With winter in Boston not so far off (grrr…), I am thinking about buying my first trainer. Now I did search the old threads on this topic prior to posting this question, but I don’t know enough about the different types to make an educated purchase and I don’t want to spend hours going through the old threads (sorry, I already did that trying to figure out the Tibbs story). So:
rollers vs. trainer - what’s the difference/what’s best for a newbie who is mainly developing a base?
static (or is it friction?) vs. fluid - see above question
is buying used OK?
what’s this about cracking your frame? I can only afford one bike…
Certainly a personal choice and not the cheapest but I got a Schwinn spinner about 4 years ago and I like it so much more than having to ride my “bike” indoors.
I have a cycleops fluid trainer. I think it cost about $300. I love it. I would stay away from magnetic if possible. I think a trainer would be better as a first purchase. A roller is a ‘nice to have’, but I think the trainer, especially in Boston, is a necessity. The roller takes a lot of concentration to ride, and you risk falling off your bike. For big winter base building a trainer set up in front of a TV and fan would probably be a better choice.
OK, since these people are much richer than you or I, I offer this advice. I got my first trainer, Minoura rim trainer, this winter. basically, instead of the resistance being at the back tire, its on the back rim. It works ok and I have been happy with the noise and all that. it makes for a great workout that is hard to recreate on the road.
that being said, I will probably get a different trainer this winter. I would stay away from a rim trainer in that I think they put too much stress on the wheel from the wrong angle. I am seriously looking at a Kurt Kinetic. the cost is a little more, but the quality and accuracy of effort appears to be above all others. . Plus, Bobkie rides them in the buff, that was the main selling point for me. My opinion, having purchased a decent, but not good trainer, is to spend the extra 50-100 to get the better trainer. In Boston you’ll have a lot of time to ride that thing, so you’d better be happy with it.
Id say 150 will get you a decent servicable trainer. 200-250 will get you trainer you’ll want to ride. I say spend the extra money and have a meals of Ramen noodles to counter-balance the extra cost.
All I offer, after have used my computrainer in different ways for 3 years, is get something you can do not junk intervals on it at various wattage levels. After getting some good inputs from ST, I started 4 weeks ago doing interval training on my computrainer. I warmup for 5 minutes at 150 watts, then do 20 at 220 watts, 5 at 150, 20 at 220, and 10 at 150. I can not believe how much better I have done in my last races on the bike, plus in the run. I no longer ride outside since they were all junk miles compared to these fixed watt sessions. I can not believe how much more tired I am in! Plus, no getting hit be cars, deer, etc.
Plus, Bobkie rides them in the buff, that was the main selling point for me.
That is a reason to NOT buy one! HA! Good to know about the “want to ride” factor - I’d go for the best deal. Fortunately, I LOVE Ramen
The reason I’m asking is that the noise factor might be an issue. If it’s not a concern, I’d say go with a wind trainer as it has progressive resistance (which means the harder you pedal, the harder it gets). Magnetic and fluid trainers don’t, but they’re quieter.
Honestly, I don’t think it matters too much as you’ll be getting a workout on your bike that you normally wouldn’t be getting.
All I offer, after have used my computrainer in different ways for 3 years, is get something you can do not junk intervals on it at various wattage levels. After getting some good inputs from ST, I started 4 weeks ago doing interval training on my computrainer. I warmup for 5 minutes at 150 watts, then do 20 at 220 watts, 5 at 150, 20 at 220, and 10 at 150. I can not believe how much better I have done in my last races on the bike, plus in the run. I no longer ride outside since they were all junk miles compared to these fixed watt sessions. I can not believe how much more tired I am in! Plus, no getting hit be cars, deer, etc.
Those are all excellent selling points (especially about not getting hit by cars), but just buying the bike was a stretch. One of my pet peeves is not training smart - I can’t stand the thought that I might (and am) doing junk miles.
I just bought a new Kurt Kinetic Road Machine - and I’m very happy with it. Stick with a fluid - they have a better feel and are quite.
For me it was a toss up between the 1UP and Kurt. I went with the Kurt based on comments and it was $25 less then the 1up. I may also add the power meter at a later date.
I purchased from the company that also sells 1up. $275 with free shipping. Unlike Amazon’s free shipping, it only took two days to get it. The down side was it said it came with a spinnervals DVD. Well, it did come with a DVD, but it was just a sales pitch for the spinnervals, not a really spinnerval DVD.
I just purchased a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine from an online dealer (can’t remember which one) which game me 20% off my first purchase and free shipping… However, they did charge me the $15.00 oversized box charge…
All said and done $235 and very happy… I also have a computrainer… The road machine is to keep at the office gym. They both have a very similar feel, which I’m surprised about.
how about you buy my hardly used trainer for 70.00 or 80.00, and pay the shipping? (this trainer has less than 4 hours of riding time on it–then I can put what you pay me towards a new set of rollers).
it is a minoura mag 850, practically brand new, with a “remote” tension adjustment so you can simulate hills. New I bought it for about 160.00 or 170.00. It works like a champ, i just want rollers. let me know, ok?
i’d rather you have and use it then me have it, not use, and have rollers on top of that.
it is a minoura mag 850, practically brand new, with a “remote” tension adjustment so you can simulate hills.
Hey - thanks for the offer! Let me think about it since I have gotten several warnings about magnetic trainers. I’m going to LBS this weekend and maybe they’ll let me try out the two to see the difference. The price is definitely right though…
yeah–riding a trainer is riding a trainer. and when you’re on a budget, you’re on a budget (you’ve already exceeded a little on your bike, if I remember correctly–LOL!! )
seriously, the trainer isn’t going anywhere. talk to your lbs, and then just let me know! i think you’d enjoy it (well, about as much as a trainer can be enjoyed)…LOL!!!
