Buying a trainer

[snedden9485]

I will post this again as it was lost yday.

I am after a new trainer as i am looking to do some training sessions where i do efforts as part of a program i will be starting. I used to have a TACX mag trainer and i hated it. It was very mechanical and noisy. I rode a nice fluid trainer the other day and it felt great. I am after some recommendations on good trainers (fluid i guess). I want something that isnt too noisy and wont be super expensive. I want to spend up to $300, so a 2nd hand one may be a good option to get a better trainer.

Cheers

[DanielS]

Yeah fluid trainers are fantastic. Quiet, and easy to use - if you want more resistance just go up a gear!

I have an Elite Crono Fluid. The thing I love about this trainer is how easy it is to setup. You do not have to dial in the roller against the tyre, or bother setting the resistance. Its got a spring loaded frame so that the weight of the tyre holds it against the roller. Very nifty design.

They are $500 RRP but you can probably find them cheaper ($400ish?) if you shop around.

[Kev365428]

Chris,

Can I suggest a post in the WTB/WTS section rather than here? Might get more responses there.

Cheers,

Kev.

[snedden9485]

Yeah thanks Kev, but im not in a position to buy one right now, just after some info on good models to get. I will post a WTB ad when i get some $$$.

CHeers

[Nobody]

There have been a few threads on trainers recently:

viewtopic.php?t=13444&sid=b4dfb046e3152 ... e2bf541d43

viewtopic.php?t=12390&highlight=&sid=03 ... 2ef576ca08

viewtopic.php?p=161559&sid=922c22868966 ... 3c0ee1e451


I did some research on it last year and decided on the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. I haven't regretted it. The cheapest I've found them in AU is:
http://www.cycling-inform.com/store/pro ... ainer.html
Not cheap but you get what you pay for (as you've previously experienced).

[toolonglegs]

Kurt Kinetic are simply the best on the market...they are fluid,they cannot leak as they don't have seals but have a magnetic linkage,they don't get easier as they warm up,they have a very cheap option of a speedo which doubles as a very accurate power meter and they are not overly priced.

[Andrew69]

Another vote for Kurt Kinetic...

[bomberdon]

How about the Minoura Rim trainer? My son and I use it and its the best trainer I've used. No tyre wear as the trainer applies pressure to the rim. Nice and smooth operation.

Researched this quite a bit before my purchase and no negativity, no mention of wearing the rim. So far so good for me.
Retails around $450 but you can pick them up new on Ebay for around $300.

cheers
Don.

[Deanj]

Anyone found any good prices on the Kurt Kinetic. Have done a few searches myself but just wondering peoples best place to buy.

[Nobody]

Keep a lookout for c r c as they once had Road Machines for $300 AUD. The strange thing is they stocked Kinetic for a few months at most and don't even list them now. It is like they just got a batch in, then that was it.

I've been looking around internationally out of interest. The cheapest I've found so far is JensonUSA, but unless the AUD gets stronger, you might as well buy locally online (see me previous post) by the time you add international freight.

[snedden9485]

Yeh the best price i have seen is one that has been posted of about $520 AU posted from online in oz. Anyone found cheaper?

[snedden9485]

I did some research on it last year and decided on the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. I haven't regretted it. The cheapest I've found them in AU is:
http://www.cycling-inform.com/store/pro ... ainer.html
Not cheap but you get what you pay for (as you've previously experienced).

is this the trainer that is being mentioned for about $500? Looks very cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6spExLfn4vY

[Alex Simmons/RST]

I did some research on it last year and decided on the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. I haven't regretted it. The cheapest I've found them in AU is:
http://www.cycling-inform.com/store/pro ... ainer.html
Not cheap but you get what you pay for (as you've previously experienced).

is this the trainer that is being mentioned for about $500? Looks very cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6spExLfn4vY

That's a different model allowing sideways rocking. It's an unecessary "feature" IMO.

The KK road machine with the extra flywheel is the go. Add a Powertap, an industrial fan, ipod in the ears and you have an awesome training set up.

[Nobody]

There are three fluid trainers by Kinetic:
Road Machine
Pro Trainer
Rock & Roll
All have the same fluid mechanism.

The Road Machine has a 6lb flywheel and is the one for about $500. It is the one used in the Spinervals videos as well.

The Pro Trainer has a more elaborate bike attaching system and an 18lb flywheel (the 12lb extra flywheel can be unbolted). It also has bigger bearings to cope with the bigger flywheel weight.
Alex, can you please explain the benefit of the extra flywheel? (As the 6lb appears to already remove the dead spot).

The Rock & Roll is effectively a Road Machine or Pro Trainer (you have the choice) mounted on a pivoting mount. My understanding is it is not recommended for heavyweights.

One advantage of these fluid trainers is you can calculate your average power from your average speed or buy the Kinetic Power Computer relatively cheaply to give you a real time estimate.
http://www.kurtkinetic.com/computer_tech.php

Anyway, I may not be accurate so see site below.
http://www.kurtkinetic.com/

[Alex Simmons/RST]

Alex, can you please explain the benefit of the extra flywheel? (As the 6lb appears to already remove the dead spot).

Higher inertial load helps with power production and replicates road like inertia a little more but if it doesn't affect you much the smaller flywheel is fine. Either way it is a fine trainer.

But then I use a trainer with a 30+kg flywheel spinning at ~ 600rpm.

[Alex Simmons/RST]

One advantage of these fluid trainers is you can calculate your average power from your average speed or buy the Kinetic Power Computer relatively cheaply to give you a real time estimate.
http://www.kurtkinetic.com/computer_tech.php

Which is handy for steady state efforts only (as KK explain in their info).
Any accelerations/decelerations and the estimated power info displayed won't bear resemblance to reality.

While I've never used one, my understanding is that the KK power estimating computer, unlike their trainers, is a pretty flimsy bit of kit.

[Nobody]

One advantage of these fluid trainers is you can calculate your average power from your average speed or buy the Kinetic Power Computer relatively cheaply to give you a real time estimate.
http://www.kurtkinetic.com/computer_tech.php

Which is handy for steady state efforts only (as KK explain in their info).
Any accelerations/decelerations and the estimated power info displayed won't bear resemblance to reality.

While I've never used one, my understanding is that the KK power estimating computer, unlike their trainers, is a pretty flimsy bit of kit.

Thanks for the replies Alex. KK may have dropped the Power Computer anyway as I can't see it for sale on their site and a reference to it on the Cycling Inform site has gone as well.

[Madgan]

I was hoping for some advice on Carbon & trainers - Is it bad for the bike?

I remember reading somewhere that trainers and carbon don't mix because of the lack of rock, and have been reluctant to put my new bike on the trainer. The Azzurri is alloy, but has carbon seat stays.....

I don't really pound the trainer (yet...) but with winter coming up I expect to be using it more and more, and would obviously prefer my new bike to the old one (that was supposed to be a winter project anyway.....)

Short version - will it do bad things to the carbon?

Thanks in advance

Paul

[Nobody]

According to BNA's resident wrecker Toolonglegs in this thread, it is possible to do damage and the damage is not covered by warranty.

They are torture machines!..and yes the do crack drop outs...just ask my Cytek frame...but they are good for training so I use them...but I wouldn't be putting my lovely carbon framed bike on one...or alloy for that matter unless you want to take the risk.No warranty on frames cracked on a mag trainer...and they are pretty obvious by the way they crack what has done it.

[jamierk]

Just picked up a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine, which arrived today. Bring on winter now!

[Deanj]

Where from?

[jamierk]

Cycling Inform.

[snedden9485]

Cycling Inform.

Do you mind me asking how much?

[USM TOM]

also make sure you get a shitload of portable fans otherwise you will get over it very quickly

[Alex Simmons/RST]

also make sure you get a shitload of portable fans otherwise you will get over it very quickly

I find one large industrial sized fan does the trick....
http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/2009/01/ ... ining.html