Hello All,

I wanted to start looking at some trainers for the winter months.
I don't need anything fancy or expensive just something to keep me on my bike during the cold and long winter months.

Any recommendations?

Cycle Ops Fluid II.

Do a search and you'll find lot on trainers here already.

Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. Worth it.

Buy this high quality Kurt Kinetic Road machine for $280 with free shipping (with the 15% off coupon) and your grandkids will have to figure out what to do with a perfectly good trainer when they put you in the nursing home.

https://catalog.bicycleoutfittersindy...rainer-785.htm (great Internet dealer)

I learned this lesson the hard way. Don't buy a cheap trainer. The difference between a great trainer that lasts a lifetime and a cheap POS that makes winter riding miserable is very small. I wish the difference between the very best and the cheap stuff in cycing was always this small amount of $$.

Of course, then you will need a few Spinervals and/or CTS training DVD's to make it fun and productive.

+1

whatever you do, go fluid.

This.

Another vote for KK Road machine.

Another for KK Road Machine and be sure and check out The Sufferfest for training videos.

+1
Have two of these... one of them is the "Rock'n'Roll" model. Great trainers!!

Thank you all.
I read that it is a good idea to change the rear tire, us this true?
Any tire recommendation?
Kinetic trainer tire?

Another happy KK customer here.

I save my old worn out tires and then use them on the trainer in the winter. I run the old tires right down to the threads on the trainer. I wouldn't spend a dime on a special trainer tire.

Another happy KK owner here.

I vote as well for the Cycle Ops Fluid 2. It's a well made unit with a hassle free lifetime warranty. I own one and hate it...but not for any mechanical or technical problems, I hate it do to the boredom of riding indoors and going nowhere. I would buy this again IF I wanted a good trainer and not spend as much money as the Kurt Kinetic.

But another very good and overlooked trainer is the 1UP Aluminum Trainer, it uses a centrifugal flywheel instead of fluid or magnets which allows for a very smooth ride and it's nearly impossible to overpower it! If I were buying a trainer today for racing training that's the one I would get, it's a bit cheaper then the Kurt but more expensive then the Cycle Ops but has better training capability then either, and the centrifugal flywheel is bullet proof, nothing to wear out or leak.

I don't have any wore out tires, still very green to cycling world.
Would any cheap tire that my LBS has be ok?

If you're bound and determined to ride indoors get the Kurt Kinetic but spend the extra couple of hundred and get the rock and roll. You will not regret it. Give winter cycling a try, I have and my Kurt is now largely unused which is a good thing.

i'd swear by my 1up trainer. easy to use, quiet as hell, and made in the use. can't get much better than that.

Any cheap tire from your LBS is fine. If you do start using wore out tires make sure you clean it first before riding it on a trainer, debris like small stones or embedded wire or dirt will scratch the drum your tire rides on.

Also if you get a trainer make sure you put a fan in front of you else you will sweat like a pig...do pigs sweat?

If you do plan on using your trainer more than 2x/week, it makes sense to invest in a trainer tire.

The trainer tire is like $30, and will never wear out. It also doesn't leave black flecks on the floor. Old tires work fine, but I when I'm in 2x+ / week of trainer use (I'm lucky enough to have a separate race bike that goes on the trainer most of the time), I use a trainer tire - hasn't worn at all in 2 years of use.

that

I haven't had the black flex problem with my road tires. Most of time though I use my mountain bike on it, and it has a Kwenda Qwest tire that I've had for about 4 or 5 years and it's been on the trail, road, and trainer all through that time and it's not worn either! Nor any black flecks flying off or black streaks on the roller.

But trainer tires are cheap.

I have the rock and roll and it's awesome. A bit pricey, but well worth the money. I don't think it puts torque on your frame either.

computrainer the best there is.

I had the 1UP and it's a good trainer but I found it to be so boring I sold it to a triathlete. I thought it would be cool to spend the winter weeks(I'm in Alabama) on the trainer while watching TdF videos but I ended up just riding year around. Obviously can't do that in many parts of the country but just be warned that riding on a trainer is quite dull.

Oh, and get yourself a fan; it's very hot riding a stationary bike.