View Full Version : Which stationary trainer?
I have a friend who will be competing in her first Ironman next year and needs a stationary trainer for this upcoming winter. She has a budget of $300 and needs a quiet machine so wind trainers are out. Her training partners recommended the CycleOps fluid trainer. Is that the best option or are there better machines within her budget?
jmoore
10-05-2011, 10:07 AM
Get some rollers.
dekindy
10-05-2011, 10:17 AM
http://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-Kurt-Machine-Bicycle-Trainer/dp/B000BNCA0Y
I have one and it is stable, sturdy and functional.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/training/trainers/kurt/kinetic-road-machine/prd_331251_1663crx.aspx
Reviews here.
http://www.1upusa.com/bike_trainer.html
This one gets very excellent reviews and is in budget.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/training/trainers/1upusa/cpr-a-2000-all-aluminum-trainer/prd_111845_1663crx.aspx
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/trainer/1upusa/cpr-a-2000-all-aluminum/prd_360077_153crx.aspx
Reviews here.
forrestw
10-05-2011, 10:18 AM
Get some rollers.
+1 used kreitler rollers should be in budget
AngryScientist
10-05-2011, 10:20 AM
at least she has a realistic budget, that's refreshing.
either the cyclops fluid 2 or the kurt kinetic should be just fine, both are excellent and have excellent customer service. i personally have the cyclops, and have spent quite a few hours hating myself on it.
oldpotatoe
10-05-2011, 10:20 AM
Get some rollers.
What he said....helps make her ride better, smoother, straighter and the time goes by faster than on a mind numbing stationary trainer.
hockeybike
10-05-2011, 10:21 AM
http://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-Kurt-Machine-Bicycle-Trainer/dp/B000BNCA0Y
I have one and it is stable, sturdy and functional.
http://www.1upusa.com/bike_trainer.html
This one gets very excellent reviews and is in budget.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/training/trainers/1upusa/cpr-a-2000-all-aluminum-trainer/prd_111845_1663crx.aspx
Reviews here.
I've used both of these. The 1up is more quiet, the kurt kinetic is a bit more stable. This isn't to say that the 1up is unstable, it's just to say that if I were doing sprints and really high intensity efforts, I'd rather do them on the kurt kinetic than the 1up. That said, both offer a very good road feel compared to lower end trainers and you can't go wrong with either.
If going with the kurt, scour craigslist--they pop up a lot.
fiamme red
10-05-2011, 10:23 AM
She has a budget of $300 and needs a quiet machine so wind trainers are out.The 1 Up USA trainer is very quiet and costs $300. Excellent quality, made in USA.
DRZRM
10-05-2011, 10:23 AM
Yup, I replaced my Cyclops fluid 2 with Kreitler rollers and never looked back...actually, I'll happily sell my Cyclops to her (still in good shape, not used more than a dozen times) shipped in original box well within her budget.
PM me if interested.
mattsbeers
10-05-2011, 10:51 AM
Ride outside= bike handling skills. Priceless.
DRZRM
10-05-2011, 11:18 AM
She's a triathlete, why would she need bike handling skills :D Kidding...kidding.
Ride outside= bike handling skills. Priceless.
...
If going with the kurt, scour craigslist--they pop up a lot.
or REI when they have their 20% off coupons....
...
If going with the kurt, scour craigslist--they pop up a lot.
...
Get some rollers.
Noooooooo.
Triathlete on a tribike on rollers?
That's a recipe for disaster.
deechee
10-05-2011, 12:33 PM
If your most important requirement is silence, yeah the 1upusa is hard to beat, but as hockeybike said, the Kurt is much more stable and "feels" better. That said, if you're doing FTP work and above, trainers and rollers ALL get noisy.
jmoore
10-05-2011, 01:15 PM
Noooooooo.
Triathlete on a tribike on rollers?
That's a recipe for disaster.
Maybe, but she should setup a camera and post the video for us to review just to be sure. Hilarity could ensue!
fiamme red
10-05-2011, 01:25 PM
Maybe, but she should setup a camera and post the video for us to review just to be sure. Hilarity could ensue!Speaking of triathletes, I never get tired of watching this video:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=79272
Maybe, but she should setup a camera and post the video for us to review just to be sure. Hilarity could ensue!
cue "Yakety Sax"
:beer:
jmoore
10-05-2011, 01:40 PM
That's gold Jerry, GOLD!
http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Boards/711/19711/231243.jpg
Speaking of triathletes, I never get tired of watching this video:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=79272
Peter P.
10-05-2011, 01:53 PM
Spend the extra money and get the Kurt Kinetic Fluid Trainer.
If the budget limit is absolute, then I suggest a Blackburn mag trainer. They're quiet and have superb customer support.
woolly
10-05-2011, 02:17 PM
If I were in the market for one, I'd go for the 1-Up. But my TruTrainer rollers are sooooooo nice I don't see the need for a trainer too.
Ti Designs
10-05-2011, 03:26 PM
Her training program counts way more than which trainer she uses, but here are a few things to think about. First, rollers don't really make you smoother, good fit and good training make you smoother. Rollers are a true test of smoothness at high cadence, but how applicable is a 160+ RPM spin here? I honestly don't see getting endurance training on rollers. Within the long list of trainers there are ones with progressive resistance (fluid trainers) and those with linear resistance (magnetic trainers). All of the marketing is about fluid units because their resistance is more like riding on the road. News flash: riding on the trainer isn't riding on the road, it's training for riding on the road - there's a big difference. Anyone who can't tell the difference needs to get out more. Training is about stressing the body for the gains it will produce - there are lots of options here, riding the trainer just like you're out on a road ride makes for a long winter with little to show for it. I happen to use and like linear resistance for a number of reasons. First, it's simple. Your output is a linear function of your wheel speed. For time trail training the goal is to learn how to produce a steady level of power with limited increases or decreases (there will still be hills and winds...). A small increase in cadence can require a large increase in power with a fluid unit. With the brain switch firmly in the off position, it's hard to notice these things while on a trainer. For doing intervals, the linear output takes the math out of it. Baseline between intervals is just the gear and the cadence that would otherwise keep you at 80% of AT. The limiting factor in the interval is more about the torque it takes to turn the gear than about the resistance curve.
gavingould
10-05-2011, 03:55 PM
have a 1up i picked up used... it's pretty nice, though i do get tire slippage under very hard efforts, even with a trainer specific tire and a large amount of contact pressure. Cycleops Fluid are very nice, and i've heard great things around the the Kurt Kinetics.
Fixed
10-05-2011, 04:28 PM
What he said....helps make her ride better, smoother, straighter and the time goes by faster than on a mind numbing stationary trainer.
o.p. is that what the tri . gang does there over the winter ?
i would look for a used spinning bike something you could practice laying on the front end for hours
cheers
Thanks for the info folks, I've passed along your suggestions.
Fixed - I believe that she needs a portable trainer for group sessions with other triathletes so the spin bike and rollers aren't practical.
FYI - I just rec'd my REI member coupon for 20% off any full price item...they have the Kurt Trainer for $339...or $271.20 after coupon.
:beer:
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