I have heard the same thing concerning people acting like riding on a trainer is only going to help a fraction of what actual riding does. I would think it would be fairly close. I have been riding my friend's Kurt Kinetic trainer the last week and I feel like it is giving me close to workout my regular road ride does. I actually have been able to ride longer each ride since the trainer takes out the getting gear together and the 30 minute round trip in the car I normally take. Instead of riding the bike an hour, I am getting around an hour and a half. I would love to hear someone knowledgeable comment on the subject. I just bought a kurt kinetic trainer, so I am hoping this purchase will be as beneficial as I originally had hoped.