anyone actually used an uber-cheap turbo trainer?

[geordieracer]

As the title says really; its that time of year when the near misses outnumber the quality evening rides and my attention is drawn to turbo trainers; years ago I considered a decent tacx unit but now life is on a budget and I balk at tacx money... has anyone actually used a TT from the £50 price point?

[IroningMan]

I have an Elite Volare air resistance job. I was given it second-hand ten years ago, so don't know what it cost, but it wouldn't have been much, despite having Jan Ulrich's name on it.

It works fine for base sessions and reasonably hard intervals, but it's very noisy.

[julianm]

Get yourself one of these:

Which will probably cost you less than £20 - if you go to a cycle jumble maybe a tenner. Elite & Tackx used to make them. Some would have 2 fans, some a flywheel & fan. Plenty of resistance there for you & it will make you fitter & faster. Use the old training programme as well : http://www.rogerallen.me.uk/Turbo%20Training.pdf
Get the cheapest HRM you feel like.
You really don`t have to spend hundreds so you can watch the telly while training in the garage.

[Fastpedeller]

I got one from Machine Mart of all places a couple of years ago. I'd considered fluid ones (at twice the price), but saw reports of fluid leeks so that put me off! So magnets it was. I think it was £62 at the time - magnet resistance with control via easily detached wire remote fitted to bars, a good sturdy frame. Delighted with it, I really didn't expect it to be so good and smooth.
I have no connection with Machine Mart, and expect these are all generic from China available from lots of suppliers.

[Grandfondo]

julianm said:

Get yourself one of these:

Which will probably cost you less than £20 - if you go to a cycle jumble maybe a tenner. Elite & Tackx used to make them. Some would have 2 fans, some a flywheel & fan. Plenty of resistance there for you & it will make you fitter & faster. Use the old training programme as well : http://www.rogerallen.me.uk/Turbo%20Training.pdf
Get the cheapest HRM you feel like.
You really don`t have to spend hundreds so you can watch the telly while training in the garage.

Just put one of those to the dump!

[47p2]

My preferred trainer is my Tacx Turbo & Peugeot I bought around 1986



If I want an easy leg spinning session I just hop on the rollers and the track bike



However if I'm in the mood for a real workout I use the fixed gear bike on the Minoura VFS and that knocks the stuffing right out of me

[Herman Toothrot]

I had a cheap £50 one for years A frame style magnetic and to be fair it did me absolutely fine I only replaced it when I started doing sufferfests and the resistance couldn't match what the videos asked. If you want to spin and have old school full sized chainset and a small rear sprocket you'll be fine for making up your own sessions, for example my new cycle opo's fluid I'd say makes me do the same sessions but generally run about 4 gears lower than the 4 x cheaper magnetic amazon job I had before.