Hi Everyone - I am new to road biking...only been doing it for a few weeks. So far I absolutely love it and I am dreading the coming winter. I am looking at getting a indoor trainer so I can ride during the winter. Are there any that you all recommend? I don't want to get something that is really expensive, but I also want to get something that will last. I appreciate any insight you guys have. Thanks for the help.

I have a CycleOps and an Accent(nashbar). Both serve there purpose, both are cheap, and both have there plusses and minuses. You will find that most trainers serve their function well some are just better than others as far as options.
Accent +, resistance adjustability, -Noisy & wheel clamping more complicated than others
Cycleops +, simple wheel clamping & fairly quiet, - No adjustability

That said I would still recommend both of them, however if I used them on a more regular basis I may be a bit more opinionated. I live in south texas where there are only about 2-3 weeks out of the year where riding outside is to painful.

Consider a fluid trainer.

Like the Nashbar fluid trainer, for example. I have an older version of that one which I purchased about a decade ago ... and it's still going.

Nashbar - Trainers

I don't know what you consider to be expensive, but The Kurt Kinetic Road machine is great. It works well and is really solid. I picked one up last year and am very pleased with it. I also read good things about the Cyclops Fluid trainer. I think you want to be careful about going to something too cheap, because either it won't last or won't work well and it will end up wasted money. I also do some spinning classes in the winter to help.

I notice that the Road Machine has a slightly newer model, but that the previous one can still be found at a little savings over the newer model. Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Fluid Trainer I see that Amazon seems to have them as well.

It may be intimidating, but consider a set of rollers. They take some getting used to but most folks end up liking them as a clamped in trainer gets boring in a hurry.

Also, dress for the cold and you can ride outside as long as roads are clear and dry.

Go with a Fluid trainer, perferably one from CycleOps or Kurt Kinetic.

We had a Performance brand Travel Trac fluid for awhile. It was awful. The set up did not allow for consistent pressure on the tire.

Here is the thing, the trainer is generally not fun. Having a low quality trainer makes it even less enjoyable. So, if you are going to do it, do it right. And you can probably pick up a good one used on Craigslist. I've been using my CycleOps fluid 2 for about 8 years now. It was well worth the money.

As a final note, I spent a ridiculous amount of the time on the trainer - year round. I have done as much as five hours on the trainer at a time. I've done as much as 20 hours a week on the trainer during the winter when the weather is crappy. (I have a TV mounted in my garage to help me get through it.)

Even now, I spend my weeknights doing my intervals on the trainer because I can better manage my efforts. I was on there for two hours Tuesday night and two hours last night.

Cyclops or Kurt Kinetic, and a subscription to TrainerRoad.

Check the used market - craigslist, ebay - people sell trainers.

Thanks for the replies and the insight

I will second the rollers idea. If you learn to ride them they will make you smooth. You won't get a power workout but you will learn to be smooth and fluid. I love them.

+1 on a Fluid Trainer. Cycleops Fluid 2 or Kurt Kinetic are as close to replicating resistance on the road as you'll get, and are solid units that will last a long time.

I'd strongly prefer fluid to a magnetic resistance unit, to the point that if they are above your budget, I'd buy a used one, before I bought a new Mag trainer. If you go used, look for a Kurt Kinetic. Very early Cycleops fluid trainers leaked, and you wouldn't readily know if you were gtting one with the updated seals.

Also, the fact that fluid trainers are not adjustable is a positive, not a negative. Resistance on a fluid trainer rises geometrically with speed, like wind resistance on the road. To increase resistance you simply pedal faster, or in a bigger gear.


Rollers could be a good option, particularly for a new rider to develop a smooth pedal stroke and balance. However, you can't just hope on rollers, zone out to TV, and get a workout. They require some concentration, particularly at first. And unless you go with small drums, or a fan unit, they may not have enough resistance for many workouts.

I have an old Cyclops fluid trainer, and as long as it's not snowing (rarely happens in the Sacramento area), I'll take riding outside over the trainer 9 times out of 10. With the right clothing (plus lights and fenders on my winter bike) I don't even mind riding in the rain.

Good God! Is it that time of year already?

How much longer until you northerners start asking about booties, toe warmers, and tights?

There is a mfg close enough to me to drive there that makes a magnetic resistance roller for their roller setup, I'd kind of like to take my HRM there and give a set a test run to see if there is enough resistance.

Bill

The Kurt Kinetic power curve approximately matches the effort required for a 1% grade (assuming you're about 160 lbs). Lemond Revolution is also a neat option, since it connects in place of your rear wheel, its good for conserving tires.

The other thing with a trainer is that you need MASSIVE fan. Most people sweat buckets on the trainer.

roller size affects resistance.

2.25" rollers are likely enough resistance without a seperate resistance unit.

Kreitler Rollers UK

You can buy a LOT of cheap trainer tires for the price difference between a KK and a Lemond. I have at least a thousand trainer miles on a $15 Nashbar brand road tire and it's looking like it will be good for at least another 2K.

This one is actually built into one of the rollers.
You can buy the rollers then add the drum , or buy it all at once

SportCrafters RD110 OverDrive Replacement Drum - Spin Zone Cycling in Granger, IN

I have the standard Kreitler Rollers and there is enough resistance. They are intimidating because you are so high up and have to balance to stay there. There is NO coasting. I used to set them up next to the workbench and use it for balance as I got started. You don't realize how much your body has to work to stay balanced until you are up there.

cycleops fuild 2 here...

i've logged 100+ hours on mine since January 2013... most of it in the winter months.

Kurt Rock and Roll owner.

No, it's not like "riding on the road"...but the movement of the bike make for a more fluid workout vs trainers that lock the bike in place. It was well worth the $$, especially for record cold, record snow winters like the winter of '13/'14.

As for the tire...I dropped a bit of $$ but in the end, I'm very glad I did. I bought a heavy wheel, heavy cassette and a Conti trainer tire. I swap the entire thing out when I ride indoors. Not having to mount that damn conti trainer tire alone makes it worth it. The tire/cassette/wheel adds quite a bit of moving mass and that conti tire has taken a swift beating for 2 seasons and hasn't shown hardly any wear nor does it throw any rubber like road tires do.

I've used a Cycleops fluid trainer, a Computrainer, and rollers, but my favorite by far is the Wahoo Kickr. I realize it's not cheap, but it's worth it. Combine the Wahoo Kickr with Trainer Road and some Sufferfest videos, and you can do some really good, specific training. I do almost all of my mid-week training this way, all year long. Also, if you're looking at rollers, check out the Trutrainer rollers. They are very well made and have a flywheel in one of the rear drums, which creates resistance. If you are concerned about falling on rollers, you can try riding in a doorway.

I just discovered the joy of a trainer this morning!

The other day I got a call from a friend that said she had seen a bicycle stand thingy (her description) at a yard sale near where I live. I had just returned form a ride so I finished my salad, showered, and drove to the yard sale. The trainer is a Cycleops fluid that the owner was happy to sell for $40. I've enjoyed a lot of vintage bicycles so I don't mind used. The savings was significant.



It's been raining here since yesterday. I set-up the trainer on my rain bike and added a second bicycle computer. The 2nd computer is wireless and will only be used with the trainer. I mounted the computer on the top tube under the saddle. Maybe a bit clumsy but it should help me keep my trainer miles separate from (bad weather) road miles. After all... I may drop the rain bike off the trainer and go for a ride this afternoon. I will just leave the wireless computer at home and log the miles on the "other" front wheel/handlebar mounted computer.

Before breakfast I took my coffee and phone out to the garage and drank my coffee and watched some TV news via my smartphone (mounted in/on the gadget my wife gave me that holds a smart phone on a bicycle) while I pedaled a bit. Then after breakfast (and a little fiddling with the setup) I rode(?) for 20 minutes while watching a cycling (race) video on my tablet. I really enjoyed being a "part" of the race... at least in the (youtube) video.

I can't believe how much I sweat in that 20 minutes... even though I had a fan setup in front of me. I am also surprised at how much fun it was!

I rarely sweat ON the bike. It's the stopping that makes me drenched.

I have a box fan on the floor and a "stand fan" up high when on my fluid trainer. Air flow is key! I have a tablet mount that fits on my bars. I pop in some ear buds and watch TV while turning the peddles. It is a boring ride, but it helps keep you in shape for the coming season.

I have the inside ride e-motion rollers. They are great.