CycleOps Fluid 2 Indoor Bicycle Trainer
July 27, 2011CycleOps Fluid 2
I had the opportunity to test ride the CycleOps Fluid 2 bike trainer a couple of weeks ago. My initial impressions were very positive in the ease of setup and the relative quietness (is that a word?) of the trainer. I had the bike trainer setup within about 20 minutes and a few minutes after that, I was ready to ride my bike and test out the trainer. As in all trainers, use a trainer tire or slick as your rear tire. No need to eat up your street tire. Ok... enough of my ranting and raving. My CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer came with a training DVD as well.
CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer Installation
For those who are unfamiliar with bike trainers, there are several different trainers available on the market today. Namely:
Wind Trainers - Mainly for beginning riders. Don't see too many on the market today. I still ride my 20+ year old wind trainer from time to time and it works great. Tends to be very noisy.
Magnetic Trainers - A happy medium. Good for beginners and intermediate riders. Still has a good hum but quite a bit less noise than wind trainers.
Fluid Trainers - Top of the line. Ridden by intermediate and advance riders as well as professionals. This is the trainer that you want to ride if you can afford it. The CycleOps Fluid 2 is (by the name) a fluid trainer.
Roller Trainers - Helps in training for keeping balance. Uses both wheels instead of just the rear tire.
Rim Drive Trainers - Mainly used for mountain bikes. You will want to put a trainer tire on the rear tire so that the tire you ride on the street is not eaten up.
Ok. Back to the CycleOps Fluid 2. This trainer retails for $339.99 although if you check further below, I can help you save a few dollars if you are interested in the CycleOps Fluid 2. There is also a winter version available which includes: CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer, 1 mat, 1 sweat guard, 2 riser blocks, and 1 Race Day video. This setup retails for an additional about $439.99 and is well worth the price if you do not already have the additional items.
When I hopped on the CycleOps Fluid 2 bike trainer, my initial reaction was how smooth the trainer is to ride. Mind you, I have been riding outdoors all spring and summer long and some of the Illinois roads aren't the smoothest on the planet. However, my comfort level was very high in using this trainer. I simply put a riser block under the front tire and went on a 45 minute ride. I then decided to test it with my mountain bike. The nice thing is that the rear lever makes it very easy to switch out bikes. However I had to change the back skewer to ride the mountain bike but the parts came in the box with the CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer, so it was an easy switch out.
CycleOps Fluid 2 - My Thoughts
- The trainer is very sturdy.
- It offers a road like feel through the help of a larger flywheel.
- Powerband technology makes for both easy riding and all out lactic acid/lung burning rides.
- No cables to increase or decrease resistance.
- Infinite resistance curves means that as you increase your speed, wattage is increased which results in a better workout.
- Saves time by allowing you to workout at home instead of going to the gym.
- Its a fluid trainer. Some other trainers that I've been on get very warm if not downright hot. This trainer was cool to the touch after I got off a long ride.
The CycleOps Fluid 2 bicycle trainer offers a limited lifetime warranty and I know for a fact that Saris Cycling Group sticks by their products!
(
(
(
