Winter and Christmas are here. I have a Nashbar Cateye CS-1000 trainer I got 30+ years ago I put a bike on in the basement in the winter time. My wife wants to get rid of the Nordic Track and bring her bike inside for the winter. We both are 72+ and are not training for racing or triathlons :-). Looking for recommendations on a basic trainer that she can get some exercise on over the winter. Please give me your ideas. Thanks.

I have one of these. I do not recall it being so expensive but I guess it was.

https://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-Road-.../dp/B01KHE5B4S

I use my Nordic Track, a lot.

LOL, the TV looks to be 30 years old too?

J

I have a Cycleops Wind trainer. Works good.
https://www.artscyclery.com/descpage-...FQ-SaQodEuIKog

Also had the Giant CYCLOTRON MAG II TRAINER it is really nice. I like it better than the Cycleops.
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/cy...r-silver-black

$152
https://www.jensonusa.com/Indoor-Trai...s-Wind-Trainer

https://wheelworld.com/product/giant-...er-49014-1.htm

fluid trainers are expensive, wind trainers are loud. I like my Mag trainer.

Not sure of TV. It was moved to basement when we got a flat screen upstairs. It must weight 2 tons. Might need to take a chain saw to it to get it out of the basement. Really want to replace it with a flat screen TV.

Don't do it. The Nordic trak gets used every winter here. At least 30 minutes and then I jump right off it, and on to the bike trainer. They both have their use. My set up is like yours but my television is lighter and smarter

I notice that all the trainers I have found have only a rear support. My old Cateye CS-1000 also has a front support (remove the wheel and clamp to a stand). The plus I would think is less stress on the bike frame while riding. The negative is the bike is more rigid and feels more like a log then a bike.
Since all I see are rear mounts I ASSUME this is really not an issue??

Approaching 80yo here. I just moved an old TV out of the basement - but, given my back, I paid someone to move it. It weighed a ton. Also got a "Smart TV" upstairs after 15 years with a huge console Hitachi and had it hauled away along with another desktop TV. Amazing how this stuff piles up over the years!!

I use a mag trainer with a wood block support on the front tire to keep things level on an old mtn bike with cadence and HRM and play Spinerval videos on a separate monitor from the TV. I would 2nd the suggestion of keeping the Nordic Track as variety and to train different muscles. Are you doing resistance training?

I use one of these:
https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kin...machine-smart/

I got one of these for my wife;
Ascent Mag 3-L Trainer

Both work well, and do the same basic function, but the 'smart' trainer will record your workouts, or you can follow along a preplanned workout, either one that is already loaded, or one you create. You need a smart phone and the app to make it work.
The no frills trainer is just resistance, you have to keep track of time and effort.
I didn't need the smart trainer functions but my wife bought it for me.

I had an old Racermate trainer, that was a wind trainer, with open squirrel cage fans for resistance, it is really loud, so loud it was hard to turn the TV volume up enough to hear without blasting the rest of the house, or hurting your ears. But the mag and fluid trainers are much much quieter.
The bad part of the quiet trainers is that you can hear every little squeak and rattle of your drive train.
So go with either a mag or fluid trainer, and spend as much as you want. And a wheel block is a good idea also.

Thanks for the good feedback. I did look at: 5 Best Bike Trainers - Dec. 2016 - BestReviews

Started getting carried away and looking at the Kinetic for her. It really would be a waste of money for her.
The Ascent Mag 3-L looks very reasonable and if she really gets into it - probably won't - could upgrade later.
My Cateye CL-1000 is a combination mag and wind. Is noisy but re-reading the manual I can remove the fan. Will try that this winter and maybe will not need my "noise box" in the back.

The Nordic is going. She is 72 and arthritis and really wants to use something else.

Thanks again for the all the responses.

PS: The Ascent Mag 3-L must be very popular because I can't find anyone carrying a new one. Amazon, Nashbar out of stock :-(
Going with Nashbar Fluid Trainer $120 including shipping.

I wish I had the mind set that you guys have. I just can't ride the trainer, try every year but don't keep it up. I'm only chiming in because I'm still glad that I bought a Kurt Kinetic some time back. It makes a very good work stand for doing adjustments and winter tunes etc. Bike gets in and out of trainer easily and you have the advantage of actually stomping on the pedals when trying out adjustments. So, if you don't have a workstand you can factor that into the price of your trainer and feel better about it.

Having never used a trainer, I looked for an inexpensive but decent unit to purchase with the thought that I could always buy a better one later if it turned out I used it much. I purchased this magnetic trainer three years ago and have been very pleased with it. It works so well for me, I'll just keep it until it wears out instead of buying a 'nicer' one.
https://a.co/aI5pbXJ

I have a Cyclops Wind Trainer I replaced with a fluid trainer Cycleops. The fluid is quiet but they both work well. I had Cycleops replace the unit under warranty on the wind trainer it is essential new except for frame. PM if interested i am in Illinois I don't need what a new one is for sure

I used rollers in the '70s and then trainer stands for many years, but now I prefer exercise bikes---I can get as hard or easy a workout as I like, and I can save my bikes for outdoor use. It might take up a little less space than a bike on a trainer stand; plus, older riders are likely to appreciate the more upright sitting position.

Just make sure that you like the saddle or that the seatpost has a conventional clamp so that you can replace the saddle if desired.

Having never owned a trainer (but thinking about getting one), which type makes the least noise and comparatively, how noisy is it (for example could you watch TV at normal volume while riding it)? I live in a condo that has a small deck. I was thinking I could set the trainer up on the deck but I don't want it to be so loud as to annoy my neighbors...

The trainers that use fans for resistance tend to be noisy. The faster you go the louder they get.

I have to turn up the TV sound when I'm on my Kurt fluid trainer, but it's not "too" loud, maybe "window air conditioner fan noise" loud. There's some low pitched noise/vibration from the tire not being perfectly round. I haven't tried it, but setting the trainer on a plywood base with a foam or carpet sheet underneath would help keep the lower sounds from vibrating through the house structure.

Fluid trainers are nice, they are fairly quiet, and the resistance goes up (and up!) as you pedal faster (and faster!) It's stirring some silicone fluid inside the trainer. A fan trainer has a similar resistance mode, but those are noisier.

Magnetic trainers usually have some kind of a resistance level dial, and are also quiet. But it's not quite as simple to manage the resistance if you want to go at a faster sprint speed and then do an easier pace. They are less expensive, though.

+1 on the Kinetic. I have one and it works great. Now I just got to get and gear and use it more.

That's been my experience too.

Also, whatever your attention span is, a stationary trainer will definitely find it.

tolerance for sweat, too.
After about 15 min on a stationary, you soak through.