It could be but it is the opposite of what you think, the fluid gets thicker as the temperature increases so if it's cold you might need to pick a higher gear to generate the same power since the trainer resistance will be lower.

And apps like TrainerRoad will be less accurate as the power profile for the trainer will be off due to the cold.

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Rodney
TrainingPeaks | Altra Running | RAD Roller
http://www.goinglong.ca

20 minutes is the minimum amount of time I spend warming up before doing real work. So if it takes 20 minutes, does it matter?

Yeah, it's freaking annoying for one thing but it makes things like 20 min FTP tests a PITA because as it warms up you have to really be paying attention and downshift to maintain your watts.

It depends on how hard you ride, but 20 minutes does sound reasonable. Mine is the same way. I borrowed a friends green KK, and it was almost exactly the same. Keeping my Fluid2 until it craps out, which will probably be never based on how rock solid this thing is.

OK, that helps - at least that tells me it is a common thing. Thanks!

Same here. It seams like the trainer needs to get "warmed up" to work out as well.

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2017 Cervelo P2
2017 Cervelo S2
itraininla.com
#itraininla

Interesting, I had heard the KK Was less or at least not as dramatic. Been contemplating buying the KK and letting the lady use the fluid2 since it really has been getting on my nerves lately, this might push me more towards the kickr, despite being 3X as much.

My KK is very stable right off the bat, my wife's Fluid2 is not.

Try the CycleOps Super Mag Pro. A little more than the KK, but no warm up, quiet (pretty much silent). The interval curve is about the same as most fluid trainers and it has a hill setting that ramps up the curve if you want more resistance at lower wheel speeds. Good for standing workouts.

I find the treadmill better for standing work outs....
Perhaps it's just me?!?

It's just you. ;-)

Of course you know I meant peddling out of the saddle, you know like AC.

Thanks for posting in this thread instead of starting a new one. Search is a great feature here! :)

I got a screen shot of my trainer ride, showing power stays even but having to decrease cadence because viscosity (resistance) is increasing:

http://www.miguelrunner.com/...-up-and-temperature/

I think this is normal simply because there's no way to pre-heat the oil in the resistance unit, to get it at "operating" temperature.

Yeah, I think you are right. I went ahead and sold my CycleOps Fluid 2 and bought a KK Road Machine. Honestly, it is night and day different. I very much prefer my KK. Maybe placebo effect but I can tell a difference.

I can imagine there is a big difference.

I have the Fluid 2 and while for the most part I'm very happy the heat is a massive issue when doing challenging intervals.

The unit heats up pretty quickly and then it becomes impossible to keep a steady power / cadence. I only have one big fan, and its directed at the trainer - not me

I have a Fluid 2 and have the same issues as everyone else...

Trainer + bike stay in a room, apart from the main house, which does not have heat. Sometimes, it can take a while to get warmed up, but then you can feel the resistance amp up and then it is constant for the rest of the workout.

I wonder if it'd take less time for the trainer to get to "constant power" if I just took the trainer out of that room the night before and put it inside my house, maybe even close to or over the heating vent...it'd be a PITA, but I wake up and normally ride for an hour...it doesn't take long to set up the bike, and I'd start the workout with the trainer ready to go, vs waiting for it to warm up...

I don't know, I keep mine indoors always in one of the extra bedrooms so 70 degree temps more or less throughout the year. It takes at least 10 minutes for it to get warmed up. Until reading this thread I didn't know others experienced the same issues. I literally pedal with the same gear at the same cadence for 10-15 minutes and my power (have a Quarq) will go up 40+ watts over that 10-15 minute period. I just use this as my warm-up before getting into my actual workout.

How are you determining the wattage? You didn't mention what PM you are using. If you are relying on virtual power then you can pretend the 200 was 222 because it's anyone's guess if either of them were accurate or would even be consistent day to day.

Main reason I went with the SuperMag Pro over another fluid. Same progressive resistance and temperature "agnostic". Didn't even want to chance the KK as I have read of some having temperature issues. Not many but there are reported incidences.

I hear you. I have an older Minoura Mag trainer that I use some still and it is nice. I do like the KK better though. Seems solid and the resistance is considerably more temperature resilient than the CycleOps. In fact, I wouldn't recommend that CycleOps to anybody unless they lived in a very consistently warm climate.