"Jon Isaacs" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >I agree with BudMan's opinion of the CycleOps Fluid2. I have been using trainers for several
> >years and this is the best one that I have had. It's not cheap, however, ~$270 US.
>
> >The biggest problem I have had with trainers is the resistance unit failing. I have only had the
> >Fluid2 for about six months so I can't speak to its reliability.
>
> As far as I know, this is a problem limited to fluid trainers, both mag and wind trainers are so
> simple that in my experience the resistance units never fail. Fluid trainers build up heat and can
> blow the hydraulic seals,
resulting
> in a mess.
>
> Personally i like a simple folding mag trainer. Quiet, inexpensive and reliable.
I heard a few reports of mag trainer self-destructing, so I was wary. When my Blackburn started
making noise, I opened it up to take a look. The resistance unit consists of 2 stationary plates
with what look like refrigerator magnets glued to them. There's an axle-mounted rotating plate
between the 2 magnet plates, held with a single set screw. On my unit the screw had loosened, and
the wobbling plate was scraping the magnets. I have no doubt the innards would have scrambled
themselves if I kept on using it. That said, the single screw appeared to be the only possible
failure point, the rest of it was dead simple, and very beefy looking. Short of the loose screw, I
think reliability is a given. Very quiet, too.