Bike Trainer Reviews » Reviews

Minoura Mag-850R Bike Trainer with Remote Shifter

Hammer — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:09:21 +0000

The Minoura 850R Mag Bike Trainer is a solidly constructed and extremely versatile trainer. I have not had a lot of time on this trainer at the time of this writing but enough to give a pretty accurate assessment of the pros and cons of this Minoura Bike Trainer.

The Minoura sets up easy in spite of some of the most horrible directions I've ever read. Fortunately I am male, so I don't need no stinkin directions but a few minutes and the Minoura Mag 850 Bike Trainer was put together and ready to go. The Minoura gets thumbs up for a foot operated pedal that moves the flywheel up against the rear tire but thumbs down for smallish cranks that make loading the bike into the trainer a bit more annoying than it has to be. Not a deal breaker but it could be designed better.

Riding the Minoura 850R Mag trainer provides a solid workout. It's reasonably quiet compared to say a wind trainer or a lower end Mag trainer but not as quiet as the better fluid trainers on the market. Seven resistance levels are controlled by a remote cable that you can clamp to your bars and these resistance levels provide a solid workout that will get your heart pumping and keep your lungs and your quads in shape. The Minoura will not provide what I would call a realistic ride feel but it is decent and as expected from a trainer in this price range.

Who Should Buy the Minoura 850R Mag Trainer

The target buyer for this type of trainer is the average cyclist who doesn't care about simulating the exact feel of road riding but rather just wants to stay in shape and get a good workout. Minoura has a good quality reputation in the bike trainer market and this Mag trainer is a reasonable example of that quality. It is not priced out of the range of the average rider and should give a solid ride, a great workout and years of dependable Mag trainer powered useage.


The Minoura Magturbo-850 Series tire drive Rear Wheel Trainer has an expert-level 850 gram flywheel that fits 24" to 700c wheels, and folds flat for storage. Extra powerful magnet increases high range of resistance by 23%. Extra powerful magnet increases high range of resistance by 23%.

Minoura GYRO V270 Bicycle Trainer with Remote

Hammer — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:44:10 +0000

The Minoura Gyro V270 Mag trainer is a high tech offering from Minoura that combines the best parts of a fluid trainer with the superb dependability of a Mag trainer. The Minoura Gyro Mag trainer utilizes a high tech flywheel that is specially counterweighted around the outside ring to provide the more realistic feel that a fluid trainer normally provides but the internals are still that of a Mag trainer.

Minoura V270 Ride Feel

The theory is that the Minoura Gyro Mag trainer will provide a progressive resistance that will closely emulate a realistic ride feel but provide the unmatched durability and trouble free operation of a Mag trainer. A really cool idea from a company that is a pillar in the Mag trainer cycling world. As if this wasn't enough, the Minoura V270 Mag trainer sports all of the usual accoutrements that you would expect from a Mag trainer at this price point including a foldable compact design, accomodations for the various sized tires, durable frame and selectable resistance via a remote cable adjuster.

In our short time with this bike trainer, the Minoura V270 delivered a surprisingly quiet ride that offered a wide variety of resistance that felt "good" on our legs. I wouldn't go so far as to say it provides as good of a ride as a high end fluid trainer but it will provide a great workout, good road feel and should be extremely durable throughout hours of indoor cycling time. Throw in your favorite cycling DVD and start spinning.

Who Should Buy the Minoura Gyro V270 Bike Trainer

The Minoura Gyro V270 bicycle trainer would make a superb choice for the cyclist who wants a high quality trainer but might be a bit leary of things they have read about fluid trainers OR just doesn't want to pony up the bigger dollars to purchase a fluid trainer. The Minoura V270 strikes a great balance and bridges the world between those two styles of trainers very well. It provides near fluid trainer like quality with Mag trainer dependability and a solid workout and road feel.

It appears to be a solidly engineered and sturdy design that will function well, give you a great workout, won't make your ears bleed and will not bankrupt you doing it. What more could you want from your indoor bike trainer?

Money is tight for us all these days...so check out these potential deals we found on Ebay and Amazon that will save you money on your Minoura Gyro V270 Bike trainer purchase. List price is $389 dollars, so check out how much you can save by shopping wisely.


The Minoura GYRO V270 is a great bicycle trainer for riders of all abilities and will definitely keep you in shape over the winter while the rest of your riding buddies are drinking beer and eating chicken wings. You can be the "Hammer" in your group come spring, you just need to put in the time on a bike trainer. 2700g flywheel, U-leg frame, Neogymium, New shifter

Bell Motivator Mag Indoor Bicycle Trainer

Hammer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:45:40 +0000

The Bell Motivator indoor Mag Bike trainer is squarely targeted at the user who is looking for an economical bike trainer that will still give a good workout. This trainer utilizes magnets to provide the resistance and will give a reasonable workout at a rock bottom price. This Bike trainer shouldn't be confused with something like a Kurt Kinetic bike trainer as it will NOT give the same kind of road feel or variation to your workout but what it will do is give you a reasonably good workout at k

Forza F-2 Mag Bicycle Trainer

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:25:59 +0000

The Forza F2 Magnetic Bike Trainer is an entry in the cut throat entry level mag trainer category that is littered with budget offerings. The Forza F2 Mag trainer is very similar to most bike trainers and offers many of the same features, it's foldable and able to be transported with you if you so choose. The steel frame is painted in a screaming yellow paint job that I have to say is not real attractive. I guess I have to remind myself that a trainer isn't sexy no matter what color it is so as long as it works well then who cares right.

The Forza F2 trainer features a rubberized base to reduce vibration and noise but at this price point, you are only going to get so quiet and the Forza F2 trainer is pretty loud. This isn't an issue if you are in a basement or own your own home, but if you are a condo or apartment dweller then let's hope you are on good terms with your neighbors. The resistance feel is decent and you can get a solid workout on it but this trainer is not going to do a great job of simulating a real ride feel. That isn't a knock, as really none of the trainers at this price point do that great a job of it. The Forza F2 will still give you a good workout and allow you to burn some calories and keep your legs tuned up and that is all many trainer users are after.

Overall the Forza F2 Mag Trainer is a decent little trainer. It's easy to assemble, easy to operate and has quick release skewers included. It isn't going to run with something like a Kurt Kinetic Pro machine but then again it's 1/4th of the price so it shouldn't be expected to either. Definitely a decent buy for someone looking for an economical trainer to burn some calories on.

Who Should Buy the Forza F2 Magnetic Bike Trainer

The Forza F2 Bike Trainer is targeted at the occasional cyclist that wants to spin some gears and keep their legs tuned up and their lungs working well during either the winter months or on rainy days. It doesn't excel at anything but it performs reasonably well at everything making it a great all around selection.

The cyclist who is on a budget will find this attractive as the list price is somewhere around $120-$140 dollars and that is a decent deal for a decent Mag trainer. You can find cheaper ones, but the quality gets suspect in a hurry when you get into the sub $100 dollar range.

Even at full price, the Forza F2 trainer is not a bad deal but we're always about saving some money so check out these listings we found below. You should be able to save a decent amount of money on your Forza F2 Bike trainer and still have the satisfaction of dealing with a high quality supplier like Amazon.com. MSRP is $229 dollars, so check out how much you can save by shopping wisely.


The Forza F2 Bike trainer is a great example of a good bang for the buck bike trainer. Stay in shape this winter and keep your legs in shape.

1UP Aluminum Bike Trainer Review

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:22:55 +0000

If you have never heard of a 1UP bicycle trainer then don't feel bad, a lot of people never have but once you experience a 1UP bike trainer then you will know why they are so popular. The 1UP aluminum bike trainer is extremely utilitarian and basic in its' design but that is what makes it so popular. It's not sexy, it's not particularly attractive or flashy but what it IS....is an excellent quality bicycle trainer that does just about everything very well.

The rugged, foldable design is very simple to load your bike into and you will notice the first benefit right when you sling your leg over the saddle. The 1UP bike trainer sits very low to the ground and doesn't require a donut ring for the front wheel. This makes the bike easier to mount and infinitely more stable when you are astride the bike and pounding away. Once you roll out you will quickly realize that the 1UP simply works and works well. It's quiet and features an excellent road like feel that provides excellent resistance that will translate into a superb workout.

The 1UP bike trainer uses a centrifugal flywheel that provides silky smooth operation but limits your training to your ability. Unlike fluid or mag trainers, it's virtually impossible to overpower this trainer or drive it up to unrealistic and unrepeatable speeds. The power ranges that it is capable or handling range from 4 to 3400 watts which will cover anyone from you to someone like Lance Armstrong.

I must admit that I expected the worst and was a bit cynical when trying out the 1UP bike trainer. It has a number of reviews around the web and most of them rave about this trainer but I just didn't see it. It was so bland and plain looking that I didn't think it could possibly be a strong performer but after using it for a few day, I have to say I was wrong. It's a great trainer at a reasonable price that would serve you well for a long time to come.

Who Should Buy the 1UP Aluminum Bike Trainer

A bike trainer like this makes a good choice for just about any cyclist as it does everything pretty darn well. It gives a realistic feel and as strong of a workout as you choose to take. Combine this with what I would definitely call a quiet operation and excellent components and you have a winner.

This bike trainer regularly sells for $399 dollars in bike shops but we've showcased a few online bargains that we've found to help save you money. Check out the 1UP aluminum Bike trainer deals we found below.

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Cycleops Jet Fluid Pro Trainer Review

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:47:39 +0000

Anyone who has ever used a piece of equipment from CycleOps will confirm that this company really "gets it". What I mean by that is that you can tell they are run by cyclists that build products for cyclists and understand what is required to stand out from the crowd of "ho-hum" cycling products. The CycleOps Fluid Jet Pro bike trainer definitely did not fail to live up to the CycleOps trainer reputation. From the initial opening of the box to packing it back up to send to the next reviewer, my opinion was that this is a high quality bike trainer that will not disappoint.

The CycleOps is as functional as it looks and loading a bike into the CycleOps Fluid Jet Pro is a snap, the CurvePro series frame is solid and the cam levers and components are very high quality and will positively lock your bike into place. After swinging a leg over the saddle and putting this trainer through it's paces, I can say that it performed as well as I expected. CycleOps claims that their Fluid Jet Pro has a very realistic road feel period. I have to say I agree, very smooth and deliberate with excellent feedback and resistance both on acceleration and coast down definitely puts the CycleOps Fluid Jet Pro in the upper echelon of fluid bike trainers.

Being a Kurt Kinetic fan, I tried to find something wrong with this trainer but it was quiet, smooth, good feel, easy to load, rugged and stable so I couldn't really find anything not to like about it. I guess you can always say that the Fluid trainers are prone to leaking as you read that all over the internet but I've owned several over the years and have never had a single leak so I think that's a minor issue and wouldn't get in my way if I were considering purchasing this fluid bike trainer.

Who Should Buy the CycleOps Fluid Jet Pro Bike Trainer

As you can tell from above, I am a fan of the CycleOps series of trainers. I have yet to be disappointed with any CycleOps product that I have ever had any experience with and this trainer is no different. I would say it is a good choice for anyone in that it can handle about any range or class of rider and the only real consideration is the price. If you aren't afraid to invest a little bit of money into your trainer selection then the CycleOps Fluid Jet Pro will keep up with you mile after mile. It's a great all around choice that performs quite well at just about anything.

This bike trainer regularly sells for $429 dollars in bike shops but we've showcased a few online bargains that we've found to help save you money. Check out the CycleOps Fluid Jet Pro Bike trainer deals we found below.


The JetFluid Pro's PowerTuned technology provides smooth, realistic accelerations and inertia offering real-world feel for widest range of riders and riding types. Its cooler operating temperature delivers long-lasting performance and a stable progressive power curve with consistent resistance throughout the entire ride regardless of ride type.

Blackburn Trakstand Ultra Bike Trainer Review

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:26:35 +0000

The Blackburn Trakstand Ultra is billed by Blackburn as being an Ultra smooth bike trainer that is also Ultra quiet and features Ultra-realistic resistance. Much of this smoothness and lack of noise is due to the Blackburn CENTRIFORCE™ resistance unit featuring a centrifugal clutch that provides amazingly smooth, silent and progressive resistance that feels just like a hard ride on the open road. I was very pleased with the my first impression of the Blackburn Ultra trainer.

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.

The new TrakStand Ultra features our patented CENTRIFORCE resistance unit with a centrifugal clutch for amazingly smooth, silent and progressive resistance that feels just like a hard road ride. And unlike magnetic and fluid trainers which lose speed quickly, CENTRIFORCE has a smooth rollout when coasting, so your pedal stroke feels more natural in the dead spots or when you ease up on the pedals. The Ultra also features adjustable height, which allows the rear wheel to be as close as 1/2" to the ground. No more phone book under the front wheel.

CycleOps Magneto Indoor Bicycle Trainer Review

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:33:18 +0000

Most cyclists are familiar with the name CycleOps as they have built a strong brand in the cycling aftermarket that is built on a foundation of quality and components that work. The CycleOps Magneto is their entry into the competitive Magnetic bike trainer category. The CycleOps Magneto trainer is one of the rare few magnetic trainers that features progressive resistance, meaning the harder you pedal, the more resistance and feedback this trainer will give you. This, combined with a high quality flywheel system, offers you excellent road feel and a superb workout.

The CycleOps is a superb quality trainer and features a high quality steel frame and a quick load cam lever system that allows you to load your bike into the trainer in just a few seconds. Once in and on the bike, the feel and feedback that the CycleOps Magneto trainer gives you is excellent and will allow you to customize your workout form mild to wild. If you want a nice and easy spin then the Magneto will deliver and if you want to turn it up and rock your aerobic system, then the CycleOps bike trainer will answer that bell as well. I will say that the CycleOps bike trainer screams quality at every step of the way. Easy to load, easy to setup, excellent road feel and the ability to really turn and burn...all packaged into a strong and stable package that won't let you down. This is one of our favorite bike trainers...bar none.

Who Should Buy the CycleOps Magneto Bike Trainer

As you can tell from above, I am a big fan of the CycleOps Magneto bike trainer and this unit would make an excellent choice for any cyclist that isn't willing to compromise quality and wants a trainer that can stand up to about anything that they can lay down. The CycleOps is reasonably quiet for a Mag trainer and exudes quality. It rides nice and is super smooth and quite honestly, we can't say enough good things about it. CycleOps stands behind their unit with a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser and this is simply a rock solid choice for any cyclist. If you end up buying a CycleOps Magneto bicycle trainer, we are confident that you will not be disappointed.

This bike trainer regularly sells for $349 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 CycleOps Magneto bike trainer.


The CycleOPs Magneto is the world's first and only mag trainer with progressive resistance.

Minoura RDA80 Rim Drive Bicycle Trainer with Remote

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:09:32 +0000

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.

For starters, the cable that comes with the 850R is very long and gets in the way constantly. With my road bike I had an extra coil of cable about 20" long lying off to the side of my bike. The mounting system for the remote control is fair enough, but getting a secure and tight fit on my road bike drop bars was another hassle. I have a cadence meter/speedometer mounted near the center of my bar, and a water bottle cage mounted to the bar on the other side of my stem. This left no room for the remote control to mount that wouldn't put the cable in the way of my hand positions.

Minoura M50D Bike Trainer Review

Hammer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:36:36 +0000

The Minoura M50D is Minoura's entry level trainer that is targeted at a cyclist who is looking for an economical bike trainer to stay in shape with. The Minoura M50D, like most bicycle trainers, sports a foldable compact design that will fold flat making it easy to store under the bed or take with you when you are travelling. The 500 gram flywheel offers smooth and steady resistance with 5 different selectable levels of resistance that will allow you to vary your workout from slow and easy to fast and hardcore.

The Minoura M50D is obviously targeted at the bang for the buck crowd so you cannot expect it to perform like some of the more expensive models. The flywheel is reasonably quiet and will not break the sound barrier on you but you should know it is going to make it's presence known. The operation of the flywheel and the overall feel of the Minoura trainer is pretty good and you can definitely get a strong workout in if you put the right amount of effort into it.

The Minoura M series lines come in several different variations that have minor differences. The D model has a manual resistance control with 5 selectable levels of resistance.

Who Should Buy the Minoura M50 Bike Trainer

The Minoura M50 Bike Trainer is great for the occasional cyclist that is looking for a trainer to stay in shape or for moderate use throughout the year. The Minoura M50 trainer is a great bang for the buck and very economical but if you intend to ride it very hard and/or very frequently then you may want to invest a little bit more money into a better bicycle trainer. On the other hand, if you are just looking to spin occasionally to stay in shape or burn off a few calories once in a while then this is a great selection. It functions reasonably well and is not hard on the wallet so you won't break the bank.

In these trying times we all need to save a few dollars so check out these amazing deals we found on Ebay that will save you money on your Minoura M50D Bike trainer purchase. List price is $229 dollars, so check out how much you can save by shopping wisely.

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