Looking to purchase inexpensive trainer. Looking for advice.
 

I want to buy a trainer for my bike. For the past couple of years I have either used the eliptical or ran on my treadmill while watching the football games.

I plan on now biking instead. I want to purchase a trainer. I was not looking at spending a ton of money but there is a huge difference in price.

I am looking at the Ascent Magnetic 3 Level Trainer for $90 at Nashbar. Anyone used this trainer? Opinions? Here is the link:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...0and%20Rollers

I appreciate any help.

Thanks!

Traiiners make me go insane, go with rollers instead.

Why rollers instead of a trainer? Thanks for the help.

A factor, some claim trainers jeopardize a bikes' frame? I bought a skewer mounted trainer that was a decent price, on sale. Some say those are particularily rough on a frame?

+1

Trainers were really boring for me, plus I always felt that the bike was leaning too far forward and I was on my wrists too much. Even after jacking up the front end higher then it should be.

Got some rollers a couple of weeks ago and I will never go back. They take a little getting used to, but it definitely isn't as boring as the trainer. You have to concentrate a lot more trying not to run off the sides.

Oh yeah, make sure if you do get rollers to try them out in a doorway or something like that, because you are going to be falling off pretty much right away. It feels like you are riding your bike on ice until you get the hang of it... :)

Mike

I am really looking at this replacing a cheap exercise bike that broke recently. I don't plan on using my good bike for this. I am going to give this one, Nashbar Mag Plus Trainer, a try.

Thanks for all the help!

go for QUIET operation - especially if you plan to watch football while you train.

I don't understand the comment apclassic9. I definitely want QUIET operation. But how do I ensure I purchase one that is quiet?

Rollers allow you the unique pleasure of being able to crash in your living room....

I bought a magnetic trainer from Nashbar for under 100 bucks, works fine. (It's a Minoura...just rebranded)

No doubt about it, trainers are boooring. When I was using mine regularly in the Winter, I used a structured workout that had a lot of gear and cadence changes. Seemed to help. I also watched the TV at the same time.

I went ahead and purchased a fluid one at Performance. It was $149 and then 20% off. BUt did have to pay oversized shipping. I will be watching football while I do it so I needed something quiet. I read too many comments about the Mag Nashbar one being kind of loud.

I am also anxious to use the trainer in getting use to using clipless pedals.

You ask which one is the quietest one?:p

I have a fluid trainer and rollers. The fluid trainer cost 3 or 4 times as much and is much noisier. I do the fluid trainer with spinnervals videos, which provides enough structure to actually get through it.

Riding rollers is good while watching TV.

I generally ride the rollers on a track bike.

Riding rollers teaches you to be smoooooooooooth.

I looked at rollers. I went for the trainer because I was looking for something that I could do without thinking about it. Another benefit is that I can practice getting in and out of clipless shoes.

I read a lot on the different forums and found that the fluid trainers are quieter than the mag ones. Plus got a pretty good deal on it.

Maybe down the road I will give rollers a try.

Thanks for all the help.

The 1up USA trainer (http://1upusa.com/) at $300 isn't cheap but it's probably the quietest one out there. The noise you hear is primarily from the bike's drive train and the spokes spinning through air. It's very easy to watch TV while using it without risking deafness.

Trainers are a lot less boring if you use them for intervals. An hour of intervals on the trainer will fly by and give you a much better workout than 2 incredibly boring hours of spinning along at a constant speed. Try a Spinervals DVD for some variety.