Minoura Rda-850D

Price Paid:  $150.00 at local bike shop

Bike Setup:
Merida 907

Summary:
Using the unit for about 2 weeks and done 7 workout on that.

It can provide enough resistence (max 500w on 50KMH) for most racer and resonablely quite. However, the ride feeling is not exactly "road" like.

If you want to train your sprint, this unit is not for you. Otherwise, it is a quality product with reasonble price tag.

Strengths:
quite, inexpensive

Price Paid:  $135.00 at e-bay

Bike Setup:
700 X 23C tour easy recumbent; specialized allez

Summary:
Makes lots of noise, squeals and does not resemble "road feel". It does not fit small narrow rims very well at all - wants to slip when starting off.

Strengths:
Can't think of any.

Weaknesses:
plenty beginning with set up

Similar Products Used:
performance rollers

Price Paid:  $155.00 at BB Bicycle

Summary:
Trainer gets about 9 hours/week of use. During the first year parts of
the magnetic resistance assembly started breaking off inside the cover
and the unit eventually seized. I was able to disassemble it, clean
it, and put it back together with a hose clamp to hold it together and
it's been working OK since then. That was over a year ago.

The v-belt wore out after about 2.5 years (no surprise with heavy use)
and finding a replacement was difficult. Branford Bike advertises
replacements belts "for all Minoura rim drive trainers" so I ordered a
belt from them bit it was too wide and the wrong size and wasn't even
close to fitting. At first they wouldn't take the belt back but
eventually did after I filed a complaint with the BBB and US Postal
Inspection Service although I never got my return shipping fully
refunded for what was entirely their mistake. Awful service. I finally
got a belt directly from Minoura who seemed very happy to help out.

Strengths:
Inexpensive. Reasonably smooth ride.

Weaknesses:
Unable to mechanically withstand years of heavy use.

Similar Products Used:
Other trainers.

Price Paid:  $135.00 at eBay

Bike Setup:
2003 Trek 1200, carbon fork, Ritchey stem and seatpost, Velocity Spartacus wheels, selle italia saddle

Summary:
I purchased the Minoura Rim Drive trainer after favorable research online. The advantage of rim drive being that it doesn't wear your tires. The frame is heavy and sturdy, but I was disappointed with the ride quality and durability. This trainer is much louder than expected, the rubber rollers give off a nasty burnt smell, and the ride feel is unrealistic. After limited use (a few dozen rides) over 2 years, the flywheel casing broke (plastic) and shortly thereafter the unit "froze" and wouldn't spin at all, redering it useless! Poor design and quality--not what I expected from Minoura.

Strengths:
sturdy and stable steel frame, good price

Weaknesses:
almost everything: loud, burnt smelling rubber rollers, flywheel broke!! unrealistic road feel

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $240.00 at Jocelyns

Favorite Ride:
Home-Pebble-Carmel V-Laureles-Laguna-Home

Bike Setup:
2003 Specialized Allez Pro, Dura Ace Ksyrium Elites
2002 Specialized SWorks M5 HT, XTR, Fox Forx.
2004 LeMond Poprad

Summary:
Classic case of not doing enough research. I race a number of different classes (MTB, CX, Crit) so I wanted a multi purpose unit where I didn't have to change the wheels out etc. and it had to be quietish as I will sometimes be using it in hotel rooms. It meets all those criteria but recently when I have been trying to do low speed high tension stuff it's not cutting. Not enough resistance. Not sure if there is a unit which will cater for all my needs but considering what I padi for it....not good value.

Strengths:
Doesn't wear your tires.
Quiet(ish)
It's good enough for Endurance miles and even Power Intervals.

Weaknesses:
Just not enough resistance. The remote is redundant really....like I say above it's OK for Endurance etc you can get your HR up there...but for slow Muscle Tension stuff (low cadence/high resistance) it's no good. Sprinting? No good- your legs will spin off your hips and run down the road in front of you.

Similar Products Used:
First one I've had.