Indoor trainer best reviews?

[Wasp]

I have decieded to invest in a indoor trainer. I'm leaning towards the fluid types. I don't want to spend over $500, but whatever I buy it has to be quiet. I would not be happy with a really loud trainer, I think the noise would be really distracting and probably annoying after riding an hour or so.
If anyone has any advise, i'de love to hear it.

[Becky]

Fluid is the way to go. It's not silent, but a big improvement over wind and magnetic versions, IMO. DH and I have 2 Cycleops fluid models, one of which is 10 years old and still ticking. I've liked the Kurt Kinetic models as well. If you can, try to demo the models that you're considering. They don't all feel the same, and I've demo'ed some that were really terrible- loud and hard on my knees.

[kmehrzad]

I had a nice Kurt Kinetic trainer for awhile and was using the Spinnerval DVDs to ride to. The shifting of bike gears never felt realistic for me while using the trainer ... there was a slight lag time so after a season I didn't use it any longer. The following year I bought a spin bike and have enjoyed it tremendously. This is just my opinion with the first experience I had using a trainer (it was a high-end fluid KK, as well).

[Catrin]

I've the Kurt Kinetic Fluid trainer as well, and as far as trainers go I really like it. Nice and quiet - gets the job done. If I didn't live in a small apartment where space is a concern I probably would have considered a spin bike, but trainers don't take up much room and fold up nicely for storage.

BTW, I got mine new and came in under your budget. KK does have a really high end version that is higher than that, but most fall under that $500. At least they did last year...

[TsPoet]

I love love love my 1up. It isn't adjustable like the others claim to be - but I found my Kurt just didn't work as advertised and changing gears on the bike does. The 1up is smooth and much quieter. It's lighter, easier to use.
http://www.amazon.com/1up-USA-A-2000-Bicycle-Trainer/product-reviews/B000PDAU0W
http://www.1upusa.com/product-trainer.html

[sgf726]

I also have the Cyclops Fluid Training. It is not silent but fairly quiet I usually listen to music or watch TV while riding and don't find it distracting at all.
I find the shifting fairly realistic, overall I am happy with it.

[tealtreak]

We love our vintage rollers- though they are not really quiet (not sure how quiet you mean....) I found another set for my son on craigslist for $75.00- great for keeping balance sharp as well as the exercise part.....

[Norse]

+ 1 on the CycleOps. Great customer service too. When my first drum started leaking fluid, after many many many years of use, they sent me a brand new and updated replacement drum free of charge.

[Aromig]

I have a Kurt Rock N Roll. It was OK until I bought the extra weighted flywheel, which sortof annoyed me because it wasn't inexpensive in the first place without having to buy an extra $80 add on. It seems quiet enough (I listen to audiobooks on my ipod and I don't have to turn that up unreasonably loud and it doesn't wake up my sleeping kids in the next room). The fact that it can move made me feel more comfortable on putting my new bike on it, but if I had to do over again I'm not positive I would do it based up on the price (although I'm telling myself that my REI member distribution will make it worth it :-))

[Wasp]

How about rollers? Far less boring, and let you work on handling. I bought one from Nashbar last year for 100.00.

I don't know what rollers are. If I googled rollers would it show me what your referring to?

[tealtreak]

How about rollers? Far less boring, and let you work on handling. I bought one from Nashbar last year for 100.00.

LOVE our rollers!

[meganm]

I love love love my 1up. It isn't adjustable like the others claim to be - but I found my Kurt just didn't work as advertised and changing gears on the bike does. The 1up is smooth and much quieter. It's lighter, easier to use.
http://www.amazon.com/1up-USA-A-2000-Bicycle-Trainer/product-reviews/B000PDAU0W
http://www.1upusa.com/product-trainer.html

I agree, I have one and I really like it.

[ny biker]

Pretty much everything you need to know is here:

http://cycling-review.com/accessories/bicycle-trainer/

[Wasp]

These are rollers. :) (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_534675_-1___203771)

Mine are not the Parabolic type, so no raised edges to help you stay on the rollers. I would show you those, but they don't appear to have them at the moment. They do have other brands, but for far more $$.

They aren't as difficult as they look.

If you still want a trainer, I'd get the one that is for sale on this forum. Great deal. And shouldn't be that hard to ship, really.

But, Nashbar has all trainers/rollers available with free shipping for the next two days.

You might also try Performance.

For reviews, I'd read the product reviews on Nashbar and Performance. But, again, the one for sale here is the best deal for a non-roller trainer.

Edit: here are the ones I bought. I'm very happy with them. (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_173072_-1___202382)

I just realized, (after double-checking the forum) you are a fairly new rider? If you are the fearless type, definitley try the rollers, if not, perhaps a year or two on a stationary trainer is a good idea.


You are correct, I am new to road biking. I bought my first road bike in June/12. I'm not exactly "fearless" as I have had my share of wipeouts this summer. All of my "incidents" we're due to my foot getting stuck in the cheap clip in pedals that were sold with the bike. I upgraded the pedals to eggbeaters, and haven't wiped out since.
The rollers look intresting, though I have a feeling one needs to be coordinated to use them? Am I right in assuming its easy to wipeout on?
Your also right about the great deal on the trainer in the for sale section. That's an awesome price!
Thank you for all the great advise

[Wasp]

Pretty much everything you need to know is here:

http://cycling-review.com/accessories/bicycle-trainer/

Thanks....lots of great advise

[Wasp]

We love our vintage rollers- though they are not really quiet (not sure how quiet you mean....) I found another set for my son on craigslist for $75.00- great for keeping balance sharp as well as the exercise part.....

I'm thinking I may be lacking the coordination required for rollers, do they come with training wheels? Lol :)

[rocknrollgirl]

LeMond Revolution. I got one for Xmas last year. I had been using the Kinetic, this blows it away. I got the one without the computer to keep the cost down. It truly feels like you are outside on yor bike. Really worth looking into. It made something that was a chore, now something I enjoy. Yes folks, that is right, I enjoy riding my trainer.

[Catrin]

LeMond Revolution. I got one for Xmas last year. I had been using the Kinetic, this blows it away. I got the one without the computer to keep the cost down. It truly feels like you are outside on yor bike. Really worth looking into. It made something that was a chore, now something I enjoy. Yes folks, that is right, I enjoy riding my trainer.

Really? This is interesting! I don't mind my KK but if I were in the market I would consider it from your description.

[roadie gal]

I'm on my trainer about 6 months out of the year. I've had 3 different trainers. Right now I have the Kurt Kinetic, which works just fine for me. I've never noticed the noise of any of the trainers. I usually have a DVD going or listen to music. The trainer has never overwhelmed either of them. I think the noise factor for trainers is over-rated.

[bluejellybean]

This is the info I've been looking for. I'm on the fence about whether to get a trainer or a good spin bike (for trainers I'm leaning towards kinetic or cyclops) but I have basically zero experience with spin bikes except taking a class or two. Does anyone have any good recommendations and do they provide a better workout than a trainer? I want to get the most bang for my buck if I have to be cycling indoors!! :) Thanks!

[tealtreak]

You are correct, I am new to road biking. I bought my first road bike in June/12. I'm not exactly "fearless" as I have had my share of wipeouts this summer. All of my "incidents" we're due to my foot getting stuck in the cheap clip in pedals that were sold with the bike. I upgraded the pedals to eggbeaters, and haven't wiped out since.
The rollers look intresting, though I have a feeling one needs to be coordinated to use them? Am I right in assuming its easy to wipeout on?
Your also right about the great deal on the trainer in the for sale section. That's an awesome price!
Thank you for all the great advise



I don't consider myself coordinated (can't dance!) and I far prefer my rollers to any other indoor way to cycle- it feels more "real". I started using them in the doorway based on the premise I could reach out if I started to fall- but my son just uses them in the middle of the room and hasn't had a problem (he can't dance either!)

[Wasp]

This is the info I've been looking for. I'm on the fence about whether to get a trainer or a good spin bike (for trainers I'm leaning towards kinetic or cyclops) but I have basically zero experience with spin bikes except taking a class or two. Does anyone have any good recommendations and do they provide a better workout than a trainer? I want to get the most bang for my buck if I have to be cycling indoors!! :) Thanks!

I have a Keiser m3 spin bike. IMO its been engineered very well, made with high quality materials, and is going to last forever. Easy to assemble. It's super quiet to use, actually it's noiseless.
Price wise, I think it's on the higher end but if you plan on using it on a regular basis it's well worth the investment.

[ny biker]

I always assumed the noise factor was more for people in apartments and condos. :)

Or with family members who need to sleep, do homework, hear anything besides the trainer, etc.

[nuliajuk]

I'm not sure anyone makes the old style wind trainers with the bladed fans any more - those were the really noisy ones. Mag turbos don't make much noise and are relatively inexpensive. I've been using the same Minoura mag trainer for about 12 years and have had no problems with it. I'm not familiar with fluid trainers.

[zoom-zoom]

My DH and I both have CycleOps trainers. His is fluid, mine is magnetic. His is WAY louder than mine and the resistance is crazy high...like I lose at least 3mph given gearing and effort comparable to if I were riding on flats outdoors. I kinda wonder about CycleOps' quality control. I had to send back the resistance unit on my trainer when it was new (our LBS couldn't simply exchange it, since my trainer had been bought at the end of the season and they no longer had any in stock to exchange). The roller was warped and when I'd ride the vibration pulsating through the house sounded like a freight train. I've ridden other units of the same model my DH has and they don't have the same insane level of resistance.

Their CS is awesome, though. They sent me a new resistance unit with only a scan of my original receipt and serial #. They also sent a box to return the defective resistance unit in.

[limewave]

I'm not sure anyone makes the old style wind trainers with the bladed fans any more - those were the really noisy ones. Mag turbos don't make much noise and are relatively inexpensive. I've been using the same Minoura mag trainer for about 12 years and have had no problems with it. I'm not familiar with fluid trainers.

We have one of those! It had to be 15 years old. A few years ago I used to go to a group trainer ride at an LBS and everyone made fun of my old, beat-up trainer. It worked just fine though. It finally puked on us last winter and I bought a clycleops mag trainer. I actually think I prefer our old one--it seemed to be more consistant in resistance. I can feel the resistance on the cycleops give a litte every now and then when I'm pedaling. But it is less noisy and no one teases me anymore.

[Wasp]

I bought a kinetic by kurt. I got it set up, but life, job, and kids dominated my time as I have yet to use it. Planning on the big try out tomorrow morning.

[bluejellybean]

Let us know how it goes Wasp...that's one on my list to consider! :)