Which Turbo Trainer?

StorckSpeed · September 2012

I've been very lucky for the past few winters in that I worked offshore. This has meant easy access to a REALLY good gym and bike. And with lots of time off, during most of the winter could manage a 1 hour ride in the cold and wet, doing hill repeats or short sprints etc.. For teh odd day when the weather was god awful, then I had a basic Turbo I could use in the Garage too.
I've now moved into the office and am dreading this winter. I've been wondering about winter training. Is the Turbo I have good enough? I'd secretly like one that showed me my power output (The bike in the offshore gym did this - at £4K this is out of my budget however).
Are any of the cheaper Turbo trainers that give power readings that accurate?
Pound for Pound what is the best value winter trainer available?
Are the Virtual Trainers any good or should I save my money for other bling?

Herbsman · September 2012

Eyorerox · September 2012

I have a Lemond Revolution with power pilot. It shows power and you can upload to training Peaks if thats your thing
no idea how accurate the numbers are. You could subscribe to trainer road which would be cheaper. I have no idea if the accuracy of the numbers is that important to you. I would think the power outputs for the Lemond are more consistent than a trainer using the rear wheel (I don't know for sure).
The Lemond revolution is a very nice trainer but it is very noisy, easily dealt with by wearing eardefenders.

andyrr · September 2012

The Kurt Kinetic trainers are known for being very solid pieces of kit. I've one which I bought around 6 years ago and it has been very , very good.
Issues I had were :
1) The computer which shows power etc was poor and the 1st one failed, was replaced then the 2nd one has now died. Current models of the trainer have a different computer so I don't think my issues are relevant now.
2) The L-shaped rod that tensions the spring stripped the thread on it or the plastic knob. Kurt sent me 2 new ones FOC - as I recall this was maybe 2 years after I bought it from Planet-X so their sevice was good - came from the States within days. This seemed to be a known issue but again, this has probably changed for current models and I was partly at cause for this as I used to constantly be adjusting the tension when I took the unit to my club then back home and would be changing the tension each time.

IMHO these are very highly recommended turbos.
Not sure how accurate the power reading is but they appear to be seen as at least consistent which was good enough for me.
Various models from around £250+

thegodplato · September 2012

I've been wondering about a Turbo Trainer for the winter but have only a small budget and thats if I can talk my missus into letting me get one for Christmas! Do they really help? are the cheaper ones a big waste of money?
Help!

Herbsman · September 2012

thegodplato wrote:

I've been wondering about a Turbo Trainer for the winter but have only a small budget and thats if I can talk my missus into letting me get one for Christmas! Do they really help? are the cheaper ones a big waste of money?
Help!

twotyred · September 2012

There really should be a sticky on this.

Kurt Kinetic- either Road Machine or Rock and Roll, or a Cyclops Jet Fluid Pro. If you want power output buy a power meter for your bike. This will be more accurate than any turbo power meter and you can use it on the road. Failing a power meter then using speed on a good fluid trainer like the above is a good substitute- or even use Trainer Road to convert speed to power.

Which Turbo Trainer?

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