MrCjolsen

I've decided to break down and buy a trainer. I don't want to spend too much. I'd like to stay well under $200. I'd prefer to have some money left over for some shorts or other stuff.

Wind or fluid? Noise really isn't an issue but reliability and stability are. I'm not allowed to bring bikes in the house, so I'd be using it in the garage with headphones. How noisy are wind trainers?

I also wouldn't be using it a whole lot. The weather here is such that there's probably only about 20 days a year where I can't go out and actually ride my bike, and those days are spread out over about 4 months.

Do they make cheap wind trainers? I've heard that magnetic isn't all that realistic. Is that true?

Thanks.

oneponychick

I bought one of these:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7205492399

You change the resistance by changing gears. Makes some noise, but not enough to drown out my tv. I'm sure this seller has anymore right now, but you could ask him.

oneponychick

I really meant I'm NOT sure this seller has anymore right now. Sorry, sometimes my brain goes faster than my fingers..............

jazzy_cyclist

Apparently the resistance on magnetic trainers is the least "realistic", with fluid better, and wind the best. I have a fluid trainer (CycleOps2) and it has worked well. Mine was a bit over 200, but you could probably find one used for much less.