Training & Nutrition - Whats the best indoor trainer for the money?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
crash and burn
10-30-07, 07:51 PM
Now that daylight is almost gone for me I want to get a indoor trainer. Im not loaded so I am looking for the best one for the money. I would like to be able to use it and watch TV (needs to be somewhat quiet). I also dont want junk. Any know of a good deal? Thanks

LIUser22
10-30-07, 07:58 PM
i would also like to know, looking for a possible upgrade from my dad's in the 80's
JPradun
10-30-07, 09:22 PM
How much money? They range from dirt cheap to thousands of dollars...

What are you looking to spend?

crash and burn
10-30-07, 09:30 PM
I am cheap.........I really dont want to spend over $200 on one. My wife and myself will be using it. I was looking at a CycleOps Mag+ Indoor Bicycle Trainer Trainer with Bar Mounted Remote Shifter. Seems I can get a new one around $150ish up to $179. I just dont want to buy it and find out its not what I want or that its junk.
ks1g
10-31-07, 09:11 PM
Best one is the one you and your wife actually use :) I have a fluid trainer (Performance, has the bar-mounted control, picked up a few years ago on sale). Works fine, and it is quiet enough that the family can watch TV while I pedal away in back of them (our big screen front projection unit helps here, but it's fine with a smaller screen when I've set it up for my wife to use). My most important accessories are the things that let me stay on the bike while riding: TV remote and cordless phone. A fan, water, and a towel also come in handy.

If you're going to be swapping bikes, a trainer that is easy to mount/unmount the bike (the performance model I have isn't) is going to be a plus. If your wife is going to use it when you are not around, it is essential that she be comfortable with the mounting her bike and setting the resistance for her own safety and enjoyment. And use old tires from last season you don't want to use on a long road ride - the trainer will wear them out.

I'd shop around and see what they have in fluid or magnetic trainers and decide based on noise and ease of use. Then watch for a sale in the spring for the fancy schamntzy model and sell the old one on craigslist. Or buy a good one now. I can't recommend a specific model, there are probably other threads here and in the road biking forum with suggestions.