Talk to me about indoor trainers

[TsPoet]

I and a few other TE'ers have the 1up bicycle trainer and while it might be pricier than other ones out there it is really a great piece of engineering.

+1 on the 1up. I had a cyclops that I never got to work right. The 1up doesn't have all the bells and whistles and works better for it!
It also works great on several different sized wheels.

[VeloVT]

I really like my Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. Very smooth and quiet. I think it folds up too?

Bright obnoxious color though (slime green). Defintely doesn't blend into MY decor.

Agree that it's pretty boring (probably about the same as a treadmill, maybe even worse), and somehow seems harder than riding outside. Ipod helps. Sadly I don't really have the ability to set my bike up somewhere that I can watch DVDs... but I'm sure that would help a lot. However, it is a good way to get in miles in the winter, and a good opportunity to do drills and such.

[kie_fujo]

we have 2. one is a bell trainer we got for like $70 on amazon and it works just fine. the other one we got on sale. it was originally $175 but i don't notice a difference between it and the bell. the bell is going for $79.99 on amazon now with free shipping!!

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Motivator.../dp/B000AAYBWS

[Irulan]

we have 2. one is a bell trainer we got for like $70 on amazon and it works just fine. the other one we got on sale. it was originally $175 but i don't notice a difference between it and the bell. the bell is going for $79.99 on amazon now with free shipping!!

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Motivator.../dp/B000AAYBWS

how quiet is is? that is going to be a real factor in any purchase I make.

[michelem]

I have the CycleOps Fluid2 (got in on sale). It is very quiet. At first, I used my mountain bike on it and it worked very well. (However, my ill-fitting mountain bike has since been hung up in the garage until I can find someone to take it off my hands.) Since then, I purchased a road bike (with perfect fit, all my pains have melted away!). I think my mountain bike actually fit the trainer BETTER than the road bike.

Anyway, I think the fluid trainer is the way to go. I could never get through a trainer workout without dvd's and the wind and mag trainers just seem way to loud for that.

[kie_fujo]

i don't find it to be very loud, but i have never tried any other than the two i have. i generally throw on my ipod when i ride or turn the tv up a couple extra notches, but my bike is also across the room from the tv.

[milkbone]

Lots of good info already....I have a CycleOps Fluid and love it... : )