I’m starting to train for a 65, possible 100, mile bike ride in May and am looking for a good bike trainer. I found these on Craigslist, but do not know the difference. I have a trek hybrid. Thanks.
1- Performance AF-500 Adjustabe Fluid Resistance Unit – $100
2-Performance SD-200T Trainer Resistance Unit – $100
3-The Fluid Primo Elastogel trainer – $175
If you don’t want to spend that kind of money and don’t mind the sound. A magnetic resistance Cycleops gets the training job done.
(I ride the mag in the winter for the May event, and yes I mention it — the more that come the merrier, TOSRV08, 3000 Riders, 2 days 210 miles. http://www.tosrv.org/08/info.htm )
Oh, back to the trainer. I have rubber backed carpet mats under the trainer and my front wheel block to isolate the vibrations, and I found that stopped some of the noise.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I’d skip the first two. And, I don’t know much about the third one.
Cycleops is generally regarded at the best of the cycle trainers. The Cycleops Fluid2 is pricey, but well worth it.
As a friend of mine says…there are three possibilities in your trainer.
1. Cheap
2. Quiet
3. Realistic
But, no matter what, you can only get two of the three options. It is just a matter of picking which two are most important to you.
I’ve had the "wind" style trainer and I can tell you that they are LOUD. Loud enough to make them nearly useless because you can’t watch TV, listen to music, or talk to anyone while you are on it. It is just too loud.
Most important to me is that it feel realistic. i.e., it should increase in resistance the faster you go. Just like real cycling.
References :
November 29th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I don’t know these and had difficulty finding info on any them. The Performance models are not sold by Performance anymore. Honestly, at $100 I’d buy a new one @ $130 on sale at: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4120
or
http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=60001087&category=6000123&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Trainers%20and%20Rollers
With a new one you have a warranty and know it’s good to go. I bet the one you found aren’t any better than the new $130 ones.
EDIT: BTW, Fluid and Mag are good vairly quiet and offer good resistance.
References :
November 29th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
If you don’t want to spend that kind of money and don’t mind the sound. A magnetic resistance Cycleops gets the training job done.
(I ride the mag in the winter for the May event, and yes I mention it — the more that come the merrier, TOSRV08, 3000 Riders, 2 days 210 miles. http://www.tosrv.org/08/info.htm )
Oh, back to the trainer. I have rubber backed carpet mats under the trainer and my front wheel block to isolate the vibrations, and I found that stopped some of the noise.
References :