My Travel Trac Comp Fluid trainer has started making a high pitched whine after longer intervals (for example, 15+ minutes at 250-275 W). The sound isn’t present at the start of the interval, but builds after I’ve been riding for a while. When I drop to an easier pace between intervals it goes away, but it comes back quickly when the next interval starts.
Has anyone else run into this? Is it a sign of the trainer failing, or heat dissipation not keeping up?
I have the same trainer and had the same whining noise problem about a year ago. After about 2 weeks of the horrible noise, I was about to take it back to the Performance Bikes where I bought it, then one morning it just went away. Still riding he same trainer and haven’t had a problem since. Never found the root of the problem, so can’t offer any insight there.
I’m assuming you bought it from a Performance Bikes as I think they are the exclusive dealer of this trainer. If that is true, you should be able to take it back and exchange it for a new one. They have a pretty sweet “we take anything back at any time” return policy:
My Kinetic Road Machine started making a similar sound a couple of weeks ago and also had a bad smell associated with it. I contacted Kurt Kinetic and they sent me a new fluid resistance unit. It has a lifetime warranty and the customer service was great. The resistance unit on the travel trac looks very similar.
Thanks for the tips. I took the trainer back to Performance Bike and they swapped it for a new one right there. The new trainer is working fine through a few rides.