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| CycleOps Fluid 2 Bike Trainer |
My son who has just come back from riding the mountains around Vancouver has been considering getting a bike trainer to make up for those cold or rainy days when he cannot ride outside.
To help him find out what's out there, I did some research and want to share the process I went through to find a bike trainer that suited his needs.
First thing I did was to compile a checklist to serve as a guide what to look for in buying a bike trainer.
Further research against this checklist has led me to the CycleOps Fluid 2 Bicycle Trainer - the most effective, quietest, smoothest and most reasonably priced bicycle trainer in the market today.
My Checklist: What To Look For In Buying A Good Bike Trainer
While price is certainly an important consideration when choosing a trainer, I found that the following criteria are the most critical guides for choosing the right equipment:
- The type of technology used to create resistance in the trainer: wind, magnetic or fluid. This is probably the most important factor because it affects most of the other criteria listed below, as I will explain later in this review.
- The flywheel design - does it provide a true road-like feel of inertia?
- The ability to fully simulate on-road wind resistance, which requires greater pedalling effort as you increase your speed.
- Accurate simulation of on-road power-to-speed ratio, meaning the power you need to generate to attain a certain speed when on the trainer indoors is the same as the power you would need when riding outdoors.
In addition the following factors are also very important:
- The ability to provide a quiet and smooth ride.
- Self-cooling mechanism to prevent overheating, enabling the trainer to endure long repeated use.
- The quality of construction and material, which affect longevity and stability of the trainer.
- Ease of setup, portability and ease of storage.
- Ability to upgrade the resistance unit, which can prolong the useful life of your initial investment.
To my pleasant surprise, the CycleOps Fluid 2 Bicycle Trainer passes all the checks and has all the important features and benefits I was looking for.
I found out that this trainer is made by renowned manufacturer CycleOps who have always known that top cycling power forms are often achieved and races won in the off-season.
I have also found out that for more than 15 years, CycleOps has continuously been improving their trainers and have such a high level of confidence in the quality of CycleOps Fluid-2 that they are backing it up with a lifetime warranty.
Wind, Magnetic Or Fluid Technology?
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| Indoor Bike Training |
CycleOps produces various trainers based in different technologies for generating the resistance. Here's a quick review of their benefits.
Wind: Simple and inexpensive, but gets really noisy as you increase your speed.
Magnetic: Provides 3 resistance levels and is good for beginners who simply want some form of exercise indoors.
Magnetic Plus: Same as above, but with a wider choice of resistance levels.
Magneto: More advanced than the above, provides progressive resistance levels. It's pretty good, but wait till you've had a look at the best, right below.
Fluid 2: With the use of fluid resistance, CycleOps considers that they have created the quietest trainer ever, offering the widest range of progressive resistance, allowing you to simply spin along with practically no resistance, or to go all-out on a 2000-watt sprint.
CycleOps promises that you will never outgrow the Fluid 2, whether you're a novice or a professional.
New Larger Flywheel Delivers Twice The Inertia For A True Road-Like Feel
The CycleOps Fluid 2 has a 2.75-lb precision-balanced flywheel which eliminates inertia lag as you slow down or change gears, resulting in a smoother, powerful, more natural and enjoyable ride.
The PowerTuned weighted flywheel design allows you to coast or freewheel, just like you do when riding outdoors.
What Is Progressive Resistance And Why Is It Important?
A trainer with progressive resistance is able to simulate what actually happens when you're riding on the road, where as you increase your speed, wind resistance also increases. This explains why riding at 20 mph is more than twice as hard as riding at 10 mph.
Progressive Resistance is exponential and is unlike Linear Resistance where pedalling more quickly or changing gears has practically no effect except to get a faster spin in your rear wheel.
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| Fluid 2 Resistance Unit |
The CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer offers the widest range of progressive resistance - from simply coasting along to a punishing sprint - without the need to get off your bike to adjust the trainer at all, or to even flick any dials or switches to do so.
It gives you a good strength and endurance workout and lets you experience more fun, more power and a more realistic bike ride. This means that the harder you pedal, the more resistance you will meet; and the faster you spin, the more effort will be required of you to achieve that acceleration.
Progressive resistance in the Fluid 2 trainer is made possible by spinning an impeller through silicone which gets thicker as it heats up from the friction that is produced from pedalling. Faster pedalling increases the resistance, making this the best bike trainer for achieving a more realistic ride.
The Optimal Power Curve: Why Is It Critical For Your Training?
CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer: Health And Power Training Benefits * Improve your fitness and develop your strength |
The scientists and professional cyclists at CycleOps did not stop at providing an infinite resistance power curve which always ensures increased power or wattage as you increase your speed, making every workout count.
In addition, they identified the point at which a speed of 25 mph overlaps with an output of 400 watts of power, based on a mixture of road and time trial positions.
They called this the optimal power curve, made it the basis for the design of the CycleOps exclusive PowerTuned technology and they incorporated it in the Fluid 2 trainer.
If all this sounds too technical, what it means is this: By training on the Fluid 2, you can experience true-to-life speed versus power ratio, no matter what speed you ride at. That is, on the Fluid 2 you will have to expend the same amount of effort to produce the speed you want as you would if you were actually on the road.
Without this feature, your training indoors won't be as effective as training outdoors, resulting in "useless junk miles" that don't do your fitness level any good.
The Fluid 2 Is The Quietest Trainer CycleOps Has Made
The Fluid 2 combines a weighted magnetic flywheel with fluid resistance chambers resulting in a very quiet operation and smooth gear changes and acceleration.
A quieter operation will allow you to read, watch television or chat with friends as you pedal away on your trainer, while a smoother ride will always be kinder to your knees and joints.
The Fluid 2 provides resistance through the use of liquid (silicone) instead of magnetism or wind to create resistance.
CycleOps has adjusted the silicone fluid levels of this trainer for better resistance and adjusted the position of its sealed-cartridge bearings for better inertia and an ultra-quiet ride that enables you to increase your power workout as you increase your speed.
Cam-Lever Tightens Resistance Unit With One Movement
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| Tightening The Resistance Unit |
The Fluid 2 is designed so that you can quickly and easily slip the bike onto the trainer.
The quick-load cam lever in the resistance unit allows you to adjust and tighten resistance on the wheel with just one movement. It also lets you return immediately to the same resistance level of your last ride.
After your workout, all you have to do is change the cam lever to the open position, hold the bike, and lift the quick release handle to free up your bicycle from the trainer.
You can see all this in action further below, where I have embedded a video showing the setup procedure for the trainer.
Self-Cooling Mechanisms Keep The Fluid 2 Resistance Unit Performing Better, Longer
The CycleOps Fluid 2 is a completely safe, strong and stable trainer which can be used continuously and repeatedly. It has self-cooling mechanisms - including a patented fan design - to prevent build up of friction heat in the resistance unit, ensuring you get better performance and longer usage of your machine.
It is built to last - made from sturdy, 2-inch round, 16-gauge steel; and fully backed by a lifetime warranty.
It also has footpads which you can easily adjust to make the trainer stable on uneven floors.
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| Frame With Folding Legs |
The Fluid 2 Trainer Is Light, Foldable And Portable
This product although strong and sturdy has a small footprint of 23 x 22 x 7 inches and is light at 22.5 pounds. This makes it convenient and easy to take to races and other events to warm up on.
The trainer frame has folding legs that make it easier to put at the back of your car or to store under your bed when not in use.
This High Quality Trainer Is Upgradeable
Chances are you will never outgrow this trainer, but if you ever do you can easily upgrade it to the next model. Yes, you can purchase new resistance units if your original trainer was manufactured after 1999 (which by now, you can be pretty sure it was).
What Others Are Saying
Consumers who have bought this indoor bike trainer from Amazon have rated it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Here's what they're saying:
- "It's silent except for the sound of your tire rolling over it, and completely stable. There's really no need to buy the next more expensive one..."
- "... the resistance truly is road like except without the bumps and traffic lights. It's a constant effort though, so you will get more of a work out in 45 minutes on the trainer than you would in double that time riding on the road... Love it. Highly recommend it."
- "I previously bought the Bell Motivator Mag Trainer but that has zero resistance, so I bought the CycleOps fluid2. This has great resistance and the best feel for when it's 3 feet of snow outside. It's also super quiet, an added plus."
- "I am really enjoying this quiet, easy to use trainer!!!!! While it is not completely quiet, it's a comfortable level to watch TV while I work out. Pretty easy to assemble and works great with my bike."
- "The set up was easy with the help of the on-line set up video..."
- "The best exercise equipment I have invested in so far. I finally had a chance to use the trainer and was very happy with the results... No more excuse to those who can not make it to the gym for a good cardio routine :)"
- " Tremendous customer support when you call about anything that is unclear."
- "This is a great trainer. Not loud at all and very easy to set up. If you're in an apartment, make sure you have some sort of pad or other sound dampening material to go under it. Then your downstairs neighbors won't have to enjoy your workouts with you."
Any Complaints?
There were some consumers who found the instruction manuals hard to follow and some who were able to assemble the trainer quickly and were riding in 10 minutes.
Cycleops has addressed this by releasing a Classic Series Trainer Setup video which can be used as a supplement to the owner's manual or user guide.
This is a very good, practical and crisp 3 1/2 - minute video which shows you the parts of the trainer that come in the box and takes you step by step on how to set up the Fluid2, how to attach your bike to the trainer and how to remove it. Click the Play button below to watch it.
| Setup Video For CycleOps Trainer |
Note: Make sure to bookmark this page so that after you receive your Fluid 2, you can come back here to have the video guide you as you assemble your trainer.
How Can I Get The Best Use Out Of My Fluid 2 Trainer?
CycleOps has also listened to the most frequently asked questions from its users and compiled a 3-minute video on some very helpful tips and hints on using the Cycleops Fluid-2 trainer. You can watch it right below:
| Click Here To Check Out The Fluid 2 At Amazon.com |
Alternatively, you can quickly browse through a summary below - see next section.
Helpful Tips and Hints on Using the CycleOps Fluid-2 Trainer
Here's a quick summary of things you can do to get the most out of your training with the CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer, as explained in the above video:
- Use the provided skewer to mount your bike to the trainer for the best fit and to ensure more safety and stability.
- Ensure that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure and that the resistance unit (RU) is tight enough so that your back tire does not slip when you pedal faster.
- Consider using a climbing block for a more stable and comfortable ride.
- Check your tires regularly as they wear out more quickly on trainers than on the road.
- Try to keep cool while riding by turning on a fan and having a towel. You will, of course, still sweat, so consider getting a sweat guard or bike thong to protect your bicycle frame from the corrosive effects of sweat.
- You can relieve pressure by doing a mixture of in-saddle and out-of-saddle riding.
- Enjoy your training and do less junk miles by always training with a specific goal.
What's Included?
Included in the package are:
- A CycleOps Trainer Frame
- A Resistance Unit
- A Trainer Steel Skewer which you should use instead of your bike's skewer for a better fit and stability
- Other parts such as Quick Release Handle, Bolt Action Tube, Carriage Bolt and Nut, L-bolt, Lock Ring, Resistance Unit Bracket, Resistance unit adjustment cam lever
- A Trainer DVD to help you get most out of your bike training
- Instruction Manual and Product Registration
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Does It Include A Warranty?
Yes, the CycleOps Fluid 2 Indoor Bicycle Trainer has a Lifetime Manufacturer's Warranty.
Where Can You Buy the CycleOps Fluid 2 Bike Trainer?
You can buy this CycleOps Fluid 2 from Amazon.com. Amazon does seem to currently have the best deal especially with the Free Shipping option. Click here to view the Fluid2 on Amazon.
How Much Should You Expect To Pay?
You can always buy the CycleOps Fluid 2 Indoor Bicycle Trainer from the Amazon website at a hefty discount from its original list price. On top of that Amazon will ship it to you for free. Prices can change without notice, so to get the current price, click here now.
Where Can You Read More Reviews For The CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer?
The best place for reviews from people who have actually purchased and used the product is Amazon. Click here to read more reviews.
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| Click Here To Order The CycleOps Fluid 2 |