Need advise on a trainer - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

bluegoose · 09-14-2005, 02:46 PM

I am considering getting a trainer for the garage for the winter.

Which way should I go - magnet or fluid resistance? Are there any other options which are price comparable? Nashbar and Performance both have units that you can get for less than $250-300. Are rollers not even worth consideration?

Any recommendations?

Archaea · 09-14-2005, 03:40 PM

I don't like trainers unless they are computrainer, as at least you get variable resistance, and feel like you're actually outdoors.

creekster · 09-14-2005, 03:58 PM

to say when you live in a place that doesn't get snow. Rollers are great at improving your form; you will spin smoothly and efficiently after a winter of using them. OTherwise, I probably prefer fluid trainers, but I think it is a preference as opposed to an objective choice.

MikeWaters · 09-14-2005, 06:56 PM

I have the performance brand fluid trainer. I can't adjust the resistance, and it is kind of like going slightly uphill. I go much faster for the same effort when out on the road. My guess is that changing resistance is not a big deal or really necessary. I've never used rollers or a computrainer.

I have a hard time actually sitting on the bike in trainer. Bored. Can't do it for very long. Probably taking a spin class would be better.

bluegoose · 09-14-2005, 07:17 PM

I certainly don't look forward to the trainer this winter. A necessary evil if I want to try and stay in shape. I run a couple of days a week and last year we mountain biked on friday mornings at 5 am, but that is tough to do too often as I would have to pack up the bike and drive 15 minutes across town to hit the trails.

During the spring and summer months we hit the roads at 5 am and do about 30 miles before work. But even now it is just way too dark that early to feel safe on the road. We've had a couple of close calls (getting run off the road by idiot drivers), hopefully which my wife will never hear about. Otherwise I'll be banished to the trainer forever.

bluegoose · 11-30-2005, 07:45 PM

I recently bought the Performance brand fluid trainer and have tried it out a few times. So far I love it, compared to the alternative of freezing my butt off outdoors. By playing with the gears on the bike you can vary the resistance a fair amount, but it still not enough to simulate going up a steeper grade hill, and standing on the pedals is a bit awkward.

Along with the trainer, the best thing that I got to go along with it is the book stand to attach to the handlebars. Makes 30-45 minutes in the saddle much more tolerable.

Maybe 30 minutes isn't enough though. Solvang Century is sneaking up on us....

DirtyHippieUTE · 12-02-2005, 05:09 AM

I've got a Cycleops. It's good (for a trainer). Rollers are the way to go if you can get a good set and if you're not afraid of the rug burn from the "learning curve"

09-14-2005, 02:46 PM	#1
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	Need advise on a trainer I am considering getting a trainer for the garage for the winter. Which way should I go - magnet or fluid resistance? Are there any other options which are price comparable? Nashbar and Performance both have units that you can get for less than $250-300. Are rollers not even worth consideration? Any recommendations?

09-14-2005, 03:40 PM	#2
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	I have a roller and a CompuTrainer I don't like trainers unless they are computrainer, as at least you get variable resistance, and feel like you're actually outdoors. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

09-14-2005, 03:58 PM	#3
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	I don't like trainers either, but that is easy to say when you live in a place that doesn't get snow. Rollers are great at improving your form; you will spin smoothly and efficiently after a winter of using them. OTherwise, I probably prefer fluid trainers, but I think it is a preference as opposed to an objective choice.

09-14-2005, 07:17 PM	#5
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	I hear you on the boredom factor. I certainly don't look forward to the trainer this winter. A necessary evil if I want to try and stay in shape. I run a couple of days a week and last year we mountain biked on friday mornings at 5 am, but that is tough to do too often as I would have to pack up the bike and drive 15 minutes across town to hit the trails. During the spring and summer months we hit the roads at 5 am and do about 30 miles before work. But even now it is just way too dark that early to feel safe on the road. We've had a couple of close calls (getting run off the road by idiot drivers), hopefully which my wife will never hear about. Otherwise I'll be banished to the trainer forever.

09-14-2005, 06:56 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I have the performance brand fluid trainer. I can't adjust the resistance, and it is kind of like going slightly uphill. I go much faster for the same effort when out on the road. My guess is that changing resistance is not a big deal or really necessary. I've never used rollers or a computrainer. I have a hard time actually sitting on the bike in trainer. Bored. Can't do it for very long. Probably taking a spin class would be better.

11-30-2005, 07:45 PM	#6
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	I recently bought the Performance brand fluid trainer and have tried it out a few times. So far I love it, compared to the alternative of freezing my butt off outdoors. By playing with the gears on the bike you can vary the resistance a fair amount, but it still not enough to simulate going up a steeper grade hill, and standing on the pedals is a bit awkward. Along with the trainer, the best thing that I got to go along with it is the book stand to attach to the handlebars. Makes 30-45 minutes in the saddle much more tolerable. Maybe 30 minutes isn't enough though. Solvang Century is sneaking up on us....

12-02-2005, 05:09 AM	#7
DirtyHippieUTE Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,151	I've got a Cycleops. It's good (for a trainer). Rollers are the way to go if you can get a good set and if you're not afraid of the rug burn from the "learning curve"