It's time for me to start shopping around for a good indoor trainer this fall.

Anybody got any suggestions ? A lot of the LBS around here are recommending the Kinetic Road Machine.

Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is my favorite, has the smoothest operation, and while none are quiet, it is the closest to quiet I have found in a fluid trainer. The leakproof design hasn't let me down yet.

The Cyclops Fluid II is also good but not as smooth or quiet.

Avoid the cheap units like Blackburn. They are pretty crude in operation.

The KK is expensive but you will probably only buy it once.

I have a Minoura Mag trainer w/remote that is extremely quiet. I can ride and listen to the TV from the dinning room and not have to turn the volume up. I have put several hundred miles on it last winter and it still does a great job. Although I have the Minoura trainer, I must admit that the Kurt trainers are rated as one of the best.

I guess it depends on what constitutes "good". That is, what do you want from a trainer? For me, I want to spend as little time as possible on the darn things. So, I look for the least expensive one I can find and consider it a throw away item after it wears out (which is usually in 2 to 3 years).

+1

+1... good unit that won't let you down... quiet.

I have the Kurt Kinetic and it works great, just as others have said. But riding the thing still sucks. My goal each year is to set it up and never use it. Just the thought of riding it sends me reaching for rain or cold weather riding gear. But I do spend a few hours (no miles - it stays put) on it each year when the only alternative is to do nothing.

When the roads are covered with snow and ice and wind is howling outside, a ride on the trainer (short and intense) is a great thing a couple times a week. Doing it with one's chums makes it much more tolerable and a "fellowship beverage hour" afterward is nice too.

And an added bonus is that no matter how hard the ride the young ones cannot drop you!

I like the Kurt Road Machine; found a great deal on a new one at ebay, something like $265 with free shipping. It seems sturdily made and is smooth and quiet. When I bought mine, about a year ago, it came with a Spinervals video, which helps keep me motivated; and I might by some more Spinervals for the winter. Once the snow starts flying, I'll give cycling a rest for awhile, do elliptical and cross-country skiing, then maybe start spending some on the trainer in February.

x 2

Kinetic by Kurt is proud to offer an UNCONDITIONAL LIFETIME WARRANTY.
https://www.kurtkinetic.com/lifetime_warranty.php

Rollers.

When I saw the thread title I thought "Isn't the phrase "good indoor trainer" a bit of an oxymoron?"

We have many Canadians down here in the winter. They seem like smart people.

I have the LeMond Revolution direct drive trainer. It's a heck of a lot easier to mount the bike, doesn't cause wear and tear on your wheels/tires, and gives a close approximation to riding outdoors. It is, however, noisy due to the fan:



But I agree that all indoor riding sucks.

^^^ very noisy^^^

No such thing. I'm with overthehillmedi. If it won't get you to work or to the grocery store, it's useless.

Paul

1UP USA Trainer or Kritler rollers

I was happily stalled in selection paralysis and couldn't decide on which trainer to get. That, and the question, "Do I really need a trainer?"

After reading this thread I went to the Kurt Kinetic website and browsed. Good Stuff.
Decision made. Looked up the LBS's that carry Kinetic in the "Find a Dealer" on the website. Made some phone calls then added Kinetic "Rock and Roll" to my trove of unnecessary stuff.

I came home and assembled it to the dulcet tones of Ella Fitzgerald and now I'll ride it accompanied by Django Reinhart on guitar.

If I sit on it in the evening when I'm parked in front of the TV, I'll consider it a success.

you might want to consider turning the pedals while sitting on it. I don't think it works by osmosis!

From their website..

"Because of high broker fees, taxes and shipping we no longer ship to Canada"

The KK Rock n Roll model is a step up from the Road Machine even. I'd like to try that one.... why not post some action pics?

I bought a Blackburn mag trainer because I wasn't sure I would ride it enough to justify a higher cost. Not too bad, also started doing the spinervals workouts. The really odd thing was that the show featured some elite athletes, yet I was able to keep up! Figured I was in pretty good shape... NOT! Borrowed a friend's Kurt Kinetic, brought me back to reality very quickly. The same workouts were far more difficult, could not keep target cadence in the gear they called for. Even at max resistance, the mag trainer was not close to the more realistic feel of the KK. couldn't really stand up on the Blackburn, no problem on the KK. If I had to buy another, would definitely go with KK.

I sold my Cyclops last fall because I try to ride outside as much as possible during the winter months and hadn't used it in a few years.
I had knee surgery 6-1/2 weeks ago so needed a trainer for the 4 weeks of PT. I got a KK Road Machine. It gets two thumbs up.
It's back in the box now until cold weather season. Not my favorite season.
Compared to the Cyclops it's easier to put together out of the box, easier to mount the bike, quieter, and the ride is smoother and more realistic.
I considered the KK Rock and Roll but wasn't sure I'd use it enough justify the extra cost. But I've got to say I was really tempted to get it.

I don't know if there is any such thing as a "good" indoor trainer. I put on 5 layers of clothing and ride through the winter in Reno.

I recall a lot of cyclists using rowing machines in the winter. Anyone doing that? Recommend a rowing machine?
They are great for many of the same muscles and they are a change of pace.