A couple bike trainer ?'s

I got a trek I9 (I think) computer and it was the same price for a front or rear wheel mount, so I got the rear. 
My trainer is old and an air resistance wheel so the speeds for a constant hear rate are rediculously high compared to real road... it does however give you an indicator of when you are starting to slack off 

Edited by alex jb 2009-09-21 7:27 PM

Don't know.  I've got a Cyclops.  It started leaking oil after a year.  They replaced it with a refurbished one and it is working OK for now, but hasn't seen much use yet.  I like it, but not too sure about quality.



I like to use a trainer tire on a separate trainer wheel so that I can just swap out the wheel.   Sure you can change the tire every time, but that gets to be a hassle.  I think lots of people just use older tires that aren't suitable for outdoors any more and ride them on the trainer till they blow. 



Yes.  It counts revolutions, and doesn't care which tire's revolutions it is counting.  If it is wireless, the signal probably won't reach to your handlebars, so you'd have to mount the reciver back there too and just consult it afterwards.

I personally don't bother (any more -- I used to have a Garmin, which is mounted on the rear anyway), since I ride almost strictly by HR zone on the trainer.

I got a Ravx TX3.  I have used it several times already and so far so good.  It ended up being right around $200.  My shop recommended the Continental trainer tires to save wear on my regular tires.  

I'm sure the bike computer would definitely work on the rear wheel.  

The Ravx Tx3 came with a front wheel block to prop up the front a little.  I set that up on the wife's aerobic step so the bike is slightly higher in the front.  While in Aero, I play Xbox 360 with my son.  It takes nothing to do an hour on the bike.  When he is chasing me (in the game) He says I peddle my butt off. 

1) Fluid is going to be the best. Wind or mag trainers or going to be loud. I know it's a bit higher than what you said but I think the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine would be great. They are well built and will pretty much never leak.
2) Depends how much riding you plan to do. I think a trainer tire is a good investment because they last longer and they also don't get as hot during extended trainer rides. The hotter the tire gets, the more likely it is to break down and the easier a workout can become. A trainer tire will also last for a while longer and is cheaper than replacing a regular street tire.
3) Yes, assuming your cyclometer is wireless or the cable is long enough, this should work fine.

Good luck with whatever you decide.  My comments below...

You should save the marginal amount of money and invest in a really good, top of the line fluid trainer. CycleOps2 fluid or Kurt Kinetic are the 2 most proven models, and are only $50-80 over your budget.

Trainers are nearly indestructible now. I know some have had issues with the previous Cycleops iterations, but they've pretty much solved it - on roadbike forums, there are nearly no complaints by hardcore roadies on the snowed-in East coast with the models in the last year or two.

They won't wear out, don't get worse with nonuse, and take up little room. 

There's almost no downside to getting a great trainer. Even if you stop cycling for years, you can still bust it out and it'll work fine with no adjustments.

You WILL be annoyed though, if you get a trainer that's really loud, unreliable, or doesn't have enough resistance. Get a good one - it's totally worth it over the long haul, even if you're on a budget. $50-80 spend here will be a better long-term investment than spent nearly anything else in this pricey sport of triathlon, in which things tend to break or become obsolete.

1. I got a Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer, mostly because that's what my LBS had. I love it.

2. This winter, I'll use an old tire on the trainer. It may be worth it to get a cheap wheel to put on the back for trainer rides, since that would be easier to swap out than a tire.

3. The LBS will mount the computer sensor on the back if you plan to ride on a trainer.

Check craiglist before you buy new! got a kinetic trainer for $80