How's the CycleOps Magnus?
11-01-16, 08:23 AM
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How's the CycleOps Magnus?
Anyone have a CycleOps Magnus?
How is it? I have read the reviews and it sounds good. I am looking for reporting from actual owners.
I was wondering if the resistance is sufficient? Please include your weight and opinions.
Does it simulate climbing well?
Can you do out of the saddle practice?
What software/hardware do you use it with?
Any details would be appreciated.
Frank
How is it? I have read the reviews and it sounds good. I am looking for reporting from actual owners.
I was wondering if the resistance is sufficient? Please include your weight and opinions.
Does it simulate climbing well?
Can you do out of the saddle practice?
What software/hardware do you use it with?
Any details would be appreciated.
Frank
Last edited by Fly2High; 11-01-16 at 10:27 AM.
11-01-16, 10:03 AM
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no one owns it yet, aside from maybe some reviewers, it hasn't been distributed yet
11-01-16, 10:54 AM
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I might be one of the first then. Nashbar allowed me to order one with the 24% off they just had and deliver when they come in. Since I already have a Fluid2, I was going to order a Magnus power unit but they said they were not selling them separately. With the frame costing about $150 to replace and Magnus costing $599, I figure a power unit could be on the order of $450 (since they wanted $199 for the Fluid2 power unit when the full trainer goes for $349 retail). Ordering through Nashbar at $455 (including shipping) was worth taking a chance. I might end up selling the Fluid2.
Last edited by Fly2High; 11-01-16 at 10:58 AM.
12-05-16, 01:04 PM
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First Impressions
It arrived!!!!
Attached are photos of the box, Initial look inside. The frame looks to be the same frame (as expected) to the Fluid2 and many other base model trainers CycleOps makes. Simple and strong.
The final image is the power unit. From what CycleOps tells me, they currently do not sell the power module separately and do not have plans at this time to do so. For me, I think it is more a matter of WHEN rather than IF. Based on the fact taht the Fluid2 Power unit sells for $200 and the base is $150, I can suspect the Magnus power module to sell for $450.
The instructions indicate a level adjustment but I did not notice it. Outer fold out legs did not have them and one of the endplugs still had some breakaway tabbing on them preventing it from going all the way in.
Adding the Power unit was a little annoying since there is a slot on one side for the base to 'slide' into. It took a little while before it went together.
The locking mechanism for the skewer was stiff. It was harder to insert into the base than the Fluid2. It does go in but it doesn't move as nicely as the Fluid2 that I have.
Putting the bike on the base was a little annoying since the locking lever doesn't move as nicely as my Fluid2 but it works.
The unit is heavy, heavier than the Fluid2. It is not unbearable but definitely noticeable.
I jumped on it and saw no resistance. Duhhh. It needs to be plugged in. So use to the simplicity of the Fluid2. Once plugged in, I paired it with my Garmin 1000 (which worked first time) and it presented a resistance scale. I had the bike either in my 50-18 or 50-16 and turned it up to the hardest level. WOW it got REALLY difficult. It is definitely harder than the Fluid2 without the need to shift to higher gearing. I then tried to shift to higher gearing and I got to a point where nothing in my 205lb frame was going to move it.
I am very pleased.
Since the Fuild2 is redundant, I now will need to entertain selling it.
Pros:
very high resistance.
Can simulate steep hills (low cadence, high resistance)
Easily ties into Garmin 1000
Cons:
Heavier
Folding legs do not have leveling adjusters that I could find. Might be below power unit but haven't checked. (looking at the photo, I think the rear 'legs' are eccentric. It has been so long since I got the Fluid2 that I have forgotten and in reality never needed to adjust.)
Folding leg end cap still had breakaway tabbing on them preventing them from inserting all the way - cosmetic but questions quality a bit.
Need electricity to work. Not sure if it is 12 volt or what but you might be able to hook a car battery to it if you use it in a place without power. I did not check the voltage out of the transformer as of now.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a computer/Head unit controlled trainer.
Looking forward to checking out some apps now or just to add workouts into the Garmin that auto adjust the resistance. Might also follow an existing route I have done in the past.
Check back in a week or two for more details.
Frank
Attached are photos of the box, Initial look inside. The frame looks to be the same frame (as expected) to the Fluid2 and many other base model trainers CycleOps makes. Simple and strong.
The final image is the power unit. From what CycleOps tells me, they currently do not sell the power module separately and do not have plans at this time to do so. For me, I think it is more a matter of WHEN rather than IF. Based on the fact taht the Fluid2 Power unit sells for $200 and the base is $150, I can suspect the Magnus power module to sell for $450.
The instructions indicate a level adjustment but I did not notice it. Outer fold out legs did not have them and one of the endplugs still had some breakaway tabbing on them preventing it from going all the way in.
Adding the Power unit was a little annoying since there is a slot on one side for the base to 'slide' into. It took a little while before it went together.
The locking mechanism for the skewer was stiff. It was harder to insert into the base than the Fluid2. It does go in but it doesn't move as nicely as the Fluid2 that I have.
Putting the bike on the base was a little annoying since the locking lever doesn't move as nicely as my Fluid2 but it works.
The unit is heavy, heavier than the Fluid2. It is not unbearable but definitely noticeable.
I jumped on it and saw no resistance. Duhhh. It needs to be plugged in. So use to the simplicity of the Fluid2. Once plugged in, I paired it with my Garmin 1000 (which worked first time) and it presented a resistance scale. I had the bike either in my 50-18 or 50-16 and turned it up to the hardest level. WOW it got REALLY difficult. It is definitely harder than the Fluid2 without the need to shift to higher gearing. I then tried to shift to higher gearing and I got to a point where nothing in my 205lb frame was going to move it.
I am very pleased.
Since the Fuild2 is redundant, I now will need to entertain selling it.
Pros:
very high resistance.
Can simulate steep hills (low cadence, high resistance)
Easily ties into Garmin 1000
Cons:
Heavier
Folding legs do not have leveling adjusters that I could find. Might be below power unit but haven't checked. (looking at the photo, I think the rear 'legs' are eccentric. It has been so long since I got the Fluid2 that I have forgotten and in reality never needed to adjust.)
Folding leg end cap still had breakaway tabbing on them preventing them from inserting all the way - cosmetic but questions quality a bit.
Need electricity to work. Not sure if it is 12 volt or what but you might be able to hook a car battery to it if you use it in a place without power. I did not check the voltage out of the transformer as of now.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a computer/Head unit controlled trainer.
Looking forward to checking out some apps now or just to add workouts into the Garmin that auto adjust the resistance. Might also follow an existing route I have done in the past.
Check back in a week or two for more details.
Frank
12-09-16, 12:31 PM
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Not sure if anyone is interested, Nashbar is running a 30% off sale. This comes down to $434.98 including shipping.
03-07-18, 03:50 PM
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They turn in a variety of directions, and allowed the unit to be adapted to my very uneven basement floor.
I just got this the other week at a 20% discount President's Day sale from an LBS where I am a group member.
Assembly was relatively straightforward with a bit of patience.
I wanted a bike trainer that could take the peak watts my 205 could dish out in a sprint or climb and it definitely does that. Resistance varies appropriately with the gearing I have selected. (Im using an old 12 speed).
It delivers a hard workout. However, I am still feeling my way around the trainer world, so I cannot offer much in the way of opinion yet. (My last trainer was rollers with a bolt down stabilizer 25 years ago. Using same 1980s bike. That was no picnic either.) I am looking forward to putting my everyday bike in there.
