Yeah I figured feedback wouldn't be exceptional. For my budget I'd say $150 max. I'll check my CL before making the decision for sure.

From what I've read on my search is it a good idea to stay away from "fluid" and "wind" trainers? Stick with mag, right?

Stick with rollers with metal barrels. Larger barrels have less resistance. Skinny rollers have more resistance. I'm not sure why but that's how it works.

1) Spending $100 or $150 on a bad trainer is not a good use of your money.

2) Both fluid and mag trainers can be good and bad. They work in different ways. Mag trainers provide constant resistance based on what level you select on the resistance unit. Fluid trainers provide exponential resistance similar to (or exactly like) wind resistance outdoors.

3) The key is to get a trainer with a good flywheel (the big metal disc on the side). Generally speaking, the bigger the better. This is so that when you stop pedaling or back off from pedaling, the wheel keeps turning as you would expect. On cheaper trainers with lighter flywheels, the wheel stops very quickly. I have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine with an 8lb flywheel (pretty big) with the optional 12lb flywheel addition (HUGE) for 20lbs total. Using my road bike, I can stop pedaling, get off the bike, go to the kitchen and get a glass of water...and the rear wheel will be still spinning. Basically, it mimics the momentum that we gather when riding on the road.

4) I'd stay away from wind trainers.

Also, I've used some nice mag trainers. I really like the feel of the TACX Satori. It's pricey, but nice. The ubiquitous Cyclops Mag Trainer is OK. Not great but not bad.

Okay, a lot of info! Thank you, much appreciated.

Just rode my bike to class for the first time during Fall Quarter. Feel like dying.

used sarcasm around a drunk girl

If you are in Chicago, maybe consider this Tacx Satori: https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bik/2609871182.html

I sold a bar and stem to some dude that insists that his current bar is 23.5mm

today crossing the williamsburg bridge i saw what must have been a hybrid bike with road drops. Rather than brifters and new cables they used the mountain bike style levers in the cross lever position and install the grip twist shifter on an inward pointed bar end installed basically where a brake lever would normally go, pure crackheaded genius, i wish i would have pulled out my phone and snapped a photo but i'm always racing my shadow on the bridge so i didn't.

Forgot to mention - riding home on sunday I was forced to pass a couple, on a tight path, side by side. The wife was holding an umbrella and biking one handed, and the husband was towing a burly with their dog sitting in it.

Typical davis.

Today I spent way longer than I should have searching online for celeste colored NOT CORK (i.e. fizik microtek or lizardskins) bar tape. Was hoping to find some on Amazon since I have prime, but no go. I want new bar tape, don't want boring white or black, and have an ugly-ass gold Bianchi. The current tape is cork celeste and I liked the color but it got so dirty and now it's just gross. I might have to go red or orange; I can't think of another color scheme that would look good on this. (Close-up so you can see it's a pukey greeny gold.)

Sherblock, I didn't know you went to Davis. Undergrad?

Went to school.

Me too... I hate Mondays.

Sat through two reviews for exams, studied 3 hours for a Stats 2 test... took the test.

All the while wishing I was outside riding my bike.

Today was a long day.

Today in total I got some decent mileage in commuting to classes through out the day. All in all I would say I got about 12 miles. Not much but definitely felt good. Need to dial in my saddle a bit though.

Bought a black Thomson stem and seat post then changed my chrome drops to blue risers and now I want a chrome stem and seat post...doh!

Today I cleaned my bike. I really need to find a different route to work, tired of the wet pavement making my bike filthy in a few days.

Today I went to the gym when I really, really didn't want to.

Me - 1
Lazy - 0

Today I watched a nobel prize winner give a talk on how life originated via organic chemistry.

Today I went through my first chunk of classes, then sat a bit, then went to marching band rehearsal. Got caught in a sudden storm and got drenched while our director looked at the sky and then at his smartphone (radar) in anger/astonishment. Fu*k Mondays.

Today I went premium.

Today I discovered that my roommate accidentally threw away the bearing cover for the headset on my Lager. I don't have the cash for a new headset right now because I just got a new cog. FUUUUUU-

I've been riding without one for half a year now. My headset is so jacked up, lol.