Help With Trainers PLEASE

Basically a magnetic trainer uses a series of magnets running against one another to create the peddle resistance and a fluid trainer uses vanes running through fluid in a sealed chamber to create the resistance. I used to have a Blackburn magnetic trainer and now I have a Cyclops Fluid II. The magnetic one was fine but the fluid one is a lot quieter and the resistance is smoother. I'd recommend fluid over magnets.

meehs said:

Basically a magnetic trainer uses a series of magnets running against one another to create the peddle resistance and a fluid trainer uses vanes running through fluid in a sealed chamber to create the resistance. I used to have a Blackburn magnetic trainer and now I have a Cyclops Fluid II. The magnetic one was fine but the fluid one is a lot quieter and the resistance is smoother. I'd recommend fluid over magnets.

Thank you, is there any brand that is better then another, I would rather pay a bit more to get quality and something that will last. thanks for your help, its really appreciated

Well, the only two brands I've actually used myself have been Blackburn and Cyclops. The Blackburn was a good trainer and it lasted a long time until the resistance unit just finally bit the dust. I guess I could've just replaced the resistance unit but I decided to upgrade to the Cyclops (I actually bought two, one for me and one for my wife). I really like the Cyclops and I know they were one of the first companies to offer a fluid trainer. I guess there were some leakage problems with the early ones but that problem has been eliminated. There's another model that a lot of folks on here have recommended but I can't remember the name. You might try doing a search on this forum using the word "trainers" and see what comes-up. From my experience you can't go wrong with the Cyclops and it costs under $300. Good luck!

meehs said:

Well, the only two brands I've actually used myself have been Blackburn and Cyclops. The Blackburn was a good trainer and it lasted a long time until the resistance unit just finally bit the dust. I guess I could've just replaced the resistance unit but I decided to upgrade to the Cyclops (I actually bought two, one for me and one for my wife). I really like the Cyclops and I know they were one of the first companies to offer a fluid trainer. I guess there were some leakage problems with the early ones but that problem has been eliminated. There's another model that a lot of folks on here have recommneded but I can't remember the name. You might try doing a search on this forum using the word "trainers" and see what comes-up. From my experience you can't go wrong with the Cyclops and it costs under $300. Good luck!

Thanks, i will do a search, i havent seen the in australia, maybe im blind, thanks for your help, i really appreciate it, regards

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On the subject of trainers...

A friend loaned me her Schwinn trainer, but I'm not sure I'm clamping it onto my bike correctly. It has the two cups with the cutout grooves like I've seen on most other trainers, but the cup on the left side does not look like it goes over the skewer nearly enough to support the bike with me on it. The leading edge of the cup is pressing against the quick-release lever, which prevents if from going on further. Is this typical and I'm being paranoid? Or am I missing something? I just imagine the skewer slipping out and carbon fiber seat stay with 170lbs on top of it smashing against the steel trainer frame - not a pretty thought.

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trek_boy said:

Thanks, i will do a search, i havent seen the in australia, maybe im blind, thanks for your help, i really appreciate it, regards

You're just a few months behind me. I did a lot of research -- including reading a number of postings on this site and others -- and the weight of it tipped me toward a fluid training (you'll get better technical explanations from others here than I'm capable of providing) and to a Kurt Kinetics Trainer, with which I've been delighted after, perhaps, 100 hours so far. (Did the 90-minute Troy Jacobson Time Trial Dvd this morning, a damned good workout for 90 minutes IMHO.) Will I be just as happy with the Kinetics is a year, two years, 10 years? Stay tuned, but from the solid construction I'm willing to bet yes.

I have recently buy a Kurt Kinetics Road Machine trainer. Very smooth and low noise. Definitely a good buy. Check the reviews on the net.

kurtkinetic.comroadmachine.phpOpen ↗

pgagne said:

I have recently buy a Kurt Kinetics Road Machine trainer. Very smooth and low noise. Definitely a good buy. Check the reviews on the net.

kurtkinetic.comroadmachine.phpOpen ↗

Yeah, that was the one that I couldn't remember the name of. A lot of folks on here really like that one!

meehs said:

Yeah, that was the one that I couldn't remember the name of. A lot of folks on here really like that one!

I spent three hours on mine yesterday .... and still like it, which is saying something. The duration was made bearable by the fact that a gentle snow fell steadily outside the window beside me, but I will be hearing Coach Troy in my sleep:
"Keep your cadance up!"
"Okay, in five seconds you're standing up!"
"Don't slow down on me, don't slow down on me."
"In five we go to big ring on the front, 13 on the back."
"In ten seconds we're going to drop it down one gear."
And my two favorites:
"This is hurting me as much as it's hurting you!."
And,
"Tomorrow you'll call me and thank me for this workout."