Best Bike Trainer for reasonable money??

CycleOps2 Fluid
Kurt Kinetic Fluid

Find one on sale or on the classified, buy it and sweat your butt off.

Wind/fan - LOUD!
Magnetic - you have to set the resistance, can be loud
Fluid - resistance is progressive, a lot quieter than the other options.

My nashbar 5-level mag trainer was about $75, and I've been using it for years and years and years. Durable, relatively quiet, inexpensive.

I also have a fluid (same--nashbar). It was about $125, and is about the same age. Nothing wrong with it, I just like my mag trainer.

I just picked up a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine (fluid) off craigslist for $225.  The guy threw in a Spinervals dvd, riser, power meter and an old tire so I don't wear mine out.  Lots of people buy stuff and find they don't like it or just don't use it and you can get it for a steal.  Definitely look for used before you buy new.

KK road machine. Get a good trainer b/c the experience you will have on it will vary widely. Not saying that all cheap ones are bad. Most people will rec Kurt Kinetic or cycleops fluid 2 for reason...

CycleOps Fluid2 is a great training and well worth the money... yes, you can find one used, but keep in mind that buying used also means that you most likely will not have the company stand behind the product... buying new means that you pay more, but you are the original owner... CycleOps tend to be very flexible on this though and are usually willing to solve your problem at a very good discount if you ever would need it.

Been meaning to try a CycleOps Fluid after my Minoura Mag 850 gave out.  But after 4 yrs that cheap mag trainer is still goin' strong!!!!!!  Like any mag unit, resistance is not progressive but so what?  Just use the bike's gears to dial in whatever you want.
Hard to argue with something inexpensive that works & lasts like that.

I am new to the cycling thing too but just picked up a Kurt Kinetic for $120 off Craigslist, no joke. He wanted $150 but I got him to $125 and then when I got there to pick it up he said, "I know ATMs usually give you only 20 dollar bills so if you don't have exact change, I'll take $120 for it". I had $125 but why pay more? Hehehehe.....

I love the trainer too BTW. It's a little loud but it kicks my a$$ big time (which is what it's supposed to do! I'll just turn up my MP3 or the TV). I can't wait to take it on vacations with me and junk. It folds up very small. I luv it.

I've had the Performance Brand fluid trainer for about 5 years now and it still works fine. I bought it on sale for really cheap (can't remember exactly how much). The current equivalent would be the Ascent fluid trainer for about $125.