Fluid Bike Trainers

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
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Tonyh
Posts: 12
Joined: 23 Nov 2020, 8:25am

Fluid Bike Trainers

Post by Tonyh »

I am looking to purchase a fluid indoor bike trainer but since lock down many models are not available but I wonder if any of you have any recommendations
I was looking at the Lifeline TT-02 fluid trainer but some reviews stated that there was no resistance when using the trainer I looked at the Unisky fluid bike trainer but its not available to get here in Spain
Does anybody have any recommendations please?
drossall
Posts: 6115
Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 10:01pm
Location: North Hertfordshire

Re: Fluid Bike Trainers

Post by drossall »

I've got a second-hand Elite Fluid one that I'm really happy with. Newer models are still available. Why specifically a fluid one? That might help people to know what you are looking for.

In general, I'd go for the well-known brands. I've never heard of Unisky. I didn't know that Lifeline made trainers - theirs is probably badged from someone else?
Tonyh
Posts: 12
Joined: 23 Nov 2020, 8:25am

Re: Fluid Bike Trainers

Post by Tonyh »

From what I have read a fluid trainer as opposed to a magnetic one is much quieter and smoother and less wear on your rear tyres
Unisky are all over Amazon and was a recommendation on Bikesreveiwed.com and UK bestreviews.guide so thought maybe others would have heard of them
My budget is around £200
Will have a look at the Elite range thanks
drossall
Posts: 6115
Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 10:01pm
Location: North Hertfordshire

Re: Fluid Bike Trainers

Post by drossall »

To be fair, it was only a brief remark. I don't know anything about Unisky, which are quite possibly badged too - seems to happen a lot. When I mention the well-known brands, as well as Elite, I'm thinking of those such as Saris, Tacx, Wahoo and so on. But it doesn't mean that others, the ones you mentioned included, won't be fine. Now that I have looked, I see that they are sold by some reputable suppliers, including specialist cycling shops, who probably wouldn't touch anything that they thought was rubbish.

It's still worth thinking about what you want it to do. For example, would you want variable resistance? (I haven't, and I'm fine with that, but others might think differently. Depends what you want out of it.) Is there any chance of your wanting to use it with one of the training/"game" systems, such as Zwift? If so, basic trainers can be fine, but it's easier if you have a model that they recognise, or you'll find it harder to get realistic settings to measure the effort that you are generating. And so on.

To avoid tyre wear, consider a turbo-trainer tyre. But don't use that tyre on the road (not safe, wrong kind of grip).

Sales were massive last year in lockdown. With some folk finding that it's not for them, and others going back out into the real world and the sun, there may well be a large number of second-hand and eBay bargains, if you want to consider that.
Tonyh
Posts: 12
Joined: 23 Nov 2020, 8:25am

Re: Fluid Bike Trainers

Post by Tonyh »

I wanted variable resistance but its not for any sort of training program just to attempt to replicate my usual bike rides which would include some hills and some of them would be challenging but not to the point that I could not get up them
My bike is a Trek Sport 1 and has 21 gears
Saris look good to but maybe a bit over my budget
The trainer would probably only be used once or twice a week in the winter for around a 20kms ride each time
Yes supply is an issue still especially here in Spain
Thanks for your help its much appreciated
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