sizmaters

preformance has three versions three prices what are the pros n cons of the fluid verses magnet and that sort of thing

Corsaire

Fluid versions do leak, it's just a matter of time. Fluid type of trainer manufacturers give you unlimited warranty, but who wants to deal with repacking and shipping back the whole
damn thing.
Corsaire

sizmaters

how long till it leaks

sizmaters

buying one tomorrow not to rush but i need help o wise ones ...and wise a55es

53-11 alltheway

I did a lot of research about this a year ago. I went to roadbikereview.com and read all the reviews.

In a nutshell...

Air trainer: Very noisy, Not good for apartrment dwellers.

Magnet: Not realistic.

Fluid: Most realistic. Fluid leakage not probable with cycle-ops Fluid 2 model.

BTW, I found the trainer boring as hell. Sold it and bought a nice used treadmilll. More comfortable than trainer and I use it everyday I don't cycle...unlike trainer.

SDS

Even the magnet is loud compared with the fluid trainer. It's much easier to listen to music and watch television with a fluid trainer.

I haven't bought for a while, so I feel a little out of date, but my experience with at least the older magnetic trainers, is that their capacity was insufficient for large guys.

53-11 alltheway

He definitelyt needs fluid....Even that will probably be too weak for him. You can help increase resistance by putting taller gears on. I think you will be saying hello to the 11T after you realize you need more resistance.

twahl

I just got back from the Performance shop in Manassas. They had 3 trainers set up, but to be fair the mag trainer had a mountain bike with knobbies so I expected it to be more noisy. But it was a lot more noisy and not very smooth at all. We ended up with the mid range fluid, which although advertised at $149, we got for $129 because that's what was listed in the catalog. The stand was a couple bucks cheaper too. Haven't tried it yet, but I may put in a movie tonight and give it a go.

Corsaire

check this one w/o leaks, the one I bought a month ago and happy with it.

www.kurtkinetic.com

Corsaire

NewTrekRoadie

I've had a blackburn fluid trainer for over a year now, with no problems what-so-ever. Smooth and quiet. Also highly recommend spinervals videos. Give you a great workout, and prevent the boredom. Look at www.spinervals.com for the video series. You can find them on ebay and elsewhere cheaper than on that site, but the main site will list all the videos available. Good luck!

Fox Farm

Hey, why not try a set of rollers? They are different but really help you to develop form, ballance, and good circular motion. You can add a mag resistance unit or a fan unit, both of which add resistance. Some use smaller diameter drums which add greater resistance too. I have a set of Krietler rollers with the Killer Head Wind fan unit. They are not inexpensive but will last for a number of decades of use based on the integrity of their construction.

They take some getting use to, but, setting them up in a door way where you have both "jams" to push your self back vertical with. The trick is to relax your shoulders (which you should do while riding anyway) and visualize you balance as being down low.

Carry on.

Fox Farm

Woops, I meant to say that they are expensive. Mid $300 range. See if you can borrow or try out different fixed and roller trainers to see what you like and feels best before purchasing one.

twahl

For what it's worth, I put 20 minutes in on my new toy tonight, and it did wonders to show me how badly I needed one. The mid range model from Performance seems to meet my needs, but I'm a newbie when it comes to this road bike thing!

roadwarrior

If you buy a cheap crappy one, yep...

If you buy a good one, they do not...and even if they do and it's Cycleops, they make good on it..

and if you buy it locally and it breaks, you should just have to bring it back to the place where you bought it and get it replaced.

Like we do at our bike shop.

I have a Fluid2...this is going into my fourth winter with it. Last winter it was so bad here that I put about 180 miles a week on the trainer for three months. I've probably got about 8,000 miles on the Fluid2. No problems at all. Smooth and quiet as the day it came out of the box.

Like I told a customer last night, buy it on the net, if you have a problem, box it up and send it back to whomever and hope for the best. Maybe miss a month or more of riding. Pay shipping both ways and for the return or a new trainer....buy it here and bring it back to us, we replace it and we deal with the manufacturer.

Light, strong, cheap...pick two.

Freestyle

I checked them all out and went with the Kurtinetic 61/2 lb. unit for rool down speed. Its quiet, and is very portable. You can take it to rides or races to warm up. Oh yea most LBS use this one to fit you to your bike.

sizmaters

thanx guys

2Rodies

My Cyclops is 4 years old and has never leaked.

Maj.Taylor

My choice, too. And when you can ride rollers with no hands, no one will ever again accuse you of not being able to hold a straight line. You will be smooth on the bike, very smooth.

WorldWind

What he said 100%


Don't get one with plactic drums or bushings.

BikeFor

You might want to consider the Schwinn Air-Dyne. It is still the best exercycle for the money and leaves any trainer in the dust. One minor glitch is the noise created by the great fan, which provides for the meaty, torquey feel of the machine.

rcams

Another vote for rollers.....can't beat 'em. I'd fall asleep on a trainer after 15 minutes of boredom. An hour flies by doing intervals on the rollers.

Dark Arrow

I have the Magnetic model from Blackburn and like it alot. It has three resistance settings. I've not ridden a fluid so I don't know the difference but mine is a lot quieter then my old friction trainer was. I play video games in the living room when I ride an hour just flys by.

https://www.blackburndesign.com/2004/trainers_04.htm#

washed up

I have both. Use the rollers for a good spin workout on easy days and then trainer for a hard bigger gear workout.

froze

Like you, I too about 12 months got started researching trainers on forums such as this one. I found consistently that the Cyclops brand was mentioned the most and the Fluid 2 was the preferred model. So I went to an LBS and tested 4 of their models, and one Minoura with the rim drive.

The cheapest Cyclops was the Wind, which I immediately did not like due to high noise and unnatural road feel, plus the max work out watts level was low at around 150. The next was the Magnetic, again a bit loud, did not feel natural and the max watts level was around 250. Next was the Magneto, this one was quiet, felt very natural with excellent wattage ramping the faster the rear wheel goes, and was rated a 450 watts max; this is a best buy model for most riders. The next and most expensive (excluding the computer trainer) is the Fluid 2, same results as the Magneto but with a max wattage rating of 750. Keep in mind that Lance Armstrong can do about 705 watts consistently for up to an hour, just to put things into perspective for you on this watts thing. I opted for the Fluid 2 (but probably should have gotten the Magneto), thinking that I could eventually grow more into it then I would with the Magneto. The Minoura I didn't like the feel of if as much as the Magneto or the Fluid 2...but better than the Wind or Magnet, and if I recall correctly it was a bit louder then the Magneto or the Fluid 2.

If you’re not training for racing and just want to maintain your physical shape when you can't ride outdoors, I strongly recommend the Magneto, it cost about $210 whereas the Fluid will cost about $260. If you do a web search you should be able to find it cheaper.

All Cyclops have a lifetime warranty, comes with a spare skewer (so you don't mar you good one), and a training video. The older Fluid units had some difficulty with the seals blowing but that was after 5 years of continous use, people who did not ride them faithfully have gone far longer and still have had no probs. I know of only 1 person (personally) who's fluid unit leaked, and that happen about 6 months ago after 5 years of heavy use, Cyclops sent them a brand new unit-not a rebuilt old one.

You may have to buy a front wheel stand but they only cost $15. The wheel stand allow the front wheel to be more stable PLUS you can put it on top a concrete block set your wheel into it and simulate hill climbling. Also need to get a fan to blow straight on you to simulate road riding and move that sweat off of you. This is a very boring way to get riding time in, so get a TV or music to entertain you.

RunYun

Krietler Rollers with killer head wind if you are looking for realistic.