Originally Posted by motosonic

So, I have a Diamondback Fluid Trainer.

I'm not a super strong cyclist.. I'm not an awesome climber.. I'd consider myself average if not slightly below average.. but I was talking to another cyclist on a ride the other night about the riding season being almost over and having to get on the trainer.. and he made some comments about how indoor training for him is just as intense as outdoors.. and I asked him about hills and actual road simulation... and he claimed that his fluid trainer and riding on the road were similar experiences... So, either there's an issue with my trainer or there's something else going on.. because this guy is a WAY better cyclist/climber than I am. Allow me to explain

When I hop on my trainer..I can put the bike in the biggest gear and it's still.. NOWHERE even close to a good double-digit climb. I wind up spinning super fast on the big ring to even break a sweat. My trainer doesn't have any adjustments.. They claim that you just shift to simulate hills.. but to me there's not a setting on there that simulates even a small hill..

So, am I doing something wrong? or is my trainer the problem? I've never tried out another trainer, so I have no clue what it's like.. I don't know if there's a way for me to 'test' a trainer to see. Like, If I were to stand and pedal, it'd be WAY too easy to pedal even on the toughest gear.

What's your experiences on trainers? does yours accurately simulate an actual climb?


Thanks in advance!