Trainer Recommendation Needed

[Alex]

In order to preserve domestic harmony, it seems we need to be a two trainer household. DH really doesn't like me popping downstairs every 5 minutes and asking, "Are you done yet?" and then waiting 2 seconds and asking, "What about now?" :p

We have a Travel Trac from Performance that has lasted for years with steady use, but we want to try a different brand. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Alex

[Drtgirl]

I recently bought a Kinetic fluid trainer and love it!

[Alex]

Which model Kinetic?

Alex

[salsabike]

I just went through this whole decision-making research process and read every single thread on here with "trainer" in the title. Oy. So let me save you some time. The two most popular ones at reasonable prices (read $200-300) seem to be the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and the CycleOps 2.

[Drtgirl]

*tearing through desk for instruction manual*

I think it's the road machine.

[Alex]

Thanks, Drtgirl!

I did a thread search before I posted and I bet I read a bunch of the same stuff as you did, Salsabike. :)

I did notice that the Kinetic trainers were mentioned a lot, but I didn't see the Cycle Ops. That narrows things down quite a bit. Thanks.

Alex

[Popoki_Nui]

I have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. It's great, although I have absolutely nothing to compare it to: it's my first and only trainer. But I like it. Now that I have it, and my bike, dialed in, I find it gives me a remarkably realistic workout.

[makbike]

I have a CycleOp2 Fluid trainer and love it. It is very quiet, easy to carry and easy to use.

[Thorn]

Fun. We had a Performance Travel Trac. Ran into the same problems with "are you done yet?" and bought a Kinetic Road Machine. Be warned, though....DH then used the Performance...for a year. Then bought himself a Road Machine, as well. Here's hoping you can keep it to just one more trainer :rolleyes:

But, I have to admin that having two trainers was worth it. Not just because the "are you done yet?" stopped, but because having someone else with you helps with the motivation of staying on the trainer longer.

[Lifesgreat]

Alex,

I have a 2 year old Cycleops Fluid 2 Trainer and love it! I am married to a runner so there isn't a problem with sharing the trainer ;)

I bought it here (http://www.agees.com/cycleops/Fluid.htm) and it was the lowest price then. I don't know if they have the lowest price now.

[sarahkonamojo]

CycleOps Fluid in our house. It is nice.
sarah

[KSH]

Alex,

I have a 2 year old Cycleops Fluid 2 Trainer and love it! I am married to a runner so there isn't a problem with sharing the trainer ;)

I bought it here (http://www.agees.com/cycleops/Fluid.htm) and it was the lowest price then. I don't know if they have the lowest price now.

Yes, this is a very fluid and nice trainer. I have been using my boyfriend's.

Let me say this though, DO NOT GET THE MODEL WITH THE YELLOW HANDLE on the back. This is to adjust the tension that the trainer flywheel puts in your back tire... and it sucks.

If you look at all of these on this web page, you will see 2 versions with the yellow handle.

http://www.gottaridebikes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=COT&OVRAW=Cycleops%20Fluid%20Trainer&OVKEY=cycleops%20fluid%20trainer&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=10376266022&OVKWID=78695712022

Basically the Fluid 2 2008 and the Magneto are the ones with the yellow handle. It's the worst design I have seen on a trainer, and I have used a couple of other brands (Blackburn and one other).

I will also say that out of the 3 trainers I have put my bike on, the Cycleops was the hardest one to get my bike on. It was a struggle.

If you look at the Blackburn model, you can see that there are turn handles on BOTH sides of the trainer in the back... where your back wheel goes. This makes it really easy to dial into the back skewer. The Cycleops does not have this. On one side you lock down the handle... and on the other side you have to manually turn the screw until you get it just right. Not really a great design.

http://www.gottaridebikes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TRN0041&Category_Code=BLT&Product_Count=3

Once I got my bike ON the trainer it worked great. But I tell you what, I don't want to take it off anytime soon. Just too much work.


Now,

[RoadRaven]

Alex - I love your post that you have... HAVE... to have two trainers!

Awesome.

We actually did away with a bicylce on a trainer and bought a Spin bike. Its been $NZ700 well spent as anyone in the house can use it.

Although, come winter and with several cyclists in the house, I wonder if like you we need another one!

[bike4ever]

Alex -

We used the Kinetic road machines last year in our spin class. This year I brought in the CycleOps Fluid trainers. Why the difference? Since the participants varied some weekly, I needed a trainer that worked with more models. I had a couple of bikes that didn't fit onto the Kinetic trainers - you had to purchase an adapter. All of the various bikes fit fine on the CycleOps model.

Both trainers are smooth and quiet - similarly priced.

[indysteel]

I have a CycleOp2 Fluid trainer and love it. It is very quiet, easy to carry and easy to use.

+1 for the CycleOps 2 Fluid. I tested both the Fluid and the Magnetic and opted for the Fluid despite it's higher cost. Now that I have it set up in my unheated garage, I like it a lot better. I got too hot using it inside. It's smooth, not very noisy and easy to set up.

The Kurt Kinetic was the other brand that I considered. Both get good marks as others have mentioned.

[ccnyc]

I use a CycleOps Magneto and my DH uses a CycleOps Fluid trainer, both about 3 years old. They are both very quiet, with a smooth ride, and easy to use.

We have heard good things about the 1Up trainer and would consider getting one of these in the future.
http://www.1upusa.com/bike_trainer.html
Blackburn has a similar model called the Trackstand ULtra.
http://www.trakstandultra.com/

[PinkBike]

DH and I both have 1up trainers. ditto on the advantage of having a training partner! when we train we set up one DVD player with the training video and the other with a race video from world cycling side by side. we watch the tour de france or the giro and glance over at the training video as needed.

i dont have anything to compare the 1up to, except we had a cheapo bfore and it totally destroyed our tires. we now have the orange continental training tires to use when the bike's in the trainer.

also, i had some rollers i kept at work and man is THAT a workout!! alas, someone stole 'em.

i'd love to get the tacx virtual reality trainer and compete with others. very pricey but they look like they'd be a blast!

[Alex]

I appreciate everyone taking the time to give me trainer recommendations. The order has been placed! :)

Alex