Best turbo trainer for around £300

k3vinjam3s
k3vinjam3s Posts: 266
edited January 2019 in Indoor training and turbo forum
Looking for a new turbo trainer to replace well used cheap elite one i have.

Budget of around £300. Needs to be a portable one where i attach back wheel to it rather than a mountable one. Obviously a smart trainer but not looking at signing up to zwift or similar just yet. So would like a brand that offers some of the smart based training programs free of charge.

Research shows a lot on the market so wanting real world feedback if possibe. Would pay more if substantially better but not a lot more.

Comments

  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Tacx Vortex Smart, £200 at Halfords. Free workouts plus the option to create your own based on power, relative power, heart rate and relative heart rate and slope. I use the free app on the iPad via Bluetooth.
    Mine is a a couple of years old and still going strong.
  • k3vinjam3s
    k3vinjam3s Posts: 266
    diamonddog wrote:
    Tacx Vortex Smart, £200 at Halfords. Free workouts plus the option to create your own based on power, relative power, heart rate and relative heart rate and slope. I use the free app on the iPad via Bluetooth.
    Mine is a a couple of years old and still going strong.

    Cant find it on halfords. Got a link?
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,981
    k3vinjam3s wrote:
    diamonddog wrote:
    Tacx Vortex Smart, £200 at Halfords. Free workouts plus the option to create your own based on power, relative power, heart rate and relative heart rate and slope. I use the free app on the iPad via Bluetooth.
    Mine is a a couple of years old and still going strong.

    Cant find it on halfords. Got a link?

    I think dd may mean this https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=312028&productId=1237660&storeId=10001

    I've only ever seen the vortex down as low as £200 once, and I thought that was Amazon, £250ish is not unheard of though.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Sorry OP my mistake, it is the Flow Smart I have. :oops:
    Cheers Daniel B
  • k3vinjam3s
    k3vinjam3s Posts: 266
    From what ive researched theres little difference.

    Does this one change the resistance automatucally or manually?
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    If i were you i would save a bit more and get a kickr snap (refurbished or second hand) but at your 300 price point I think the Magnus may be good value.
    https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... reId=10001

    Make sure you use BC membership discount (If you don't have it, buy the membership and then the discount will cover the membership cost)
  • wasp707
    wasp707 Posts: 116
    If you go for the Magnus it's £250 at CycleSurgery. I bought one a couple of days ago but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

    https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cycleops ... RHEALw_wcB
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    k3vinjam3s wrote:
    From what ive researched theres little difference.

    Does this one change the resistance automatucally or manually?
    The Flow Smart automatically changes the resistance as per the session you are doing, or it can be used as a ‘dumb’ trainer.
  • Thigh_burn
    Thigh_burn Posts: 489
    I bought a Magnus from Rutland Cycles in November for about £270 and am very happy with it. It would seem to fit your criteria well.
  • k3vinjam3s
    k3vinjam3s Posts: 266
    wasp707 wrote:
    If you go for the Magnus it's £250 at CycleSurgery. I bought one a couple of days ago but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

    https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cycleops ... RHEALw_wcB


    Ordered. Many thanks.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,981
    k3vinjam3s wrote:
    wasp707 wrote:
    If you go for the Magnus it's £250 at CycleSurgery. I bought one a couple of days ago but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

    https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cycleops ... RHEALw_wcB


    Ordered. Many thanks.

    I hope you went through Top Cash Back?
    Would have netted you a further £13ish in, errr, cashback.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • k3vinjam3s
    k3vinjam3s Posts: 266
    Daniel B wrote:
    k3vinjam3s wrote:
    wasp707 wrote:
    If you go for the Magnus it's £250 at CycleSurgery. I bought one a couple of days ago but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

    https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cycleops ... RHEALw_wcB


    Ordered. Many thanks.

    I hope you went through Top Cash Back?
    Would have netted you a further £13ish in, errr, cashback.

    Of course. Its how i justify these purchases haha
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,981
    k3vinjam3s wrote:
    Daniel B wrote:
    k3vinjam3s wrote:
    wasp707 wrote:
    If you go for the Magnus it's £250 at CycleSurgery. I bought one a couple of days ago but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

    https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cycleops ... RHEALw_wcB


    Ordered. Many thanks.

    I hope you went through Top Cash Back?
    Would have netted you a further £13ish in, errr, cashback.

    Of course. Its how i justify these purchases haha

    Exactly! You have saved £250 AND made £13 :lol:

    So you are £263 up ;-)
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18

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