivetrain so I could use it indoors without black oily crap flying all over the place... this pic was taken before the workout. Maybe if I get REALLY good...:p

- yep, fluid seems way to go... looks like the sky's the limit on trainers today - PC hookup, virtual touring, etc... i like my Trek-branded Cycleops Fluid 2... lifetime warranty... it's been good for over a year now...

- i understand Nashbar also has a pretty good warranty/return policy and hope your unit holds up for many, many hours...

- does yours fold up nicely for storage?

- i used two phonebooks fibertape strapped together for a front wheel block for a few months, but since got a cycleops riser block (w/multiple riser positions)...

- a fan is not just a nice thing to have, but a *necessity* when on the trainer!

- once you get a nice trainer you should never need another one...

- yep, fluid seems way to go... looks like the sky's the limit on trainers today - PC hookup, virtual touring, etc... i like my Trek-branded Cycleops Fluid 2... lifetime warranty... it's been good for over a year now...

- i understand Nashbar also has a pretty good warranty/return policy and hope your unit holds up for many, many hours...

- does yours fold up nicely for storage?

- i used two phonebooks fibertape strapped together for a front wheel block for a few months, but since got a cycleops riser block (w/multiple riser positions)...

- a fan is not just a nice thing to have, but a *necessity* when on the trainer!

- once you get a nice trainer you should never need another one...

I heard the Cycleops Fluid 2's are supposed to be really good (the new ones anyhow)... that lifetime warranty sounds awesome. I'm not a masher on stationary bikes/trainers so I am pretty confident it will hold up well. If I was a hardcore masher, I would've probably done more research and spent twice what I paid at least. This Nashbar unit is made of pretty light aluminum and folds up quite well actually, so I'm happy about that. I hear ya on the advice for a fan... whew... in a half hour, I sweat as much as I would for an hour jogging at 7mph on the treadmill! :eek: