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.
Double-S, I like the idea of saving money if one is going to buy a stationary bike (TDF bike strikes me as a major ripoff). However, indoor trainers can be awesome at all times of the year -- at least that is how I feel about my computrainer. I prefer to ride outdoors. However, if my workout calls for anything other than long-slow-distance during cold/terrible weather, the computrainer workout helps me realize better quality riding. In addition, I have used it for intervals when the weather is reasonable; it delivers. The aspect of control is terrific. (And I use my SRM for power readings, not those provided by the computrainer.)