CycleOps JetFluid Pro Bike Trainer Review
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
It is the first weekend of summer, and here I am spending another Saturday morning inside on the bike trainer. This scenario has become a pretty normal occurrence. While I have raced three times already this year, I have actually ridden my bike outside racing than I have outside training. Me and my CycleOps trainer have become best buddies.
With the cool and wet spring that we have had in New England this year, making the investment and upgrading to a new high-end bike trainer was one of the best decisions that I have made in a while. Until this winter, I had been riding the same entry-level bike trainer that I’ve had since 2004. I bought it when I was back in college with spare change and money from returning empty beer cans.
Sure the CycleOps JetFluid Pro costs more than twice as much, but with how much nicer it is and how much use I’ve been getting out of it, I haven’t regretted it for one second.
There are a ton of reviews out there on it, but what is the real difference for ME?
1) Smoothness
This is a really hard one to quantify, but it is the difference between riding on slick newly paved asphalt and weather beaten and cracked roads. It just feels really NICE as you whip the pedals around, which makes a major difference if you are on there for hours at a time. It also helps make it a lot quieter, which Sam and my upstairs neighbors appreciate. I am sure.
I tried to record this before and after video to compare the noise levels and smoothness. It is hard to tell the volume difference, but you can definitely tell that the CycleOps sounds like a smooth jet engine while the old trainer sounds like I’m powering a coffee grinder or something. Either way, you get the idea.
2) Power
No, this version doesn’t tell me my wattage (see the PowerBeam Pro if you want a trainer with that). It lets me generate it. A LOT of it. Or at least it doesn’t limit how much my legs can put out.
I’ve obviously progressed a lot over the last +5 years from my meager beginnings as a triathlete, and the JetFluid doesn’t hold me back. With my old trainer getting worn down, I’d be spinning away on my hardest gear, yet far away from my top end HR. No.more. The only limit is now much pain I want to inflict on my own legs and lungs.
3) Customer service
I had always heard good things about the CycleOps customer service crew before, but never had any desire to experience it for myself. I just wanted something that worked. Unfortunately in the first few weeks that wasn’t the case and the resistance unit kept disengaging from my tire mid way through a ride. Frustrating. I tried to fix it myself, but failed.
Instead of throwing it through the window (which I considered) I gave CycleOps a call. I explained what was happening and what I tried to do to fix it.
“Hmm. That is what I was going to recommend to fix it. Give me your address and I’ll have a new resistance unit in the mail for you tomorrow.” – Mr. Nice CycleOps Guy
No pleading. No begging. No nothing. Just a five minute phone call and they expresses shipped a new unit the next morning. It was at my doorstep in the next few days and they paid for return shipping of the old unit.
LOVE.
I may never know what the issue with the old resistance unit was, but the new one works like a charm and I am a very happy customer.
Disclaimer: CycleOps is a sponsor of this blog, but in no way contributed to the content of this post.
Tags: bike trainer, cycleops power, cycleops review, cyclops, jetfluid pro, jetfluid pro review | Posted in Cycling, Reviews, Triathlon | 5 Comments »
