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Trainers
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
I'm out of action for a while after having my shoulder reconstructed and was thinking about buying a trainer to help keep my fitness up. So thoughts on which brands/types are good or not? I'll be using a 26er with road tyres.
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Fluid trainers are better than mag units - more realistic in the way the effort ramps up. I have a cheapo mag unit, and I have to be aggressive with the gears to get any decent resistance out of it. Wind trainers are supposed to be the gold standard for realistic resistance curves, but are very noisy... rrrrrRRRRRRR!
I have a Kinetic Rock'n'Roll fluid model. It has a massive flywheel so feels nice and smooth. Quiet enough to watch TV at only slightly elevated volume. The side to side motion is great for riding out of the saddle too, which keeps your core in shape. Highly recommended.
I also tried a cheap-ass model with a variable resistance thingo which was noisier and not as smooth, and borrowed a mid-range variable resistance model. I much prefer the Kinetic one we have now.
The point about a fluid or wind trainer is that the faster the wheel rotates the more resistance is offered (much the same way as the faster you cycle the more wind resistance is encountered), therefore you adjust your workout load simply by going up and down gears which spins the back wheel faster.
Thanks for the advice, I'm off to have a look at trainers tomorrow.
Cheers
I have a fluid trainer, had it for year's, leaks a little oil now, but its awesome, quiet and resistance builds as you crank it up. I use it sporadically as riding inside gets boring. Does the job though.
Thanks mate