Best Fluid Turbo Trainer

nigeats

I am looking for and have researched the market for a Fluid Turbo Trainer. The ones that I am seriously considering are the CycleOps Fluid Pro (£199), Elite Crono Power Fluid Gel Turbo (£149) & the Blackburn Tech Fluid Turbo Trainer (£179).

I have previously owned a Mag Trainer which constantly "slipped" in a high gear ratio. Noise is not really an issue. Nor is the boredom. I like to sweat and feel the "pain"!

I don't want Rollers.

I have seen all there is to see (I think) on YouTube with regards to any reviews. There are also lots of differing prices out there which is good I suppose for competion for our money.

1. Which of these Trainers ie, Price & Quality, do others consider to be the best item for indoor training?

2. Does anyone know the difference between the Elite Crono Power Fluid Gel Turbo (£149) & the Elite Crono Fluid Gel Turbo (£139)?

3. I think that any suggestions for the Kurt Kinetic however good it maybe is just a little beyond my price range.

Many Thanks....

amaferanga

I've never heard of an Elite Crono Power Fluid Gel Turbo (got a link to it?), but Elite do make a fluid turbo with a wireless head unit that allegedly displays power. I have one of these and can assure you that the extra money for the power display is NOT worth it as it is so inconsistent it's completely useless. Luckily I picked mine up for £70 instead of wasting £250+ to find that out.

bisoner

I have the Elite Crono Power Fluid Gel Turbo trainer (from Wiggle). It works very well but I don't have anything to compare it against as its my one and only trainer. All I would say is that is that doesn't have huge amounts of resistance - it uses your gears to increase and decrease the amount of resistance but it limited if you want to emulate grinding out a huge gear. It does slip a bit when you stand up, ramp up the tempo and dont have a smooth pedalling motion (probably similar with most trainers).

It is well made, easy to setup and is fairly quiet too. I can train and watch tv in the same room. I don't have training specific tyres but have found this trainer isn't too harsh on tyres too.

Hope this helps.

B

P.S.

Rouge Penguin

After reading the reviews on Wiggle, i went for the Elite Chrono Elasto Gel. Very simple to set up, like 5 minutes from the box.

Seems to be pretty good, used it for about 3 hours in total as the times i can get on the bike over the last 2 weeks its been pissing down or dark. Seems sturdy, very little movement in the frame when giving it some. Didnt bother with the adjustable types, seems a waste as you can just go up and down the gears.

First experience of a trainer, but the two local inde LBS's have elites as testers/tuners.

amaferanga

bisoner wrote:

I have the Elite Crono Power Fluid Gel Turbo trainer (from Wiggle). It works very well but I don't have anything to compare it against as its my one and only trainer. All I would say is that is that doesn't have huge amounts of resistance - it uses your gears to increase and decrease the amount of resistance but it limited if you want to emulate grinding out a huge gear. It does slip a bit when you stand up, ramp up the tempo and dont have a smooth pedalling motion (probably similar with most trainers).

It is well made, easy to setup and is fairly quiet too. I can train and watch tv in the same room. I don't have training specific tyres but have found this trainer isn't too harsh on tyres too.

Hope this helps.

B

P.S.

It takes a good 30 mins for the resistance to stabilise and by that time mine over-reads power by a LOT compared to a PowerTap. It's probably okay if you do the same thing with exactly the same tyre pressure at exactly the same ambient temperature, but don't take any notice of the actual numbers you see if you want to see how well you're doing against others.

And its not designed for standing up to pedal.

It is quiet though

nigeats

amaferanga

amaferanga wrote:

I've never heard of an Elite Crono Power Fluid Gel Turbo (got a link to it?),

1. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Elite ... 360026397/

2.http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... el_Trainer

As you can see they are slightly different (white markings on bottom bar with circular fan/fluid housing on the non power model as opposed to a triangular shaped one on the power model) and there is a price difference on some sites of approx £10. The review I have seen on YouTube is using the non power model ie a circular fan/fluid housing.

So far it would appear that only the Elite has been used judging by the previous comments. Has anyone seen or tried the CycleOps Pro?

Thanks so far.

Lady Venom

I'm in the market for a trainer now having broken my collar bone and think I will go with the cycleops as it just looks sturdier for doing sprints etc. Although the price of the Elite looks better as it will mean I'll be able to buy a new helmet as well. So time for some more research me thinks.... I'd be grateful for comments from any Cycleops users on here as well.

nigeats

Lady Venom wrote:

...and think I will go with the cycleops as it just looks sturdier for doing sprints etc. Although the price of the Elite looks better...I'd be grateful for comments from any Cycleops users on here as well.

I like the look and build of the FluidPro. Have you watched the YouTube video regarding this model downloaded by CycleOps themselves? Best price I have seen is £199 and then £224 from on line distributors.

Best price I have seen for the Elite Power has been £249 but the on-line store has decided to discontinue to sell them. For £239 you can get the similar model but without the "power".

On a slightly different note (and with tongue in cheek I might add) do you need a helmet on a Turbo Trainer...!?

Good luck in your searching.

CarleyB

fluid 2 here is £169.99

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... ainer_2010

I have found this trainer fab. easy to set up and great resistance, very very stable as well.

Anonymous

I have a Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro.

Very happy with it after trying various others (and having lived with two tacx ones for a while). I've finally found one that's consistent, quiet, smooth (very road like, no dead spot), progressive (no faffing with resistance), stable (I can get up out of the saddle and give it big sprints) and easy to set up...

Top stuff!

blackhands

I've trained on everything from early rollers to a £20,000 ergometer and now have one of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31280

It's by far the best turbo I've ever used. Save up rather than compromise.

psiturbo

Cycle Ops fluid thats the one I recommend, I bought it for $250.00 right before the economy collapsed from REI. The good thing about REI is they offer lifetime warranty, separate from the retailer, even if it expires from Cycle Ops company., similar to Nashbar.

I do not like the Fluid 2 as it has that stupid yellow knob, the old method is way better.

Fluid is ten times better than magnet or wind resistance, I have had mine for 3 years now and use it every winter and when we get hit with constant rainfall.

One thing I did was buy a small 5" to 7" fan and place right beside where the resistance unit is, the one that gets super hot. Some of the fluid trainers tend to leak when they get super super hot and the seals break. Do remember Cycle Ops offer one of the best warranties.

The resistance on the Cycle Ops fluid trainer is very similar to real life scenarios.

Note: Stay away from Blackburn trainers, waste of money.

nigeats

Thanks for your input people.

I have bought what the majority on here has recomended - the Cycleops Pro Fluid from Winstanley Cycles, £199.99, with nil p&p.

bilirubin

nigeats wrote:

Thanks for your input people.

I have bought what the majority on here has recomended - the Cycleops Pro Fluid from Winstanley Cycles, £199.99, with nil p&p.

Nice one, its my birthday in a few weeks and the wife has been given all the details of this turbo and Winstanley's web site details.

This really is a good deal and free P&P

nigeats

Well, after a delay (none in stock) I had my Turbo Trainer delivered.

So, I set it up, in slow time, reading the material as I went and it couldn't have been simplier.

Didn't bother with the supplied skewer as mine fits on the Turbo just fine.

Put the bike onto the turbo, got dressed into my lycra bib (like you do when you're home alone..!) and started peddling. A little adjustment to make sure the tyre was sat onto the fluid wheel housing correctly and I was off and away.

70 minutes later I was done. All hot and sweaty. I have to say it was brilliant.

I've never been one to get bored too easily and with the radio on, sat in my Garage, getting to know my Fluid Turbo Trainer, the time went quickly. All though not easy (it's as hard/difficult as you want to make it) I absolutely enjoyed it and for my next session I am going to look into someone else's training plan to see how I fare.

Definately worth the money (and the wait) I have now purchased some Tri Bars. Buy it...

Dmak

Can't afford a turbo trainer but I do have a beacon hill nearby and suitable clothing, COME ON WINTER, BRING IT ON! :twisted:

nigeats

Can't afford a turbo trainer..

So why bother responding to an article to which you cannot purchase due to lack of funds. Is that my fault? Are you tryng to make me feel guilty?

but I do have a beacon hill nearby

It sounds like a big hill and if you keep going up it you will only get better, faster and stronger. But the boredom of going up the same hill is all down to your "mind over matter" just like it will be for me on my new Turbo Trainer from CycleOps to which I have worked hard for to buy.

and suitable clothing

Am I weak in your opinion that I am not out in the cold. And the wet. And the Ice and snow. Are you saying to me that I should just wrap up warmer and get out there into the winter weather and be strong and tough and not wimpish. Perhaps I now value certain things in life like my mortality as I have gotten older. 400 *****s (and I won't say the word) a year is a lot. Far too many. I have been riding outside most of my life. I want to stay riding.
B R I N G I T O N . . . !

Retro1702

Can anybody with one of the Elite turbos tell me if the frame design (where your bodyweight helps position the wheel on to the roller "correctly") feels like the bike is loose in the turbo frame when you ride it?

I've just gone and got a SuperCrono Elastogel and despite rocking the bike before mounting it and it seeming solid, once riding it there seems to be a degree of movement and the wheel doesn't stay exactly in the same place on the roller.

Don't even get me started on trying to align the speed display with my bike computer readout, no comment yet on the power readout.

Any help much appreciated.

amaferanga

Retro1702 wrote:

Can anybody with one of the Elite turbos tell me if the frame design (where your bodyweight helps position the wheel on to the roller "correctly") feels like the bike is loose in the turbo frame when you ride it?

I've just gone and got a SuperCrono Elastogel and despite rocking the bike before mounting it and it seeming solid, once riding it there seems to be a degree of movement and the wheel doesn't stay exactly in the same place on the roller.

Don't even get me started on trying to align the speed display with my bike computer readout, no comment yet on the power readout.

Any help much appreciated.

Can't say I've noticed the bike feeling lose, but there is some play in the attachment by design in mine.

As for the speed, I don't think it should necessarily align with your bike computer - I don't recall ever setting a wheel size on mine so it doesn't know what size wheels I have for starters.

As for the power display - don't waste your time with it. As I think I may have mentioned mine takes ages to stabilize and then over-reads massively. Not sure if yours is the fluid one like mine or the magnetic one - maybe the magnetic one is better....

Buckled_Rims

Retro1702 wrote:

Can anybody with one of the Elite turbos tell me if the frame design (where your bodyweight helps position the wheel on to the roller "correctly") feels like the bike is loose in the turbo frame when you ride it?

I've just gone and got a SuperCrono Elastogel and despite rocking the bike before mounting it and it seeming solid, once riding it there seems to be a degree of movement and the wheel doesn't stay exactly in the same place on the roller.

Any help much appreciated.

Are you certain the rear wheel is true? If it's out, the bike and frame will remain steady, but the wheel will "wobble" a bit. This sounds like your problem.

Retro1702

Buckled_Rims wrote:

Are you certain the rear wheel is true? If it's out, the bike and frame will remain steady, but the wheel will "wobble" a bit. This sounds like your problem.

There's no brake rub with the wheel so if it was out of true by the trail marks of the tyre on the roller I'd think it would be noticable. Good suggestion though.

amaferanga

I think they're designed to allow the tyre to move a little laterally on the roller as you ride, unlike on turbos with the conventional clamping design.

chill123

I'm more than happy with my CycleOps fluid 2. Smooth adjustable resistance, quiet, great build quality, i can't falt it.

Half decent CycleOps Fluid 2 Review here.

I did quite a bit of research before buying mine and found very little negative feedback about the Fluid range from CycleOps.

dizzly1968

Hi Guys/Gals

Just bought myself a Planet x Carbon SL, hoping for delivery this week,
Previously only used a Mountain bike to commute and do some road riding(Not on knobblies).
Anyway, looking to up my fitness over the winter and would like to get a Turbo for in the garage.
I might point out I love gadgets and Tech stuff but am unsure about the TAXC systems against Dvd training guides for a more interactive training fix.
Or should I just buy a HRM and an IPOD. I would like to be able to measure my haert rate etc and all the other useful data so I can log my fitness improvemnts / downfalls,
Just wondered how other people do it as totally new to cycling for fitness,
Budget about £500 in total. I will sneak pedals and shoes under the wifes Radar.
Any help much appreciated.

chill123

dizzly - i use my fluid turbo in the garage. i either opt for music via the ipod (i use one of those armband things designed for running to hold the ipod) or bring the laptop out and sit it on a chair in front of the bike. either a decent film or any cycling videos help to distract from the turbo pain. oh and i always use a HRM. i',m more than happy with my setup.