Bike trainer

[rivan]

I'm looking at bike trainers, and it looks like my choices are magnetic, friction and fluid.

Reading reviews, it looks like the magnetics can be noisy, and the fluids can be much more expensive. It looks like the friction models may have issues with maintenance/longevity.

I can handle some noise, as it'll be in my basement, though if it'd interfere with music or tv too badly I'd rather avoid it. I'll also be doing this while my wife and kids are asleep, so if it's a noise that travels through walls it's out.

Can one of you guys give me the pros & cons for each type, and maybe recommend a brand/place to buy?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Do you have a bike shop or two in your area? You might swing by and ask them to demo each type...if they're reputable or even a decent bike shop, they'll be more than happy to oblige and give you tips on what they (and others) have said about each one. That way you get a feel for the amount of noise each one produces. Longetivity you won't be able to tell of course.

I've used my friend's magnetic - it wasn't that noisy, but I only used it briefly to warm up before we went out for a run.

 

[Kaido]

Rollers are the best, not to mention very quiet:

http://www.insideride.com/inde...com_frontpage&Itemid=1

They are expensive though. I'd like to get a setup for winter riding, but I'm saving up for a weight set first.

 

[amish]

as kaido said, rollers are great. not only do they let you pedal quietly but they also make you keep your balance.

i've got a magnetic trainer from cycleOps/trek. it works well. it can get loud but it doesn't really bother me. i just turn the TV up. between my bike and my wife's bike it has gotten decent use and hasn't yet made me wish that i would have bought a fluid one instead.

if you are using a mountain bike or another non-road bike; get some slicks. it will help with vibration and noise.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: amish
as kaido said, rollers are great. not only do they let you pedal quietly but they also make you keep your balance.

i've got a magnetic trainer from cycleOps/trek. it works well. it can get loud but it doesn't really bother me. i just turn the TV up. between my bike and my wife's bike it has gotten decent use and hasn't yet made me wish that i would have bought a fluid one instead.

if you are using a mountain bike or another non-road bike; get some slicks. it will help with vibration and noise.

Radio Shack has some good wireless headphones with a recharging base. I usually use them for my morning workouts.

 

[rivan]

The roller setup looks really great, but totally out of my price range. Thanks for showing me the gold standard I can't afford, Kaido

I'm in the $200-400 range, but really wanting to stay on the lower end of that unless there are compelling reasons not to (like the friction ones wearing out/requiring maintenance). It looks like I'm down to fluid vs magnetic, and need to check the noise level in a store.

Good idea on the tires, amish - I'm on a mountain bike.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: rivan
The roller setup looks really great, but totally out of my price range. Thanks for showing me the gold standard I can't afford, Kaido

I'm in the $200-400 range, but really wanting to stay on the lower end of that unless there are compelling reasons not to (like the friction ones wearing out/requiring maintenance). It looks like I'm down to fluid vs magnetic, and need to check the noise level in a store.

Good idea on the tires, amish - I'm on a mountain bike.

Used rollers? Craigslist? eBay?

It's okay, I'm in the same boat. Plus I have one of those old stationary exercise bikes, so my goal right now is to build up a good weight set before saving up for rollers. Someday...

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: rivan
The roller setup looks really great, but totally out of my price range. Thanks for showing me the gold standard I can't afford, Kaido

I'm in the $200-400 range, but really wanting to stay on the lower end of that unless there are compelling reasons not to (like the friction ones wearing out/requiring maintenance). It looks like I'm down to fluid vs magnetic, and need to check the noise level in a store.

Good idea on the tires, amish - I'm on a mountain bike.

Used rollers? Craigslist? eBay?

It's okay, I'm in the same boat. Plus I have one of those old stationary exercise bikes, so my goal right now is to build up a good weight set before saving up for rollers. Someday...

Yes, but stick with Craig's list probably because shipping can be a bear. If you get a great price on Ebay and it doesn't need to be shipped far, then, ok.

I had a Computrainer for about 10 years. I wouldn't have anything else except possibly one of the German made trainers (Kettler) that can be hard to get here and servicing is a pain. The Computrainer will give you your wattage, and without wattage you aren't training effectively. Their software is also very nice. I mention them in case someone else might be looking for a trainer.

-Robert

 

[edcarman]

Rollers promote balance and smooth riding techinique, but generally have lower resistance than trainers.
Fluid and wind trainers give a non-linear power curve which better immitates the feel of riding on the road. Basically, on a mag trainer, doubling speed doubles required power. On a fluid trainer, doubling speed quadruples required power.

Roller and trainer comparison / FAQ

Trainer Power Curves

 

[Ksyder]

http://www.cycleops.com/c-6-trainers.aspx?skinid=2

I've heard from multiple cyclists that the cycleops blackops trainers (i think thats what it was) are the ones to get. I know you guys are far beyond me already in this discussions but just thought I'd throw in my $.02...

nevermind, i'm an idiot... the blackops doesn't exist!! I think thats a foxconn motherboard

 

[arrfep]

Dude, get the rollers for sure. Not only will they provide you with the indoor cardio workout you're looking for, they'll make you a better cyclist also. Riding rollers helped my form and balance tons.

Well within your budget.