triturtle
03-13-04, 07:32 PM
I am in the market for a trainer. Which trainers do you recommend? I am hoping not to spend too much-- but if I need to I will. Any thoughts?
Road Cycling - Trainer Recommendations?
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.View Full Version : Trainer Recommendations?
TrekRider
03-13-04, 08:32 PM
I am in the market for a trainer. Which trainers do you recommend? I am hoping not to spend too much-- but if I need to I will. Any thoughts?
No specific recommendations, as the range of trainers is wide. I would suggest that you consider that quality costs, but it also lasts longer. Go to your LBS and talk to them.
No specific recommendations, as the range of trainers is wide. I would suggest that you consider that quality costs, but it also lasts longer. Go to your LBS and talk to them.
froze
03-13-04, 10:19 PM
How much are you willing to spend? For a year I research this forum and others plus internet hunting and the one brand of trainer that came up the most was Cyclops and the one model that came up the most was the Fluid 2. The Fluid 2 cost about $259. When I bought mine last month the LBS allowed me to try all the Cyclops' including the Wind, Magnet, Magneto and the Fluid 2. The only two I liked for their more "road feel" was the Magneto and the Fluid 2. The Magneto is an excellent buy at about $179 but the reason I decided on the Fluid 2 was that it had a higher wattage workout capability then the Magneto which means I can grow into more. Both come with a lifetime warranty and a quick release skewer so you don't mar yours up, and a video training tape. If you research the internet well you may find them cheaper than I did. I chose to buy my at the LBS because they set up all the trainers and answered all my questions, plus I can take the trainer and bike to their shop and they have free trainer classes for life if I bought the trainer from them.
Jakey
03-14-04, 08:21 AM
I have a cycleops magneto and it seems to do a great job... I'm pretty lazy when it comes to using it though...
wjcronin2002
03-14-04, 02:44 PM
I got a Nashbar T5 Fluid Trainer, been on it just about everyday all winter and it's worked great - I love it.
Lone Ranger
03-14-04, 09:06 PM
I have had the Cycleops Fluid for a bit more than 2 years and I have no complaints. It is sturdy, comes with a skewer that fits the trainer, and provides excellent feel and feedback on the ride.
rjtokyo
03-15-04, 05:46 AM
Another vote for the Cyclops Fluid 2; works great! Excellent road feel and excellent resistance. I like to do super-set sprint intervals on mine, and that's hard to do if you don't have enough resistance. The Fluid 2's is noticably more than actually being on the road. Built like a rock, lifetime warranty, smooth, quiet; couldn't really ask for much more.
Don Cook
03-15-04, 07:21 AM
The Performance Bike Travel Trac 2000 stationary trainer is a decent value at around $150. I've been satisfied with mine for the two years I've been using it.
55/Rad
03-15-04, 08:00 AM
One word - rollers.
No trainer thread is complete without including them.
55/Rad
No trainer thread is complete without including them.
55/Rad
el Inglés
03-15-04, 09:09 AM
Trax T1450 , magnetic , light and reasonably cheap .
wlevey
03-16-04, 08:20 AM
Tacx BASIC is GREAT!!
Take a good look at it before you get anything else!!
It has a computer that tracks Watts, speed, distance, cadance, time and gives you averages and max for it too!!
You can adjust resistance by "slope" or WATTS!! It comes with it's own skewer too!!
Very nice unit cost me $350
go to www.TACX.nl (I think)
Bill
Take a good look at it before you get anything else!!
It has a computer that tracks Watts, speed, distance, cadance, time and gives you averages and max for it too!!
You can adjust resistance by "slope" or WATTS!! It comes with it's own skewer too!!
Very nice unit cost me $350
go to www.TACX.nl (I think)
Bill
froze
03-16-04, 01:38 PM
One word - rollers.
No trainer thread is complete without including them.
55/Rad
Well for sake of argument your right, no thread would complete without mentioning them. But rollers are really only good for learning how to balance a bike better, they are not as good as trainers are in the strength building department.
No trainer thread is complete without including them.
55/Rad
Well for sake of argument your right, no thread would complete without mentioning them. But rollers are really only good for learning how to balance a bike better, they are not as good as trainers are in the strength building department.
wlevey
03-16-04, 01:57 PM
Well for sake of argument your right, no thread would complete without mentioning them. But rollers are really only good for learning how to balance a bike better, they are not as good as trainers are in the strength building department.
I agree! Rollers a great for developing a smooth pedle stroke and good handling (balance) skills. They are great for warming up at a race etc., but as you say, they aren't for strenght building.
Best plan - get both!
I agree! Rollers a great for developing a smooth pedle stroke and good handling (balance) skills. They are great for warming up at a race etc., but as you say, they aren't for strenght building.
Best plan - get both!
mshadow
03-16-04, 08:42 PM
I have had the Cycleops Fluid for a bit more than 2 years and I have no complaints. It is sturdy, comes with a skewer that fits the trainer, and provides excellent feel and feedback on the ride.
Dumb question - what advantage does the extra skewer get you? I noticed this on a trainer at the LBS when I was getting fit for my bike. I have a mag trainer that I bought a few years ago that doesn't have this = just locks onto the rear hub...
Dumb question - what advantage does the extra skewer get you? I noticed this on a trainer at the LBS when I was getting fit for my bike. I have a mag trainer that I bought a few years ago that doesn't have this = just locks onto the rear hub...
froze
03-16-04, 09:38 PM
Dumb question - what advantage does the extra skewer get you? I noticed this on a trainer at the LBS when I was getting fit for my bike. I have a mag trainer that I bought a few years ago that doesn't have this = just locks onto the rear hub...
The extra skewer prevents your good skewer thats on your bike now from getting all marred up by the trainer. The trainer locks onto the skewer which is of course connected to the rear hub, unless you do not have quick release hubs. If you do not have quick release hubs then it doesn't matter, just lock the trainer onto the nuts.
The extra skewer prevents your good skewer thats on your bike now from getting all marred up by the trainer. The trainer locks onto the skewer which is of course connected to the rear hub, unless you do not have quick release hubs. If you do not have quick release hubs then it doesn't matter, just lock the trainer onto the nuts.
rjtokyo
03-16-04, 11:39 PM
Dumb question - what advantage does the extra skewer get you? I noticed this on a trainer at the LBS when I was getting fit for my bike. I have a mag trainer that I bought a few years ago that doesn't have this = just locks onto the rear hub...
The shape of the supplied skewer head and nut are also shaped just right to fit the clamping mechanism so you don't have any excess movement of your rear wheel assembly.
The shape of the supplied skewer head and nut are also shaped just right to fit the clamping mechanism so you don't have any excess movement of your rear wheel assembly.
wlevey
03-17-04, 07:35 AM
The shape of the supplied skewer head and nut are also shaped just right to fit the clamping mechanism so you don't have any excess movement of your rear wheel assembly.
Absolutely!! The TACX is specific to the trainer and no other skewer will work!!
Absolutely!! The TACX is specific to the trainer and no other skewer will work!!