I have a cycleops fluid 2 trainer. It is in your budget and gives good road feel. I highly recommend it.

Dan

1-UP USA makes the best trainer in my opinion. Most realistic road like resistance. Check out the reviews at roadbikereview.com. Can't say enough good things about mine.

100% agree. Last month I bought the 1-up USA after seeing all the takes on roadbikereview.com. This is my third trainer and is by far the best trainer I have had yet. It is quiet, roadlike, and stable when I am really pushing gears.

Ditto. 1Up. Two seasons on mine and it is as smooth and silent as new. Buying a second one for my girlfriend for Christmas.

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Why tip-toe though life only to arrive safely at death's door?

thanks - those are on the list.

any oil leaks? I heard there were some issues w/ that, but maybe they fixed that.

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Josef
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blog

Acording to Roadbikereview, you really have 3 to choose from:

Kurt Kinetic

CycleOps

1Up



I've had Performance trainers (a great TravelTrac that I stupidly "upgraded" and traded to a buddy), some good, some not so good.

Everybody, and I mean everybody, I know who has had a CycleOps has had it piss fluid eventually. Everybody. Every single one of 'em. YMMV.

Can't speak to the 1Up. However, the 1Up site also sells the Kurt Kinetic (THX Rappstar for giving me that info!!!), for $275. Add on $50 when the Power computer comes out later this month, and you are good to go.

That's what I am going to do. For the nominal extra expense, the Kinetic allows you to train with power, vs. "just" a good trainer (which they both are).

For me, the Kurt Kinetic is a no-brainer.



PS - I'll sell ya a slightly used, 2004 Performance Fluid + adjustable trainer, for $125 + shipping. It's got a smooth roadlike feel, my only beef is that partway thru the workout it gets arbitrarily harder on its own. Hasn't stopped me from using it, just a bothersome (to me) quirk. I think it retails at Perf for like $230 or so....

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float , hammer , and jog

Also got the 1up. Cant compare since its my first, but great!

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Richard

"You're only young once, but you can be immature forever" - Larry Andersen

I have three trainers and a set of rollers. I have the rollers for pedaling effiecieny and bike handling skills as I like to mix it up with the roadies.

The other trainers I own are a Cycleops Fluid 2, an Elite Volare Fluid Trainer (now available as elastogel), and a Tacx T1680 Magnetic Ergo Trainer.

The Elite is superior to the Cycleops because of the spring tensioner holding the resistance mechanism at a constant pressure against my tire. On the Cycleops, I constantly have to adjust the screw adjust (or it gets adjusted for me by some of my more endearing training partners.

I just picked up the Tacx Trainer, and normally I would purchase a mag trainer, but, I got this because of the cadence and power meters. I've been on it maybe five times with no interval work, but so far so good. You can change resistance through the digital readout. I haven't noticed any slippage when I get out of my saddle. Set-up was easy. Its very quiet. I can't tell the difference between this and my Elite Fluid Trainer. I picked this up at a steal (under $300). I think I saw these at Nashbar for about $369.00 A little over your budget, but you get a power meter.

Good Luck

Rocketboy

I just picked up a new 2005 model Kurt Kinetic on Ebay for $219. This is to replace my Computrainer 3D Pro that I sold since it saw little use since I got my PowerTap Pro. I read up and it seems to really get down to either the Kurt or the 1up. The CycleOps is a close third, but has been reported to develop leaks...although that is the older design...but I don't have the time for that...I'll spend the $ for the best...

Of course that's only for a trainer...you might consider rollers as well. I have an ancient set of Kreitlers that is still going strong after nearly 15 years...

Cycleops Fluid2 for a little over 2 years now and no leaks. Mine sits in the garage so it sees temps down to as low as ~ -20 C and then up to + 20 C when i kick the furnace on before I go ride, probably a pretty good test of the seals with that temp change. Road feel is good too, all around good unit.

The 1Up trainer is sounding pretty great. I'm considering ordering one based on this thread and the roadbikereview.com comments. My only concern is having it shipped to Canada - I've heard horror stories in the past about UPS charging exorbitant fees for things shipped cross-border. Can any of you who've had it shipped to Canada give me an idea of what sort of fees to expect?

Get the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine, and the $50 wattage computer.

Mine has 20,000 miles and works as good as the day I bought it.

If you're interested in the Kurt, I just bought one from Tri-zone and they offered a great deal and extra discount for USAT membership. Free shipping on a trainer is hard to pass up. Not sure if the deal is still good, but worth a call if you're thinking about it.

Have fun training.



Josh

I requested and had mine shipped to Canada using USPS instead. Corky Phillips at 1Up understood the problem of shipping cross border (unlike a lot of vendors) and looked after everything for me. I think when they stay inside the US, UPS is a good deal, but they charge an unusually high amount to process the customs papers, and don't allow you the option to do it yourself (it's not that tough). The extra fee with Canada Post is I think $5 - certainly better than $60

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Why tip-toe though life only to arrive safely at death's door?

I just bought the Kurt Kinetic for $240 minus 10% because I am a USAT member and they threw in my chi=oice of Spinergy video. I thought I got a good deal. I am replacing a only Slocum mag trainer that is about 14 years old (and a "million" miles).

Where can I get the watt meter that is recomended? My bike has a Signa cordless computer so I need something for the trainer. And $50 is a great price.

Please respond off line: Ironman3x at Juno dot com

I have a KurtKinetic. I like it. I bought it used from my coach for 200.00. Allegedly it was reviewed by Velonews and was deemed to give the "most road-like" experience. I like it okay; it sure beats riding in the snow--but nothing compares to the real thing--know what I mean?

If you can get it used, do it! No oil leaks even after a major crosscountry move!

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"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet."--Emily Dickinson

Today I purchased a new Kurt Kinetic for 230 including shipping... It was from a bike shop in Chicago via Ebay. PM for details, he has alot of inventory.

Got a CycleOps Fluid2 a couple weeks ago. Really happy with it so far. Very quiet, I use it in my apartment while watching TV, without even having to adjust the volume (or just a little)...Feel of resistance is quite good as well...except I can't seem to use a bigger gear than 39x15...so I guess resistance is harder than on the road. Checked out a Spinerval video, all the guys/girls were also using the small chainring for the interval training...so either they hired beginners, or it really is harder than out on the road ;-)