Mag Trainer or Fluid Trainer?

I have a mag trainer but really want a fluid trainer... Mag trainers are LOUD! if you are price sensitive though you can get a great workout on a mag trainer.

In my opinion though I would spend the extra $$$ and go fluid. 

I think the fluid is supposed to give a little more realistic road resistance feel, but I'm of no help to you yet.  I have a mag and yes it's a little loud, but I just got a fluid trainer (ebay) for two reasons...#1 My wife and I can ride together this winter and #2 when I ride early it should be quieter (is that a word?).

The fluid trainers are definately more expensive and I did see a few comments about leakage when researching, but I don't think it's common. Hopefully someone can give you better info.

Fluid trainers have a more realistic road feel, as the effort required is increased the harder you pedal without having to fiddle with remote or wired control settings and there is a 'coasting' effect, so that when you slow or stop pedaling, the flywheel continues rotating and slows to a halt due to the inertia of the viscous fluid. 

Older generations of fluid trainers were known to leak, but the modern ones rarely do*

Two of the more popular ones are CycleOps Fluid2 and Kurt Kinetic road machine. Kurt has a patented sealed fluid chamber guaranteed not to leak. Ever.

* in the last year I purchased two new CycleOps fluid2 trainers that both leaked within weeks of first use, but it would appear to have been a rarity from what I have heard. 

Fluid - unless price is an issue.

I have both a mag (Blackburn) and a fluid (Kurt Kinetic), and the fluid is by far more realistic in terms of resistance.  It's also quieter, so I don't worry about it when I take my bike and trainer to a spin class.  I definitely like the way the fluid feels relative to the mag trainer.

Having said all that, you can get some pretty darn good deals on mag trainers, and they will definitely provide you with a decent workout over the winter.

I can personally attest that the deal found at the link below is AN ABSOLUTE BARGAIN, and the trainer is excellent.  No need to fear the badger at all. 

https://www.bikesportmichigan.com/shop/product.php?productid=16371&cat=256&bestseller=Y

I ordered that exact one, and it should be here day after tomorrow. No angry badgers have come by yet. Yet. the funny part about it is that I showed the link to another person before I bought my trainer, and she bought hers before I could order mine--and then she passed the link on to another person who also ordered--and I ended up paying $10 more because I waited until after the weekend to order mine. Still a screaming deal, but funny that I waited a couple days, and ended up paying more than the people I passed the info along to. So order it...now....before the angry badger gets grumpier and makes the price go up.

I'll post when I get the trainer, and let you know how it compares to the minoura mag trainer I already have.  

ditto on the deal. i ordered it from there last week, UPS should drop it off this afternoon.

WOW! I've been looking for a deal on a ferocious badger!!!

I called bikesport to confirm the model I was getting and put my order in imediately. Thanks for pointing this deal out!!! This was the exact model I've been shopping for!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

PS... I got shipping confirmation less than 45 minutes after placing my order. Nice work bikesport!

Thanks for the advice. I think I will step up and go with the fluid trainer instead of a mag trainer.

-chris

This thread has pretty much sold me on the Kurt Kinetic Road Trainer - but another thread also mentioned the Rock & Roll model.  It sounds like a nice concept, but just looking to get some opinions from anyone who has tried it out so I can make a decision and order one!

 Thanks in advance for any advice.