Bike Trainers

I am going to do my best to review some of the basics of bike trainers (not that I usually know what I'm talking about... but I know even less about this... so, if you do, PLEASE leave a comment). That being said, there are basically 3 types of bike trainers: fluid, magnetic, and wind. This article does a good job of explaining the pros and cons of each. To summarize, fluid trainers are the quietest and provide the most realistic ride (i.e., exponentially increase in resistance), but also cost the most. Additionally, older models tend to leak (fluid trainers work by spinning an impeller through fluid). Wind trainers are the simplest and least expensive. However, they can be rather noisy and have limited resistance options (but, you can always just change the gears on you bike). Magnetic trainers are kind of the middle ground between the two. They are quieter than wind trainers and have a few more resistance options, but the ride quality is no where near realistic. There are also computerized bike trainers that allow you to program workouts to simulate courses, etc. While these are really cool, they cost a lot more and require a power source (something which seems trivial until you try and ride in a parking deck).

There is also the roller option, and I recommend reading this article if you're trying to decide between the two. Rollers are good for practicing technique, provide a more realistic ride, and don't wear down your rear tire. However, they are not exactly "beginner" friendly, and require a fair amount of balance (and coordination in general) to, well, not injure yourself.

So, while really serious cyclists might want to splurge for a fluid trainer (or someone who is less of a spaz might opt for rollers), I'm cool with the less expensive options (I have a magnetic trainer that suits me just fine). Some other things to consider... a climbing block or travel block (although my perpetual plunge downhill was fun until Nicole "caught" me and we put her Dynamics book to good use). And if your looking for some workout ideas, you can try one of these: 2 Indoor Trainer Workouts, Killer Workouts, 2 More Workouts. #20