SNEAK BIRD

I just picked this trainer up and tried it last night. Is there something I'm missing or do all trainers feel like you are coasting and barely require much effort? Everything is hooked up the way it is supposed to and the tire is in contact with the rolling mechanism as prescribed. Is there a way to crank up the resistance besides spinning the wheel faster which has a minor increase in resistance? By the way, the manual is a joke and there is no information on their site. I might return this and look at another brand if there is one that feels more like I am riding a bike as opposed to coasting down the boardwalk.

Doggus

Something is wrong. Did you make sure to do the 2 1/4 turns after the resistance unit meets the tire? If your cycleops is not defective it will easily overpower you in the big ring.

What gearing are you using?

StanSeven

Are you sure you tightened the tension up to the tire? I think the manual says a couple turns after initial contact with the tire.

There's not as much resistence as riding on the road when you compare the same gears, but I still get a good, hard workout when I'm in the large chainring. I use the small chainring to work on my spin. I also use similar gearing to the cycling videos (coach Troy and Chris Carmichael) so I know I'm working hard.

But if you want more resistence, you'll have to switch to a trainer with multiple resistence settings.

SNEAK BIRD

I adjusted the rear lever that makes the tire contact the resistance unit as stated in the directions. I am wondering if there is a defect in my model? Is there any screw on the side that I need to turn? Thanks

jimbud

How old is the unit? Maybe it's one the units that had the leaking problem. With no fluid in the unit there will be know resistance.

SNEAK BIRD

It is brand new.

jimbud

When you have the bike in the large ring up front and say the 15 cog in the back you can spin with no resistance?

Jim Bonnet

Sounds like your unit is broken or your tire is slipping.

jimbud

On your trainer the sealed resistance unit's case is made up of 2 pieces of aluminum that are bolted together with a gasket between them. Run your finger a long the bottom of the unit where the 2 pieces meet. See if you can detect any clear oil that might have leaked from the unit. Regardless you probably need to call cycleops. They stand behind every one of there products.

SNEAK BIRD

There is resistance but it is not that great. In addition, I am not a world class cyclist so it's not like I have a huge resistance threshold. I have checked the tire multiple times and it is not slipping.

jimbud

How about oil leaking from bottom of the resistance unit?

SNEAK BIRD

no oil leaking, the seal seems fine

Trevor98

CycleOps changed the tension method this year replacing a round knob with a yellow lever. Both models set up the same until you tighten the resistance unit to the wheel (rotating the lever clockwise). With the new style you simply close the lever while the old model you continue to tighten the knob another 2-2½ turns to insure proper contact and no slipping. If slipping still occurs tighten the unit some more.

Most fluid trainers progressively increase resistance with speed. At low wheel speed the resistance is far less than at higher speeds. According to the Saris FAQ page on the Fluid² https://www.saris.com/t-cycleOpsFAQ.aspx, the Fluid² can increase resistance to something like 2000 watts in a sprint. Perhaps there is something wrong with your unit or the way it is put together. Or, perhaps, your increased speed was not fast enough to generate resistance.

Psimet2001 

I am not familiar with how they run their shafts, but most trainers have an inner shaft and a larger outer sleeve that the tire rides on. The two are typically held together with a recessed allen set-screw through the outer sleeve - locking it to the inner shaft. To me it sounds as though your set screw is loose (if equiped).

If not, and there is not fluid leaking, and the tire is not slipping then you have a bum unit.

I highly doubt this is the case.

Do you hear fluid moving through the unit when you spin the roller by hand? Put your ear next to it.

gfrance

Sounds like it is set up properly. My question: how much time did you spend on it? and in what gear? I'd say give it another go. Get up to a 95 or so cadence in a mid-level gear and go for an hour. If you don't feel worked, something is wrong.

jimbud

The amount of resistance should be similar to riding your bike on a flat road. If it's quite a bit less then that call Cycleops. How about this. Does the rear wheel spin for more then a few seconds after you stop pedeling?

rule

Call Cycleops customer service. They are great to work with when you have issues, or just questions.

SNEAK BIRD

Great feedback everyone, thanks! I called CycleOps and we agreed that the best thing I can do right now is to take it back and exchange it. I followed everyones advice and I must say that you are all excellent trouble shooters. I hear fluid moving, I increased speed, the unit stops quickly when I stop pedeling. I will post again after I make an exchange.

urban.one

Do you have a newer unit with the cam lever or older one with the knob on the resistance unit? (Both versions of the Fluid2 are still being sold).

My guess is that something is defective.

Not to imply youre stupid but sometimes people do funny things. You are sure the tire is in contact with the resistance unit? And you have proper inflation in the tire? And the tire is slightly compressed from the pressure of the resistance unit?

Whats the sound the unit makes?

SNEAK BIRD

Yes to all of your questions, and I am not above being stupid from time to time! I have the cam lever by the way. The sound is more mechanical than fluid if that makes any sense. It sounds more like one of those 80's stationary bikes with the big fan unit in the front. I have no reference to see if it is not sounding properly. I will have the shop inspect it and either replace it or hand me my certificate of stupidity.

Jim Bonnet

The unit shouldn't make any noise. At least mine doesn't.

Jim

cycle17

One thing that has not been mentioned is that your rear tire should be filled the same as if you were going out for a ride. If it is soft or underinflated....the unit will not have the same amount of resistance as when it is properly inflated. It will also tend to slip, but make little if any noise to indicate slippage. So you could have the 2 1/4 to 2/1/2 turns on the knob but not have enough tire pressure to create the desired amount of resistance.

cycle17

P.S. you are using a slick tire with no treads correct?

SNEAK BIRD

Yes, it is a slick tire and it is inflated to my usual ride psi.

urban.one

It sounds like the unit is defective. Let us know what the shop says.