Indoor Trainers- suggestions anyone?

[extra-vert]

Thanks girls! And thanks for the price increase warning - very helpful.

[velogirl]

The first year of our race team a bunch of the girls bought the 1-Up trainers because they were cheap (and the price was going up $50 if I recall). Racers give their trainers a lot of abuse (throwing them in the car, using them at races in the dirt, etc). By the end of the first season, all the 1-Ups had fallen to pieces. I wouldn't recommend them. I'm a CycleOps girl myself.

[extra-vert]

Cool, thanks velogirl.

[songlady]

I have a cyclops fluid 2, so far so good. This winter will be its first big test.

[kaian]

I use a rim drive trainer. I didn't want to have to worry about going through rear tires, so I got a Minoura rim drive. I've had great luck with it. It's not too loud and provides A LOT of resistance if you want it to. I had a cyclops wind jammer in the past and it was so noisey, plus it wore down my rear tire to much.

[WrensMom]

ORIGINAL: velogirl
By the end of the first season, all the 1-Ups had fallen to pieces.

Hmm, I thought I read on the 1up site that they have a lifetime warranty about things breaking on them? Did any of your friends try to get them fixed/replaced, and if so, how was the customer service?

[pooks]

newbie question here -- why would you take a trainer to a race?

[velogirl]

I use a rim drive trainer. I didn't want to have to worry about going through rear tires, so I got a Minoura rim drive. I've had great luck with it. It's not too loud and provides A LOT of resistance if you want it to. I had a cyclops wind jammer in the past and it was so noisey, plus it wore down my rear tire to much.

If you use a good, hard-compound tire and tighten the resistance on the trainer enough that the rear tire doesn't slip, a trainer shouldn't really wear out the tire. The biggest mistake folks make is not tightening the drum enough. When the tire slips, not only does it get hot, but it wears down. You can hear it (squeak) and smell it (burning rubber) when it's not tight enough.

Rim units are great for mtn bikes and cyclocross bikes, though, but you can even use a traditional trainer on them. Or, you can put a slick on a second wheel and just swap that out when you're on a trainer.

A good fluid trainer isn't noisy at all, but you have to pay a premium for it.

Bottom line is, think about what you'll be using it for, how often you'll use it, and where you'll use it. I'm on the trainer 2-3 times a week even in the summer, so it's worth the investment to me to get a good trainer. If you've never used a trainer (and don't know if you'll like it), you might want to pick up a used on on craig's list or ebay. As you can imagine from the number of used trainers on the market, lots of folks purchase them and never use them.

[oxysback]

Thanks for the welcome, Pooks!

Weighing in on the trainer thing...hubby rides a recumbent trike, so he has a set of mini rollers he just puts under his rear wheel (his trike has 2 wheels in front, one in back). It also has a mount for an upright bike, but you have to take the front wheel off. I've used it in the past and it felt very shaky. I got a new trainer last year so we can ride together in the garage. It's just a cheapy one from Performance (just looked at their site and I don't see it listed). I think we paid $99...it was on sale. But since there's not a picture of it I'm not really any help, am I? LOL! Anyway, it works great for me.

[Bikingmomof3]

The first year of our race team a bunch of the girls bought the 1-Up trainers because they were cheap (and the price was going up $50 if I recall). Racers give their trainers a lot of abuse (throwing them in the car, using them at races in the dirt, etc). By the end of the first season, all the 1-Ups had fallen to pieces. I wouldn't recommend them. I'm a CycleOps girl myself.

I am new to the world of trainers,but want something I can work on when the weather is not cooperating here. I do not want to spend a lot and I came across a sale on a '05 CycleOps Mag Trainer. Any thoughts??