Best indoor trainer?
 

Well its about time to move the riding indoors. I've started looking at trainers but there seems to be a million choices. Does anyone have any good model suggestions? Also any benifit to magnetic vs liquid?
Any input would be great.

Thanks,
kurchy

Best indoor trainer? The one that is hanging in my garage while i am out riding.

I have a Minoura magnetic trainer that's been going strong for over a decade. At high speeds, 40km/h+, it tends to "whine" or buzz a bit. The one I have came with an extension that supported the front fork as well as a remote for resistance adjustment. (I usually just kept it on "LOW" and upshifted for more resistance - I wouldn't buy a remote if I were buying another trainer)

I understand many models are very quiet. Wind trainers are probably the more noisy followed by mag, then fluid BUT there are probably badly designed fluid trainers that are noiser than some well designed wind models.

Best bet: go to some stores and try a few out! :)
Minoura, Blackburn, Elite Cycleops seem to be big brands.

I would agree, only my problem is the days are just too short in the winter.. Dark in the morning and dark way before I can get home from work. :(

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=142723 ;)

This is the best one http://www.kurtkinetic.com/ The fluid model is the top model.

I agree, after buying a cyclops fluid, the seal started leaking after 2 winters

I found Kurt by accident and haven't looked back, the best bar none....it is the larger 7.5 pd flywheel(no other trainer has one this heavy), expensive but worth it

Get the Kurt with whatever is the consensus and go toe to toe with them, I bet the Kurt will win

With that said, riding outside still beats a trainer anyday

How about getting a bike light? I have two very nice trainers in my basement. After I got a bike strictly for winter riding, I have been out almost every day and have not touched my trainer since. I'd say invest in some good equipment and lights and get out there....if not, I have a nice trainer I could sell you. :)

Good luck.

Chris

Hi,
the Kurt kintetics comes with a computer now that estimates watts.
Very cool, I am going to have to spend $50 to get it soon.
It's new, so the old ones didn't come with it.

Kurt Kinetic with the big flywheel.
Mine's old, so for all I know they dropped the small flywheel.
No seals to leak.

I ride outside all year, but my wife has exercise induced asthma so she can't ride below about 40F. She's the one who puts 80% of the miles on the Kurt.

This is the most sensible advice. Don't buy a $350 trainer. Spend the $ on stuff that will allow you to ride outdoors. If you must get a trainer, by a cheap one. You can get a decent one on ebay for $65. I bought a $120 rim drive trainer from Nashbar a couple years back. Glad that was all i spent, because i hate riding the thing.

The only things worse than riding the trainer is not riding at all. The only times i have used mine is when the weather is to inclimate, like freezing rain, or major blizzard, etc. I have probably only ridden mine maybe a total of 15 hours.

Watching TV does help, so if you have a place to set up in front of it then go for it. However, it nowhere near compares to riding outside. Trainer riding is a VERY BORING activity. I think this winter i am going to take the computer off of my bike when i ride the trainer. It seems longer when you have a clock staring you in the face.

"What? I've only been on this wretched thing for 15 minutes? Seemed more like 15 days!"