After loading my trusty Trek into the unit and pounding out a few miles the first thing that I took note of is that this unit featured a very realistic road feel. Most Mag and Fluid bike trainers lose speed quickly but the Blackburn Trakstand Ultra has a silky smooth rollout when coasting and offers a very natural feel to both your pedal stroke and when you coast so your pedal stroke feels more natural in the dead spots or when you ease up on the pedals.

Another nice feature that the Blackburn Ultra trainer offers is an adjustable height, which allows the rear wheel to be as close as ¼” to the ground. No more phone book under the front wheel or requiring a front wheel ring. A nice feature.

I put a few hundred miles on the Blackburn Trakstand Ultra trainer during my time testing it and I was pleased with the way it operated. It was indeed very smooth and quiet and appeared my all measures to be a good quality trainer. I have heard a few negative reviews on the Blackburn units but my experience was all good so take that for what it is worth.

Who Should Buy the Blackburn Trakstand Ultra Bike Trainer

The Blackburn Ultra bicycle trainer appears to be targeted squarely at the middle of the pack consumer. It is not a high enough quality unit to compare with the likes of a Kurt Kinetic but it certainly isn't down there with the entry level department store type trainers. It would seem to me to be targeted at the weekend cyclist who is looking to stay in shape through the winter and wants a reasonably quality trainer without investing a lot of money. The Blackburn Ultra comes with a 5 year warranty to the original purchaser and if you read other reviews around the web then you may have to take advantage of that warranty but my experience with this bicycle trainer was nothing but positive.

This bike trainer regularly sells for $299 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 for the Blackburn Trakstand Ultra bike trainer.

Blackburn Mag Trainer is a Superb Choice in the Bang for the Buck category!

The Blackburn Trakstand Magnetic Bike Trainer is a great bang for the buck bike trainer for the rider that wants a decent trainer that they don't have to invest a lot of money into. Many riders employ a trainer begrudgingly during the winter months to maintain a minimum level of conditioning and to keep their backside and legs in shape for spring. The Blackburn Magnetic trainer is a good choice for this type of rider but should not be confused with a trainer that will be ridden hard and often and expected to simulate a real road feel very well as it will leave you disappointed.

The Blackburn Trakstand Magnetic bicycle trainer features three levels of resistance that will allow you to tailor your workout from a basebuilding type session to a strength workout depending on which setting you employ. A foldable design makes travel and storage a simple affair and oversize tubing and rugged construction will make sure that this bike trainer doesn't let you down.

After logging some miles on the Blackburn magnetic trainer I was pleased to say that there really wasn't much to complain about in regards to it's performance. The flywheel is a bit louder than I would like it to be but that is to be expected of a Mag style bike trainer. If you are a strong rider then this trainer may not provide a challenging enough setting to really work you out but then again, if you are that strong of a rider then you probably are going to buy a different trainer. So overall I would say the Blackburn Mag trainer is a great bang for the buck and should leave you satisfied with your purchase.

Who Should Buy the Kurt Kinetic Pro Trainer

As I said above, the Blackburn Trakstand Mag Trainer is a very capable mid-level trainer that is ideally suited for the casual cyclist who is seeking an economical trainer that will see occasional use. If you expect superb road feel and are someone who demands the very best then their are better choices out there in the bike trainer market. On the other hand, if you use a trainer to get a quick workout inside when it's raining or to stay in shape during the winter then the Blackburn Mag bicycle trainer could be a great choice for you. It's competent and capable, doesn't excel at any one thing but is pretty good at most of them, if that makes sense.

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After logging a few miles on the Blackburn fluid trainer I noticed that the flywheel was a bit louder than some of the other fluid trainers that I've used and the true road feel was a questionable affair. Don't get me wrong, it was not unnervingly loud and nor was the ride horrible, but it is a bit louder than some trainers. Now that said, the Blackburn Trakstand will still provide a quality workout at a very affordable price. The only true flaw that I noted was that the tensioner sometimes loosen up from the vibration of the flywheel. Over the course of a 30 minute ride, I had to tighten the tensioner twice. My unit might have been an anomaly and a zip-tie in the right place cured the issue altogether so again, not a deal breaker.

Who Should Buy the Kurt Kinetic Pro Trainer

The Blackburn Trackstand Fluid Trainer is a capable mid-level trainer that is targeted at the occasional cyclist who wants an economical trainer that will see occasional use. If you are going to log big miles or really put a hammering workout onto this trainer on a regular basis then I would skip this pick and spend a few more dollars. If you are looking for an occasional use trainer that is simple to operate, maintain and will provide a competent workout, then the Blackburn Trakstand fluid bike trainer is a good choice.