|
Performance
Fluid Trainer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Price
Surprisingly durable, at least for me | | Weaknesses: | Loud, heavy, useless handlebar mounted shift lever | | Similar Products Used: | Cycle Ops | | Bike Setup: | Orbea alum road bike with Ultegra 9 Speed and Mavic Cosmic Elite wheels | | Bottom Line: | I have used this product now for six years during winter training and pre race warm ups at MTB events. It always seems to be on sale making it a good value. Newer models may be lighter than mine which is a struggle to carry around. I agree with other reviewers that the handlebar mounted shift lever is useless. I also toss it on the ground and just shift the bike for resistance changes. No doubt there are better fluid units out there but for the money I was pleased to get six years out of it. While my resistance unit never leaked, just the other day it died. The power drill description used in previous reviews is an accurate one. I will toss it and research new ones from several makers. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Svetik
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Boggs | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Durable, simple, inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Performance changed the style, when it does break, that will be it. | | Bottom Line: | Things been great. Put thousands of miles since 2001. No problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chas
a Weekend Warrior
from Mclean
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Inexpensive and seems to get the job done. | | Weaknesses: | None noted so far. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Giant Rincon MTB | | Bottom Line: | Needed a trainer to get me through the cold, wet, winter season here in northern Virginia. Bought the Performance Traval Trak Fluid Century model from the local Performance Bike storefront. After several weeks of daily workout rides I have noted no problems. There are probably more expensive and better trainers out there but this one works for me. But I did have to swap out my rear tire for a slick because even with my semislick the tire-roller noise was unbearable! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patchito
a Cross Country Rider
from OC, California
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$179.00 | | Purchased At: | Peformance | | Strengths: | I had the adjustable unit, and it produced acceptable power for even pretty difficult intervals - something I didn't get when I demoed a Cycleops.
- quiet...at first | | Weaknesses: | - No product support from Performace. There's no way they are able (or willing rather) to do even a minor repair on the unit.
- bike tended to wobble from side to side and lean to the right.
- plastic feet tended to slide, so in the course of a hard interval, I'd actually be gradually moving around the garage floor as I hammered. Needs a rubber matt.
- scuffs up quick releases
- not built to last
- locking mechanism clumsy when trying attach bike | | Similar Products Used: | Cycle-ops, Blackburn turbo, old mag unit, one of those Monarchs | | Bike Setup: | road bike set up with spare rear wheel | | Bottom Line: | Expect to get about two years worth of use out of the Performance units. As it stands now, I have a unit with bad bearings in the roller mechanism that make it sound like a power drill. That, and for some reason the resistance has become noticeably more difficult - like the fluid somehow got contaminated and is a lot more viscous.
You'd think just swapping out the bearing would be easy to fix or that Performance would just swap out the resistance unit - you'd be thinking wrong! I first explained the problem to the manager at my local Performance shop (Tustin, CA) and was told that if they couldn't repair the unit, they'd replace it. However, when I actually brought the unit in, Performance was unwilling to do anything about it. I was told that they'd changed their models slightly and offer no spares for the older units, and apparently the bearings in the roller are sealed (not well enough apparently) and can't be replaced. So basically I've gotta buy a new unit. I thought it was rather lame that I was told one thing and they did (or didn't do) another.
I don't know, am I being unreasonable in expecting a relatively high dollar piece of equipment to last more than a couple of years - or at least be repairable? I keep reading testimonials by 1upUSA users who have no problems, and when the do in a couple years or so, 1Up repairs them. To me, having to replace an entire trainer because the bearings in the roller are shot is like tossing out an entire bike because the bottom bracket went bad. Next time, I'm gonna buy a 1up trainer. It seems better designed, better made, and most importantly, they stand behind their product. The Performance model might be a hundred bucks cheaper, but it's not worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pieter Thole
a Racer
from Amsterdam
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Marmotte | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Decathlon | | Strengths: | Fluid instead of MAg or wind. | | Weaknesses: | Bike swings to the right due to asymetrical construction. | | Similar Products Used: | Tacx | | Bike Setup: | Santos 02, Ultegra, Ritchey WCS. | | Bottom Line: | Nice resistance but noticed the swinging to the right instantly. Pedalstroke left feeld harder than on the right. Very sad! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
timothy
a Racer
from reading,pa,usa
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | interchangeable base with fan or magnet unit | | Weaknesses: | YES. I thought it was just my unit. Thanks all for your comments. My unit had 2 levels.. super easy and near impossible. I returned it but lost all the shipping money, over 30.00 total | | Similar Products Used: | blackburn mag, nashbar mag, racermate fan, performance fan | | Bottom Line: | fluid is only good for quiet apartment riding. stick with mag or fan | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RJ
a Racer
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | durable, reliable, quiet (with road tires). easy to set up and use. provides good resistance. | | Weaknesses: | mine causes me to lean very slightly to the right...maybe i just weigh more on that side (riiiiight), It scratches your quick releases | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | GF Ziggurat with XT components | | Bottom Line: | Good solid product. No leakage, no mechanical failure. This is good for anyone who wants to train when its bad weather or use as a way of pre race warm up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID, USA
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance USA | | Strengths: | quiet (for a trainer), stable, consistent resistance, holds onto bike (haven't pedaled through the wall yet) | | Weaknesses: | adjustment lever, scratches quick releases (suppose they all do) | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Haven't had any problems with leaking or noises. I have the AF-500 with the little adjustment switch. My advice if you are getting one is to get the non-adjustable. I just turn it up to hardest and toss the switch on the floor, when you want different resistance just shift gears. I don't think the little switch does much anyway and it is hard to move. I also thought I would have to get a different skewer to use it but it seems like it will fit almost any quick release, scratches em up pretty bad though but what can you expect. Four for value cause I think Performance is becoming the LL Bean (overpriced yuppie crap) of the biking world and 4 for overall cause the adjustment switch is worthless but otherwise no problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JOe
a
from ALberta Canada
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Sturdy frame | | Weaknesses: | My unit is making a clicking noise until it warms up! | | Bottom Line: | Can any let me know where I can get my unit serviced? I purchased my unit used and it looked good. Only after a few weeks of use (no idea how long the previous owner used it)it started making noise.
It is a HF300 Fluid model by Performance.
Are there rebuild kits? Frame is great!
vv vv vvv vvv vv vv v v v v v v | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from York, Pa.
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 7 at Lake Redman | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Catalog | | Strengths: | Looks nice, fair price, easy to set up. | | Weaknesses: | The AF-500 adjustable unit is a piece of crap! I returned the first defective unit and was disappointed to find that my second unit was defective just as the first unit was. As for the adjustment lever, I agree with the previous reviews saying that it has a narrow adustment range...then again, I don't think it even adjusts the resistance whatsoever. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn MagTrack | | Bike Setup: | All Treks | | Bottom Line: | When I spoke with the Tech Dept they said that there "was a bad batch of units." Not very comforting to say the least. Unfortunately I have to give this trainer (more less the AF-500 unit) a bad rating. What a hassle it is to return something of this nature! Make it easy on yourself and buy a trainer from a shop so you don't have to go thru the mail-order return crap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blake Williams
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Potto | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Sold Base and Resistance Unit. My roomie and I are big boys and it held us solidly. Seems pretty durable. Quiet resistance unit, I got the 500 adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | Adjustment range feels narrow. Adjustment lever is as bad as people say, but I didn't really play with it much. | | Similar Products Used: | Older magnetic units | | Bike Setup: | Klein Pulse Comp | | Bottom Line: | I think it is as good as the positive ratings. I will have to wait and see. I was surprised with the service @ Performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Toner
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA, US
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | sturdy, good resistance, easy to use, good customer service | | Weaknesses: | resistance adjuster either doesn't stay put on handlebar or breaks, rubber grippers on adjuster are easy to loose, noise from fluid unit and tire, a little wobbly when really cranking | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S-Works M2, all XTR | | Bottom Line: | Regarding kids near the unit when it is in use, I'd be more worried about the rotating wheel than the warm resistance unit. I had a friend in school that lost the tip of his finger to his mom's exercise bike.
I had to really tighten the resistance adjuster to keep it from slipping on my handlebar (yes, I have the two rubber grippers on.) Soon after I got the trainer I tightened the adjuster too much and the plastic broke. Metal would be better. Performance was very good about sending me a replacement adjuster. Using a rubber spacer would help reduce the slipping (a cut old bike tube).
The fluid unit started making noise at resistances above the lowest. It isn't too bad, and I plan on seeing if it can be fixed.
I have a cheap Performance slick tire that still makes a fair amount of noise. After the unit sat for the summer the tire made a lot of noise when I put it back to use. Scuffing the tire with sandpaper fixed this.
The front tire block is a good idea. Without it I felt like I was tilted too far forward.
A heart rate monitor also helps motivation.
All in all I'm happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy
a Racer
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance.com | | Strengths: | Quiet, smooth, easy to assemble, easy to mount bike, adjustability, resistance. | | Weaknesses: | Locking mechanism has too much plastic, I would feel more confident with something a little more tough looking. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first trainer. | | Bottom Line: | I ordered the AF500 adjustable unit because of some of the reviews here about the 300 being a little light. The 500 is plenty for me. The adjustability is nice and seems to work well. The unit is very stable and I haven't had any problems with the legs being uneven like others. The fins get very hot, I would recommend pointing a fan at it directly to help cool. Overall it has been a great purchase, it works well and I have been able to get more workouts in after work. Not going to give it 5 chilis just because I haven't had it long enough to give it credit for reliability yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Bowen
a Racer
from Chino Hills, CA ,USA
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$179.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Quiet and smooth. | | Weaknesses: | Unit gets very hot and has poor reliability. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Road bike. | | Bottom Line: | Since I have had my TravelTrac 3 with the adjustable fluid for over two years now, I can offer a little different perspective than the other postings. I was thrilled with the unit the first year or so, but have noticef that the fluid seems to be "thickening" over time. I can't even use my big ring in the easiest of resistance levels without my heart rate going sky high. I have had no breaks in training, and my fitness on the road is at a much higher level than when I first used the trainer. I can only conclude that something is going wrong with the unit. For those with small children, I would be very concerned about them being anywhere near the TravelTrac after recent use; the chamber that holds the fluid get super hot. I can only give two chilis. Too bad, because it worked so well in the beginning. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Krogh
a Racer
from Novato, CA
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Quiet, smooth, inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Locking mechanism is lame. Base is not level. | | Similar Products Used: | Antique rollers | | Bike Setup: | Several steel and aluminum road bikes. | | Bottom Line: | I'm always leery of Performance products because every time I get their house brand of anything it falls apart. And I'm rather gentle on most things.
I have the adjustable resistance unit and I have no idea why anyone buys the non-adjustable one.
The base is not even. I've tried it on several surfaces to determine whether it was my floor or the trainer; it's the trainer. I have to put folded newspaper under one side to even it out.
The entire locking mechanism is flimsy and scary looking. It was assembled incorrectly when I received the unit and I had to pound it together with a hammer. It hasn't dumped me yet, but I'm nervous. It is over-engineered and has too many plastic parts. I'd pay $20 more for a better mechanism. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | White Rock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$159.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Online | | Strengths: | Easy to mount and dismount bike. Fit, finish and components appear to be very high quality. | | Weaknesses: | Works great for me, but if I was a climber, I would buy the bigger resistance unit. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Super Sport | | Bottom Line: | I am again happy I read the product reviews on this web site before buying this trainer. Thanks fellow riders.
I purchased the Travel Track 2000 base and 300T resistance unit. Assembly consisted of two allen head screws to mount the resistance unit to the base, and a tap on each the four base legs and the clamp handle to seat them. Simplicity was certainly a design element. Clamping the skewer takes about 5 seconds and it appears there is nothing that would wear out. The resistance unit is mounted to a spring loaded lever that you can lock back to the frame when not in use, a thoughtful feature. This keeps the resistance unit from contacting the tire which also keeps it from transferring heat after you stop. The tire makes a whirring noise but I'm using that to correct my pedaling technique since it changes with power and cadence. I combat boredom by riding with the garage door open which invites my beer swilling neighbors to at least stop and tell me how much they would like to do this.
My riding is purely recreational and for fitness, not competition. I purchased the non - variable resistance unit for the sole reason that it met my needs to keep my sit bones from rebelling. At 200 lbs, I could overcome the resistance in the tallest gear when out of the saddle, although adequate resistance to produce a good heart rate and plenty of sweat occurs long before that. Racers and climbers may not find enough resistance with the 300T unit. The best news is that the parts are sold separately, so you can upgrade to the bigger resistance unit without buying the entire trainer.
I'm not sure that many trainers would provide enough resistance for us big guys. Therefore, overall rating was given a 5 because I feel the product performs exactly how I expected it to and is a great value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ed welty
a Cross Country Rider
from buffalo grove, il
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | george wythe | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Stable. Pretty quite compared to other equipment. Easy assemble. | | Weaknesses: | Resistance | | Bike Setup: | '95 Specialized RockHopper | | Bottom Line: | Great product, the only downfall is the resistance. I wish the resistance was a tad higher on this. i have the 300 or 350, not the 500 unit.
Pretty quite and very stable. I can read a book while i ride or watch tv and hear what's going on! My wife uses it and enjoys it as well. I got a refurb for pretty cheap.
Much cheaper than buying a stand-alone stationary bike. You MUST buy a slick tire or else it will be LOUD! slicks can go as cheap as 7 bucks at performance.
I bought another bike and then got this trainer. now i have a trainer bike that doubles as a backup or loaner!
i gave it 4 flames because the resistance could be higher. i make up for this by starting off in a low gear and then cranking all the way up. not the best for my steed, but hey. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Dudash
a Cross Country Rider
from Johnstown,PA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | Cable was bent in half and frayed in two places,axle was bent near the flywheel,did not include rubber shims for mounting shifter and the resistance unit did not work! | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R2000 Ultegra triple with flight deck | | Bottom Line: | I cant believe Performance would ship a product to a customer that was in this kind of condition. It looked like it was dragged behind a car for a couple of miles.I'm returning it for an exchange for the same unit (AF500) and I hope this was just an isolated problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NJDBR
a Weekend Warrior
from Hunterdon, NJ
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | quiet, only need 1 click up on stereo to keep amused, am now in an apt. and no complaints from neighbors. Does the job at a very good price. Easy to use, move and store. | | Weaknesses: | fins get hot, but bigger fins, forced air cooling, water jackets, etc would raise the price | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale hybrid w/club roost Cross Terra tires | | Bottom Line: | Gear selection works fine for my resistance needs without the adjustable unit. Tire pressure range greatly extends the resistance range beyond just using gear selection. If you're using high tire pressure, drop it in 10 lbs increments. Tire selection probably works too - go wide. What the heck, put a cheap bike on it and be more likely to take #1 out. I shed some rubber but that might be lessened by opting for the metal rollers, which also might be quieter. Training is more comfortable with a small, cheap fan. Buy 2 and aim the 2nd at the friction unit heat fins if thats a problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr.Orange
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Frame is well built, easy to store, relatively cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Road tires must be used. None of the off road tires I tried worked. Some off road tires may turn, but they will make a great deal of noise, and the tire will be damaged. However I suspect all trainers have this problem. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7000, Manitou 3:) various combonations of parts. | | Bottom Line: | After I purchased a road tire the trainer ran great. The action is very smooth, and the resistance was sufficient. It was simple to assemble. The frame had some scratches on it due to the bad design of the box. I bought the HF500 resistance unit, and recommend it over the 300. At lower speeds the resistance change is negligible, but at higher speeds it does make a difference, but not a dramatic change. During the second use, the resistance adjuster broke. The cable housing came out of the cable-housing stop, rendering the adjuster useless. It was easy to fix though, and it does not seem to be a reoccurring problem. It seems that most people use them in the winter, which makes sense for most of the world, but in phoenix I am using it in the summer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from West Orange, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Very Stable and very well made. HF300 unit is smooth and does not leak. The price is right ($149). | | Weaknesses: | Unit gets hot | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose IBOC, Rockshox judy xc, Cane Creek WAM wheels, mix of XT & XTR with Avid brakes and levers | | Bottom Line: | I,ve only used this product for 4 months but it works great and is very reliable with a good warranty. The price is very good compared to similar offerings of other manufacturers that have leaking problems. If this your first trainer, do yourself a favor and get the right unit first so you don,t have to write a bad review in MTB review and then buy this one in the end.
P.S. If you are a more accomplished cyclist with higher capabilities go for the HF500 adjustible unit for more wattage.
Ride On...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from melbourne, australia
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bottom Line: | This is an update on my earlier review, as yet Performance have not credited the amount they promised so i am not quite so impressed with their customer service as i was.
Given the wait for the credit i am downgrading my rating by one chilli. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Racer
from Highlands Ranch Colorado
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Reliable, sturdy, quiet after warmed up, inexpensive ($160) | | Weaknesses: | Not difficult enough | | Similar Products Used: | Tunturi exercise bike | | Bike Setup: | Lemond Zurich | | Bottom Line: | In general, I am very happy with this trainer. I have put >100 hours on it since Xmas (my present). It is kind of loud for the first five minutes, then it gets warmed up and just emits that low dynamo hum. I have not had one problem with it to date. It sure beats trying to bike in the snow / ice, and the winter work appears to be paying off.
Only complaint is I have the single resistance unit, and it could be harder. I am doing long endurance workouts with 52-13; sprints are not hard enough at 52-11. I would this recommend this product, but would get the variable resistance unit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T-Dogg
a
from G-Castle, IN
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great overall, no complaints. I've been riding it for about 6 hours a week for the last 2 months, with no problems. It quickly clamps on and is very stable. No signs of any leaking. | | Weaknesses: | none, maybe the noise, but who cares. | | Similar Products Used: | nashbar c-force or something like that, and a cyclops wanna be trainer (which actually was pretty good for a $70 trainer) | | Bike Setup: | Roadie racer | | Bottom Line: | Cool. I reccomend it. Get when it goes on sale for like $130-$150, or buy it used.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | inexpensive, smooth, Fluid resistance (non adjustable) is more than sufficient. Sturdy. | | Weaknesses: | Creaks quite a bit on sprints. Somewhat noisy, but it can be my bike also. non-adjustable stand, problems fitting some Shimano skewers. Like all trainers it eats tires like mad. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | road bike, who cares. | | Bottom Line: | I have a TravelTrac model. When I bought this unit 2+ years ago I paid $140 with a fixed fluid resistance roller. Great deal. I wish it had adjustable legs so that it can be leveled on less than perfect surface and the pressure on the roller could be adjusted. Other than that no problems what so ever, no leaks, cracks etc. It does get really hot but as long as you dont touch it its fine. Five flaming turd for value. Its not perfect so I give it 4 turds overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from melbourne, australia
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
good road feel, variable resistance, sturdy frame | | Weaknesses: |
noisy compared with the quickstand | | Similar Products Used: |
quickstand | | Bike Setup: |
traveltrac 2000 with af500? variable fluid resistance... with roadbike | | Bottom Line: | Buying one of these from australia has been expensive ($500 after exchange rates and shipping/customs fees).
There was an initial problem that lead to me paying the sales tax twice; to Performance's credit they have promised to refund me the difference which is not bad!
The trainer itself feels good, just like the road, and the frame is pretty sturdy (i'm a big guy and came out of one once during sprint training... a bit unsettling, heading for the lounge room window at 40kph!) After all the hype about fluid trainers i expected it to be quieter than my old quickstand centrifugal force trainer, however the wife believes it is louder. So far so good... if anything changes i will send another review | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brendan
a Weekend Warrior
from Monroe, NY
Date Reviewed: December 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Whiting Ranch - CA | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Quiet, sturdy, smooth | | Weaknesses: |
Variable resistance unit doesn't resist very much. I am going to return it. I'll review the next fluid unit. | | Similar Products Used: |
stationary bikes | | Bike Setup: |
Mongoose IBOC | | Bottom Line: | It took Performance FOREVER to get this thing in stock, but then the thing shipped REALLY quickly, and was a snap to put together. The base unit has quite a few scratches and rubbings on it though. bummer. Had a little trouble with adjusting the cable on the resistance unit. I called Performance tech and he said i had it set up perfect and I should feel alot of resistance, at least in the MAX position. The unit does not resist much at all, and I have not ridden in some time. I am using a Specialized Fat Boy slick on my MTB (pretty quiet). Per the Performance tech, I am going to return the fluid unit, and I will be reporting on how the next one works out. I am bummed out because I was relaly liking the unit up to that point. Look for my next review. I'll only give 2 chili's until I can review the whole thing in perfect working order. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Kupp
a Weekend Warrior
from Farmingdale, NY
Date Reviewed: November 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Bethpage Park roads | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Quiet with road tires..plenty of resistance..well constructed | | Weaknesses: |
can't secure bike in trainer with the slide lock..rear spindle on bikes too wide to do so..handlebar clamp to wide to secure to bar..should have easier spin in lowest setting for recovery and warm up cycles.... 700x38 tires on my hybrid rub slightly on frame/not enough clearance..should have some type of rubber grommets to protect quick release spindles..gouges easily.. | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale r1000..Raliegh c40 cross | | Bottom Line: | Good value for the money..got the traveltrak 2000 unit with af500 resistance unit for <200 buck w/ shipping..should come with some kind of workout routine booklet like the Blackburn to prevent boredome... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross-Country Rider
from Leadville
Date Reviewed: November 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
none! Performance is a joke to order from. | | Weaknesses: |
PERFORMANCE BIKE COMPANY
NO PARTS! | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Oredered the Peak Load3. | | Bottom Line: | Ordered the kit, waited 3 weeks, called Performance and was told on back order. Nice of them to let me know. When the first of 2 boxes arrived, no hardware! Not even one screw to hold it together. Waited for the second, maybe the hardware would be in it..... NO WAY! Called Performance again and they said they would send the parts out in 24 hours. 4 days later it arrives with incomplete hardware kit. I looked at the parts list and I was missing one piece, the front skewer! Can't use mine, it will not fit.
Will have to call and complain again and wait another 4 days minimum I bet. Never again Performance, or lack there of.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PERCH
a Racer
from Los Angeles Calif.
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The Race Course | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
quite | | Weaknesses: |
I did not get the adjustable one. I need more resistance. For warm up it is fine. For intervals or hard training get the adjustable ressistance model. | | Similar Products Used: |
monora mag trainer | | Bike Setup: |
Road and mountain | | Bottom Line: | Get the adjustable trainer. It is worth the extra money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from North Dakota
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
I like the feel to this trainer. So this is my first trainer I have ever owned. I usally use my rollers. But wanted something different. So I got the hydroForce 300 I saw all the great reviews on this trainer. And said to myself I will give a shot. So far so good. | | Weaknesses: |
At least I didn't buy the cycle-ops I saw the reviews on that trainer and they wouldn't very great like this one. Good luck on finding one that works for you. | | Similar Products Used: |
Never used a trainer before. Just tried out the Cycle ops and didn't like it. | | Bike Setup: |
I ride my road bike, Specialized Epic on it. Road is a good way to train. | | Bottom Line: | Ok the bottom line. This is a darn quiet trainer that I have ever heard. I did try out the Cycle Ops. And it was a new demo to try out. It leaked. So I was convincecd to try out this one. And I'm very pleased with it. And for the price I got it for. I couldn't go wrong by buying it. Performance has a great product. Thanks for all the tips. Now go buy yourself one. You won't regret it. So I give this product for chillies. Have fun. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Racer
from Nashville
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
smooth, quiet, easy to set up, great price, hav had no problems with fluid leaking (which seems to be a chronic problem with the more expensive Cycle-Ops | | Weaknesses: |
haven't really found any yet | | Bike Setup: |
1998 Team Marin | | Bottom Line: | Best trainer you can buy, excellent value for your money. You no longer have an exceuse for not riding during the winter. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross-Country Rider
from Arlington
Date Reviewed: March 17, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Smooth and not too noisy
Remote Adjustable resistance | | Weaknesses: |
Does not accept all quick release levers
As with all Trainers (boring as hell to ride) | | Similar Products Used: |
tested magnetic trainer in the shop and it wasn't smooth at all. | | Bike Setup: |
Killer V Cannondale with slicks | | Bottom Line: | I felt stronger on climbs after using my trainer for the past month. A trainer is great to have for cold and rainy weather. The performance trainer, if you can get it on sale, is a great bargain.Place something under your chain when you use a trainer. Lots of dirt particles are loosened and fall to the floor beneath the chain | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd Morken
a cross-country rider
from North Dakota
Date Reviewed: February 22, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I picked up the af-300 model, hydro but with a preset resistance curve, not the adjustable one. The cyclops was tempting due to the lifetime warranty, but $300 for a trainer, and with all the horror stories of leaking I just didn't feel like leaving more spots on the carpet than a new puppy. The resistance is great, I can't imagine needing stronger resistance, it's simple to set up, and it was $139 from performance on sale, for the price of the cyclops I could buy two spare hydro units and the trainer for the same price. If ya watch the refurbished section of performance you can find these for around $119. Put about oh 50 hours on it and it's doing great, it does get hot, but long as you don't touch it you're fine, very quiet as well, easy to watch TV at just a slightly increased volume level. The unit is stable enough to stand up and sprint on. Just a side benefit cause I don't own a work stand is you can clamp a bike in there, release the resistance unit and work on the drivetrain. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Porkchop
a racer
from Littleton
Date Reviewed: February 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This product is great. I bought the Performance Fluid 300 (non-adjustable) for convenient warm-up at races- I already owned some really beat up 10 year old Minoura rollers for winter workouts. I don't use the rollers much any more. The Fluid is so blessedly, beautifully quiet that I want no other. Plenty o' resistance, if ya got roadie technology- even 53/14 is pretty leg shattering. I'm glad I didn't shell out dough to Cyclops- sounds like they leak within days. I've had the Perf model for over a year- no leaks. In addition, I actually kept the unit in my car trunk all winter, so it goes from 10 degrees to 250 degrees during workouts and back to 10 degrees. This can't be good for a sealed fluid unit, but IT ROCKS ON! So now I pedal big ugly turbotrainer-induced squares, but conveniently, quietly. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tracy
a cross-country rider
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: February 15, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Great product, price & performance. Purchased the adjustable resistence and didn't need at first, but have found it handy for out of the saddle grinds. Yes, the fluid unit gets hot so keep your hands off it! Best fluid trainer for the money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Wnuk
a cross-country rider
from Winona, Mn
Date Reviewed: January 23, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the traveltrac 3 with the fixed resistance fluid unit for x-mas.
We had to send the fluid unit back because it leaked all over. Anyway, when
I installed the new unit it worked flawlessly.(so far). I use it with a road
bike with a 700x20 tire so it is smooth & very quiet. It provides all the
resistance I could ever need. The unit does get hot but, it doesn't seem to
be close enough to the floor to hurt anything. It gives a great workout, and
combined with a heart rate monitor seems to be a big help in my training.
Be prepared to sweat like a dog, though. Overall a great product.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Douglas Franz
a cross-country rider
from Misawa AB, Japan
Date Reviewed: January 3, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've used my fluid resistance trainer four times now and I am very pleased with this product from Performance. The price was good ($149) and I totally agree with the reviews here. Its quiet, sturdy, the bike mounts easily, and is very smooth. The unit does get hot, but that's a by-product of the resistance so just make sure you are not on a good carpet. I got the non-adjustable one and I can crank through the resistance on my 11/42 but my heartrate is pegged so its plenty to keep me fit throughout the winter. After all, that's why most of us have trainers anyway, to maintain fitness when we are too lazy to bundle up and go outside. I highly recommend this product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a cross-country rider
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just replaced the wind resistance unit on my Performance Travel Trac with the 300 fluid unit and I have to say It's a great improvement. The resistance is smooth and strong. This is a great product at a fraction of the cost of many other trainers available today. I recommend this trainer to anyone thinking about riding inside this winter. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HO
a weekend warrior
from MA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the TravelTrac 3 with HF300 resistance unit. So far, I'm really impressed with it. It works very well and it's really quiet--good thing since I live in a dorm. Only complaint I have is the fact that resistance unit gets pretty hot, but that hasn't caused any problem yet.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RF
a racer
from Fresno, CA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the fluid resistance unit for my Performance Technique Rollers. It came as a package deal for $189. I have been impressed with the increases in pedaling efficiency and balance as well as fitness I have been able to achieve. I know that rollers have typically been considered a roadie trainer, but they definitely teach you to maintain a proper position on the bike and not rcok your hips when you pedal. With the resistance unit you get a fantastic workout too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr. Peabody
a cross-country rider
from Wauconda, IL
Date Reviewed: July 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just got the TravelTrak 3 with the adjustable fluid unit last week, and I'm pretty damn happy with it. Although, with 24 gears on my bike, I really don't know if the adjustable unit was really necessary, but, oh well. The thing is really sturdy and VERY quiet compared to a fan unit. It definitely gives you one hell of a workout, and for 179.99, it's cheaper than a Cateye Cyclosimulator or the like. I use mine with a mountain bike with a Tioga City Slicker on the back end. The axle cups did'nt look like they would fit the '98 Shimano skewers (Where the lever end is kinda rectangular) but it did and works fine. Definitely a recommended buy for winter training or if your wife works nights and you're stuck home with the ankle-biters getting fat. Oh, and a perfect compliment to any trainer is the book Smart Cycling by Arnie Baker. He outlines some trainer workouts that will leave you feeling like you just got raped in prison. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from Imperial, PA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got my TravelTrac 3 with the adjustable fluid unit for Christmas and rode it through the winter. It's definitely a nice unit - very quiet (especially if you put the trainer on a small piece of carpet), stable, smooth, and offers plenty of resistance. I only find it necessary to adjust the resistance when I intend to really hammer for intervals.I use it with mountain bike and a slick tire. I was able to use the older Shimano QR with mine - it seems to have been made for exactly that QR (with the L-Bend lever) - I'm not sure why others have had problems. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a racer
from Reston, VA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I used the adjustable model last winter with all the rain we've had. It's definately the quietest trainer I've had (nice since I live in an apartment). It's also very easy to set up and use. I tend to warm up with low resistance and then increase it to about half (any higher, it tend to get too hot). I shift gears for fine tuning the resistance. My only complaint: the fluid housing gets very hot. I burned a hole right through a rug I set under the trainer! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Debra
a weekend warrior
from Brooklyn, NY
Date Reviewed: May 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought this trainer for my hybrid bike. The only complaint that I have is that the trainer holds those larger wheels way too low. I was left with less than once centimeter clearance off my carpet and my tire left a nice black streak on the carpet. Maybe it works better on a hard floor. I'm sure that when I get a mountain bike it will hold the tire up higher. Other than that, it is a very good trainer. I bought the adjustable resistance unit and I have yet to adjust the resistance. The gears on my bike are hard enough. I would advise against the variable resistance unless you have legs of steel! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barron
a racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: February 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just got my Performance Fluid Trainer and absolutely love it. I got mine on sale for $149, that's way cheaper than other fluid trainers and about the same price as most magnetic trainers. I almost ordered the adjustable fluid trainer, but I'm glad I didn't because the regular fluid trainer offers plenty of progressive resistance and is about $50 cheaper. (Use the money saved to buy a slick rear tire and a good, motivational mountain biking flick). My only compaint is that neither my Kore nor my Shimano skewers fit, so I had to use my Control Tech skewers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a cross-country rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: January 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the performance trainer after having problems with the availability and price of the cyclops fluid trainer. So far it has been terrific. It was easy to set up and holdss the bike very stable. It is also quiet and has great, smooth resistance. I did have to put a newer XT skewer on the bike that I use on the trainer because the old one (early 90's shimano) didn't fit. That is a small price to pay for the great performance and value of this trainer. I hope that it lasts a lifetime. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jawa
a cross-country rider
from Sparks, Maryland
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I was forced into buying one of these fluid trainers after a slight altercation involving the ground and
my collar bone this summer. The ground won for those of you keeping track at home. The trainers
was easy to put togather (3 bolts), and fits any bike. The fluid unit is extremely smooth and simulates
riding well. To increases the resistance you just shift gears. My spin and endurance have been
greatly improved because of this thing and would reccomend it to anyone who can't always make it
outside to ride. I ride mine on my mountain bike with a slick rear tire.
| | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 179.99
