Hey, The Kinetic Road Machine Matches My Kit!
You’d better know which indoor bike trainer will leak, which is too loud, and which is somewhere in between. That is…if you don’t want to lose money making the wrong choice.
Enter the bicycle trainer world.
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Check out my review of the…
Kurt Kinetic Road Machine
I’ve also done an individual review of the very popular…
CycleOps Fluid 2 bicycle trainer
Read about the’emperor’ of trainers, …
Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll trainer
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My entrance into the indoor bicycle trainer world was a mixed bag.
Years ago, I was just getting into serious cycling when two of the guys in our group invited me over to where they planned to go on an ‘indoor bicycle trainer ride’ together. It turned out to be a side by side basement sweat-fest with the two of them watching a DVD while they tapped out some intervals on their indoor bike trainers.
What did I take away from it? Two things.
- I remember looking at the completely fogged up windows and thinking that I’d been breathing in the same water vapor that was dripping off the glass…and that half of it had come out of the mouth and sweat glands of the same rider who I’d been hesitant to follow in a paceline. You know, personal hygiene issues. I’d rate that as a negative!
- But the other thing I took away from that evening in the basement was talk of a new type of bike trainer made by Kurt Kinetic…which was novel in its ability to eliminate the leakage problem fluid bike trainers were plagued with. I’d rate that as a positive!
Thus began my near obsession of checking out the cycling world for the best bike trainer.
==>Amazon Carries Bike Trainers…And They’re All Discounted Here<==
Let’s start out by breaking down indoor bike trainers into three categories.
Read on, my cycling friend…
1). The Fluid Bike Trainer- Is This The Best Indoor Bicycle Trainer?
The Kinetic Rock and Roll Rocks!
Typically, the Fluid bike trainer is at the top of the food chain in the world of bicycle trainers. These are the one’s providing the most realistic ride, are the quietest, and cost the most money.
They work by spinning an impeller through fluid. In the case of the Kurt Kinetic bike trainer, the fluid is silicone…and for a very good reason.
Silicone is thermodynamically neutral. That means that in spite of the heat created by the friction in the unit, the fluid doesn’t get thinner (try that with maple syrup!).
Since spinning that impeller through a viscous fluid is how a fluid bike trainer maintains its high level of resistance, it’s imperative that the fluid doesn’t get thinner as the heat in the resistance chamber rises. A fluid bike trainer filled with silicone is one of best bike trainers for achieving a realistic ride.
Early fluid indoor bicycle trainers were notorious for leakage, and getting back to my initial ‘basement spin-fest’ …leakage was the issue that directed me away from most fluid bike trainers and into the lap of Kurt Kinetic. They’d conquered the leakage problem before everyone else. Further down the page I’ve included a video that demonstrates the uniqueness of the Kurt Kinetic design.
I highly recommend you watch it!
It now appears that the major high-end fluid trainers have a handle on the leakage issue, but the problem’s enough of a consideration to keep a cyclist away from cheap fluid trainers; or older bike trainer models.
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Here are some of my individual reviews of fluid trainers, starting with the…
Kurt Kinetic Road Machine
I’ve also done an individual review of the very popular…
CycleOps Fluid 2 bicycle trainer
If you’re interested in the bike trainer ‘emperor’, read about the…
Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll trainer here
Here’s a review of the Road Machine bike trainer on steroids…
Kurt Kinetic Pro
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2.) Magnetic Cycling Trainers- Suffering ‘Middle-Child’ Syndrome?
The CycleOps SuperMagneto Now Rivals Any Fluid Trainer
Caught between the fluid bike trainer and the wind bike trainer is the ‘mag’ trainer.
This class of bike trainer uses eddy current braking (‘eddy current brakes slow an object by creating eddy currents through electromagnetic induction, which creates resistance’…from Wikipedia) to supply the resistance factor. But unlike the exponential resistance curve in a fluid trainer, the resistance in a conventional magnetic bike trainer is at best linear.
I say ‘at best’ because it’s possible for the flywheel to suddenly ‘break free’ from the influence of the eddy current resistance if a macho cyclist stands up on his indoor mag bike trainer and simulates his last sprint to the finish line. This results in no pedal resistance whatsoever.
There is no victory when this happens…only a startling, ball-breaking disappointment as he crashes down onto his top bar.
The resistance curve in a mag trainer certainly doesn’t match that of the exponential increase in wind resistance that we experience outdoors on our bikes…and that’s why it’s relegated to ‘second class’ citizenship.
There are various ways in which mag trainer manufacturers seek to add resistance. One of the best that I’ve seen is the technology used in the CycleOps Magneto. In this model, centrifugal force in the flywheel changes the configuration of the magnets, which varies the resistive force. The CycleOps Magneto is the only mag indoor bicycle trainer I’ve discovered that provides progressive resistance. The whole system is demonstrated on a video that you can see on my review page of the CycleOps Magneto bike trainer.
Cheaper magnetic trainers address this problem of increasing resistance by requiring the cyclist to dismount and change a setting on the bike trainer itself…which changes the position of the magnets. Higher end mag bike trainers come equipped with a cable which is attached to the ‘cockpit’ (your handlebars) for remote changing of the settings.
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Here’s my review of the…
CycleOps Magneto bike trainer
Read my review of the…
CycleOps Mag indoor bicycle trainer
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==>Amazon Carries Magnetic Trainers…And They’re All Discounted Here<==
3.) Wind Bicycle Trainers- Good Entry Level Trainer
The least expensive class of trainers is the wind bike trainer.
They’re also the simplest, and least likely to break down. Even though they’re simple, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t expect good workmanship in the frame, bearings, and the part of the bike trainer that attaches to the rear wheel. My advice is to stay with the top brands like CycleOps or Kurt Kinetic.
There are two characteristics of the wind bicycle trainer that are almost universally reported…excessive noise, and limited resistance.
Although the noise and ‘weakness’ traits make this style of bike trainer unsuitable for many cyclists, they may be acceptable for riders who aren’t sufficiently in shape to go ‘head to head’ with a fluid bike trainer, or who live somewhere (not in an apartment?) where bicycle trainer noise doesn’t matter a whole lot.
I’ve pictured the CycleOps Wind Bike Trainer because it comes equipped with what CycleOps is calling ‘Vortex blade design’…and I wanted you to see it. The claim is that the vortex blades provide increased resistance without increasing the noise level. In addition, the added mass of the die cast zinc fan blades acts as a flywheel, adding to the realism of the ride. With that in mind, CycleOps would argue that they’re making the best wind bike trainer on the market.
Well, CycleOps is certainly addressing the wind trainer’s weaknesses head on, but I suspect that the noise level is relative…as is the resistance level.
Relative to a nice fluid bike trainer, there’s no comparison.
But compared to a creaky, cheap wind trainer the CycleOps Wind Trainer is solid and dependable.
If you have the desire to ‘break wind’, the wind indoor bicycle trainer may be the one for you. And with the money you save by not buying an expensive fluid bike trainer you’ll be able to buy more burritos.
Summarizing: The wind bike trainer is the least expensive but the noisiest and weakest of the three varieties.
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Read my review of the…
CycleOps Wind Trainer
A review on the…
Kinetic Cyclone Wind Trainer
Read my very comprehensive review of the…
CycleOps Rollers ________________________________________________________________________________
-A Great Video Demonstrating The Uniqueness of Kurt Kinetic Trainers!-
==>Bike Trainer Deals On Amazon…A Very Trusted Merchant!<==
A Summary Of Indoor Bicycle Trainers
How many times have you watched a police detective show and heard them say, ‘follow the money’.
I suppose that snippet of wisdom could be applied to indoor bike trainers too.
The most expensive trainer is the fluid bike trainer, which is the quietest and provides the most realistic ride. The earlier problems of failure due to leakage seem to have been licked by the higher-end fluid bike trainer manufacturers. And leakage is just about impossible in the Kurt Kinetic series (I hope you watched the video).
The money trail leads us next to the magnetic bike trainer. Once again, the higher-end mag trainers don’t suffer from the breakdowns and noise that early-model mag bicycle trainers were known for. And CycleOps has been innovative enough with their Magneto model to provide progressive resistance. You really ought to check out my Magneto review to see what this is ‘progressive resistance’ idea is all about.
And finally, just as the money trail is getting pretty thin, you arrive at the wind bike trainer. They’re noisier and aren’t able to provide leg-burning resistance, but you know what?…there are plenty of recreational riders who’d benefit from what a wind bike trainer has to offer when poor weather or seasonal darkness keep a cyclist indoors.
Before you leave, let me say that I think you’ll benefit from taking a look at the indoor bicycle trainer deals at Amazon here. I was shocked at all the cycling gear they offer…and at discounted prices.
 | About the reviewer: Ron Fritzke is a cycling product reviewer with a passion for ‘all things cycling’. A former 2:17 marathoner, he now directs his competitive efforts toward racing his bike…and looking for good cycling products. |
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The People's Top 3 Choices In Bike Trainers- Find Out Why!
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Kinetic by Kurt Road Machine Indoor Bicycle Trainer
The Kinetic Road Machine Rear Wheel Trainer features a smooth quiet resistance from 5-3000 watts, and 6.25 lb. freewheel for realistic coast down.Uses one CR2032 battery for c... read more → |
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CycleOps Fluid 2 Indoor Bicycle Trainer
"Power Band" Technology allows distinct resistance level changes without reaching to a lever on the unit. Resistance level varies automatically based on cadence and wheel spe... read more → |
Prices are accurate as of May 16, 2012 2:12 pm. Product prices and available are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.
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Does a person who does not know how to bike use a wind trainer instead of a stationary bike?
A bike trainer is usually used by someone who wants to use their own bike when they need to ride indoors (often because of bad weather)…so someone who doesn’t know how to bike wouldn’t usually have a bike to put into a bike trainer.
They’d most likely use a stationary bike at a fitness center.
Hey Ron,
I was very interested in the Elite series because of the simulated rides (with the additional purchase of DVDs of course)
But most of the RA trainers – be they the Real Axiom or the Elite Crono”seem” to be magnetic trainers – I could be wrong.
Essentially my question to you is this: in your opinion, what is the best bang for buck fluid trainer than can also be rigged for the virtual reality rides (if the trainer does not already come that way)?
Thanks Ron,
Anand
Hi Anand,
I’m sorry for the late reply. I was out of town for two weeks, and am only now getting back into the groove.
I don’t have experience with the Real Axiom trainers. The types of magnetic trainers that I’ve been reviewing have ‘stand alone’ magnets in them.
I believe that the virtual reality trainers are similar to the electromagnetic resistance units used in stationary bikes. They need to be plugged in…but they can provide near limitless resistance due to what is called the Eddy current brake phenomenon…and they’re nearly silent.
If you’re going with the reality series, you don’t need a fluid trainer, the electromagnetic resistance is superior to fluid resistance…but then again, it has to be near a plug (not usually a problem for a trainer at home).
I don’t know of a fluid trainer that is integrated to a virtual reality program.
Thanks for the inquiry, and my apologies for the late reply.
Ron.
Thanks Ron,
Anand
Great article and info. I am looking into getting a trainer for my own bike, so I can continue riding through the winter (I live in upstate NY).
One question I have about trainers is this – can they be used with bikes that do NOT have Quick Release on the back wheel? I ride a Zebra Sport 12-speed that I have owned since 1988. The rear wheel (original rim!) is a bolt-on style, so it doesn’t have QR. I have done a few Google searches on the subject, and some say it can be done. I just want to be sure before I shell out several hundred for something I may not even be able to use. I’m not too crazy about the idea of having to swap out the wheel I already have for a new one, either.
Please advise.
Karin
Hi Karin,
Boy, I’m in a quandary. I just went out into the garage and there are seven bikes out there…but they all have quick releases. The one bike I had that didn’t have a quick release went to a better home a few months ago (sold it to a guy in town).
I looked at the ‘cups’ on the trainers I have here and they are made of machined aluminum. That means that they aren’t as hard as your steel axle and nut…which means that the cups will get worn down by any movement between the axle and trainer.
Considering that the cups are shaped for a quick release (Kurt Kinetic and CycleOps include a quick release with their trainers that matches the cups precisely), I have a suspicion that the cups wouldn’t hold your ‘axle and nut’ assembly very well.
I wish I could assure you that it would work, but I can’t.
Thanks for the question.
Ron
Ron,
My daughter is a marathoner and is wishing for a bike stand for her survival during winter months in NY city. What should I get her that would be the best bang for a buck?
Regards
I’d recommend the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine or the CycleOps Magneto. They aren’t the cheapest around, but they will last a long time and provide more resistance than she’ll ever need.
I am needing a bike trainer that is not going to cost me more than $100-$125 but is still good. (Just need it to ride when I am unable to take the baby outside due to weather). My problem is I am rather short so my wheels are 24″ and the ones I am finding are for 26″ wheels and bigger. I didnt want to have to spend an extra $40+ on an adapter.
Thanks.
Hi Rebecca,
You’re asking for something that is barely out of your price range. About the only 24 inch adapter that I see is the $35 one that goes on a Cycleops trainer. You could then use it on a $135 Cycleops wind trainer.
That puts the combination just out of your price range, but I don’t know of a quality trainer that fits your needs.
The Kurt Kinetic wind trainer accepts wheels from 16″ to 29″, but the unit costs $199.
Ron
Ron,
All your reviews and comments are very informative and knowledgeable. Your experience in biking shows through in the advice you give on your site. However, you are missing a small but great company in the “trainer” world. 1up USA has been making great trainers for years. They have great reviews and awesome customer service. They also make a very quality bike rack. 1upusa.com
Hi Robbie,
Thanks for the heads up. I’m at a loss to figure out how to do a review of 1upUSA, since they don’t seem to be available other than through the internet.
Ron
Great reviews. Thank you. Was just wondering if you had any thoughts on how rollers stack up against the 3 types outlined above.
Che
Hi Che,
Rollers and bike trainers each have their strengths. For a real ‘thrill’ you can’t beat the challenge of staying on rollers.
If you get the right roller set-up, you can get enough resistance to satisfy just about any workout. If you don’t have an added resistance unit, you may not have enough resistance on rollers to do real ‘heavy’ pedaling. But then again, on rollers you’re developing balancing skills.
With trainers, you can pedal about as hard as you want and still concentrate on your favorite TV episode without fear of falling off. But then again, you aren’t developing much in the category of bike riding skills. Of course, it could be argued that you can get plenty of balancing skills when riding outside.
An interesting ‘hybrid’ is the Kinetic Rock and Roll. There is movement in this trainer, so you aren’t able to ignore proper pedaling skills, but not so much movement that you’ll fall off if you have a lapse in concentration.
Hope that helps some.
Ron
Hi Ron
Any info (good or bad) regarding the Blackburn Trakstand Mag indoor trainer?
Thanks
Donn
Hi Donn, I haven’t looked into them yet…but I should get off my duff and do it.
Thanks for the prompt,
Ron
Hi – Any comments on the Bike Nashbar fluid trainers? Also, will most trainers fit road bikes only or can mountain bikes be used as well?
From what I can tell, the Nashbar trainers may be made by Elite.
One thing I do know for sure is that the reviews on Nashbar trainers aren’t universal in praise. There are some riders who give them a vote of confidence, while others call them a piece of junk.
Alternatively, you won’t find very many owners of the Kurt or CycleOps line who badmouth their trainers.
Ron
I’m looking to buy my husband a trainer. Usually he’ll research these things and find what he likes, but as it’s a gift, I’m left to do the research.
I know his first concern is his weight. Are there any issues using any of these trainers (I’m leaning towards CycleOps Fluid 2) being of the “clydesdale cyclist” group?
Hi Loving Wife,
Either the Fluid 2 or the Kinetic Road Machine would be good choices. The Road Machine is heavier to lift and is built as ‘stout’ as anything out there.
Ron
thanks for the great reviews and very useful info to help narrow down choices out there.
i am currently on travel (i.e. dont know my bike’s model num etc) and looking to buy a cycleops fluid 2 to take back with me …. all the videos i’ve seen online demo the trainer with thin rear ‘racing bikes’ and not with thick tyres like the ones i have on my Trek bike.
was wondering if my trek would work on a cycleops ?? many thanks
Sami,
How ‘thick’ do you mean? Are you talking about a road bike tire?…if so, it will work on a CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer.
A bigger consideration is that the tread is relatively smooth. Knobby tread will make a lot of noise and will get worn off prematurely.
Thanks for the question,
Ron
I’m looking at getting the kinetic road machine or cycleops fluid 2. Not sure which one yet. I hear a lot of people saying you wear out your tires faster. What’s your thought on that?
Sounds like you’re dealing with two issues…
1) You can’t go wrong with either the Road Machine or the Fluid 2. I use the Road Machine and really love it.
2) The larger rollers on the modern trainers serve to keep tire wear to a minimum, but be sure that you don’t have any slippage between the roller and the tire due to not having it tightened down enough. You can also purchase special tires designed for trainers that are resistant to wear. These are made of a harder rubber than tires that are made for the road…so they wear better, but don’t grip the road as well as ‘normal’ tires.
Hope that helps,
Ron
Thanks, but with the larger roller would you get about the same mileage as riding on the road?
Allen,
I don’t know the answer to that…I do know that the wear pattern on my tire after using it on the trainer is a lot ‘flatter’ than when I ride it outdoors.
Ron
Ok thanks for your help.
Hi
Great reviews! I’m wanting to buy a stationary trainer for my mountain bike. What do you think is the best option?
Spayskdet- The size of the wheel on your mountain bike won’t be a problem…it’ll fit into any of the mainline trainers. But the knobs on a ‘normal’ mountain bike tire will make a lot of noise on a trainer, and the tread will wear off quickly. You can get a smooth mountain bike tire like this Kenda, or you can buy the Minoura RDA80R Rimdrive Trainer. Because the Rimdrive trainer contacts the rim of the wheel, rather than the tire, you can use any tire you’d like to. The Minoura is spoken of very highly by those who use it, but I don’t have experience with it.
Hi Ron. Thanks so much for this information. I’ll look into the Minoura. Have a great week!
Great review. I wanted to get a trainer with the interactive videos, but the systems and additional videos are really expensive. I got a simple fluid trainer. Now I use videos from Seek Out Cycling because they are really affordable, highly realistic, and easy for anyone to interact with no matter how simple their trainer is. This company (www.seekoutcycling.com) has a wide variety of movies for $5 each (6 for $30). It makes an hour on the trainer fly by and I feel like a champion. Thanks for the review.
What about a 2nd rearwheel for using on the trainer? I have talk to others who do this to save their back tires. Do you see any problems with using the same chain?
Shimano and SRAM components use the same chain, but Campy uses a different chain (different spacing). I assume that you’d get a second rear wheel with the same type of cassette as the one on your original wheel…and you should be good to go!
Yes both 10 speed shimano.
Hi! I wanted to ask your opinion in my case. I don’t have a road bike, but a 29er GT mountain bike. I want to get a bike trainer to ride it indoors. I prefer better quality, but i dont know which one works for my bike. Thanks and i will wait for a response!
Hi Leo,
I’d recommend the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine, or the Cycleops Supermagneto Pro for very good quality trainers that a 29er will fit onto. You’ll want to get a smooth tread tire when using a trainer since an aggressive tread will wear out prematurely and will be very loud on a bike trainer.
Thanks for your opinion! God bless!
Considering that the cups are shaped for a quick release (Kurt Kinetic and CycleOps include a quick release with their trainers that matches the cups precisely), I have a suspicion that the cups wouldn’t hold your ‘axle and nut’ assembly very well.
Great website! Love the reviews. Looking to purchase my first trainer. I’ve read elsewhere that trainers like the Kinetic Road Machine put stress on the bike frame, especially carbon frames. Supposedly the Rock & Roll would be better, but I’m a bit nervous about trying that one as my first trainer. What are your thoughts on frame stress?
Hi Mark, I heard the same thing long ago, but after years of riding my carbon frame on the Road Machine’s predecessor, there has been no trouble.
There is actually a review that makes a case for the rock and roll’s movement being hard on the frame, although the concern isn’t shared by other reviewers. See the video here.
Hi Ron,
Wow, I’m a novice so this is overwhelming. It’s approaching Winter in Australia, and dodging cars on the road is not appealing, so I want to get my hybrid bike out, but would rather do it in the garage. Given up smoking too so terrified of putting on weight and want to get the cobwebs off the bike.
I would really like your opinion on whether to go fluid or a wind trainer. The noise won’t matter if I’m in the garage, but I want something comfortable and reliable that won’t break down on me.
What do you suggest?
Thanks Ron.
Hi Danni,
If the finances aren’t too tight I suggest the Kinetic Road Machine or the CycleOps Magneto. Otherwise, the CycleOps Wind Trainer is good.
Best of wishes for staying fit…and congrats on giving up smoking!
Hi Ron,
Me again. Sorry to ask a really basic question, but I’m not sure how a trainer comes packaged (or if there’s extras I need to buy) … On your opinion, I’ve looked into, and am going for the Kinetic Road Machine or the CylcleOps Magneto – do they both come with front and back wheel components? Some videos on Amazon show only the back wheel ‘bit’, so I want to make sure I’m buying everything I need to make sure I’m training stationary and stable.
Many thanks,
Danni
Danni, They come with everything you need for the rear wheel. You’ll likely need something to put under your wheel to keep your bike level. You can use something as simple as a thick book or you can use a Sunlite Forza Riser Block Gray
, a CycleOps Stackable Climbing Block for Indoor Bicycle Trainers
, or a Kinetic by Kurt Fixed Riser Ring (Black)
. I use the last one, and like it a lot.
How about the Lemond Revolution?