Training & Nutrition - Kinetic Road Trainer

REI has the Road Fluid Bike Trainer on sale for $229.99. Wondering what thoughts are on price and quality of trainer. Thanks

Kinetic makes nice stuff.

One of the problems with fluid trainers is that there is a shaft that runs into the fluid unit, and units like the cyclo-ops have had some issues with leakage on that shaft. On the Kinetic trainer, instead of a shaft they use magnets inside and outside the resistance unit, so you don't have to worry about the leak.

I like mine. The only thing I don't like is that the knob to push the unit against the tire is a bit small.

Like mine a lot. Far smoother and quieter than the magnetic one I had. That said, my magnetic one was very low end and the KK is not. I've had no problems/regrets with it.

have a KK also, excellent product

Have one and love it.

Excellent trainer and you're probably not going to find one cheaper than that unless you get a used one.

Have one and love it.

Have one and hate it. Well... not "IT," I just hate riding a trainer.

also have one; also pleased with it.

Great price, I paid way more. I'd say get it.

You will also want an old rug or mat to go underneath it. A fan on a stand is
nice to replace the breeze. There are various videos, with Spinervals being the
most popular.

I do a Spinervals once a week, and watch an old TV show just cruising at a steady speed for 45 minutes once a week. I have other exercise that I do, and I try hard to increase the time I spend on it each year. But it takes some getting used to.

And yes, it's worth it. When you do your first ride in the spring and your legs don't feel like jelly.... that's makes it worth it.

I've used the Kinetic trainer for most of the last year and am very happy with it. Its strong and stable, easy to use, and the feel is more or less like riding on the road.

Years ago I bought the original Cyclops fluid trainer and liked using it and the company. However, the seal on mine did fail twice and spilled the oil out onto the floor. Cyclops were excellent about the warranty (lifetime, do they still offer this?) repair. There's a retaining clip on the mechanism that tightens the roller to the wheel that failed a few times too - but this was a part I could find for cheap at a local hardware store.

In the end it was the leaking, even if it was only once every few years, that directed me toward the Kinetic. I like not having to worry about the issue (Kinetic use a magnets instead of a drive shaft and so can keep the fluid canister contained and sealed) of fluid leaks and seal failures. Cyclops treated me very well, fixed with zero questions and they deserve credit for that. Also, mine was an original design and I the current models may well be different.

As far as the feel of using them, one versus the other. In general its quite similar. Kinetic use silicone fluid which they claim maintains the same viscosity at temps, so the resistance is consistent throughout the ride. The oils used in others (cyclops) supposedly get a little thiner at temps and so the resistance gets a little easier. Wasn't much of an issue for me at the time because I used to work based on heart rate, if the resistance did indeed get a little lighter due to temp of the oil, I'd have compensated by working more to keep the heart at the same rate.

Now I'm sticking a little more with revs per minute and if I wanted to clock along in a certain gear at 90 revs per minute, the load getting easier as the oil heated would be more of an issue.

A very satisfying work out can be had on either and I'd happily use either. But given the choice, I like the the Kinetic versus the (original) Cyclops.

Note that I also had one, can't remember the brand, that worked with a wind turbine. The machine worked well, was cheaper - but was just too loud for anyone else in the domestic environment (I didn't care because wear headphones).

Bottom line is I think you'll do well to take the Kinetic trainer - can't remember what I paid, but seems it was more than you are getting it for (?)

Have one and hate it. Well... not "IT," I just hate riding a trainer.


I definitely agree. I would rather have no trainer but it gets hard to do intervals in -10C.

I'm looking for something decent in a trainer in Montreal, and so far, not only do I want to stay away from the Fluid2, it doesn't seem to be sold here.

Is this the same as a KK (Kurt Kenetic - since it was rated highly for recumbents)? I saw this Kinetic Road Machine in the online catalogue at one of our big bike shops here in Montreal - http://www.abccycles.com/products.php?tc=&tsc=2646&m=&cat=1136&idx=5&num=1

I'd much rather buy local - the thought of having to ship back and forth for exchanges...for any defects...offsets any potential savings on the initial purchase price.

Is there a way to increase / decrease resistance?

resistance is done by the gear you use, just like on the road

Is there a way to increase / decrease resistance?

shift