Heads up: Just picked up a MAG trainer on sale from CT....
This one:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/4/FitnessWellness/Exer...
Seems to be the same as this one on amazon (reviews seem okay, typical Mag trainer complaints):
http://www.amazon.com/Outback-Magnetic-Indoor-Bicycle-Trainer/product-re...
Will followup on with my opinion after tonight's session....
BTW....Waterloo West CT has 3 left....up on a high shelf..
EDIT:
Looks like this thing started life as the SARIS CYCLEOPS 1030 mag trainer from a few years back...
http://www.naultsbikeshop.com/fitness.html (see the 1030 on that page)
Also sold as the Graber now:
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=3840
Okay. Gave it a couple of sessions and here are my thoughts on this fwiw....
- This trainer has the same MAG unit as the Saris Cycleops MAG (http://www.saris.com/p-310-mag.aspx), but with a PVC roller instead of a metal roller. The warranty & registration is provided by Saris Cycling group.
What I like:
- I've never ridden a mag trainer before (only rollers), so I was expecting a lot more noise. Actually wasn't bad and it was quieter than my Treadmill (A Trimline 4600 that I put about 1000kms a year on....yeah I don't run outside).
- Resistance was enough for me. I tried to stay in my target heart rate of 150 to 160 for 35 minutes. I had the unit set to the highest resistance setting. My bike was on the big ring and about the 4th ring up from the smallest on the cassette (on a Shimano 105, 9-speed, 12x25t). I tend to spin pretty fast...a habit I got from riding rollers.
I suppose it would have been nice to have even higher resistance available, but with four more gears available, I'm guessing there is some room to grow...
- Once up to speed the "feel" was smooth.
- came with a skewer which is good as the Specialized skewer on my bike would not work.
What I didn't like:
- I placed the unit directly on the floor (Ikea click flooring in my basement) and at training speed the unit emitted a very noticeable resonance. This bugged the hell out of me, so I grabbed a play mat made of foam from the kids area and placed the trainer on it. Bingo, no resonance.
- Due to the engagement to the bike being threaded on one side, and the play on that side being pretty sloppy, I had to shim up the left side of the unit with three small sheets of cardboard. That leveled the bike. Otherwise, your riding on a tilt.
Conclusion:
I'm taking it back, for 2 reasons.
i. Bike tilt adjustment with cardboard is a little too ghetto for me.
ii. I'm worried (maybe unfounded?) that a PVC roller might not last as lone as a metal one.
Thanks for the review on this. I was considering picking one up for my wife but I was reluctant to purchase a mag trainer in general. It did seem to good to be true (cheap).
I guess I'll consider getting a second fluid trainer for her instead.