Training & Nutrition - What's the best trainer on the market, and why?

Due to an accident I have to spend 6 weeks traing "off the road" - so, a new trainer is required.

Because the injury is somewhat fragile, I don't think I should risk rollers, so I'm looking at mag/fluid/wind trainers. I guess I would like some sort of ability to monitor cadence built in as well.

Any preferences or opinions out there?

Thanks,

Brian

I have a Cyclops Fluid 2 which I like. Others will chime in with their favorites as well. If you don't anticipate using it much beyond the 6 week recovery, I'd go cheap - like something from Performance.

BTW, cadence sensors can be found on bike computers but not on trainers. Trainers don't know what gear you're in so there's no way it can tell how fast you're turning your cranks.

Fluid trainers are the way to go if you have the $$$ because they are the quietest, best resistance, smoothest, you don't have to change the resistance, etc. However, I have heard that many fluid resistance trainers have problems with leakage after a while.

About a month ago I was talked into buying a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine by the people who rave about it on this website. It does feel really good (sturdy, nice resistance curve...seems very similar to the road, etc.) but it was expensive. It also does not have that quick release thing-a-ma-jig that the new Cycleops fluid 2 has for instantly tightening the drive wheel against your tire...and slowly screwing the KK against my wheel gets old after the first time. I am not sure I would get it again if I had to do it all over. But, the KK is supposed to be bomb proof and never leak...plus it has a sweet warranty so maybe it was worth it if that Cycleops really might leak. And, I guess if you are going to be stuck inside and don't plan to take your bike on and off the trainer on a dailey basis, who cares about the little screw knob tensioner? right? I'm not sure i helped, but that is my 2 cents anyway.

Cyclops Fluid 2 - portable, works as advertised. Remember you burn through the tires, so throw an older one on and replace when you hit road again.

I just got my wife the Kinetic Fluid Trainer for her birthday. It's only been used a couple of times but it's great so far -- feels very smooth. The guy at REI convinced me to get the Kinetic over the CycleOps, partly because the Kinetic has a larger fly wheel, which means greater inertia, which means a smoother feel -- at least that's how it made sense to me. If you can get one at REI in March, you can use their 20% coupon -- that sure helps with the price tag. But from what I can tell, and from what I read on here before purchasing, the Kinetic or the CycleOps are good machines.

+1 on the Kurt Kinetic. I was real surprised by that complaint about having to turn a screw to get the trainer to make contact with wheel on your bike! I can see how that could take a lot of effort. The next trainer that I get will operate by remote control... it will grab my bike, set it into the trainer, and have an elevator that will lift me up on the bike seat. And if I get tired... I'll just push a button and have it pedal for me.

I mean... really... we're talkin' about a "trainer" for actually "training" right? I mean, if some of us are too old or fragile to bend over and tighten a screw on the trainer... then we should probably be more concerned with leakage from our own person than from a fluid trainer. If I ever get to that point, the next bike I buy will either be a Honda, Harley, or a Kawasaki.

I have a Kurt Kinetic. They're fairly well made, but riding on the trainer doesn't have the feel of riding outside.

I'm considering a set of these rollers, which I saw demo'd a few weeks ago:

http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36

Disadvantage? They're $800

I have a Kurt Kinetic. They're fairly well made, but riding on the trainer doesn't have the feel of riding outside.

I'm considering a set of these rollers, which I saw demo'd a few weeks ago:

http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36

Disadvantage? They're $800

I know the OP specifically said no rollers, but those are awesome! next year I want them on my Christmas list.

yeah. the e-motion rollers are really cool. just got a set. to the OP: i had used a set of blackburn fluid from rei ... they were a little less expensive than the cycleops at the time and have held up well doing intervals and repeats, etc.

http://www.cyclingrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/20070323-3699.jpg

I did a lot of research and looking last fall and ended up getting a 1-up usa trainer. Really glad I did. I had it narrowed down to the 1-up or a fluid 2. Take a look at both of them. I doubt you will be dissapointed with either of them.

Good luck

Hi,
I have the Kurt Kinetic.Had it 4 winters now. It has become in a perverse way almost a friend. There are many trainers out there, in many different 'flavors'. One is a little easier, another has a coneection to a computer to let you race against virtual racers.

Btw, the Kurt Kinetics has a watts computer, I would find that more interesting than cadence but to each their own. I think any regular bike computer with cadence would do that job.

I did a lot of research and looking last fall and ended up getting a 1-up usa trainer. Really glad I did. I had it narrowed down to the 1-up or a fluid 2. Take a look at both of them. I doubt you will be dissapointed with either of them.

Good luck

OK.. this is strange. I bought my Kurt Kinetic from the 1-up USA website. I called and talked to the customer service guy there and asked him what the difference was between the KK and 1-up. I don't recall what he said other than they were both considered the top fluid trainers on the market. He said it just depended on what a person preferred. I asked him which one he would buy? He said, "probably the Kurt Kinetic." I'm happy with the KK, but I find every excuse to go out on the road instead. A little scary doing intervals outside in the dark though.