Anyone ever returned a cycle ops trainer?

This evening while moving my Cycleops Fluid trainer I noticed there is an oily film on its underside.... yikes!

The website says it has a lifetime warranty... to the original owner.
I am not the original owner. It was purchased by the original owner about a year ago. I purchased it from him about a month ago off of craigslist. He barely used it while i have been putting it to the test. I wrote him an email to see if he happened to keep the original receipt, etc., but no response so far.

Any advice?

It is very difficult to seal a drive shaft encased in any fluid with a rubber gasket (I assume that is how any fluid trainer is built other than a Kurt Kinetic). Saris is a good company though and should work with you. I would guess that when they leak, you just have to replace the rubber gasket (probably by sending it in and having it rebuilt.

The design of the Kurt Kinetic is brilliant. The guy that thought of that magnetic coupling system is pretty smart.

I bought a used Cyclops trainer and it leaked soon after I bought it. I called Saris, explained what had happened and told them that I wasn't the original owner. They sent me a new resistance unit (not the entire trainer) with a lifetime guarantee for $90 shipped. They didn't ask me to send back the old resistance unit.

I own the Fluid2. I seem to recall the person I spoke with asked me a few questions about the size of the bolt that attaches the resistance unit to the trainer because she wanted to make sure I didn't own an older model. I don't think they stock resistance units for the older model.

i bought an older Cyclops fluid trainer off Craigslist for $15. i'm sure eventually it will leak, but for the amount i have invested its not really a big deal. here's a question though, what will happen eventually if you just keep using and using a fluid trainer that has a tiny leak? will the resistance just decrease, or will something just break or what? i know nothing about the internals of the Fluid unit.....

The guy that designed the cyclops trainer also designed the Kurt kinetic. The cyclops design was failing at the O-rings, so he thought up the magnetic coupler design. He then sold the patent for the old design to a Chinese company, who upgraded the design to two O-rings. They all eventually fail, but the company takes then back and refurbishes them with new O-rings.

If the fluid level gets too low, it will foam up and you will lose resistance.

This is why we bought the CycleOps Magneto. You are about the 20th + person I have read about here whose CycleOps Fluid Trainer is leaking. You can get a new Magneto for around $150 from some of the UK online bike shops.

The resistance will decrease. A small change in fluid level makes a big difference. If you don't have a PM you'll think you've become a cycling god until you ride outdoors. When it leaks Saris won't cover the warranty on the old first-gen CycleOps but they might give you a good upgrade deal.

I have owned three. All fluid. The original one with the black frame, the next one with the silver frame, and the current fluid pro. I gave the other ones away, and they are still in operation, and the fluid pro is fantastic.
None leaked.

Saris/Cycleops offers a LIFETIME WARRANTY. So even if one did, it should not be a problem getting a new one.

In winter when it sucks outside, I'll ride mine 2 hours or so. They get a lot of use. Sometimes I'll ride the trainer in the AM , then outside when it warms up.

Saris is top notch.

Thanks for the input. I have only had the trainer a few weeks, but I have definitely put it to use. I heard back from the original owner. He is going to help me out and try to get it replaced since it is only about a year old and he rarely used it. Saris sounds like a great company! Seriously, when do you ever hear of a lifetime warranty which covers any problem what soever?! What great service!

"Saris sounds like a great company! Seriously, when do you ever hear of a lifetime warranty which covers any problem what soever?! What great service! "


I agree, they are a great company. But frankly, I would get it fixed and then sell it and use the procedes to buy a trainer that won't leak for the rest of your lifetime (ie. a Kurt Kinetic).

A lifetime warranty is great but a trainer that doesn't ever need one (because it can't leak) is even better.

"I shoulda had a Kurt Kinetic!"

Disclaimer: I screwed up and got a cheap Nashbar fluid trainer...duh. Waiting for it to die after which it will be replaced by a Kurt. As a plus their factory is 26.9 miles from my house by road according to Google Maps.

I bought mine second hand off craigslist, with hardly any fluid left in the trainer (Fluid trainer +). Took it in to a shop, who looked at it, and sent it off the Saris for a warranty replacement. New unit. No charge. Bought some crap from the bike shop for their trouble.

I want to get a trainer, is the fluid pro the best? How much should it cost?

Saris is a good company with great customer service. They offer a lifetime warranty on their trainer products. However, when Graber/Saris bought out CycleOps they did not offer free replacements of the trainers built before the buyout. If you have one of those they will offer a replacement at a good price, for me it was $90 for a new Fluid^2 unit.

even though you weren't the original owner? how did you manage that? wasit an older or newer one? mine is the black one with the purple lettering.

Give Saris a call. I'd be surprised if they don't replace it.

And you can use the money you saved to buy gifts for the neighbors who'll complain about the noise.

I can watch TV about 10 feet from where my wife is riding her CycleOps Magneto without an issue.

On the other hand I cannot ride my Nashbar rollers there because they do make alot of noise and rattle the floor. I have to ride those in the basement.

As I thought about this, maybe, Pete, you are thinking about the Mag which uses wind resistance (a fan). The Magneto uses what amounts to an electrical generator.

I could see the Mag being loud but I dont know for sure since I only have experience with the Magneto.

Might've been. I remember shopping around a few years ago and every magnetic trainter I tried was annoyingly loud. I've had a fluid2 for 3 years now and have had the resistance unit swapped out by Saris once--otherwise it's been a great purchase.

here is the one i have below. I bought it new in the box off ebay and used it maybe 3 times and I went to go move it the other day and it also leaked some drops..
https://www.amazon.com/CycleOps-Fluid...4624787&sr=8-1

moreira85, that is the same one I have.

Call Saris (1-800-783-7257), tell them about the issue you are having and give them your information. They'll give you their address and a tracking number. It only takes about 3 minutes and they are very helpful. The only thing you have to pay for is the shipping to them. They said their turnaround is 1-2 days and they will either fix yours or send you a new one. So, in about 1 week you'll have your trainer back.

It was warranteed, no questions asked. Lifetime is lifetime I guess?

Mine is an older model (fluid+), and they just replaced the resistance unit with the new model with the yellow tab thingy on the end.

i just emailed saris asking about the possibility of a replacement even though im not the original owner, and was very nice, courteous and everything......guy emailed me back saying he could give me a "deal" on a replacement fluid resistance unit for $190.00.....geez thanks pal....no thanks.