Originally Posted by
surgeonstone
This^^^^. Save the money for a real bike. Remember rule # 1 of indoor cycling...Indoor cycling sucks. Rule # 2- the more you spend on an indoor trainer, the less likely you are to use it. Rule # 3)- The worst day outdoors in the worst kind of weather is far superior to any indoor cycling. Rule # 4)- You can cycle outdoors in inclimate weather with artificial joints- I do it all the time, just gotta be a little more careful.
I agree - "virtual exercise" is an awful thing, but with the dark and rain we get here in Oregon, we haven't much choice if our work hours don't allow use of what little daylight we get. The 290SPX is basically the same as the TdF trainer, with less to go wrong. If it can get the feet spinning a few more days a week in the winter, it'll be well worth the $300. We are taking the money out of the "eating out" budget, not the "bicycling" budget ('course, almost any discretionary cash finds its way into the bike budget these days).