What Turbo Trainer?

markos1963
markos1963 Posts: 3,724
edited March 2011 in Road buying advice
Have finally succumbed to the fact I need a turbo to do some more specific training when I can't get out on the bike.

I have a budget of £200 but obviously would like to spend less if possible( I have set aside another £100 for a cheap rear wheel and turbo tyre)

Noise isn't a problem as it is going to be used in a shed away from the house. I would like it to be relatively portable so I can use it for warming up at TT's and crits as well.

Comments

  • twotyred
    twotyred Posts: 822
    Fluid trainer like Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro or Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. Fluid trainers give a much more road like feel and there's no phaffing around with settings- if you want more resistance then just change up a gear. Slightly over your £200 budget but if you can manage without a separate rear wheel (just use a cheap ordinary tyre) then its within your overall £300 budget.
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    Absolutely nothing to do with me, but this one:

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cycleops-Fluid-2- ... 500wt_1156

    You'll need to be persuasive regarding collection/post though
  • bilirubin
    bilirubin Posts: 225
    twotyred wrote:
    Fluid trainer like Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro or Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. Fluid trainers give a much more road like feel and there's no phaffing around with settings- if you want more resistance then just change up a gear. Slightly over your £200 budget but if you can manage without a separate rear wheel (just use a cheap ordinary tyre) then its within your overall £300 budget.

    +1 for all of the above.

    I have the Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro and cannot fault it, just like riding on the road and change gear for resistance.

    You should be able to pick up a second hand rear wheel c/w cassette for a lot less than £100.00 so your £300 budget is looking good.

    I bought a rear wheel with the correct cassette c/w a tyre for £25.00 in the classifieds on this site, the tyre was good so no need to pay for a turbo tyre.

    Good luck
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    DON'T DO IT!!!!, they are EVIL things!!!

    Also, some TT's (at least AM ones) aren't allowing the just of trainers to warm up on..
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    danowat wrote:
    DON'T DO IT!!!!, they are EVIL things!!!

    Also, some TT's (at least AM ones) aren't allowing the just of trainers to warm up on..

    Seem to be doing alright for you Dan!
    How come the ban on turbos for warm up? Most TT's are held out in the sticks
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    I don't, and never will, use a turbo, I had a brief 10min stint on one and quickly fell into a coma!!!

    I did the GYCC 25TT at St Olaves (i.e. out in the sticks), well I say I "did" I got to the startline and punctured, but I digress...........they were banned there.
  • Mad Roadie
    Mad Roadie Posts: 710
    TACX i-magic or better - great videos - take all the boredom out of turbo training
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Cycleops fluid are the bestest IMO. I've had a variety of Tacx trainers and when I had a go on a Cycleops fluid 2 I was shocked at how much better it was. I ended up with a Jet Fluid Pro and it's great. It's smooth and consistent.

    As for banning turbos to warm up, that's ridiculous! So, they want oodles of cyclists bimbling up and down the road near the course instead? Furthermore, I have seen people puncture in the warm up and be unable to use their best wheel or worse, unable to compete at all if they rode to the event.
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    CycleOps Fluid II gets my vote, too, Markos :wink:
    Can't use turbo's at morning meetings in East District... CTT rules!
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    It's looking like I'm going to stretch the budget again(as usual :) ) and go for the Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro. Cheapest I've found so far is £220 at Wiggle, anyone know of anywhere cheaper?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    www.cyclestore.co.uk

    give em a bell and I'm sure they'll be 'competitive'
  • VintageGt
    VintageGt Posts: 33
    Tacx Satori for me, not the best, not the worst, cheap, does what it's supposed to and still works after many miles ridden on it. Works for me! :)
  • Wobblehead
    Wobblehead Posts: 264
    Got a Cycleops fluid 2 that has been gathering dust in the garage after being used twice.

    £100 + postage (could be a bit)