Indoor bike trainer education needed

[Z-man]

Now that I've been riding my bike more, I am looking to continue to use the bike throughout the winter. (One of the drawbacks of living in New Jersey: slush in the winter!) So I'm looking at indoor bicycle trainers. The price ranges are huge - $50 to $400+, and the options range too -- magnetic resistence, fluid resistence, multiple resistence levels...etc.

Ideally, I am looking for something that is compact, with adjustable resistence, priced around $100-$150. I don't know if any of these systems have computers to track 'virtual' mileage or speed, but that would be beneficial as well.

What other options should I consider? What brands are good, and which ones should I avoid?

Thanks,
-Z

[HardDrive]

CycleOps Fluid 2. Love it.

[look 171]

I suggest you try one first. I can't ride those things more then 15 minutes if my life depended on it. since I live in paradise, so I am a little spoiled. A major of cycle fitness is cardio, so spinning at a certain RMP (90-100) is very important. Resistance adjustment on my unit has always been at its lowest setting. You can get a pretty god workout by keeping the pedal revs high. In your case, given the winter weather conditions, a little resistance on the trainer maybe a welcoming sign after days of spinning.

[Kemo]

Z-Man,

I dont ride as much as I should, but... I have a Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer with the front riser. I didnt know too much about trainers, still dont, but this one came up with high marks time and time again. I bought mine at REI. With this one, there is no adjustment for resistance but I can tell you that it gets harder to pedal as you go up in the gears. You can get a good wookout. Mine came with a training video and a special skewer you will need to use in the back. If you only have one bike, you might want to invest in another rear wheel with the same gear stack and buy a "trainer" tire. For some reason, trainers kinda chew up standard tires. Or if you dont mind changing tires, I guess you could spin on a trainer tire. Ive been mulling over the idea of dedicating a frame just to the trainer and welding up somthing to bolt to the front forks. If I had the cash, I would probably get a Computrainer or maybe the TACX Virtual trainer. im saving for another 911SC but the price keeps climbing at the same rate im saving

[will944]

Skip it and sign up for a club that does indoor training using computrainers. I ride all winter here Connecticut Cycle Center |

I also have a fancy-pants Kurt kinetic rock-n-roll trainer....and have only used it twice.

[look 171]

I actually like old fashion rollers. They are more fun because you actually have to keep your balance, and keep pedaling so there is no rest. It requires a little skill and they help build form. Lots of form.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by look 171

I actually like old fashion rollers. They are more fun because you actually have to keep your balance, and keep pedaling so there is no rest. It requires a little skill and they help build form. Lots of form.

Always admired those who rode these things.
.
I bought a Travel Trak a hundred years ago for $90...just rigged it up again last week trying to lose 30 #s.
.
Travel Trac Comp Mag + Trainer - Bicycle Trainers
.
Happy spinning.

[slodave]

Just don't try this cheap, DIY method...

[jyl]

Is there a gym near you, with a good spin class? You can always get a trial membership. Take a spin class. Choose a bike toward the back of the room, behind the girl with the best rear. Enjoy the view for five minutes, then suffer for 55 more. A spin class can be as much of a workout as you can handle, and it is efficient. Three a week will bring you into spring time way stronger on the bike than now, promise.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Always admired those who rode these things.
.
I bought a Travel Trak a hundred years ago for $90...just rigged it up again last week trying to lose 30 #s.
.
Travel Trac Comp Mag + Trainer - Bicycle Trainers
.
Happy spinning.

I have fallen off my rollers in my top gear (that speed on the street would be 30+) many, many times. YOu really don't go anywhere but about 3 inches after you go off. It seem scary because you do fall and you are elevated about 6" off the floor making it seem impossible to hold yourself up with your leg as you go down. Let it go and fall, YOu wouldn't get hurt, but your ego that's with if all of us here watching.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jyl

Is there a gym near you, with a good spin class? You can always get a trial membership. Take a spin class. Choose a bike toward the back of the room, behind the girl with the best rear. Enjoy the view for five minutes, then suffer for 55 more. A spin class can be as much of a workout as you can handle, and it is efficient. Three a week will bring you into spring time way stronger on the bike than now, promise.

I love it when the instructor say," now everybody off the seat and work on our strength. Nose to the stem, off the saddle. What a view. I almost stopped pedaling.

I did spinning twice. I think its dumb when they start with the push up on the handle bars as we were riding. That's because I am a wuss and have no upper body strength. After the actual ride, we ended up doing a bunch of floor exercise. I was totally gassed and did only a few sit ups while the pretty asses were kicking my ass. tough work out really.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by look 171

I actually like old fashion rollers. They are more fun because you actually have to keep your balance, and keep pedaling so there is no rest. It requires a little skill and they help build form. Lots of form.

i always rode rollers. nothing like crashing in your living room, although i never did.
when i was getting out of biking, i could tell a lot of the new kids were not riding rollers. the bike skills just were not there.

[greglepore]

z-your best option is to troll cl for a used Cyclops or Kurt. None of these trainers have odo or speed, but you can mount the sensor for a wireless bike computer on the rear stay and put the magnet on the back wheel.

Second the comments about tedium. You have no idea how tedious indoor trainer work can be. I have a computrainer that I can't stand to use. Get a good fan and put it where you can either read or watch tv. You may think it'll be tolerable b/c you've used a treadmill in the past, but a much shorter treadmill workout is effective. The tedium factor is why spinning and rollers are popular. I wouldn't recommend rollers to a semi-casual cyclist. I like them for the reasons that look171 stated, but they do require a certain mindset.

Oh, I did weld up something for the front of my bike when using the ct, as it was not as stable as I wanted for doing sprint work. And a dedicated trainer bike is nice, if you can have one, as you'll drip sweat like a pig.

[berettafan]

Bought a Kurt Kinetics fluid and I've since decided i'd rather dress warm and be outside.

[look 171]

Z,

Like Greglapore said, I rather ride outside then to ride that trainer. Dress warm and a get set of winter tires if there's snow. When it snows, then come inside and do trainer work. Heck,just quit and have beer when it snows. The old saying goes, 30 minutes of light spinning road work is the same as 1 hour or more of hard turbo trainer workout. Its true.

I think going around the block 50 times is A LOT more exciting then 15 minutes of riding the trainer in front of your favorite tv program

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by look 171

I think going around the block 50 times is A LOT more exciting then 15 minutes of riding the trainer in front of your favorite tv program

Ditto

Has anyone tried the Sufferfest videos? Sounds like they may have some potential ....

from The Sufferfest on Vimeo.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by look 171

I think going around the block 50 times is A LOT more exciting then 15 minutes of riding the trainer in front of your favorite tv program

So true. I've tried trainers twice, over the years; I wasted good money both times. I doubt if both those trainers combined had a hundred miles on them. BORE _RING!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Ditto

Has anyone tried the Sufferfest videos? Sounds like they may have some potential ....

from The Sufferfest on Vimeo.

So much technology? Instead of watching my favorite pro cyclist break away in the hills of Flanders as I drip sweat trying to bridge the gap to Tom Boonen in the comfort of my own home on that trainer, maybe one day we can race against each other across the countries like they do on video games. I challenge you my fellow Pelican brothers. Do they already have them? This way, drivers will not be piss at us, and we wouldn't get those funny tans. Joebob would not have to ask the cop his badge number.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

So true. I've tried trainers twice, over the years; I wasted good money both times. I doubt if both those trainers combined had a hundred miles on them. BORE _RING!

I think that's how they get you. Every year they come up with something better with fluid, fan, friction, computer control, leans as you turn and on and on. This way we keep buying new ones only to not use them at all. I used my trainer a few times over they years. I am not sure who has them now, and I don't really care.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by T77911S

i always rode rollers. nothing like crashing in your living room, although i never did.
when i was getting out of biking, i could tell a lot of the new kids were not riding rollers. the bike skills just were not there.

Kids, adults, even guys that have been riding for time, need to learn how to have good form. Rollers or track riding will force you to do that. You can tell if someone has good form in the first 30 second of riding. rock solid and relaxed upper body with legs moving only.