anyone recommend a trainer?

[Brandi]

So Hubby goes for acl surgery this fall AND they have said we will be having a El Nino winter here in California. I figured when my hubby is up to it he will want to get back on his bike asap but if it is raining alot he might not be able too. So i was thinking for christams I would like to get him a trainer he can set up in the garage and work on getting his stregth back. Now he has a mountain bike not a road bike. Do any of you snow bunnies who get stuck inside for the winter have a recommendation for this device I know nothing about?

[roadie gal]

I would recommend a fluid trainer over a mag or a wind if you can afford the difference (usually not that much). They tend to be smoother and last a bit longer.

I live in snow country so I'm on mine for up to 6 months of the year. I have a Kurt Kinetic. It's smooth and solid. All of the reviews I'd read before buying it say it lasts a long time. My only downside with it is that it doesn't have adjustable tension. But I guess that just means that I have to work harder. :o

Cycle Ops also gets good reviews.

Before the Kurt, I had a Performance Travel Trak which lasted for about 3 years of heavy use before it started to feel "jerky".

[Brandi]

That's it? One person? Come on......there has got to be other opinions out there. Thanks roadie gal! i will check them out. Can you switch bike on a single trainer? or does each bike need there own? With the amount of rain we could get I know i will need to use it too.

[VeloVT]

I also have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and I concur that it is stable and smooth. A lot smoother than many of the trainers I've been set up on for fits, etc.

I don't have terribly wide experience though.

You can switch bikes on a trainer fairly easily. You generally will use the skewer that comes with the trainer rather than your regular rear skewer, both because the trainer can scratch up the finish on you pretty anodized skewer and because sometimes regular skewers don't fit into the trainer as well. He will probably also want to put a slick on his rear wheel since knobby tires can be very buzzy.

If you can set it up in front of a TV, go for it. It can get a little tedious. I also find it harder (at the same speed) than riding on the road, for some reason. I think I'm a freak.

[Tokie]

Hey Brandi - sorry about your hubby's knee! Hope the surgery goes well. I only use a Cyclops fluid trainer for road bikes. But as far as I know, you can switch out your bikes, just need to adjust for the size of the rear hub. Maybe you should post this question on the Mt bike section to see what the girls seriously into dirt recommend! It is fun to ride trainers together, but kind of expensive. Another option if you ride a road bike is to use rollers. If you don't know if you would like rollers, try to find a friend who will let you (teach you) how to use them. they are FUN! There might be a bike store that might have some rollers or know someone with rollers who could help you. Good luck! tokie

[roadie gal]

That's it? One person? Come on......there has got to be other opinions out there. Thanks roadie gal! i will check them out. Can you switch bike on a single trainer? or does each bike need there own? With the amount of rain we could get I know i will need to use it too.

A number of the trainers have a "quick change" system for switching bikes. The Kurt makes it very easy.

1+ on putting slicks on the mtn bike on the trainer, or at least the rear tire. You don't have to change the front. Otherwise it's like the world's biggest vibrator, and not in a good way.

I have a small, very cheap TV with DVD player that sits in front of the bike. Usually I train to either Spinervals or Endurance Film's Ride series. I think using the training DVDs makes me work harder and makes the time go faster.

[Brandi]

A number of the trainers have a "quick change" system for switching bikes. The Kurt makes it very easy.

1+ on putting slicks on the mtn bike on the trainer, or at least the rear tire. You don't have to change the front. Otherwise it's like the world's biggest vibrator, and not in a good way.

I have a small, very cheap TV with DVD player that sits in front of the bike. Usually I train to either Spinervals or Endurance Film's Ride series. I think using the training DVDs makes me work harder and makes the time go faster.
My mountain bike has slicks on it right now for road riding. The ticks got so bad on the trail this last season i just got tired of it. I will suggest this to my hubby too. He doesn't have slicks. .

[Ana]

You might also want to consider rollers :) I think it might be more fun to have rollers when you're stuck inside :p I have a fluid trainer now but have been eying the rollers. I find the trainer mundane.

Rollers are supposed to help with balance and cadence. They also come in different diameters, which determines the resistance :)

[runningteach]

I have a Cyclops Magnetic trainer and it works well. I know people who have raved about the Nashbar one and I think it goes on sale a lot. My mountain bike is loud and vibrates on the trainer but the road bike is fine. My trainer broke and Cyclops replaced it without any issue. Never tried a fluid one because it was out of my price range.

If he is going to be stuck on it I would definitely switch out the tires. Mine folds so it is easy to store if he would rather put it in front of the tv. It is annoying setting it up but I would think being in the garage might be boring. Hope his recovery goes quickly.

[tride]

I luv my Kurt Kinetic trainer. A little pricey being a fluid trainer but well worth it, in my opinion! I luv that it's relatively quiet (compared to others), keeps cool (will last longer~I hope) and I only need shift up/down to adjust the tension (co cables, knobs, etc). Can't go wrong as long as you're riding 'whatever' you choose! As for back tire/wheel~swap it out to something cheap and put the miles/wear-n-tear on something that you don't 'care' about. Save the good tire/wheel for the road!