Fluid Vs. Magnetic Bike Trainers

Bike trainers can be a cyclist’s best friend or worst enemy. They provide a way for you to train indoors under a controlled setting, but they can lack in their ability to provide a fluid resistance that feels like the real road.

  1. The Magnetic Trainer

    • Magnetic bike trainers use a constant magnetic resistance as the rider pedals. It can be used as a tool for a continuous sustained effort and not for interval training. The reason for this is because as you speed up, the resistance doesn’t change so it actually gets easier the faster you go. Most magnetic trainers have an adjustable resistance setting, but when you are varying your tempo up and down, this becomes arduous.

    The Fluid Trainer

    • Fluid trainers use a chamber of fluid with a spinning impeller inside. As the pedaling speed increases, so does the resistance. This provides the closest resistance to training on the actual road. There aren’t any settings to manage and you can do interval training until you’re blue in the face.

    Pitfalls and Comparisons

    • Magnetic trainers are somewhat louder than fluid trainers and the mechanism of their resistance is not equal to that of a fluid trainer. However, they are usually more cost effective, and if you’re just looking to spin for a couple hours, this would be the best bet. Fluid trainers cost more, but provide the best road resistance feel. They are by far the quietest and you will never outgrow the performance of a fluid trainer. Their main downfall is they can leak.