Wanting a Turbo Trainer <£150

jefflad
jefflad Posts: 315
edited February 2014 in Road buying advice
I've decided I need to put the hours in whenever I can and with the weather have decided a turbo may be the answer but looking at them I can't quite work out what the real differences are. For instance there's the Tacx blue motion, blue matic then the cyclops mag and wind trainers.

The idea is to run in the garage watching the iPad or listening to music. I like the idea of variable resistance and a remote control thingy? Oh and ideally less than £150 though could push the budget if I should be looking higher.

Vague I know but any pearls of wisdom would be appreciated!

Comments

  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Elite Mag Turbo (5 tension levels) is on offer @ Wiggle £99.99, had one for a couple of years and use it year through with no problems.
  • jefflad
    jefflad Posts: 315
    diamonddog wrote:
    Elite Mag Turbo (5 tension levels) is on offer @ Wiggle £99.99, had one for a couple of years and use it year through with no problems.

    Thanks just been looking at it and seems decent... Only thing the reviews state it's quite noisy, what level of noise would you say?
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Tacx Speedmatic - search on here and BR for reviews cheap and works well.
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    I got one of these a few weeks ago - this is my first Turbo, and it seems okay, certainly makes the sweat flow!

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/min ... r-ec024622

    The only problem I found was that having stuck an old tyre on the back wheel, it tended to throw black rubber dust up from the roller (which I suppose if you're in a garage isn't a problem). But having the resistance control on the bars is good, saves having to flick through the gears but gives you an even greater range of resistance if you want to flick through the gears.

    Try your local Evans in Gateshead (Metro Centre), I went into my local Evans and the in-store price was actually less than online (their mistake), but I had to go with online price as had paid for it already online (it wasn't that much difference, only about £8, but it was a bit annoying given I could have just gone in and bought it cheaper).
  • neilvx
    neilvx Posts: 137
    I got my Elite from Halfords for only £75 in the Christmas sale and love it :)
    Cube Reaction GTC Pro 27.5 2017 Grey / Yellow Flash
    Ribble R872 Ultegra
    Skyway BMX
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    jefflad wrote:
    diamonddog wrote:
    Elite Mag Turbo (5 tension levels) is on offer @ Wiggle £99.99, had one for a couple of years and use it year through with no problems.

    Thanks just been looking at it and seems decent... Only thing the reviews state it's quite noisy, what level of noise would you say?

    Noise wise not bad at all no worse than others and in your garage it shouldn't be a problem. IME none of them are what could be called quiet per se and reviews are always subjective.
  • Gunnsie
    Gunnsie Posts: 171
    This company do one for under £90 with resistance adjustment.

    http://publ.com/6Zif6he

    Saw them at the London Bike Show and was very tempted (especially as they had them for £65 on the last day).
  • yaya
    yaya Posts: 411
    See if you can find one that runs on fluid rather than a magnet, like this one: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-supercrono-power-fluid-elastogel-trainer/
    They are quieter and smoother in general and feel a bit more like riding on the road compared to the magnetic ones. You use your bike gears to adjust resistance.
    There are turbo specific tyres that are slick and hard so they make less noise and don't disintegrate. I picked one up on the 'Bay for £7 and fitted it on an old MTB...
  • jefflad
    jefflad Posts: 315
    yaya wrote:
    See if you can find one that runs on fluid rather than a magnet, like this one: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-supercrono-power-fluid-elastogel-trainer/
    They are quieter and smoother in general and feel a bit more like riding on the road compared to the magnetic ones. You use your bike gears to adjust resistance.
    There are turbo specific tyres that are slick and hard so they make less noise and don't disintegrate. I picked one up on the 'Bay for £7 and fitted it on an old MTB...

    Wow £7... that's a bargain! I need some luck like that :wink:

    I like the idea of it feeling more like riding on the road... I'll have a look at the fluid trainers and see what I like the look of.
  • jefflad
    jefflad Posts: 315
    I've went and bought a magnetic one from the local classifieds... quite impressed but mind numbing, I need some entertainment to keep me occupied :-/
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    jefflad wrote:
    I've went and bought a magnetic one from the local classifieds... quite impressed but mind numbing, I need some entertainment to keep me occupied :-/

    Sufferfest
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    +1 for sufferfest and also trainerroad if you really want to get serious.

    I've always got on with normal tyres in my turbo. Maybe it depends on the turbo though.

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