Hammer

Minoura RDA80 Rim Drive Bicycle Trainer with Remote

Want a quiet trainer...check out the Minoura RDA 80 Rim Drive Trainer!

The Minoura RDA 80 Rim Drive bicycle trainer is Minoura's entry into the growing rim drive trainer category. If you aren't familiar with bicycle trainers and the differences between rim drive and a traditional trainer then you are not alone. Most cyclists are familiar with the traditional style bike trainers that work by loading the bicycle wheel against a roller of some sort. These trainers work great but they tend to be a bit on the loud side and they can chew up tires if you don't use a special trainer tire.

A rim drive trainer works differently in that the friction rollers on the trainer work against the rim of the bicycle wheel instead of against the tire. What this means is less noise and no unnecessary wear on the tire, a win all the way around. These are also a great idea for those cyclists who want to ride on a Mountain bike instead of a road bike and don't want to change tires.

The Minoura RDA 80 is a high quality bike trainer that folds flat for ergonomic storage and ease of transportation. It also sports a very solid, wide and rugged steel frame outfitted with high quality components that should last you for many miles. The Minoura RDA80 is quick and easy to setup and after just a few miles I could already tell that this trainer was a cut above the norm when it comes to trainer design. The magnetic resistance flywheel offers 7 levels of resistance and a very nice pedal feel that does a nice job of simulating a real road feel. What I liked best about the Minoura Rim Drive bike trainer is that it lived up to its reputation as a QUIET trainer. If you train indoors or like to watch TV while you ride, then you can definitely appreciate what a quiet trainer will bring to the table.

Who Should Buy the Minoura RDA 80 Rim Drive Bike Trainer

The Minoura RDA 80 Rim Drive Bike Trainer is an excellent choice in trainers for just about anyone but would work especially nice for a cyclist who demands a quiet trainer that won't disturb your neighbors or your housemates. This benefit is excellent in and of itself but then add the fact that the RDA 80 offers a rock solid platform to spin on top of AND combine that with no unnecessary wear and tire on tires and you end up with a strong argument for the Minoura Rim Drive cycling trainer.

The 7 levels of resistance and excellent pedal and road feel allow you to tailor your workout to whatever part of your cycling game you are trying to train. Anything from Long Slow Distance type pedalling to hard core, out of the saddle sprints...the Minoura RDA 80 Rim Drive bicycle trainer will make a great choice for about any cyclist in need of a high quality bike trainer.

This trainer regularly sells for $309 or so dollars in bike shops but we try to help you save money on your bike trainer purchase so check out these amazing deals we found online that will save you money on your Minoura RDA80 Magnetic Bike trainer purchase. List price is $309 dollars but check out the deals below...no sense in spending more than you have to.

User Reviews Send this to a friend

Minoura RDA80 Rim Drive Bicycle Trainer with Remote

Manufacturer: Minoura
Customer Rating:
List Price: $369.99
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability

Buy Now

Review/Details
Customer Reviews
Ebay Options
Similar Items

The Minoura Rim drive trainer comes in two different versions, you can get it with the resistance control mounted on the trainer unit or you can get it with a bar mounted remote control unit. The cable is a bit long for my taste but I guess it needs to be long enough to accomodate all sizes and shapes of bikes but in my case I had about 20" of cable extra that I did not need. The mounting system on the Minoura RDA80 Rim Drive bike trainer is solid enough and it mounted on my bars firmly and easily.

The cable adjustment was fairly stiff and maybe it would loosen up over time but the reality is that you aren't using the resistance like a shifter but rather you set the tension to an approximate range and then you can use your gears on your bike to increase or decrease resistance. If the gears don't provide enough of a range of resistance then you make an adjustment to the resistance cable. Pretty simple system that works very well.

Minoura RDA80 Rim Driver Trainer Operation

The Minoura Rim Drive trainer setup is a really neat rig I must say. I am partial to the Kurt Kinetic trainers but the rim drive function is pretty cool. I ride both road and mountain bikes and I like to ride either in the trainer and I don't necessarily want to change out my tires or burn them up from heavy trainer use, the spring loaded rim drive rollers solve that entire dilemna. The Rim Drive setup provided smooth consistent resistance even when out of the saddle peddling hard, so cudos to Minoura for a nice setup. I am surprised that more trainers don't convert to a rim drive feature.

Another feature that I noticed a big difference in compared to most Magnetic bike trainers that I have ridden is the noise. This trainer is remarkably quiet and you don't get that annoying B-52 bomber hum that you get from a tire drive trainer. If you live in an apartment or condo then this is priceless and even homeowners will appreciate the lack of noise.

Minoura RDA80 Rim Drive Summary

The Minoura Rim Drive bike trainer system is definitely a trainer that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quality bike trainer. The rim drive system is particularly attractive to those who value a quiet bike trainer and this could very well be a difference maker for purchasers.

The workout intensity and feel is very customizable and quite good but I wouldn't say that it emulates a real road ride as well as a fluid trainer but it's very close. In fact, it's so close that many riders may not even care but it depends on what you value the most.

Overall a Minoura Rim Drive Trainer is definitely a trainer I would consider if I were in the market for a new bike trainer. Give it a look and see if it's for you.