Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels

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2010-02-02 12:37 AM

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Fort Rucker, Alabama
Subject: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I used my christmas money to buy myself a blackburn trackstand fluid trainer. I really like being able to ride when it's dark/rainy (up here in Washington) but have noticed one thing that is bugging me and I want to know if it is normal.

About 10ish minutes into my ride, there is a definite sudden increase in resistance. It is almost as if someone  hit a switch or something. I have to downshift a few gears and my speed goes from around 21ish mph to 18mph (using my forerunner 305 w/ cadence sensor) in order to sustain my cadence around 85-90. On the streets on relatively flat pavement, I will average around 21-22mph for comparison.

I've heard that fluid trainers need to warm up before the resistance stabilizes, but this doesn't seem right to me. Did I get a bad trainer from a bad batch at the factory?  I bought it from my LBS and don't really want to return it if this is something normal for most fluid trainers.

Thanks for the help.

Nate 

Edited by red66stang 2010-02-02 12:38 AM

2010-02-02 6:13 AM
in reply to: #2649095

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Middleville, MI
Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I can't speak for all trainers but I can tell you I have no such issues with my fluid trainer.  If anything, my resistance seems to get a bit easier but I think that has more to do with me getting warmed up than the trainer.  Certainly no marked increase in resistance. 
2010-02-02 6:42 AM
in reply to: #2649095

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Newburgh, Indiana
Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I have a CycleOps Fluid and mine does the same thing - about 25 minutes in the resistance make noticeable jump - right along with my heart rate and sweat!
2010-02-02 8:29 AM
in reply to: #2649095

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Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I have the exact same trainer and mine does the same thing.  I talked to my LBS about it and they said it might be a bad bearing.  They sent it back for me and replaced it and the new one did the same thing.  I would love to know why it does it?  Mine continues to do it off and on throughout the ride.
2010-02-02 8:42 AM
in reply to: #2649095

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Norton Shores, MI
Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels

There has been a couple threads about this in the past with fluid trainers.  Without going back and searching which you may want to do, I remember it just being that the fluid heats up and causes the resistance to change.  It happens to me as well between 5-7 minutes in to the workout and drops my speed down (Cyclops Fluid).

Do not worry about your speed on the trainer just RPE and HR to judge how hard you are working.

Ryan

Edited to Add:  If it does it off/on throughout the workout you probably have a problem with the trainer...it should not do that.



Edited by rymac 2010-02-02 8:44 AM
2010-02-02 10:47 AM
in reply to: #2649095

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Ft Campbell, Kentucky
Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I have a Kurt Kinetic fluid and I do not have any changes in resistance when riding mine.

2010-02-02 11:11 AM
in reply to: #2649095


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Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I have the exact same trainer.. I do NOT notice any chage in resistance...
2010-02-02 7:26 PM
in reply to: #2649095

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Subject: RE: Fluid trainer question - weird(?) resistance levels
I have the Cyclops Fluid 2 and don't seem to have this problem.
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