|   Looking for the right Bicycle Trainer? | Cube
Dec 15, 2002 2:46 PM | | I'm looking for the right bicycle trainer to maintain fitness when it is too cold to ride. What do you recommend and why? |
| You came to the right place | Fast feet
Dec 15, 2002 4:44 PM | | If you are serious and want the best get a Kurt Kinetic Road fluid trainer and it will cost over $300 bones. You asked for a recommendation and you might as well do it right.
You'll have to run cheap slick tires on the rear that you don't mind burning up. Running regular MTB tires will be too noisy and a waste.
The other trainer I'd recommend is the Cyclops fluid. You don't want a magnetic trainer because the fluid has a better feel, is quieter, and the resistance is more progressive. |
| Cyclops Fluid works good for me - great 'feel'. (n/t) | Doug in CO
Dec 15, 2002 5:08 PM | | |
| I have been looking at... | Cube
Dec 15, 2002 5:35 PM | | I have been looking at the Kinetic trainers.
The Kinetic Road Machine costs $340.00 and got rave reviews. I would be using it for my Mountain bike. Is the extra 40 bucks worth it over the Kinetic Standard Trainer $300?
What keeps your front wheel straight? Your hands I bet.
I have also looked at the Elite Volare Fluid Trainer. $239.99 I saw it reviewed in the Bike Mag "Mountain Bike" January 2003.
Thanks for your input Fast Feet |
| Std. vs Road | Fast feet
Dec 15, 2002 8:37 PM | | Hey Cube,
I think the difference between the two is that the Road model has a 6.25lb flywheel while the Standard has a 3lb flywheel.
Personally, I'd go for the heavier flywheel because one problem with mountain bikes on trainers is that the gearing is lower and sometimes your 44t/12t is not enough for what you might want. The heavier flywheel has benefits of a smoother feel and higher resistance level (watts)over a lighter flywheel. The 3lb is certainly sufficient though. |
| Tacx, Kurt or 1-Up..... | SS_MB-7
Dec 16, 2002 7:09 AM | | I recently went through the same thing and narrowed my choices down to: Tacx Cycleforce Swing, Kurt Kinetic (road version) and 1-Up. In the end, I bought the Tacx and logged 3+ hrs on the first day. It's a nice, quiet trainer that has ample resistance for some low cadence hill climbing which is easily adjustable via a handlebar mounted thumbshifter and it folds easily.
I went with the Tacx because it came highly recommended from a couple racers I race against. Also, the shop I race for can get Tacx so the it was substantially cheaper (thanks to my Pro deal) than the Kurt and 1-Up, which I would have had to buy-direct...and, since I'm in Canada, the UPS brokerage fees, etc. would have added to the cost.
Based on the reviews at MTBR.com and Roadbikereview.com, the Kurt and 1-Up are excellent trainers. Personally, I would not go with the CycleOps Fluid 2 trainers because there seem to be many complaints of leakage since there is a shaft that goes through the fluid...the Kurt is a completely sealed unit. The 1-Up does not use fluid.
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| Computrainer | fzn12s
Dec 16, 2002 12:02 PM | | Computrainer. Costs more than an SUV but has enough eye candy to keep you riding for hours. Spin scan teaches you to pedal smoothly. Create courses that copy ones you actually ride/race. Many of the "cyclists training bible" workouts are available. |
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