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With winter coming, we're kicking around the idea of getting a trainer - and from the bit of research we've done so far, it looks like liquid trainers are better than wind or mag trainers. I'm contemplating getting one for my husband for Christmas - any tips or watch out fors? Any favorite brands? Our Trek store sells a Cyclops mode for about $400 - I'm hoping not to spend that much but I also want to get something decent that we can use for many years.
Hi Fretwes,
Check out this site.....www.1upusa.com
I purchased one of these trainers based upon research and input from fellow riders (on this forum and one other). My husband is a real stickler for quality craftmanship....he was impressed. The trainers are made here in the USA. The company was very responsive to my order and delivered on what they promised.
I guess should add, this is not a fluid type trainer.
I have a CycleOps fluid trainer, and I have been very happy with it. The fluid trainer is listed on the CycleOps site with a suggested list price of $299, so I'd look further before paying $400 for it!Quote:
Originally Posted by fretwes
http://www.cycle-ops.com/products/fluidsquared.htm
I too did a lot of research before I bought my trainer. I read a lot about some fluid trainers leaking. I ended up buying the Kurk Kenitic trainer. I did not use it as much as I had planned last winter. It just is not as fun as being outside to ride. I have been happy with the trainer, though.
I use a Cycle-Ops also. It is much quieter than the Blackburn.
Also, calculate into your budget DVDs like Spinervals or TrainRight. I find that these workouts are much more effective (and fun) than making up my own routine based on the timing of TV commercials or basketball game timeouts.
We use headphones so that we don't have to blast the TV volume over the sound of 2 trainers.
Anyone tried this? Georgina Terry recommends it in her blog though she doesn't sell it. http://cyclo-zen.com/
hubby and i both have cyclops 2 trainers (from performance! get them on sale or price matched with a 20% coupon!!!!)
he originally chose his cuz he researched and found it to be the best... and when i got a bike... we just ordered me the same thing... (however i discovered i hate... hate.... HATE sitting in the garage on the trainer! :eek: tried watching soaps while spinning.. hated it... tried watching a rented movie... hated it... tried spinervals... yelled at troy and called evil and other names i can't print here!) lol!
my trainer is sitting ont he shelf VERY dusty right now (well.. so is hubbys as we've been riding outside! i plan to suffer in the cold as much as possible to avoid the EVIL EVIL trainer!)
cyclops trainer at performance.com currently $239 on sale... 20% coupon code: 6001238...
if you are a team performance member.. DO NOT order on line... they will charge you overweight 2nd day air prices... call on the phone and they will send it overweight GROUND!
i want to know about cyclo-zen and clyclop-core... i'm on his email list and get an email EVERY day from him! lol! but i've not broken down and bought either...Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
Maybe you're wearing the wrong outfit. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by caligurl
you'd be surprised at what i've worn on the trainer! lol! :p :p :p :p :p :p :p i'm NOT a fashinista on the EVIL EVIL trainer (however i am a fashionista when doing my weight and aerobic workouts in the garage.. go figure... my way of thinking: cute workout clothes add a good 10-20% calories burned during the workout... right???????? i have some of the cutest workout outfits that noone but hubby, the dogs and cats ever see! :eek: )Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
We have the Cycleops fluid trainer and really like it...despite the fact it's just started leaking...for the 2nd time. Though, it has been a couple of years since the first leaking episode. The upside is DH called them and told them it was the 2nd time it's leaked and he wasn't overly fond of paying shipping to send the heavy thing back to them for fixing or replacing again. The customer service rep is sending us a new unit along with paid shipping to return the leaky unit. At least their service is good!
So, are his emails better constructed than his website? It's kind of buried in there that you need a stability ball and I really don't want to buy two and store two (Bubba and I train together). I emailed him and he responded that the ball wasn't used in all his programs, that "the stability ball is only about 10-20 percent of the programs. Minimal space is how I set it up. "Quote:
Originally Posted by caligurl
Sorry, a stability ball takes up a lot of space, doesn't it? How big are they?
Hmm, I also posted this question on bikejournal. Maybe someone over there has used the programs.
You guys are great! Thanks for all the info. If I use that coupon code at Performance Bikes, do I get 20% off the sale price?
yeppers! you sure do! :D
Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
i stopped reading his emails! lol! i do look at the subject and may skim one... once in a while.. his emails are all LONG! but they are cycling related... during the tour he talked abou the tour... talks about climbing... etc.... so ya... i think they are "better" than his website.. just too many of them! :rolleyes:
DH does the cyclo-core off season conditioning dvd. He likes it a lot and thinks it had made a big difference for him, but I think it's entirely too sadistic. I avoid it like the plague. He starts off with like 75 reps of some sort of squat thrust or something. ACK! How about starting with 10?!? Ok, I'm a wimp when it comes to having to do the things that develop core strength and such. If you aren't afraid of a tough workout then it probably wouldn't bother you.
I don't think he uses the stabilitly ball in that one. Though, we do have and use a ball. The ball workout I don't mind...much fewer reps and it definitely works...when I do it. :rolleyes: It's pretty big and we usually leave it in our dining room, which is rarely used for dining and generally used for bike and accessory storage.
Another cycle-ops fluid trainer user here. I have used mine for 3 years in the winter time without a problem. I did hear that some made a few years ago did have a leaking problem, but cycle-ops has since addressed that issue and I have not heard of people having problems since. As of last year, my husband got one as did my girlfriend and we get together in my living room twice a week to train with a dvd. In between I have no problem getting on the other days on my own by just watching tv although nothing beats the fresh air by riding outdoors.
JoAnn
Ok doing a little thread stealing here. Im looking at trainers and this one has good reviews at roadbikereview.com. Soggy you seem happy with yours, anyone else out there that has this trainer?Quote:
Originally Posted by Soggy
I have the 1upUSA trainer, too. I like it. It is very well made and very, very easy to load and unload my bike. Also, it is very quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trekhawk
I bought it after reading the information on their website and lots of reviews. And when it arrived, I was really impressed!
Thanks for the review Adventure Girl. The trainer sounds great and from what I read the company has very good customer service. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Adventure Girl
http://www.kreitler.com/accessories....pg=accessories
We (dh & I)have these alloy rollers with headfan and front fork stand. The fork stand is a must as far as beginner/Interm. are concerned-and wearing clipless pedals and shoes. We both really love them, they also have a great warrantee, and any extra parts can be bought seperately. I also like the fact that it is the front wheel I have to remove instead of removing/replacing back wheel. Find that if something is simple I don't mind moving bike on and off as much.
Look into them, there are a couple of other people here that use the rollers as well and seem very pleased too.
AutumnBreez "We (dh & I)have these alloy rollers with headfan and front fork stand."
But then you don't get the fun of FU (failure to unclip) in your living room. Where's the fun in that? ;)
AutumnBreez - thanks I will take a look. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by AutumnBreez
Well our CyleOps Fluid 2 arrived this afternoon. Took my hubby about 10 minutes to put it together. We put a bike on it and we've both hopped on and tried it out. Feels great! Just came back from a big Thai meal so I'm waiting for awhile before I take a real ride on it. I think I'll just do a 20 minute easy ride tonight and tomorrow try out the Carmicheal DVD that came with it.
We watched a few minutes of the DVD - we were commenting on how much the riders in it were sweating and then we started laughing - we were both slumped down on the couch in the laziest position possible.
A lot of people have mentioned the Spinervals DVDs. What are they like?