Though many see a trainer as…. well, a trainer, the offerings from Minoura and Elite are at the far end of the spectrum in this category of sweat inducing torture devices. Everyone has a different reason for liking particular features of a trainer and here are two that stand out from the rest.
Roll on through the break and see if any of these make you want to sweat…..
Minoura
As we enter into Fall, the temps start dropping as fast as the sun so many start to weigh out the amount and quality of our ride times and dreadfully start thinking about dusting off the old trainer. There have been many advancements in trainers in recent years and each brand has their own take on how to increase ease your pain.
Minoura, though lesser known in today’s world of trainers has actually been around a while and brings their unique “Hybrid Trainer,” the FG-540. Taking the smoothness and basics of rollers without the dangers that can come with them, their FG540 roller holds the bike stable with a fork mount, giving you the ability to “spin” as if you were on a roller. To set it up, you simply lay it on the ground, place the forks in the front mount, place the rear wheel on the roller, and adjust it to the bike’s wheelbase.
To add to it, they’ve incorporated a resistance unit into the rollers that is easily adjustable with the bar mounted knob. The entire unit easily disassembles and folds up into a pretty tidy package making it easily transportable. Retail is $399.
Elite
Elite trainers, like many things that come out of Italy, are as exotic as they are pricey. Elite’s Turbo Muin trainers are the only direct drive trainers that use both fluid and electronically controlled magnetic resistance. The new Turbo Muin Smart B+ takes their already innovative and QUIET direct drive trainer we covered prior and built in both Bluetooth and Ant+ sensors to work with compatible heart rate monitors. Add in their virtual software, and you can compete with others that also have the “Elite-Software” anywhere in the world. (see video below).
