[qmsdc15]

Yeah, theres a knob that you turn. It's an adjustable resistance magnetic trainer. My mom has a different trainer than yours. It sounds like yours isn't adjustable. I think resistance on the fluid trainers increases with speed.

[froze]

Originally Posted by qmsdc15

Yeah, theres a knob that you turn. It's an adjustable resistance magnetic trainer. My mom has a different trainer than yours. It sounds like yours isn't adjustable. I think resistance on the fluid trainers increases with speed.

Thanks, now I understand. Yes, the fluid jobs, or at least mine and some others, the resistance changes with the speed of the rear wheel. The magnetic ones (or at least some do) do have a way of changing the resistance through the actual trainer itself, some have a knob placed on the handlebar so you can change the resistance while you ride.

[Poolie]

Originally Posted by fez_

I thought about the CyclOps Fluid2 but spending $250+ for a trainer that I will use twice a week for 2 months doesn't seem worth it to me. Is it really worth it over the Ascent fluid trainer? I know the resistance level might be higher, but I just need something to keep my legs in shape for the next season.

My opinion is that the fluid trainers are worth the extra bucks. I've had a mag trainer for years and I never liked the way the ride felt. It was like pedaling against a mechanical device. By that I mean it wasn't very smooth ride. As a result I rarely used it. It wasn't cheap when I bought it, but that was about 10 years ago. Maybe they're better now.

This year, determined not to lose the performance gains I've made this year, I was once again looking at riding a trainer through the winter. After much reading about the different ones on the internet, I cringed and forked out the extra $$$ for a Kurt Kinetics Road Machine (no real reason why it over the CyclOps Fluid2, both very good). I was honestly half expecting to try it once and return it because it's just an expensive version of what I already have.

Wow, what a difference the fluid makes. The ride very accurately simulates riding down the road. It's still pretty boring riding inside, but I have a fan blowing on me, some good tunes playing and when you close your eyes it's easy to imagine your outside riding down the road. I've been using it 2-3 times a week and am very pleased with it.

In the end, spending the extra money was worth having something I'm actually going to use.

[wild]

I keep thinking I have to get a bike down to put on the trainer for the winter, but last year I road the Huffy in the snow and when the roads were salted. Maybe today it will get done.
not yet
well I got a bike in to put on the trainer. It is still a trainer not a ride.

[froze]

I test rode a bunch of trainers including the wind, magnetic, magneto (cyclops use to make), and a various fluid models. I agree that the Mag models were not as smooth, and they are a bit louder then fluid jobs but not close to the noise of a wind unit. The wind trainer was actually quite good, very smooth, and had the increasing resistance similar to a road feel, but it was very noisy and got increasingly louder the faster I went. So in the end I decided on a fluid job. Now with that on my mind I test rode a several different fluid jobs and only purchased the Fluid 2 because the LBS had it on sale and it was about $100 less then the 1Up and about $150 less then the Kinetic. However, that was 8 years ago, today the 1Up has improved a lot and is now the only one made in the USA, and thus I today I would buy the 1Up. But when I tested the 3 back then I couldn't tell the difference in the way either performed, all 3 were made in the USA, so it was price that made the difference.

But I go back to my last post advice, if you're only going to use 2 times a week and not be a hard training type of rider on it then I don't see the point of spending $250 or so for a unit that would give better performance true, but to spend money on something that you already have something that works seems like a waste. BUT, I'm a very frugal person and don't think like a lot of people. For example, I have a desire, not a need, to own a lighter newer technology and want a titanium bicycle, I could go out and take the cash and buy one today instead I keep putting it off because I don't really need the bike...it's just a desire. And even with that desire comes the need to save money if I decide to get the bike someday, the saving money part is by buying a Motobecane from Bikes Direct instead of spending big bucks for a Lynskey or some such bike. So the frugal part plays out on both ends-need and expenditure. I hope that made sense to you as far as where I'm coming from on your trainer.

[rizwan_seopro]

good and the very nice forum that you have the posted on the web.

[fez_]

So I gave in and bought the Kinetic Road Machine trainer yesterday from my LBS. They threw in a Giant block with it too for $300.

[froze]

Originally Posted by fez_

So I gave in and bought the Kinetic Road Machine trainer yesterday from my LBS. They threw in a Giant block with it too for $300.

Nice trainer, you should have many years of use out of that unit. You probably already know this, but if you use this a lot and eventually want more resistance Kurt offers the ability to change out the fly wheel for a heavier one.

[Saltasylum]

I bought a Mag Traner from Dick's Sporting goods $ 109.00 non adjustable res. warrenty paper works shows it is made by same co. that makes Cyclops. No problems so far have at least 500 miles on it.

[Poolie]

Originally Posted by fez_

So I gave in and bought the Kinetic Road Machine trainer yesterday from my LBS. They threw in a Giant block with it too for $300.

Got my Road Machine back in November and love it... well as much as you can love riding a trainer.

I also picked up their 'Power Computer' which is just a fancy bike computer that also provides wattage output and is supposedly pretty accurate when used in conjunction with their trainers. A nice feature for training.