Trainers- I am clueless!

[Eden]

Try CraigsList or something similar. Lots of people get rid of trainers on the cheap there - and you can even advertise that you want to buy one.

Turbo (wind) trainers are usually the cheapest and noisiest. A cheap one may offer up less resistance than a nicer mag or fluid, but these can be obtained around the $100 mark sometimes. You may not be able to hear your spinning DVD over it though....

Magnetic - less noisy than wind a good magnetic trainer should give you decent resistance, though if you are very very powerful you may want to go with a fluid.

Fluid - least noisy and the feel can be a little better than the other two - a little less abrupt. These are generally the most expensive of the three and the cheap ones can develop leaks!

[makbike]

Does your LBC have a forum? I picked up a Cyclop2 fluid trainer last year for $150 off our forum and have logged many a mile on it since my purchase. Craigslist and EBay are also good places to look too.

The Spinerval tapes/DVDs provide an excellent workout and by the end you will dislike Coach Troy a lot, an awful lot! I'm convinced he does not know how to ride a bike for I've never seen him astride one. He is one sick cookie. Our LBC offers trainer tours every Tuesday and Thursday hosted by a Coach Troy tape. Like little lemmings we all hook our bikes up, climb aboard and do as Coach Troy tells us. However, those who stick with using their trainers throughout the winter months are way ahead of those who parked their bikes for the winter months when it warms up later in the season.

Good luck!

[han-grrl]

We have a few bike forums around here, and people are frequently upgrading their trainers. perhaps you can post a "looking for" ad somewhere in your bike community.

[ribbit_zap]

I just purchased a Cycleops Magneto online for 200 (including the block) and the shipping was free. It is a 2006 which is why it was cheaper (they are now pushing the 2007 model) The cheapest places tend to be online. I looked at bike shops and they were all way more expensive...around 70 bucks more expensive and when you are trying to cut costs 70 bucks makes a huge difference. Good Luck!

[han-grrl]

you can also check ebay

[Aggie_Ama]

Mak- Have you had any problems with the Cycleops leaking? I found one on Craigslist for $175, I was thinking of seeing if he would take less.

Nancy- Do you recall which site you used? I have found several but am concerned about using one I am unfamiliar with.

We have a brand new Performance here, one of the first in Texas. I was thinking of checking them out this weekend. All this cold and rain is killing my fitness. When I lived in an apartment I had the fitness center to fall back on, now I am just sitting on my butt.

[makbike]

AA, I've not any problems with my trainer leaking. I've logged over 1,600 miles on since I picked it up last year. It was "lightly" used, whatever that means. No matter what it means I know I've gotten my $150 out of it and I've been able to maintain my fitness level.

Good luck in your hunt.