Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?

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2012-01-09 10:38 AM

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Subject: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?

Hello, I'm in the market for a new-to-me bike trainer and I've been looking locally on craigslist. I'm hoping a bunch of unused and unwanted Christmas gifts and NY resolutionists are giving up and selling their goods. I did see a Minoura Mag 500 trainer that's "barely used" posted on craigslist in a nearby town, and the poster is asking $100. That's $89 less than brand new, but my triathlete friend swears by Cycle Ops and thinks anything else is not worth my time.

She's a bit of a bike snob and a very serious triathlete. I'm just getting into this sport, have a limited budget, and perhaps may not notice the difference? What would you say? Will I quickly outgrow this brand of trainer and want something more, or is this a good start that will last me a few winters of indoor training?

Thanks for your input!

 

2012-01-09 10:51 AM
in reply to: #3979714

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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
Oh, I also found a Blackburn mag trainer with 3 levels of resistance for $25. That's all the info I got from the ad. $25 seems awful cheap! Thoughts? The Minoura has 7 levels of resistance. But...don't we have gears on our bikes for resistance? I'm such a noob, I know...
2012-01-09 11:26 AM
in reply to: #3979714

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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
Mag and wind trainers are LOUD. Not loud, not Loud, LOUD.

That said, a lot of people use them and are happy with them for years.

Remember one thing, if you end up not liking it for any reason then you have not saved any money by buying a less expensive trainer.

The two most recommended are Kurt Kinetic Fluid (any type) and CycleOps Fluid2 trainers. You can find either for $200 or so if you look around like you're doing. Thing is you will not outgrow them and they can be sold for about what you paid for them.

2012-01-09 1:11 PM
in reply to: #3979714

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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
During the holidays I researched lower cost trainers then the Cycleops/KK because I wanted to get my daughter one for Christmas.  In reading customer rviews, one thing about the Minoura that seemed to be a recurring theme was that there are several critical parts made of plastic that can fail.
2012-01-09 2:10 PM
in reply to: #3979714

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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?

I have an older Cycleops mag I bought used from someone here on BT for $40 or something.  I have been very happy with it.  Prolly not as nice as the fancier ones, but it works well for me as my first trainer.  If I win the lottery, I would prolly buy a fancier one.

FYI both the Minoura and Blackburn are supported by TrainerRoad, if that is important to you.

2012-01-10 2:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?

I have a minoura/nashbar 5-level mag that is neither flimsy nor loud. I don't know how that differes from the 500 (there are like 3 different 500s, I think... 500D, Lr, and R). Mine was about $75, but that was a long time ago. On the whole though, I've had no complaints about my house brand stuff.

I did have the 3 level blackburn mag, nad it was a POS.

2012-01-10 2:53 PM
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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
Hmmm, still gotta give it some thought. LOUD might really bother me, actually, but then again I could just blast the music. It's not like I have neighbours who will hear. I would be really concerned about having plastic bits breaking. I think I'll wait a few weeks for people to give up their New Year's resolutions and see what pops up on craigslist. Thanks for your help!
2012-01-11 7:59 AM
in reply to: #3982313

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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
Seriously, my mag isn't loud. I can watch TV at a normal volume, read a book, whatever. (the blackburn was, though. That thing sucked ballz)
2017-12-17 9:44 AM
in reply to: mmrocker13


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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
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2017-12-26 3:13 PM
in reply to: GreenMtnLabbit


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Subject: RE: Minoura Mag 500 trainer - your thoughts?
Remember one thing, if you end up not liking it for any reason then you have not saved any money by buying a less expensive trainer.

















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