Saris Fluid2 Indoor Bike Trainer, Smart Equipped Option, Fits Road and Mountain Bikes, Compatible with Zwift App

It’s tough to find trainers these days. I was bent on getting a smart trainer, but they were all sold out. i was surprised to find this Cycleops available, considering it’s stellar reputation, but I suppose the trend is to smart machines. FYI: this IS COMPATIBLE with training apps. You’ll need a speed device, sold separately.Pros: well-built, sturdy, quiet, very smooth, even resistance (shift Bike gears to increase resistance—no extra connection/gearing needed), collapsible, easy storage.Cons: set up. It’s actually not difficult, but Saris makes a booklet that is unclear at points. For example, when sliding the pin into the bolt-action side, which will connect to the skewer, you must slide the BEVELED end of the tube in first. This is completely unclear in the directions, but DOES matter when connecting to the bike and tightening things down. Also, make sure the fan and main power unit (both are connected to the same piece of metal, which attaches to the legs), are positioned correctly: the bulky power unit on the left, the fan blade unit on the right. If you reverse these during attachment, it will adversely affect the rear dial adjustment once the bike is mounted. Believe it or not, the manual does not illustrate a fluid 2 trainer, which has these two pieces, so it could be easily mixed up during install.Once I got passed a frustrating moment or two with set up, the trainer worked like a dream. My old trainer, a Giant that is 12 years old, is nowhere near as smooth or quiet as this Fluid 2. I love it. I use a yoga block to elevate the front, but you can use books, a rolled-up towel, etc. If you want to smart train, you’ll need the additional accessory. If you’re happy without it, I believe this is the best non-smart trainer for the money.

I bought a Cyclops fluid trainer maybe 15-20 years ago. Recently I noticed that it was leaking fluid, and in retrospect it had been getting noisier and running a bit rough for over a year or so. It was time to look for a replacement. I found many options, some very high tech and pricey. I’ve had fan trainers and magnetic trainers in the past. The fluid trainer works best for me. I didn’t need anything that required subscriptions to training services that I could do without. I also did not need something that would generate training data that I had no use for. I just wanted a sturdy, stable, and relatively quiet machine. I opted for a slightly upgraded version of my old Cyclops, which was now available through Saris, the Saris Fluid2. It meets my needs. I’m impressed with how quiet it is. I control the intensity of my effort by varying the gears on my bike or varying my cadence. It was fairly easy to set up. I highly recommend the Sari Fluid2 for someone looking for a no-frills, solid, quiet trainer.

Great product. I sold my CycleOps trainers before I moved a few years ago, but not wished I had kept them. The only reason for my 4 ratting vs. 5, was because it took a little more than gentle persuasion to get the long bolt aligned and in place. I had to use clamps and a rubber hammer. The one I received also appeared to be a returned item because the metal coating was missing around the challenging area. I'm guessing someone else also tried to hammer the bracket to get the bolt through and gave up. Saris needs to do a better job with this.

Saris CycleOps Fluid2 Indoor Bike Trainer, New Fluid2. Easy to assemble. Better than average assembly instructions. Sturdy. Relatively easy to mount bicycle on trainer, especially with the included replacement skewer. Very stable while in use. I recommend the front wheel leveling block and a bike trainer pad (mine is in a room with carpeted floors), even though the trainer and the leveling block do raise the bicycle enough that mounting the bike is slightly more difficult than normal riding mounting. Relatively quiet, though it does make noticeable noise. I have not ridden since summer got in full swing (I live in Florida and this summer has been very hot and humid) but rode 3 miles this morning (day two after assembly) and will push it on up to five miles tomorrow, on the way to my normal routine (I'm 77 yrs old, so not a college athlete going for gold!). Note that to get mileage and speed from a device, such as a Cateye computer, the sensor has to be on the rear wheel when your bike is mounted on a trainer (I had to move my sensor from the front wheel to the back). Also note that wireless devices will often not "transmit" far enough for the sensor to be on the rear wheel and the readout on the handlebar. Took some experimentation to get my Cateye to work reliably after I moved the wheel sensor. Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase at this time. This trainer was recommended to me by my son-in-law, who is a track and field coach (college level) who uses his Saris trainer as part of his training routine for marathons and "ironman" competitions. Seems to have been a VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATION!