Training & Nutrition - Are cheap trainers worth it?

I would like a trainer for winter riding. Can I get by with a <$100 trainer, or will I regret the decision?

I imagine you could suffer through a 30 min workout with a cheap trainer. If you are really motivated it shouldn't be a problem. Throw on the TV or plug in some tunes and mash away.

I have used a Performance mag trainer for about 5 years with no problem. Wind trainers are very noisy. I'm not sure if you can get it under $100 but you'll be close.

After a lot of research I've found you get what you pay for and that Kurt Kinetics is the ticket for me, on the pricey side ($320.00) but I think it'll be worth it. I look at it as a fitness investment for the long term. Cycleops had been my first choice, but I've read that they'll leak sooner or later. As for the other cheap brands, they break before you log 200 miles on it.

My 2 cents


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I don't think I'll ever get 200 miles out of my trainer. Riding a trainer gave me the incentive to go out and ride in cold weather.

I don't think I'll ever get 200 miles out of my trainer. Riding a trainer gave me the incentive to go out and ride in cold weather.
LOL, better know by me as the no where bike :p Like you I would rather ride outside, even though I hate the cold.

After a lot of research I've found you get what you pay for and that Kurt Kinetics is the ticket for me, on the pricey side ($320.00) but I think it'll be worth it. I look at it as a fitness investment for the long term. Cycleops had been my first choice, but I've read that they'll leak sooner or later. As for the other cheap brands, they break before you log 200 miles on it.

My 2 cents


Corsaire

Not true, at least in my case.

I have a Minoura mag trainer - about $125

Used it almost daily last winter for 30 minutes each day. Didn't break. I also have a Nashbar which I used before but is now my wife's, and it didn't break either.

Where did you get your 200 mile figure?

You get what you pay for. I love my Cycleops Fluid2 trainer, it was the money spent. I've put over 2,100 miles on it and its still perfect. I am not sure where a "leak" could occur. Sounds like the product of a bulldog and a shih-tzu.

I was going to start a new thread about the cycleops fluid 2 trainer but this looks like a good place to start. I've read where some of the fluid 2 trainer do leak but I have no idea how many out of lets say 100. One person said you are supposed to cool down with easier pedaling instead of just getting off after a hard workout (should do that for your self any way) so the fluid can cool a little. Seems to be a problem with the o-ring setup, I guess they went to a double 0-ring but some of them still leak but I just don't know how many. This is my choice for a new trainer also but this leak thing has got me wondering what to do ,will probably buy it any way and hope for the best.

I am not sure about fluid getting so hot that it will bust an O-ring seal. Thats ridiculous. After using mine for 1.5 years, I am convinced that I spent my money wisely.

This is from a owner that sent it back do to the leaking problem, look at the review section on road bike review. Not trying to get into an argument just stating the facts as I have read on the subject. I didn't say the heat blew out the o-ring I just said it was a good idea to pedal at a slower speed to cool the fluid when you are done with the workout. As far as the o-ring goes it should be a seal instead of an o-ring and if they (cycleops) doubled up on it then they know there is a problem. As I said I will still buy one and hope for the best.

Now I don't know what to do, after edmaverik questioned my post I did a google search about the cycleops and there are a lot of negative reviews along with the postive ones. It seems like it either works great or it has bad welds or it leaks, the owners have had good look getting the unit replaced though.

Check out my post in the buy/sell forum.

Last winter I got a Nashbar T5 Fluid trainer. I did 45 minutes, 5-6 days a week for probably a total of 4 months - no problems. For what I paid for it, if I can get a couple of years out of it I'll have gotten my money's worth.

Buyer beware!

You get what you pay on trainers. I got my Kurt Kinetics top of the line, and it rocks!
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