CycleOps Mag Trainer

Price Paid:  $175.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Mt.Hamilton

Bike Setup:
I use my touring bike on the trainer, an 04 Bianchi Vigorelli.

Summary:
Overall product accomplishes what it was designed for. I have been training on the off season with it and have been able to bring my performance up to a new level. The drawback of this unit is the quality. The bolt stripped after 2 months of use. The upside was that customer service was very friendly, didn't ask any questions and sent out a replacement bolt and nut within a week. The unit is a bit loud at high RPM. But for the money paid, I think it is a good buy.

Strengths:
Fair price, Cycle Ops stands behind their product

Weaknesses:
Loud at high RPM, Quality - fair/low

Similar Products Used:
only trainer used

Price Paid:  $219.00 at REI

Favorite Ride:
Stone Mountain

Bike Setup:
cannondale synapse 6

Summary:
Price is a little high at $219. I bought this trainer so I can keep riding when it's raining or it's extremely cold. I had it for over two weeks now (right in time for the winter), and it gives me good work out in my garage. It can be a little nosy but I have no problem listening to my walkman while riding on it.

Make sure you don't tie up the mag unit too much since it will kill your inner tube. A little bit loose will not decrease the resistance since the difficulty levels are controlled by your bike gears.

I will give it a 4 for over all value for it gives me adequate work out in-door.

Strengths:
Control difficulty through bike.

Weaknesses:
A little noisy.

Price Paid:  $150.00 at Foothills Cycling

Favorite Ride:
on the road

Bike Setup:
Trainer bike is Rossin with old Campy Chorus, Cateye computer with cadence and hr monitor.

Summary:
This is for the updated Mag unit that CycleOps states has increased resistance. Smooth and quiet at lower speeds. Develops some noise above 22 mph during workouts. Overall, it does what I need it to do which is allow me to work on spinning and establish my foundation for the coming season. Sprint work is for outside.

Strengths:
Sets up quickly and provides adequate resistance for all but the hardest sprints.

Weaknesses:
Gets pretty loud during interval sessions.

Similar Products Used:
Performance Peakload mag trainers, racermate wind trainer (after 20 years, it still works)

Price Paid:  $179.00 at REI

Favorite Ride:
East Bay Bike Path in Providence, RI

Bike Setup:
2003 Raleigh SuperCourse w/Shimano 105 sti throughout

Summary:
Not bad for the price. Well made. Very Durable except for the plastics used, but they have not given me any trouble yet. The directions were very poor. Hard to read and even hard to follow. The pictures with the directions were of very poor quality and of no value at all. Would I buy it if I had it do all over again, yes, but I would make sure it was fully assembled after now seeing those lousy directions.

Strengths:
Great machine for the price!

Weaknesses:
Very poor directions. They should put all the english directions together rather than seaching through to find the next step and forget the pictures - they were horrible.

Similar Products Used:
I looked at many.

Price Paid:  $170.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
long & winding

Bike Setup:
Bianchi limited

Summary:
The cable mechanism is poorly designed, the instructions that come with the unit appear to have been pasted together from fax copies. The frame and resistance unit appear to be well made however top end resistance seemed a bit light.

Strengths:
see summary

Weaknesses:
the cable design and mount assembly really do suck, as does the plastic mounting bracket for the cable anchor.

Similar Products Used:
minoura