Viewing 27 posts - 1 through 27 (of 27 total)
  • Turbo Trainers
  • danmill
    Free Member

    Hi All,

    I appreciate that this has probably been asked loads of times but I am trying to decipher which turbo to get (first one). I dont really have the space for rollers so they are out of the question.

    I have been looking at the Minoura V150 for £155 which seems like a good deal.
    Also found the Elite Novo Mag 2012 for £160 but cant seem to find any reviews on it.
    Ive heard that the cyclops ones are really loud so that would be a no go.
    Looking to spend no more than £170 although willing to hear about ones such as the Minoura which is usaully £210 because there are always sales on. Ive read that the minoura looks crap but is really quiet and has loads of resistance so makes up for its aesthetics (it is my most preferred at the moment).

    Bit of background
    Cycle quite a bit, consider myself in fairly good shape – looking to do a few half ironmans next year and full ironman 2014 so want a turbo with a decent amount of resistance but want to keep it as quiet as possible as dont want to annoy flatmates.

    Any suggestions would be great.

    mt
    Free Member

    you are on the wrong forum, you need to go to a site that actually has people who do training. 🙂

    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    Thing is, who gets to try a lot of turbo trainers?

    I’ve had two in the past 15-20 years.

    First was magnetic with variable resistance and made by Elite. It was noisy and I didn’t like the action as (perhaps due to my rubbish MTBer pedaling action) I found the magnetic resistance wasn’t smooth.

    More recently I have bought a fluid resistance trainer and I like it’s action much more. It is quieter too.

    I’d say adjustable resistance isn’t important so long as your gears go high enough to give you what you want. I’d also suggest noise will be very dependent on where you use the trainer, hollow floors can make a lot of noise.

    and that is my limited experience.

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    Haze
    Full Member

    I have a Cyclops Mag Plus, it’s fairly noisy but no idea how it compares with others.

    Not really an issue anyway as it’s used in the garage, would be far too hot to use in the house.

    project
    Free Member

    Ive got a TAXC one for sale, great well built thing, folds up , and variable resistance , but then i usaully use the gears on the bike, its a bit noisy, but on a solid floor with a few layers of old carpert below should be a lot quieter, on the wirral if youre near.

    danmill
    Free Member

    True, I dont think that many people will have tried multiple turbo trainers. Just trying to figure out which one would be best. good point about resistance but I have read that some are just way too flimsy.

    thanks for the offer but Im in London so a bit far away!

    mikehow
    Free Member

    Cyclops Fluid 2 or Jet Pro seem to be conventional options for a quiet turbo with good amounts of resistance.

    Just bought a Fluid 2 myself, certainly doesn’t sound like my mates wind turbine of a mag trainer.

    Not cheap but very well built.

    neilm
    Free Member

    Consider the Minoura RDA850 (or the modern equivalent). It drives onto the rim of the back wheel, not the tyre.

    This means you don’t wear out your back tyre and at the same time cover the room in black rubber dust. It is adjustable, so it also means you can use it on a variety of bikes.

    meehaja
    Free Member

    I have a bottom of the range minoura from a few years ago. Its no louder tan having music on etc but it does resonate through wooden floors (mines on a stone floor now).

    It meets m needs, but I’d prefer one with a bar mounted tension changer, but mostly I put the fixed gear on it and work at a higher cadence than normal.

    daigonzales
    Free Member

    Which TACX model is it project? The current dampness has got me interested in training indoors …

    adyp
    Free Member

    Another thread from a month or so ago here. I bought a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine on the advice of a neighbour who’s a bit good on a road bike and haven’t been disappointed. V quiet especially when using a trainer tyre. See here. HTH

    dingabell
    Free Member

    My first trainer is a Minoura VFS-G which is the fluid one. It’s very quiet and pretty solid. It has a handlebar mounted remote resistance lever and I think there’s plenty enough resistance for your average mortal. Best of all it’s reduced from £199-£117 on Merlins website. Bikeradar gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars in their review and I think it’s a bargain.

    danmill
    Free Member

    dingabell may have to have a look at that – I had a look at bikeradar and it would seem that from the models they have reviewed minoura seems to have the best overall reviews.
    I have also looked at Elite crono fluid elastogel.
    I think with the sales I am going to keep it under 150.

    It seems I am going to have to get a trainer tyre as well from the sounds of it!

    hughjardon
    Free Member

    I had a similar idea about getting a turbo 25 years ago,

    hence I have a rusty 25 year old turbo trainer in the garage that has been used about a dozen times 😀

    mogrim
    Full Member

    I have also looked at Elite crono fluid elastogel.

    That’s the one I’ve got, it’s not too noisy, the feel’s OK, it’s fine for training on. The main limitation is that you can’t get up out of the saddle – there’s no way to simulate a sprint, for example. (As you get up out of the saddle your weight shifts forwards, lessening the contact between the wheel and the roller – you can stand up, but it’s an unnatural feeling as you have to keep your weight back.)

    Also the usual limitation: make sure you have a smooth tyre!

    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    A trainer tyre is a good idea, saves wearing good tyres out and they aren’t priced too badly on Merlin.

    dingabell
    Free Member

    Make sure you can see a TV too or you’ll die of boredom. It’s amazing how a dvd box set of your favourite films/tv series can keep your mind off the pain in your legs.

    mogrim
    Full Member

    Better even than a trainer tyre is a whole spare rear wheel – an old wheel you’ve upgraded from is ideal. It’s one less excuse, changing tyres is too much of a faff!

    MikeWW
    Free Member

    Got one (well 2 actually) of these Tacx Satori
    Magnetic but work well. These get well used by me and my 2 boys through the winter and for pre race warm ups throughout the year.
    Have had the Cylops Fluid 2 as well which is pretty good

    BenHouldsworth
    Free Member

    I’ve got Kurt Kinetic Road Machine that I got from Planet X a few years back for a daft price, I think £100 when they retail nearer £400 now.

    Having ridden fan and mag trainers I can honestly say getting a quality one made the world of difference in how long I can stick it out and combined with a fan and Sufferfest workouts I actually look forward to it

    danmill
    Free Member

    Anybody else had experience of the Minoura VFS-G?

    Looks like a good deal…..

    adyp
    Free Member

    Better even than a trainer tyre is a whole spare rear wheel – an old wheel you’ve upgraded from is ideal. It’s one less excuse, changing tyres is too much of a faff!

    That’s exactly what I’ve done! Makes it all dead easy.

    I’ve got Kurt Kinetic Road Machine that I got from Planet X a few years back for a daft price, I think £100 when they retail nearer £400 now.

    That was a blimmin’ bargain Ben! Mine was $300 ish in the states but as you say it’s a really good quality bit of kit. Lifetime guarantee on the fluid resistance unit too which is magnetically driven through the housing so no seals to wear out and leak. It’s been brill for my knee rehab.

    danmill
    Free Member

    The Kurt Kinetic Road MAchine does indeed look like a good deal but is more like double my budget now. Sucks.

    jmenorton
    Free Member

    Reckon a big ass fan would still be needed, if outside under an awning doing an hourish of intervals?

    ashfanman
    Free Member

    I’m currently considering the same myself, but I don’t have a road bike and I’m looking at selling my HT. Stupid question, but other than taking up less space, what benefits would a turbo offer over, say, a (decent) fixed exercise bike?

    Rockhopper
    Free Member

    Real roadies use rollers – end of thread!!

    dirtyrider
    Free Member

    dcrainmaker.com is doing a grouptest soon

    he will be using one of these as well

Viewing 27 posts - 1 through 27 (of 27 total)

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