Spinning Bike vs. Fluid Bike Trainer

Cycling is both an exciting hobby and a great cardiovascular workout. When the weather is not exactly outdoor friendly, or you run out of daylight, you can effectively train indoors with a fluid trainer or a spin bike.

  1. Equipment

    • When using a fluid trainer, the back wheel of your road bike sits on a roller that pushes a fan through a silicon fluid. The harder you pedal the more difficult your workout will be. A spin bike is a fixed frame bike that offers a wide range of intensity levels with a flywheel on the font of the bike. The seat and handle bars can be adjusted to your comfort.

    Training Specificity

    • Fluid trainers offer the most specific workout because you can train in the same way you would outdoors on your own personal road bike. Also, fluid creates an uneven feel, which imitates riding on a road. A spin bike offers an intense workout, however it will not mimic the exact riding position of a road bike.

    Cost

    • Cost is the biggest difference between a spin bike and a fluid trainer. A fluid trainer starts at approximatly $150, while the price of a spin bike can start at $1,000. Both will require maintanence to keep them running in top condition.