Turbo trainers

mcrine
mcrine Posts: 22
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
I am looking at buying a turbo trainer and have read loads of reviews on here and other web sites.

What I cant find out is, is it necessary to get one that you can change the resistance on or can you get enough variety using the gears on the bike.

Many thanks

Comments

  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    If you're doing something like full gas sprint intervals, or other out and out strength work, the fluid trainers (i.e those without a resistance control) may have insufficient resistance compared to that offered by magnetic (resistance control) trainers. But, for endurance-type sessions, the resistance offered by a fluid trainer when you're in your higher gears should be perfectly fine.

    On balance, I much preferred the realistic pedalling feel and progressive relationship between speed and resistance which the fluid trainers provided, especially those with a big flywheel. I have a Kurt Kinetic, which I rate highly. Also tried an older Cycleops fluid which was fine. Both were much, much nicer to use than magnetic trainers I'd used previously, and which really did not much feel like riding a bike on the road. For specificity reasons, this should be a big plus to the fluids, so long as you can live with their lower ceiling on resistance.

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