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!

It is more than likely your trainer.

I had a cheap Blackburn Mag trainer. I didnt know if I would even like it so I got one of the cheapest I could find. The resistance was lacking. I did my FTP test and was in the 52x12 and really needed more resistance.
After the Blackburn started making a god awful noise, I got a Bkool Smart GO(so kinda apples to oranges). The simulation does make for a more realistic ride, but it will never be the same as going outside to me. A trainer is always going to be all work and no play, but the simulator does give you something to focus on. Even if you get a better trainer that isn't a smart trainer, I recommend doing a programmed workout so you have something to focus on instead of just mindlessly spinning.

Edit:

So i just looked at your trainer and it was a bit more expensive than the one I was initially using. the fluid should get thicker the faster you spin the drum. It should be more realistic than my mag trainer was. What cadence are you spinning at on the trainer? do you typically Mash or spin?

I don't have a cadence sensor, so, I'm not totally sure. But, there is 0 need to stand to pedal, ever. If I do, it's just way too easy. But I can easily ride the biggest gear and spin as fast as I can.. Can I sustain that? no, I don't know who can, lol.. but, I don't feel like it's enough resistance to even simulate riding in that gear on a flat.. you know what I mean? I would expect in the biggest gear that it would be difficult to spin the wheel and I'd be trying hard to get it around.. Just doesn't do that. Maybe I'll see if I can demo a trainer at a local bike shop and do a comparison.

If you can try another one do that. There could be an issue with your trainer, or it could just be you are stronger than you think you are.

I would recommend getting a cadence sensor, but you can always count revolutions for 15 seconds and multiply that by 4 to get your cadence. That and a heart rate monitor will help you with your trainer sessions. You can start to do workouts that target both and take away the monotony of riding in place.

That doesn't sound right. My supercraptastic 17-year old Nashbar fluid trainer gets harder the harder you go. That's what fluid trainers are supposed to do.

Yeah, it doesn't seem like that's what is happening. If I spin it fast, it doesn't get harder to spin.. or if it does, I'm not noticing it. Once I have it set up again, I'll validate that statement, but I kept finding myself shifting into the big ring small gear to get decent resistance.

The knob in the back of the trainer is how you adjust the tension. So the tighter you crank the knob, the harder it will be to pedal.

Yeah, I'm wondering if you just don't have it tight enough and the tire is slipping. It has to be enough pressure to deform the tire a bit.

yeah when I have it on there, the tire is depressed quite a bit. I don't want to overdo it though. You know? maybe I need to push it a little more? I'll give that a shot first and see