ausfix

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my left hip on Thursday, which was a shock, as I've always had the good luck to be healthy. I'm 55. I had thought I had a three-year-long chronic groin pull, but no, reality did not jibe with my illusion, according to the X-rays. I have OA in both hips, but the left hip has almost no cartilage left, and has two ugly bone cysts protruding from the socket.

Now I have to come to grips with losing about 20 pounds and staying active cardio-wise without causing further damage to my hip. As you can tell from my username, I ride a fixed-gear (and long before it was a hipster activity). But I had been commuting to work on it, a too-mild fifteen minute trip and quite dangerous, as I have to negotiate downtown Austin streets after 9 p.m. when I go home.

All this makes me think I ought to get one of those torture devices, an indoor trainer. Any suggestions? I haven't owned one in twenty years, so I know nothing about them. Maybe I should get a Concept 2 rower instead? I kind of enjoy that form of self-torture.

cccorlew

Road Machine Fluid Trainer]Kinetic by Kurt. Can't miss. I haven't heard one bad word about them, and everyone I know who owns one (myself included) is pleased.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...905&origin=pla

bpr

+1


love mine

ausfix

Well, then. Thanks for the unanimous choice of AN indoor trainer.

RonH

+1 on the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine.
If you want a little more excitement try a Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll.
https://www.kurtkinetic.com/kinetic-video-i-80-l-en.html

bruce19

Don't know if this will work for you given the OA but nothing teaches you to pedal fluidly like rollers. Supple pedaling takes pressure off all your joints and hopefully will give exercise without stress to your hips. Just a thought.

John_V 

I have a older model Minoura Mag trainer with a remote control for the resistance settings and I really like it. Living in Florida, it isn't used very much as we tend to have pretty much year round cycling weather. I have heard a lot of good things about the Kurt trainers as well as the Cycleops fluid trainers but between the two, I would also go with the Kurt. They appear to be pretty sturdy and well built.

fietsbob

I've seen Recumbent Trainers ..

then you can extend a computer keyboard support over your seat.

Exercise at the game console.. ( hard to keep at the trainer thing , bored stiff)

Road Fan

I had a Cyclops, then I tried a Kurt. Bought the Kurt, sold the Cyclops. I like the Kurt.

zacster

I'm using the CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer myself. It works pretty well, but I haven't tried any of the other home style trainers.

billydonn

I'd like to hear reviews/comments from anyone who has tried the KK R&R.... it is tempting to try one. I did see a couple of videos online that suggest that it places a lot of stress on the rear axle but I don't necessarily buy that completely. Reviews anyone?

gregf83 

No comment on the rower but for a trainer I would recommend the KK road machine. They're quiet, work well and have outstanding customer service. I wouldn't bother with the rock&roll version as it's primarily useful for harder out of the saddle efforts which I wouldn't recommend with your hips.

billydonn

Found a thread on the RnR in the 41.... interesting.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...n+Roll+trainer

howsteepisit

I am among the brave few who bought and love a Tacx Fortius. Way Expensive, but way fun if you need to spend several months a year inside on the trainer. Its a virtual reality trainer and the only way I have ever been able to spend any more than 1 hour on the things. Indoor cycling is just boring.

ausfix

But how much resistance do rollers offer? I like the idea of rollers, since it's a skill you have to master and you need to maintain concentration or . . . indoor face plant.

ausfix

Yup, horribly boring. Frankly, if I'm going to spend anything over $500, it's going to be a Concept2. I had one years ago and loved it. Lost it in the aftermath of a divorce.

david58

I really like my KK Road Machine. If one can truly like a trainer.

bpr

Indoor cycling can be boring but it beats indoor couching

gcottay

The best winter training aid I ever found was following a compass at something close to 180 degrees. I hear the same trick works north of equator but some math is involved in making a course correction.

Hermes

It depends on the size of the drums. Smaller drums require more power to spin. I have the Kreitler 4.5 inch rollers with the fan attachment that is driven off the front roller. The intake of the fan is adjustable so I can vary how much power is required to drive the rollers. And I have the front fork attachment so that I can use them as a trainer. IMO, this is the best indoor training setup but arguably the most expensive.

Tom_Accuosti

Another vote for the KK Fluid trainer. I set mine up in the garage with an older steel frame bike that I'm not riding.

Word of advice: Trainers will wear your tires, so if you're planning to put a lot of mileage on, buy an inexpensive tire for that wheel.

Bikey Mikey

They actually make tires just for trainers--and specifically state that they must not be used for road use.

Terex

If the Concept 2 works for your hips, and you like it, that may be best route. I recently bought a Keiser spin bike for home use, and if I get another device, it would be a Concept 2. The one that's built a little higher off the ground may help with your hip issues. Good luck!

qcpmsame 

After reading this thread and, another one in a similar vein, yesterday, I went to eBay out of curiosity and found a pretty large bit of trainers there. Seems a lot of people "Think" they want a trainer and then is sits until they decide, or their wife decides, to sell it as it gathers dust. You might watch there if you don't have to have a new machine. Some are way overpriced with high reserves but there were a few good buys in the lot. Just a thought.

Bill

ddeand 

i have had both a KK Rock and Roll trainer and the KK Road Machine Fluid Trainer. I sold the R&R trainer because it was just too much for me - way more than I needed. The likelihood of me spending much time out of the saddle is pretty limited, and that seemed to be the strength of the R&R. The Road Machine Fluid has been just great - I'll be setting mine up again this week for the winter. Check for these on sale - they are pretty reasonable and are pretty high quality.

Dean