Turbo trainers
Rollers or turbo trainer? Ah, the cyclist’s indoor training dilemma. A turbo offers more resistance and you don’t need to have circus performer skills to ride one, but rollers are great for developing balance, spinning fast and impressing your mates. Elite’s V-Arion rollers are the crème de la crème of rollers in terms of price, […]
Minoura’s VFS G is close in price to the company’s V270 but a better-looking all-round operator once it’s set up. It’s a similar design to the Elite Crono Mag, and it’s crucial you assemble the tail section carefully as any looseness means serious wobble at high speeds. A block under the front wheel is vital […]
The CycleOps is a sturdy beast that big-legged sprinters will love. The locking tripod design is stable, though it’s a bit of a tight squeeze to get the rear axle in. The monster motor/flywheel unit gives you so much spin you could make a cup of tea between intervals and it’d still be going. That’s […]
We got a shock when we saw the Minoura’s price because it looks like a dog’s dinner. Actually using it, though, reveals a pedigree training chum. The new H-frame design is scruffy in welding, but unfolds into a solid base that’s adjustable for wonky floors. The plastic cam lever locks the bike in and the […]
Blackburn has produced rock-solid trainers for decades, but this turbo Terminator is an acquired taste. The angular frame with locking A struts is stable, and the winder and screw axle clamp makes solid bike connection easy. It barely lifts the bike so you don’t need to chock the front wheel. The resistance is controlled by […]
Elite offers a huge range of trainers, but this mid-level offering is the best option for most garage racers. The three rear roller positions cope with different wheel sizes, but the unbolting and rebolting means it’s a pain setting up. But that’s about the only weak point. The urethane-coated roller reduces slip and provides a […]
For £30 more than the company’s Tesla trainer, Riva’s top model delivers an improved performance – but not enough to justify the extra expense. The double A-frame design is reliant on flat floors, but it’s stable enough for a sprint once you’ve levelled it. The mixture of big QR cam on the offside and locking […]
The Sirius Gel isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot easier and more pleasant to use than many other turbo trainers. For a start, the V frame actually locks open and closed, so it’s not going to accidentally collapse while in use, or unfold and flatten your toes when you pull it out of the cupboard. […]
Despite gaining the unenviable title of ‘cheapest-looking trainer we’ve reviewed’, the Gist does a decent job. The wheel engagement with exposed Allen key cam is basic but effective, and the broad A frame is stable. The resistance unit is cantilevered off the back on two triangular plates with a screw bolt to adjust to different […]
Riva is a new brand to us, offering plenty of features for the price, even if the sturdy frame isn’t matched by a similarly butch performance. The unit is easily assembled and the broad frame is stable. The QR latch and lock-nutted screw thread onto the wheel skewer quickly and securely, and the latched metal […]
Fan-equipped turbo trainers have always been the basic budget option. Unfortunately, this one shows exactly why magnet and fluid units are so popular. The frame of the Beto is pretty good, being fully assembled from the box. As long as you lock them out properly (we didn’t and the whole unit fell over, taking us […]
