Advice on bike trainers?

Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above trainers
perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.

Kev

I have a minoura inter-rim which I got so that I could train on both my mountain and road bike. I
find that after a while it stopped gripping the rim adequately.

Tom

"Kevin Garnier" <kgarnier@engr.mun.ca> wrote in message
news:dfa64b55.0308110847.27fe1e2b@posting.google.com...
> Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
> at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
> or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
> range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above
> trainers perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.
>
> Kev

"Kevin Garnier" <kgarnier@engr.mun.ca> wrote in message
news:dfa64b55.0308110847.27fe1e2b@posting.google.com...
> Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
> at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
> or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
> range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above
> trainers perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.

Kevin,

Take a look at the following thread. You should give some serious though to rollers before you buy a
mag trainer.

http://xsls.com?629

James

I have a Minoura hyper mag with the remote shifter. I like it a lot and highly recommend it. I do
use the remote shifter, and am glad I have it, though some people told me it was a waste of money.

Be aware, they wear your tires out quicker than the road.

"Kevin Garnier" <kgarnier@engr.mun.ca> wrote in message
news:dfa64b55.0308110847.27fe1e2b@posting.google.com...
> Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
> at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
> or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
> range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above
> trainers perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.
>
> Kev

If you want the best here is the link.

http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/kreitlerrollers.html

Curt

"Kevin Garnier" <kgarnier@engr.mun.ca> wrote in message
news:dfa64b55.0308110847.27fe1e2b@posting.google.com...
> Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
> at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
> or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
> range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above
> trainers perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.
>
> Kev

kgarnier@engr.mun.ca (Kevin Garnier) wrote in message
news:<dfa64b55.0308110847.27fe1e2b@posting.google.com>...
> Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
> at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
> or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
> range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above
> trainers perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.
>
> Kev

I've got an Elite hydrogel fluid trainer. It's great. I had an Elite variable magnetic trainer for
the 3 years before that. That was pretty good in that you could vary the tension, but it never did
feel quiet like the road (not too smooth). The fluid gets harder the harder you go. It's quiet and
really smooth.

Personally I wouldn't go for the rollers, they're great for warmups for TT's but not much good for
actually training on.

George

"triandrun" <triandrun@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:989ef029.0308112015.4b2ea3c5@posting.google.com...
> Personally I wouldn't go for the rollers, they're great for warmups for TT's but not much good for
> actually training on.

Here we go again. Why is it every time someone brings up rollers, someone who has never used them
claims they are no good for training?

Kevin,

You will actually get better training on rollers for multiple reasons.

1. Higher intensity: With a trainer you can just sit and spin. Rollers force you to work the entire
time you are on them.
2. More realistic. You ride rollers just like you ride on the road. You practice and refine your
skills to a level you will probably never achieve otherwise.

People who have never used them spout off things like the above because they don't really understand
rollers. They think there is no resistance which is entirely untrue. You can get as much, if not
more resistance from rollers as you can from trainers. Trust me, I own both a hypermag trainer and a
set of Kreitler rollers. I haven't used the trainer a single time since I got the rollers. There
really is no comparison between the training you get.

James

"James Goddard" <news@earthwarelimited.com> wrote in message
news:<Wh5_a.213$5M.4896@dfw-read.news.verio.net>...
> "triandrun" <triandrun@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:989ef029.0308112015.4b2ea3c5@posting.google.com...
> > Personally I wouldn't go for the rollers, they're great for warmups for TT's but not much good
> > for actually training on.
>
> Here we go again. Why is it every time someone brings up rollers, someone who has never used them
> claims they are no good for training?
>
> Kevin,
>
> You will actually get better training on rollers for multiple reasons.
>
> 1. Higher intensity: With a trainer you can just sit and spin. Rollers force you to work the
> entire time you are on them.
> 2. More realistic. You ride rollers just like you ride on the road. You practice and refine your
> skills to a level you will probably never achieve otherwise.
>
> People who have never used them spout off things like the above because they don't really
> understand rollers. They think there is no resistance which is entirely untrue. You can get as
> much, if not more resistance from rollers as you can from trainers. Trust me, I own both a
> hypermag trainer and a set of Kreitler rollers. I haven't used the trainer a single time since I
> got the rollers. There really is no comparison between the training you get.
>
> James

Kindly tell me how you would simulate a hill session on a roller? Raise the front and you slip
off the back

"James Goddard" <news@earthwarelimited.com> wrote in message
news:Wh5_a.213$5M.4896@dfw-read.news.verio.net...
> "triandrun" <triandrun@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:989ef029.0308112015.4b2ea3c5@posting.google.com...
> > Personally I wouldn't go for the rollers, they're great for warmups for TT's but not much good
> > for actually training on.
>
> Here we go again. Why is it every time someone brings up rollers, someone who has never used them
> claims they are no good for training?
>
> Kevin,
>
> You will actually get better training on rollers for multiple reasons.
>
> 1. Higher intensity: With a trainer you can just sit and spin. Rollers force you to work the
> entire time you are on them.
> 2. More realistic. You ride rollers just like you ride on the road. You practice and refine your
> skills to a level you will probably never achieve otherwise.
>
> People who have never used them spout off things like the above because
they
> don't really understand rollers. They think there is no resistance which
is
> entirely untrue. You can get as much, if not more resistance from rollers as you can from
> trainers. Trust me, I own both a hypermag trainer and a
set
> of Kreitler rollers. I haven't used the trainer a single time since I got the rollers. There
> really is no comparison between the training you get.
>
> James

I have to agree James. There really is no substitute for a roller if you must be indoors. You have
to ride well and open the fan up and you get all the resistance you will ever need. I have a set of
kreitlers that are excellent.

I really don't know too many people that would disagree that rollers are the way to go for
indoor training.

Curt

"triandrun" <triandrun@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:989ef029.0308121139.5a497db0@posting.google.com...
> Kindly tell me how you would simulate a hill session on a roller? Raise the front and you slip off
> the back

What are you sticking books under the front wheel so it's easier to slip out of the saddle? LOL.
Well I'm sure you can do the same on rollers to a point without "slipping off the back". Give
rollers a try sometime and you too will see how much better they are.

James

Ah the good old roller debate again. I have used rollers but I choose to use a stationary trainer.
This is based on my goals for the time of year when I use a trainer. I am in prep base 1 and base2
when I am on the trainer. My goals are to gain a aerobic base for later training. This involves
rides as long as 2.5 hours. When I am on these long rides I just want to zone out and put in a movie
(or my favorite trainer show WWE wrestling). I don't want to worry about bike handling balance etc.
I want to be able to reach the remote on the coffee table without worrying that I will slip of and
run into the wall. For others rollers may be great. It all depends on your goals and what will help
you achieve them.

kelnmike@uti.com (Mike Lana) wrote in message
news:<64ddd34f.0308130451.17c9be42@posting.google.com>...
> Ah the good old roller debate again. I have used rollers but I choose to use a stationary trainer.
> This is based on my goals for the time of year when I use a trainer. I am in prep base 1 and base2
> when I am on the trainer. My goals are to gain a aerobic base for later training. This involves
> rides as long as 2.5 hours. When I am on these long rides I just want to zone out and put in a
> movie (or my favorite trainer show WWE wrestling). I don't want to worry about bike handling
> balance etc. I want to be able to reach the remote on the coffee table without worrying that I
> will slip of and run into the wall. For others rollers may be great. It all depends on your goals
> and what will help you achieve them.

I'm with you. It is not too different from the "importance of flipturns" debate. Better cyclists
tend to use rollers, but it is not a linear relationship; there are other factors.

If you want to improve, trainers will get you there - - so will rollers. Figuratively speaking, both
can sand you to a nice finish, but rollers add some polish.

I have no formal evidence, but I think most triathletes back-off at some point in the year. If this
is you, you won't really reap the incremental benefit by using a precise, unforgiving, tool like
rollers. Save your money and your sanity.

rsquared

Well I guess me reading a book and riding no hands on rollers isn't really enough to convince you.
I like them, but I can see kicking back and having a no brainer workout. I sometimes feel like I
just want to go through the motions myself. I can see using either really. I just didn't want the
person buying to over look rollers.

Enjoy the ride, Curt

"Mike Lana" <kelnmike@uti.com> wrote in message
news:64ddd34f.0308130451.17c9be42@posting.google.com...
> Ah the good old roller debate again. I have used rollers but I choose to use a stationary trainer.
> This is based on my goals for the time of year when I use a trainer. I am in prep base 1 and base2
> when I am on the trainer. My goals are to gain a aerobic base for later training. This involves
> rides as long as 2.5 hours. When I am on these long rides I just want to zone out and put in a
> movie (or my favorite trainer show WWE wrestling). I don't want to worry about bike handling
> balance etc. I want to be able to reach the remote on the coffee table without worrying that I
> will slip of and run into the wall. For others rollers may be great. It all depends on your goals
> and what will help you achieve them.

"curt" <h_curtis@verizon.net> wrote in message news:xhE_a.11153$UB4.4083@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> Well I guess me reading a book and riding no hands on rollers isn't really enough to convince you.
> I like them, but I can see kicking back and having a no brainer workout. I sometimes feel like
> I just want to go through the motions myself. I can see using either really. I just didn't want
> the person buying to over look rollers.

Personally, I don't consider that a workout. I mean if I just "zone out" and watch a movie sitting
on a trainer, I'm not really concentrating on maintaining any kind of pace. To me it's just junk
miles. If I'm going to go to the trouble to ride indoors I want a quality workout.

No hands on rollers? Impressive. I have not yea reached that level of the bicycling ladder

James

I use a Velodyne that is 14 years old. It is retrofit with a chip upgrade to run NetAthlon, a PC
interactive software program that is motivating and allows racing and training on the Net

> Hi all, looking for some advice regarding a bike trainer for fall/winter training indoors. Looking
> at the Minoura trainers, Mag-850 and Hyper-mag models. Does anyone have any experience using these
> or others in similar price range? Looking for something that is fairly quiet, sturdy and a good
> range of resistance (also, a remote shifter for the handlebars would be nice). Do the above
> trainers perform well and hold up to extended use? Thanks in advance.
>
> Kev

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