Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Indoor trainer advice needed...

I got some money for my birthday, and would like to invest in a indoor trainer. Sometimes i just want to ride for 20 minutes, and I can't because it's too hot outside and I have to drive 30 minutes away to be in bike friendly areas.

I have narrowed it down to three and I wanted to know honest opinions of what you think.

Blackburn Trakstand Fluid Indoor Bicycle Trainer

Cyclops Fluid 2 Indoor trainer

Kurt Kinetic Road Machine

I know the Road Machine is a bit on the higher end, but I like Cyclops and it seem to be pretty solid, and little cheaper than the Road Machine.

What I need is the ability to change resistance as I go along, and from what I see is the Road Machine has a lot more range of resistance, but do I really need it all?

Background: Beginner Cyclist, recreational rider, doing it for fitness/lose weight, not for racing.

Two questions - Can I still use the trainer without clipless pedals? I will be starting some spinning classes that is BYOT (bring your own trainer) and it's $5 a class. However, I don't have clipless pedals. Eventually I will get them, but not now.

Secondly - Is any of the trainers okay to use on a carpeted area or does it have to be on hard floors? It's a consideration as I probably will have to rearrange my house a little in order to use the trainer on a hard floor.

I use the Minoura VSF150G (not remote). I like it a lot, no need to futz with knobs and such to adjust the tension on the tire, your weight provides all the pressure needed. I have found no real need, personally, for any kind of remotely adjustable resistance, as changing gears will take care of that. I use mine on a carpeted floor and have had no issue at all, and I think the carpet is a little quieter. I have used it with regular flat pedals, and it is just fine, but I now use it with my toeclips.

Make sure to get a matching front tire block or life will be a bit uncomfortable.

Buy a used trainer from Craigslist...pick one up for 25% to 50% of a new one. Fluid trainers are great, Mag trainers are nice, and the fan only trainers are a little loud....so depending on where you live it may affect your choice. If you work up to longer times, like say an hour, go buy a 20 inch box fan and set it on something in front of you so it blows on your face and chest....to keep you cool

And after about 5-10 minutes you are bored out of your mind and will hate the thing, so it becomes a real expensive bike stand.

... would like to invest in a indoor trainer. Sometimes i just want to

Blackburn Trakstand Fluid Indoor Bicycle Trainer

Cyclops Fluid 2 Indoor trainer

Kurt Kinetic Road Machine

I know the Road Machine is a bit on the higher end, but I like Cyclops and it seem to be pretty solid, and little cheaper than the Road Machine..

If you search these forums, you will find the Kurt Kinetic fluid resistance models and the 1Up are the most highly recommended trainers. Just do a search on each of the trainer names you are considering and compare. The Kurt Kinetic fluid trainers and the 1Up are usually cited for being quiet, durable, and a wide range of resistance. The Kurt Kinetic fluid trainers use a patented magnetic coupling to the fluid resistance unit and thus has no seals to leak.


What I need is the ability to change resistance as I go along, and from what I see is the Road Machine has a lot more range of resistance, but do I really need it all?
You probably do not need the wide range.


Can I still use the trainer without clipless pedals? I will be starting some spinning classes that is BYOT (bring your own trainer) and it's $5 a class. However, I don't have clipless pedals. Eventually I will get them, but not now.
You will be just fine on non-clipless platform pedals. If this is the first time you have used clipless, I suggest first using them on the trainer, not riding outside. Get familiar with clipping in and most importantly clipping out. If you want to practice unclipping at a moment's notice, set an audible timer out of sight and the moment it rings you unclip. Also note that Shimano makes one clipless pedal, the M324, that is SPD binding on one side and platform cage on the other.


Is any of the trainers okay to use on a carpeted area or does it have to be on hard floors? It's a consideration as I probably will have to rearrange my house a little in order to use the trainer on a hard floor.
Depends on how thick the carpet and how adjustable the trainer. If the tire rubbing on the carpet is an issue, all you need is a piece of plywood that the trainer rests on. This can have the added advantage of minimizing the noise.

In response to issues other posters raise: the Kurt is not inexpensive, so look on your local CraigsList and check EBay. I got one of the two KK's in the house from an EBay dealer who gave free shipping as one way of not selling it below what Kurt Kinetic requires authorized dealer to sell it for. I also understand that they are now made in China rather than the US (as the two KK's in our house were) so I'd check if the quality has remained. I've had fan-type resistance trainers (very noisy), magnetic type resistance trainers (noisy, resistance does not go up with velocity^2 as it does outdoors on a bike and resistance changes some as the trainer warms up), and now the KK's (far better).

Noise is an important consideration. If you are in an apartment, have other people in the house, or want to watch TV or listen to music to pass the time (otherwise the boredom comment is true; reading with a reading stand is another choice), you will want a reasonably quiet trainer. Of course, the other solution to boredom is get rollers, not a trainer. Rollers will make you pay attention ... or else!

Another carpet consideration is will your bike drop any lubricant or will you drip sweat? Having a quiet fan blow air on you helps.

As for front tire blocks, you can save money and use an old telephone book or the like. Open it to the height you need.

As for tires, I assume you will be using your outdoor tire. This may create some issues depending upon:
1. How much power (watts) you are putting out? High wattage plus the relatively narrow contact point on the trainer's roller can heat up the tire and significantly increase wear. There are dedicated trainer tires which can take this sort of use (and are quieter) but they should not be used outside because they do not grip pavement well. Thus to use them, it has to be for the non-cycling outdoor season or you need a dedicated trainer rear wheel (unless you really like changing tires & trainer tires tend to be difficult to mount).

2. How much tread does your rear tire have? Knobbies are not suitable for trainers (noise, etc.). In general the less tread and perhaps wider they are, the better they will work on a trainer.

Best of luck. A new nice trainer such as the KK or 1Up is a significant investment so you should know what you are getting into. Another alternative is get a stationary trainer and mount an identical seat on it. These probably come up used more frequently than good used trainers and cost less.