Opinions on stationary trainers?
 

With the miserable weather we've been having here in North Carolina, I've decided to get a trainer. I'm leaning toward the Cyclops Fluid 2, which I see on Ebay for around $230. Anyone have experience with these? I have an old "wind" trainer which I dispise.

What is it about your wind trainer you don't like? If it's the sitting in one place and pedaling, a fluid trainer won't be any better.

Fluid trainers are nice but not all are created equal. I've spent significant time on both the Cycleops Fluid2 and a Kurt Kinetic Road machine and the Kurt is my favorite hands down. There really is no comparison.

I had an Cyclops wind trainer at first, I swapped out the resistance mechanism and went for the fluid. It is 100 times better. When I used the wind trainer I had a very hard time getting my pulse going, I often got up out of the saddle to encourage more blood flow to my legs, and it was difficult to get more efficient at spinning because there is hardly any resistance.
The fluid trainer kicked my a#$ at first, I didn't think it could be all that different, it's an entirely different monster then the wind trainer. It gives you a good workout and getting your pulse and breaking a sweat is not a broblem. When your done you at least feel like you have done something. I think I have one of the original fluid trainers from cyclops, so I am sure the Cyclops 2 is even better. I say go for it, you won't regret it, I didn't.
Just my 2 cents.

A friend of mine uses his Cyclo Ops Fluid 2 almost every day and swears by it...it's on my X-mas list.