CycleOps Fluid 2 bike trainer is an excellent piece of training equipment for all cyclists.
Avid cyclists will definitely recognize the Cycleops name as a very high quality brand in the cycling industry and the Cycleops Fluid 2 Bike trainer definitely lives up to that reputation. The Cycleops 2 Fluid trainer brings a lot to the table and utilizes an oversize flywheel to very closely emulate a road like feel that in our opinion, is one of the best on the market. This flywheel design brings an almost infinite resistance curve as well as integrated self-cooling mechanisms to keep your unit performing at top level over a longer period of time.
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There isn't much that can substitute for outdoor, real world training rides but the Cycleops Fluid 2 trainer is one of those few bike trainers that make you not mind having to stay indoors somedays to get your workout in. It's silky smooth and brings an excellent road like feel to the table that will leave you wanting to extend your ride just a few more minutes every time you ride it. The power will vary depending on your cadence, speed and the gear that you are in but it should comfort you knowing that the Cycleops Fluid 2 bike trainer is capable of generating a power band that ranges from as little as 20 watts all the way up to a mind blowing 720 watts which will put you through your paces in a hurry.
Who Should Buy the CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer
The CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer is ideally suited for the rider who expects a lot out of their trainer and intends to take their fitness and conditioning to the next level during the winter months. The power bands and design of the Cycleops Fluid 2 trainer will allow you to work yourself out at a variety of levels that will range from a long slow distance type workout to build your base all the way up to the out of the seat sprints that demand maximum power! The CycleOps 2 Fluid trainer is an excellent quality piece of equipment that would serve most cyclists very well for their bike trainer needs.
As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, many cyclists begin looking for an indoor workout that will keep them in decent shape until Spring. An indoor bike trainer seems like the perfect solution to the cyclist looking to stay in shape and the best thing is whether you live in your own house or a small apartment, an indoor bicycle trainer will keep you in shape in the offseason and shelter you from the cold winter weather.
If you've never used a bike trainer then you will take some comfort in knowing that bicycle trainers have become highly common for indoor cycling and exercising. These machines are a very effective replacement for real cycling and very convenient as well. Although you can find an extensive selection of different types of bike trainers, the CycleOps Fluid 2 Bike Trainer has proven to be one of the most popular bike trainers on the market time and time again.
Design and Features
Pulling the CycleOps Fluid 2 out of the box we were quickly enamored with the drop dead sexy and sleek design of the CycleOps Fluid 2 Bike Trainer. Sexy oversized tubing covered in a gorgeous matte finish and high quality hardware definitely wins the visual battle. We haven't ridden it yet, but it's definitely hot.
The sales literature on the CycleOps Fluid 2 bike trainer claims to offer a very realistic road feel and one look at the oversized flywheel on the Fluid 2 bicycle trainer and we knew it was going to be a good ride. The flywheel is larger than most and heavier as well, which provides a superb road feel. You also get an extensive resistance range with what CycleOps has called power-band technology.
Heat is the enemy of a Fluid trainer and it ensure a long life, the Fluid 2 bike trainer is equipped with a self-cooling mechanism that includes a unique fan design. The output of power for the Fluid 2 ranges from 20 watts to 725 watts depending on the speed.
Resistance on the Fluid 2
Many bike trainers in the market come with manually-adjustable resistance but the CycleOps Fluid 2 sports something called Power Band Technology. This technology adjusts the resistance according to wheel speed and pace so basically the harder and faster you pedal while on the trainer, then the harder the resistance gets. This very closely emulates real world riding and we were extremely pleased with the feedback and resistance from the Fluid 2 trainer.
We could not over-spin it or produce unrealistic speeds no matter how hard we tried. Some trainers will allow you to ride 40 mph on the trainer, so you think you are all Lance like...but if you can't do 40 on the road, then you shouldn't be able to do 40 mph on your bike trainer. The infinite resistance curve featured on the Fluid 2 is designed to increase the wattage as the speed increases, so you WILL feel the workout the harder you work.
After several hours riding on the CycleOps Fluid 2 Bicycle trainer, here is a quick summary of what we feel are the major Pros and Cons.
CycleOps Fluid 2 Pros
• Noise Level: A major appeal of the CycleOps Fluid 2 is how silent and smooth the machine is. Many people avoid investing in a bike trainer due to the amount of noise, especially when using it in an apartment complex. The CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer is quite reasonable when it comes to noise level.
• Easy Set Up: Another benefit of this bike trainer is the simplicity and ease of setting up. It's practically ready to go right out of the box and loading a bike into the trainer is a piece of cake.
• Sex Appeal: The CycleOps Fluid 2 might be the sexiest trainer on the market. It just oozes quality and looks amazing. This has absolutely ZERO to do with the quality of the trainer but hey...who wants an ugly trainer right.
• Resistance: A very realistic and road like feel that will closely emulate true outdoor riding. The Fluid 2 feels great ramping up and on the coast down. Fluid trainers are some of the best trainers around and the Fluid 2 is one of the best Fluid trainers on the market.
CycleOps Fluid 2 Cons
• Resistance Lag: When changing gears to adjust resistance, the added resistance takes some time before it kicks in and it is not as intense. This is common with bike trainers and certainly not a big deal but it's worth mentioning.
• Portability: The CycleOps features large oversized tubes and a very heavy flywheel. This makes it a bear to lug around so if you portability is high on your list of wants in a bike trainer, then the CycleOps doesn't fit that bill. on the other hand, most riders park their trainer in a room and never move it so this likely isn't a big deal.
CycleOps Fluid 2 Review Summary
Overall the CycleOps Fluid 2 is a very high quality trainer that most cyclists would be extremely pleased to own and ride. It will give you a very high quality workout with solid road like feel. If you are a cyclist looking to stay fit in the off season and want a great all around trainer that won't break the bank, WILL give a good ride and keep you as in shape as you choose to be.
Great Trainer
Review Date: October 2, 2005
Reviewer: Marathon Man, Indianapolis
This Trainer is great. Relatively easy set up. Tremendous customer support when you call about anything that is unclear. The instructions are a bit weak for setting it up (hence the call to customer support). Once you get it set up it is wonderful. A truly tough workout, the free Chris Carmichael DVD helps you through your first workout and gives you ideas for setting up other workouts on your own. You need to get the riser block for the front wheel or it does not feel right. During my first 2 workouts on it I easily exceeded the Heart Rates I was getting in an organized Spinning Class. Feels rock solid.
You can stop looking !!
Review Date: October 25, 2007
Reviewer: Christopher Scheirer, Oklahoma
Ok... So I have been looking for over 2 weeks and contemplating whether or not to get this trainer or a less expensive one. Well, I figured from the reviews from the cheaper ones that the MAG is not that resistant and WIND is way to loud. Plus I read several reviews of those models that parts break. So, this is why I picked this model... Great reviews, no defects, quiet and resistant. My take on it? Excellent product and worth the extra cash. I am nothing like a pro but I do take 2-3 rides a week for about 25-45 miles each time. While the cooling temperature, the high winds and the worst drivers in the world sometimes it's nice to play it safe and ride indoors. So the product: Easy to set-up (less than 5 minutes), very common sense to hook your bike to it, quiet, very sturdy, great resistance. Today was my first ride on the trainer and a great work out. I rode for over an hour and got my heart rate up to 174 and still had two gears left.
I like my CycleOps Fluid 2
Review Date: February 12, 2007
Reviewer: R. Soucy, Cape Cod, MA USA
I have owned this trainer for a month now. I ride 4-6 days a week. I am impressed with the product quality - it seems well built. It was very easy to set up - took me all of about 5 minutes and I did not need to read the instructions. I did not even have any leftover parts.
This is my first trainer so I do not have anything to compare it to, but I am amazed by the feel of the ride on this trainer. It is very sturdy and the workout is more realistic than I expected from a trainer. I have had no mechanical problems to date. I am extremely happy with the CycleOps Fluid 2
CycleOps has an awesome reputation in this business and I am extremely pleased that I bought one. It loads the bike easy, it’s quiet and nothing rides like a high quality fluid trainer. I read a lot of junk about leakage but I’ve ridden it hard for over a year now and no issues.
It’s the best bike trainer I’ve ever ridden and it’s sexy too. Yeah I know…I’m superficial…I don’t care.
Great Trainer
US $172.25
CycleOps has an awesome reputation in this business and I am extremely pleased that I bought one. It loads the bike easy, it’s quiet and nothing rides like a high quality fluid trainer. I read a lot of junk about leakage but I’ve ridden it hard for over a year now and no issues.
It’s the best bike trainer I’ve ever ridden and it’s sexy too. Yeah I know…I’m superficial…I don’t care.
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