Name of Product: CycleOps Fluid 2 indoor bike trainer (2003 version)
Manufacturer: Saris Cycling Group

Name of Reviewer: Fred West

Website of Product if available: http://www.saris.com/c-6-trainers.aspx?skinid=2

Cost of Product: $300.00                

Description:  Stationary bicycle trainer. The most road-like feel of any CycleOps trainer. In essence, it's a resistance unit encased in hydraulic fluid. Unlike the Mag's external variable resistance, on the Fluid 2 the harder you pedal, the hotter the fluid gets and the more resistance you experience. But there's more going on than just that: the Fluid 2 is designed with Power Band technology that makes the level of resistance also a function of cadence and gearing. The ranges of resistance you can potentially experience is unbelievable -- it varies from 20 watts to 725 watts, all a function of your gearing and cadence. The Fluid 2 has a cooling mechanism built in to give tons of durability.

• Exclusive Power Band technology offers the widest resistance range without ever touching the unit.
• New PowerTuned larger flywheel for improved road-like feel.
• Infinite resistance curve ensures increased wattage as you increase speed.
• Folding legs for easy storage
• Bolt Action quick release lever for rear wheel
• Self-cooling mechanisms, including a patented fan design, keep the unit performing better, longer.

Personnal opinion of the product/service:  This is my second Fluid 2 after the first one started making all kinds of noise after about a year. Took back to REI and they gave me a new one. So far the one I have now has lasted through six years of hard winter miles. Just lock in the rear triangle of your bike at the axles and adjust the roller to your rear wheel and your ready to go. Everything feels solid while riding but you do have to watch how you place your quick release lever in the locking mechanism. Make sure its horizontal or you may find yourself on the floor. The mechanism for adding pressure to the tire has changed a bit but everything else is very similar. CycleOps has many trainers to choose from and their warranty is excellent.

Resistance increases the harder you pedal. This is somewhat a true feel on the road but not always. Sometimes it feels like your working way harder than you should as compared to the road. Trainer riding is also constant as compared to the road where one would coast one downhill’s etc.

Pros:

• Easy setup, easy to change between bikes. Will fit both road and mountain bike wheel sizes.
• Quiet, smooth ride
• Portable
• Road like feel.
• Reasonable price and I would buy again.

Cons:

• It takes about 10 minutes for the unit to “warm up”. You spin in a set gear for about the first ten minutes before you notice about a gears worth more effort to stay at the same cadence

Wear the race number – To save time in transition and eliminate the chance of forgetting your race number, put it on under the wetsuit for open water swims.  Saves you from having to worry about it in T1.

Alesia Thon and Janet Mamikunian recently represented Alaska and the US at the 2009 Age Group World Championships.  A great Video Montage of this event can be seen at this link http://www.triathlon.org/multimedia/category/age_group/