Cyclists: Need recommendations on indoor trainers

[prolesunited]

Well, after an unseasonably mild fall, much of it I was able to ride through, I have called it quits. Today it was in the 30s and I saw snowflakes. Needless to say, I'm NOT going out riding tonight.

So, I would hate to see a season of training go to waste, so I need to buy an indoor trainer. The guy at the cycle shop said I would quickly grow to hate the magnetic trainer and that I should go with the fluid one.

What's your experience? Which brand is better?

[toddzilla]

1. i used to use a blackburn magstand..

this was back in the day though.. i've never used a fluid trainer so i can't comment on them. i never had a problem with the magnetic one, and you could adjust it from the handlebars. I have to be honest though, i friggin hate riding on trainers, if i hadn't been in training for a triathlon, i would not have used it at all..

[prolesunited]

2. Not training for a triathlon

but I want to do RAGBRAI next year and since I live near Chicago, I won't exactly have a long spring to prepare. I'm sure I won't do my usual 100-125 miles per week indoors, but I don't want to have to start from scratch.

I look up Blackburn and see what they have. Anyone else?

[toddzilla]

3. for what it's worth..

i honestly believe that unless you go completely nuts on a bike trainer, that it provides very little in specificity as it relates to actual bike riding. All the indoor training i did never really did much for my actual riding muscles, i think it's probably just as good to keep your cardio fitness up. unless you vary the resistance constantly and stand up regularly for hill simulation, a trainer just doesn't replicate it well enough in my opinion. I always had to ride for a few weeks to get my "legs" back even after riding a trainer regularly. This may be due to me not really "spinning" like you are supposed to in competetive biking, 100-120 rpms, i'm a large guy and never could get comfortable with that much leg movement, i was always happier in a lower gear closer to anaerobic threshold. you may want to check in on a rowing machine, they are excellent cardio workouts that would still work the legs enough to maintain muscle mass as it pertains to riding.

[Waistdeep]

4. I've got an idea

Just ride to the RAGBRAI start from Chicago. You should be in shape for the ride by the time you get there ..... :)

[Waistdeep]

5. I'd go with a fluid unit

The nice thing about fluid units is that the resistance increases as the wheel speed increases similarly to riding on the road, so you have to shift gears to get up to speed. I'd probably buy a Kurt Kinetic, but it's kind of pricey.

[rog]

6. Kinetic

I agree w/ ToddZ that nothing takes the place of the road, but there's a LONG off season here in Wisconsin. My friends who used to race in the 70s say that rollers are really the way to go for indoor training, since you have to use all your balancing muscles, etc., just like road riding. I've never tried that, but I have gone through a couple of magnetic wind trainers, none of which I was happy with. But last year I came across the Kurt Kinetic.

You'll choke at the price ... $300 for the "standard" model and $340 for the one with the larger, heavier flywheel ... but (as far as I can tell) it's the last trainer you'll have to buy. I LOVE mine, as much as you can love riding indoors in the winter time, and I really noticed a huge difference on my first couple of rides in the spring. Sure ... you still have to get in shape for the road, but the Kinetic really gives you a jump start.

I bit the bullet and went for the more expensive one, even though I'm a smaller guy (around 160lbs) ... folks on the discussion boards seemed to think the larger flywheel gave a more "road like" ride. I'm not disappointed ... couldn't be happier. The thing about this trainer is that it's REALLY heavy duty, so it's very stable. Doesn't move around very much at all. And the well designed quick release system makes it a breeze to get your bike on and off the trainer, in case you get a nice day in January.

Check it out at the Spinervals site: http://www.spinervals.com/kinetic.asp

or at the company page: http://www.kurtkinetic.com

You get a free Spinervals training tape if you get it from the Spinervals site.

Same price at both places. The spinervals site has a link to one review, but I'm sure you can find lots of folks talking about the Kinetic if you do a quick Google.

Ah ... here are a couple of pretty fair reviews: http://tinyurl.com/wflu

If anyone else has tried the Kurt Kinetic, I'd be interested to hear what you think. And one more time, I'd really recommend dropping the extra $40 bucks for the "heavy duty" model.

.rog.

[HuckleB]

7. Don't know. I spent my money on rain gear.

I just can't see myself using one of those for very long or very often. I'd rather brave the elements. Good luck.

[prolesunited]

10. How cold does it get

where you live?

[BiggJawn]

8. I'm using an old wind trainer...

I don't like it. I think that of the four types of indoor "Hamster wheel" (wind, mag, fluid, and rollers) it's the least desired. But I got it on eBay for $40. I learned. I'm buying a fluid unit when they go on sale in the spring. Funny how they went from $59 to $99 in just a few weeks...

OK, specifics....It's noisy. Get up to 15 MPH or faster, and the fans howl like a banshee. No flywheel on mine, so I wind-up "muffing" the chainwheel shifts. It feels unatural, can't really get a good "spin" going, even at 100 RPM.

It's OK for keeping up the Cardio fitness and burning calories, but it's not fun. I must confess that I don't ride it as much as I thought i would be, but it's been a busy season.

I found a set of rollers on eBay, so I'll be able to report on those in a few weeks. I'm hoping for a short learning curve and maybe it will be fun working on developing that "Suplesse" thing...

[Township75]

9. I don't road ride, I mtn bike, but here is a website that may help you....

http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/trainer/

they rate trainers according to user responses...maybe in there will be some info to help you.

Good Luck

[prolesunited]

11. Thanks! Lots of info there.

The Kurt Kinetic came very highly recommended.

http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Trainer/product_47319.shtml

[Bushfire]

12. I own the Cycle Ops Wind Trainer

and while noisy, it does get the job done if you are dedicated. I just turn the Flaming Lips up loud, and pedal away. I would probably buy the Kurt Kinetic trainer if in the market again.

[BiggJawn]

14. Loud music DOES make it better...

Sant-Saens' 3rd or Donna Summer albums till the neighbours bitch, either one....:7

[LizW]

13. You get what you pay for

is my only advice.

Years ago, my husband tried a very cheap indoor trainer that had some plastic parts. The first time he tried to use it the thing disintegrated and a sharp piece of plastic flew up and IMBEDDED itself in his butt cheek! His cycling buddies just about never let him live down that cycling injury!:7

[prolesunited]

15. LOL!

Thanks for sharing. :D

[pmbryant]

16. Hope you find a good one

I can't help you out, since I have no experience with indoor trainers at all, but I hope you are happy with whatever you get.

I've tried riding on stationary bikes at the gym in the past but find it torture for even 5 minutes. :scared:

I haven't been on my bicycle in over 2 months now, since my partner hurt her elbow and can't ride herself. But that does mean we've gotten back into hiking and doing some birdwatching. We saw a few green jays last week in a park a couple hours south of here!




:wow:

--Peter