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Submitted by
P
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Pinhotti | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | E-tailer | | Strengths: | solid feel and performance, plenty of resistence, good warranty | | Weaknesses: | first unit leaked within 6 months of purchase but they sent me a new resistence unit immediately after i called customer service. | | Similar Products Used: | only trainer I've used | | Bike Setup: | Road and Mountain | | Bottom Line: | Maybe I was a lucky one but I love my Fluid II. Ive been using it for winter and rainy day workouts for nearly 5 years. My wife has used it alot as well. Between the two of us, I would guess 5 to 8 hours a week. It is very simple to use and very effective. I prefer using my road bike on it for the gearing but I think there was plenty of resistence even with the MT Bike gearing. My 1st unit got a slight leak within the 1st few months I owned it. I was immeaditely shipped a replacement unit as soon as I called customer service. No questions were asked and I was not charged a penny. They just asked me to send back the old unit. Sorry for all the folks with bad experiences but I would buy this again, no question.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Racer
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Smooth rolling. Getting bike in and out was easy. Saris customer service was good. | | Weaknesses: | This is a piece of junk, period. The materials and quality of construction are sub par for a trainer at this price point. The tightening mechanism is a plastic handle attached to an "L" bolt that flexes when tightened down. Also because the way this mechanism is designed, and I use that term loosely, it is hard to make micro adjustments. | | Similar Products Used: | I had used Performance spinners and they were a far cry better AND cheaper than this trainer. I sold this and purchased an 1up USA. I wish I would have done that in the first place. The 1up is a work of art and great trainer. | | Bike Setup: | You name it. | | Bottom Line: | Saris should be embarrassed to put out junk like this. Do you self a favor if you want a good quality trainer look else where. I can say that I am very happy with the 1up but I am sure there are others better than the cycolops. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a
from St.Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | Not too sure at this point. Suposed to be a good product | | Weaknesses: | Have used the trainer 4 times in my first week of ownership and it Clicks like crazy!!! It just started on my 4th ride!!! Its Aweful!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Non. This was recomended | | Bike Setup: | TREK 1500 | | Bottom Line: | I wasted my money. I fell for the hype & sales pitch. The Clicking was so bad I had the stereo turned way up so I could hear the training DVD. It pissed me off so much I got of the bike and walked away. What makes it worse for me is that I bought it at a bike show from a dealer thats 2 hours away! Now I have to go back to exchange it!(if they will)
Don't waste your money on this. Four 1 hour training rides shouldn't cause this kind of problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pam Sayler
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Paul Bunyon | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$339.00 | | Purchased At: | Freewheel Bike, Minneapolis | | Strengths: | nicely packaged | | Weaknesses: | loud. I felt the resistance getting easer the longer I road - researched why, and learned that the fluid they are using is effected by heat - so it was not my imagination, but actually does get easier the longer I ride...so I decided not to purchase this trainer. I need a workout, not to just spin... | | Similar Products Used: | Kinetic | | Bike Setup: | Bianchi 928 lugged, Dura Ace, Mavic wheels | | Bottom Line: | don't buy this. go right for the Kinetic. it's all in the fluid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arthur
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, On
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | on amazon | | Strengths: | sharp looking | | Weaknesses: | -clicking sound day 1
-skewer does not fit properly
-does lean | | Bike Setup: | DeVinci Destination touring | | Bottom Line: | Seriously, day 1, set it up, road with the DVD in, and about 7 minutes into the ride, click, click click from the resistence unit.
I don;t know much about trainers as this is my first, but I know a defect when I hear one! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenny
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeguyswarehouse.com | | Strengths: | nothing to compare it to | | Weaknesses: | wobbles, poor quality control | | Bike Setup: | 2006 specialized roubaix comp | | Bottom Line: | I'm a bit disappointed so far, but we'll see if the manufacturer will help me out. My main issue is the bike wobbling and leaning to the left.
The skewer doesn't completely go into the left cone, so there's one source of the instability. Next, the threaded bolt that forms the left cone has a lot of play in the hole you thread it into, as though it's the wrong diameter. Lastly, there is play at the right support due to the handle cylinder/cone being a bit smaller than the hole it goes into. one side seems to be stiffer than the other, and the bike will lean slightly to the left, preventing symmetrical motion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | From Munfacturer | | Strengths: | Puts out a tremendous amount of resistance, relatively quiet, very durable. | | Weaknesses: | A threaded fastener that holds the resistance unit against the wheel has failed twice (promptly replaced by Graber Products). | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn, Older Cycle-ops company, a few others | | Bike Setup: | Road bike on this trainer | | Bottom Line: | I ride on the trainer *a lot* (4500 miles in the past four years). The resistance units have constantly failed including on the first Cycle-ops trainer that I owned. I heard that Graber Products had purchased the company. Graber Products sold me their Fluid II trainer for $100 as a warranty replacement. I wasn't happy about speinding $100 but after I used it I am very happy. This is the first durable trainer that I have owned. I highly recommend it for anyone serious about trainer riding. At speeds > 15 mph it is capable of putting out an amazing amount of resistance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alvin Goodrich
a Racer
from Berwick, Maine
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hogback | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Buys .com | | Strengths: | Durability, Fairly quiet | | Weaknesses: | Moments of squeeking, Its a trainer: nobody really likes them! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Iron Horse Glory | | Bottom Line: | I am a mountain biker who road bikes to be a better mountain biker. I absolutely hate riding trainers, but sometimes maine winters render outside riding impossible. I have put a lot of miles on this trainer over the three winters that i have used it with no problem until tonight. I broke the skewer and need to get one to replace it as a regular skewer will not fit. It has been a great product all in all. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darcy
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB Canada
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$267.00 | | Strengths: | Rock Solid construction. Road like spin. No levers to switch to change the tension. Extremely quiet. Very smooth and not jerky at all. Easy to set up and move around. | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | Kenetic | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Six13 DuraAce | | Bottom Line: | This is a superb product! I hesitated buying it as the reviews were not as good as others. The local shop assured me that this is a high quality trainer; and actually recommended it over the Kenetic which I was planning to buy from them. After using it - I could not agree more. I did try the Kenetic out as well and would not rate it any higher in spin smothness or how quiet it is. The Kenetic was also more expensive at this shop | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Lower Sullivan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$239.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Stable, easy to lock bike in it and take bike off trainer with the quick release feature. | | Weaknesses: | VIBRATION!! | | Similar Products Used: | Kurt Kinetic Road Machine | | Bike Setup: | Gunnar Cross-Hairs with touring tires | | Bottom Line: | I had high hopes for the Fluid 2 based on the generally favorable reviews posted here. Unfortunately, the trainer had a horrible vibration at one particular speed. If I sped up or slowed down, the vibration would go away, but the band of vibration was in a very usable speed/resistance zone and thus I wasn't able to live with it. I called CycleOps and they were very good about sending out a replacement resistance unit. However, the replacement also had a virtually identical vibration zone. After two bad units (which the CycleOps rep explained was due to an incorrectly balanced flywheel), I decided enough was enough and returned the trainer. I bought a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine instead and it doesn't vibrate at all. Bottom line, maybe I just was unlucky and received two unbalanced units, but word to the wise, if you buy one, make sure you get it at a place that takes returns. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Racer
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | I got a great deal on this second-hand trainer and figured that in spite of some bad reviews, I had nothing to lose. To my great delight, after two years of winter training (not to mention the miles from the previous owner) I've had no problems at all! I've found the resitance to be very adequate with road-like smoothness. I bought one for my buddy (the fluid2 pro for about $200 from Performance with coupon) to get him riding and he's loved it, no problems. About a month ago I dropped the thing (by accident) from shoulder height and shattered the handle. I called cycleops and they replaced it for free! No questions asked. Great customer service. | | Weaknesses: | No wattage hookup like on the new Kurt Kinetic trainer. Resistance unit is good, but recently it's been a bit finiky if I overtighen it on my wheel. | | Similar Products Used: | Kurt Kinetic (2002 version) | | Bike Setup: | Surly Pacer, full DA/ultegra, ritchey wcs wheels | | Bottom Line: | If money is an issue, look to buy this at $220 or less. It's the best deal at the low $200+ range and plenty of smooth resistance even for high-wattage racer types. But, if you can afford in the $400 range, then think about the Kurt Kinetic with wattage meter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Roseville MN, USA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | Machinery Row, Madison | | Strengths: | Sturdy frame, good mounting system. Very quick. | | Weaknesses: | Well, I fell for it. I knew CycleOps had problems with leakage before, but I was assured their new design eliminated that. It started leaking after two weeks of use. I returned it and bought a Kinetic Road Machine instead (awesome).
Curious about the new design, I found an explaination on Kinetic's website. Basically, CycleOps uses an O-ring to keep the fluid in the fluid chamber from squirting out. Unfortunately, this O-ring is wrapped around the driveshaft that is rotating at 1000's of RPM's. It doesn't take a genius to realize that eventually this is going to wear out. That was their old design that associated them with leakage, so you would think they would learn from this and redesign it. Nope. Their solution was to simply double the barrier... have two O-rings instead of one. I guess it helped, but not in my case.
One other note and reason CycleOps leaks, is that they use a viscous oil that expands and loses viscosity when heated. (My only reference on this is the Kinetic site, so take it with a grain of salt) Not only will resistance lessen as the unit heats up, but the expanding fluid will push through the seal. Kinetic uses a silicone solution that does lose viscosity (I'm not sure how big of a deal that is) or expand when heated (which is a big deal). That's just plain old smart. | | Similar Products Used: | Kinetic Road Machine, Minora Mag w/remote | | Bike Setup: | Bianchi Mega Ti w/Record & American Classic | | Bottom Line: | I went into this thing just looking for a hassle-free situation. It turned into a mess. Get a Kinetic instead - they ride better in addition to not leaking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Skibinski
a Racer
from Sioux Falls
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The one my bike is on! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Smooth. Nice replication of road riding. Great band of resistance. | | Weaknesses: | NOISE! Resistance unit starts squeaking after one to two months of use. I am on my third resistance unit. The representative that I spoke with said they have received a "bad batch" of bearing from a supplier. But they have yet to resolve the noise problem. At $9 to send back the unit to Madison, WI, this noise problem is becoming quite an expensive problem. More importantly, it takes about two weeks to receive the replacement unit. That's two weeks of missed training. I'm no Lance Armstrong, but I need to keep spinning too. Their lifetime warranty appears to be an excuse for a faulty product. Lastly, it seems that my bike leans to the left in the frame. I've adjusted every which way and even put my mountain bike in it to make sure it wasn't my road bike. I am not entirely happy with this product. I've used a less expensive noiser spinner without any troubles whatsoever. Shame on me! | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn mag | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Trek 5200
2001 Specialized Stumpjumper M4 Pro | | Bottom Line: | Good ride quality when the resistance unit isn't driving you batty from the squealing. If you don't have to constantly send it back to Graber for a monthly replacement, you may get to use it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a
from USA
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Buys | | Strengths: | Easy to attach / detach bike. Bike is held firmly. Very stable. Provides a good, smooth workout. Came with a compatible wheel skewer and training video. | | Weaknesses: | Production quality! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Simple. | | Bottom Line: | I have to agree with some the other recent reviewers. The manufacturer has a serious quality control problem.
I spent a good deal of time trying to figure out why, with such a simple setup, I couldn't get the roller to contact the rear tire of my 26" Trek. Even with the adjustment knob cranked down really tightly (and I am a clydesdale), the roller stopped 1/4" from the tire.
Luckilly, I have nearly every hand tool known to man in the basement. After taking apart the adjustment assembly, I determined that the female part of the adjuster was simply not threaded all the way through. A drop of machine oil, and the right tap fixed it. It works fine now. It would have really sucked having to send it back. If you buy one of these in a store, bring your bike and set it up in the parking lot. That way, if there is something wrong with it, you won't have to drive too far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott richards
a Cross Country Rider
from boise, Idaho, usa
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$285.00 | | Purchased At: | up n running bikes | | Strengths: | lots of resistance, good workout | | Weaknesses: | Product quality. Quality control? Welds holding resistance unit to stand broke on initial setup. Didn't even get a chance to try it out. Warranty policy requires me to send defective part back on my dime. In reality $12.00. Two weeks wait for turnaround. No apology or comment. For a defect that heinous they should have refunded my $12 and at least issued an apology or thrown in some Cyclops schwag with the new part. | | Similar Products Used: | Old blackburn mag trainer | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh road bike | | Bottom Line: | After reading the reviews, I can agree that this is a unit that provides a good workout. The poor welds and the fact that I had to take the time to repack, transport and send the defective unit back at my expense (and then wait two weeks)leaves a semi-bitter taste. Hopefully over time this taste will go away. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thumper311
a Weekend Warrior
from Sudbury, Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Quiet, ease of use | | Weaknesses: | chews up rear skewer | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Kona Bear, with a few upgrades | | Bottom Line: | I fractured my ankle at the beginning of the summer, and bought this trainer with the belief that I wouldn't get back up on the bike before the snow started flying. I figured I would need something to keep myself motivated over the winter. I've was fortunate enough to be riding about 12 weeks post-surgery, and have been using the Fluid 2 at night during the week and riding outside on the weekends.
This thing is great, its quiet, easy to use, and there's plenty of resistance. I bought the LBS's store demo, so of course all the packaging, video and skewer were long gone. Small price to pay for such a great piece of equipment. Definitely swap out your plastic skewer parts, cuz this thing will chew the hell out of them over time. Throw on a slick, and pedal all winter! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Racer
from White Plains,NY
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Julio Bicycle | | Strengths: | no flex
great video
quiet
limitless resistance | | Weaknesses: | expensive | | Similar Products Used: | blackburn, minoura | | Bike Setup: | Trek 5500 | | Bottom Line: | I'm very impressed with the quality. I first bought a Minoura thinking they were all the same. There was no resistance on the Minoura so I returned it. I went to the guys at Julios Bicycle in Chappaqua, NY (these guys are great) and they said I sould try the Cyclops. It has all the resistance I need. Very quiet compaired to the others I tried. The only thing I could hear were the tires and the chain, nothing from the unit. Very well built and no flex. Just make sure you get the riser block with it, otherwise it could be painfull. Also make sure you use the provived quick release or yours will get scratched.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dameion
a Weekend Warrior
from New York
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Very quiet
Fits in my closet
CTS video
Good progressive resistance
Did I mention it's quiet? | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6700 w/slicks | | Bottom Line: | This trainer is extremely quiet -- even when hammering the pedals the only thing I hear is the sound of the tire. If you're going to use the trainer with a mountain bike invest in a slick tire as the knobs will produce a lot more noise. Very stable, compact design. Resistance is adjusted by changing the gears on your bike so there's no cable or remote to keep track of. The only weakness I've found is the price, but the value of the product is such that it's not an issue. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Moore
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Fantasy Island | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$195.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any!!!! | | Bottom Line: | Haven't had any problems works Great!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from baltimore, md USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | loch raven | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | the shop | | Strengths: | QUIET!!!
carmichael training video
round head skewer included
solid construction
good warranty and support | | Weaknesses: | the price tag 4 our customers sometimes, but i think w/just 1 workout the price should b validated | | Similar Products Used: | Cycleops Wind
Cycleops Mag
Cycleops Magneto
Blackburn Contender
Blackburn Defender
Minoura Rim-Drive
Tacx
Others...(it happens when u cant ride in the winter) | | Bike Setup: | various road and mtb | | Bottom Line: | the positives listed above speak 4 this trainer. now available thru trek, u now have excellent backing in ur investment and know exactly where u need 2 take 4 any service. this is the bottom line 4 trainers. u want quiet and effective, look here.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Schwartz
a Weekend Warrior
from Saint Louis MO
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$195.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Sturdy, good balance, easy to assemble, feels like open road, quiet, innovative packaging, comes with skewer. Bought on eBay; product was new in box. | | Weaknesses: | Comes with skewer, which is fine if you have a hollow axle. I have a recumbent with a solid axle. I had to come up with something to match the axle atttachment sockets. Eventually used a couple of old cones that mated pretty well. Expensive if bought from a local bike shop. | | Similar Products Used: | Wind trainer for upright bike. This would not fit my recumbent bike. | | Bike Setup: | Easy. A socket wrench helped, but you really don't need it. | | Bottom Line: | Very pleased with this product. Some people have reported leakage of the fluid, and I hope this does not happen. I will be on the lookout, however. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic Dechaine
a
from Waterville, Me
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Loop road Acadia National Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$195.00 | | Purchased At: | EBAY | | Strengths: | Sturdy Stand, quiet operation, Good resistance, Well made throughout. | | Weaknesses: | I've yet to be on a fluid trainer that doesn't have a slight hum from time to time. It goes away after it is warmed up. I think the problem I had was with putting the wheel on square. Who knows. | | Similar Products Used: | Velore Fluid Trainer, BlackBurn fluid, Cats eye Cyclo and other mag trainers. | | Bike Setup: | Aegis, all carbon, Ultregia, Roth Pro Comps. | | Bottom Line: | You want a good work out this is the trainer for you. I read some of the problems noted eariler. It appears they have addressed them with this new trainer. The locking mechinism is all metal, no more plastic. The fluid unit is warm to the touch after a hard two hour workout, but it isn't so hot you can't hold on to it, like the other trainers I have used.
Buy it through EBAY, and enjoy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scwman
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Vulture's Knob | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$255.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Authority | | Strengths: | Solid Product. It provides all the resistance I need for endurance and strength training. I also like the quick release feature. The flywheel has enough mass to create a smooth spin. | | Weaknesses: | The lockup mechanism could provide more stiffness because the bike wobbles a bit. This is really minor, though. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | '99 rockhopper with rear slick (used only for training and road/path riding), 2001 Gary Fisher sugar 3 disc | | Bottom Line: | Buy this if you are serious. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa Canada
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycle | | Strengths: | It was the quiet operation..... Great road like ride | | Weaknesses: | I had my first one for about one week before it began getting louder and louder (loud ticking sound when the spindle made a full revolution). I returned that one and my current one lasted approximately 3 to 4 weeks and is beginning to make the same loud horrible noise!! Im going to return this one right after Christmas and have a discussion about my next option with the store | | Similar Products Used: | none...... | | Bike Setup: | Bianchi Veloce road racer/ all campi with kyserium ssc rims
slick on the rear | | Bottom Line: | I have read lots of good reviews about the Fluid 2 but havent had a good experience with mine yet.......that being said, the ride itself is great, just very noisy!!! I would rate it higher without all the noise | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 299.00
