I had always heard that there was a significant difference between mag and fluid trainers. This may well be an understatement. Mag trainers, I have experienced, tend to lessen in resistance as cadence increases and there is often a dead spot in your pedal stroke. Fluid trainers are quite the opposite; resistance increases as pedal cadence increases and is provides a very fluid (pun intended) pedal stroke. Indeed, the faster I pedal the greater the resistance.
My
CycleOps Fluid 2 more closely approximates a road ride. With my inexpensive mag trainer I did not always find my workouts strenuous even when the unit was set to the highest resistance and when I was in 53 x 12.
The resistance is smooth, progressive and very real. The construction is also first rate. It is a heavy unit, but a lighter unit may not be as stable when out of the saddle while sprinting or doing those uphill climbs. It is exceptionally stable while sprinting.
Sprinting seated or standing (you don't want to see that horror show) the CycleOps is steady and smooth.
On deciding on the
CycleOps Fluid 2, I read many reviews. Indeed, there are some other high quality fluid trainers out there (my second choice would be the Kurt Kenetic Road Machine) and some of the reviews for the CylceOps don’t impress. Many reviewers have had issue with leaky O-rings. I have had no problems with mine.
I'm not the least bit worried about O ring seals, if their good enough for car engines, jet engines and rocket motors then they should handle a trainer just fine. The temperture the oil in the unit is going to get too is not hot enough to cause any problems either; anything and everything will eventually wear out given enough time and use. I've used mine for a year now and not have had one problem with the unit; the unit is not overly heavy making it easy to pack up and stow in a car. The way the unit is constructed without any weird folding thin pieces of metal or plastic makes the CycleOps very strong and stable even when getting on it hard.
The resistence level of this unit is 750+ watts; to put this in perspective, Lance Armstrong can do 705 +watts continuously for 1 hour; this means that for the large majority of riders the Fluid 2 will more then suit their power levels.
Eye of the tiger - smooth and quiet.
All this to say, those of us who live in frozen climates for four to six months of the year or you are considering getting a new trainer or trainer upgrade, go fluid. Whether it's a shorter, intense workout your looking at or a long, three hour suffer fest (which I am so use to now!), and if it fits in your budget, go for a unit like the
CycleOps Fluid 2.
Strengths:- Approximates an actual road ride;
- intensifies workouts;
- bike mounts on unit easily – easy set up and take down;
- heavy duty frame;
- stable;
- quiet compared to mags and other fluid trainers;
- lifetime warranty on parts, labour and replacement unit if necessary and they pay for shipping for both units.
Weaknesses:- It doesn’t do the workout for me.
Just playing around with Map My Ride. Haven't quite figured out how it all works just yet - distance isn't accurate at all, but you get an idea of the route I took.
