If you are like me, cycling in any
significant rain just won’t happen. I
can only afford the bike I have and need it to last. I know that you can still ride in the rain
and maintain your bike so it won’t drastically reduce the life, but I simply
wouldn’t do the required maintenance.
That means that when winter comes, I need to find an alternative to
riding in the rain. Bicycle trainers are
great tools for that situation and many others.
There are rollers, magnet based trainers, fluid based trainers, and even
trainers where you don’t even need a roller because it has a built in cassette
and hub. Check out my guide on what to
look for when getting a bike trainer, which includes pro’s and con’s for each
type by clicking
here.
Elite
Cycling is based out of Italy. They
felt that their culture and historical roots were so important, that they build
their production facility in an old building that they carefully refurbished
and restored to fit their needs. For
over 30 years now, Elite has been offering
the cycling world, unique and cutting edge products. They not only get their ideas from professional
riders, but amateur cyclists that they come across too. Only by listening to the needs of cyclists
and any critiques that they have, can Elite
refine their products and create new concepts to move cycling products forward
and make their products better.
Elite
sponsors most of the teams that take on races like the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia,
World Championships, and Paris-Roubaix.
They make products ranging from water bottles and cages to indoor
trainers and rollers that offer new levels of realism. They even make performance creams. I got the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid Pack indoor trainer to test. I had been using a friends high-end fluid trainer,
from another brand, over the past few months and will be using that as a
comparison. Just for the record, the
trainer that I had been using is known as one of the best fluid trainers out
there so the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer has its work cut out for it.
In the Box
Tuno Power Fluid Trainer
Black Training Mat
Riser (Travel) Block
All metal skewer
Instructions (assembly and use)
Card with the code for My E-Training
App
Assembly
It took me about 20 minutes to put
the trainer together. There is the main
frame of the trainer (white portion), a black mount with the quick release, and
the roller which is attached to the fluid compartment. It’s assembled with a few bolts. You will need to know your tire size, but
other than that it’s very easy to put together.
The instructions could be a little clearer, but you can follow them and it
is easier than Ikea’s instructions.
First Use
Now that the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer is fully assembled, you simply throw down your
training mat, unfold the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer, and replace the skewer on your rear wheel with
the metal skewer that was included in the box.
You put the skewer in the metal clamping arm and close the red
latch. The next step is to turn the
black dial behind the roller, which moves the roller up against your tire and
you are ready to ride. It is extremely
simple to setup and use, even if you don’t have any experience with
trainers. That cannot be said for most
trainers from my experience.
Features
Elastogel Roller
One of the best features of the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer is the oversized elastogel roller. It is a stickier rolling surface than many of
the metal surfaces of its competitors. Why
is this important though? The elastogel
surface reduces noise by 50% and reduces tire wear by 20% meaning that your
trainer tires will last longer. I found
that it’s definitely quieter than the other trainer that I used, which is a
huge advantage. I could watch television
without having to crank the volume. The
elastogel roller also reduces wheel slippage, which can be an issue with some metal
rollers.
AutomaticTention Plate
The roller sits on an “AutomaticTention
Plate” that maintains the correct pressure between the roller and your
tire. This is in addition to the
Spring-loading mechanism makes sure that you have enough resistance between
your tire and roller. I had to mess
around with my past trainer to prevent slippage, but never had that problem
with the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer.
Enclosed Flywheel
The fluid flywheel is completely
enclosed to prevent fluid leaking and give you more power resistance. It can generate up to 1200 watts of power and
up to 1000 watts of fluid resistance. It
also does a great job of dissipating heat.
Some trainers get so hot that you can literally burn yourself if you
touch the flywheel.
Sturdy, Wide Base
The Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer measures 67cm by 63cm and is 40cm tall. That means that the base is wide enough to
provide a very stable ride without taking up tons of space. The steel frame will last for quite a while
and can accommodate wheel sizes from 24” to 29”. The rubberized feet improve stability and
prevent the trainer from moving around while you are riding, even when really
pushing it.
Misuro B+ Smart Sensor (Additional fee)
The Misuro B+
works with the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer but costs an additional $89.99. It turns the trainer into a smart
trainer. The Misuro B+
is an ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart speed, power, and cadence sensor that monitors
your training sessions on your smartphone, tablet, or even your GPS cycling
computer. You can pair the sensor with the My E-Training App which will turn
the trainer into an advanced digital instrument that displays and manages
metrics. I loved having metrics like
speed, power, and cadence when riding on the trainer. I could also get that out of my Garmin Edge
800 (with the exception of the power), but that won’t sync up with the app like
the Misuro B+ does.
My E-Training App
The My E-Training App is available
for both Apple and Android devices through their app stores. The app works on smartphones and tablets. When you use sensors like a heart rate strap
and the Misuro B+
you can utilize your power, cadence, heart rate, speed, time, and distance into
your training. You can train with Elite
RealVideos or even download hundreds of user-created free My RealVideo
races.
You can even create your own My
RealVideo of your favorite ride and experience it in training over and over
again. That would be nice to do for my
favorite ride in California (the Lake Tahoe 72 mile loop). You get a 1 month free subscription to the
My E-Training App. I absolutely love the
app. It makes countless hours on the
trainer more enjoyable. Racing famous
courses is a really cool function and inspires you to push a little harder.
Pros:
Great price around $359 (look below
for a great sale I found)
Can turn into a smart trainer
Elastogel roller is quieter and
reduces slippage
Very stable base
Easy to attach and remove bike
Comes with training pad and riser
block
Extremely quiet (for a trainer)
AutomaticTention Plate maintains the
right pressure on your wheel
Elite Cycling’s Social Media Links:
Conclusion
The Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer is a great fluid trainer that is foldable which
makes it it easy to put away when it’s not in use. The base is more stable than many of the trainers
out there and it’s definitely quieter.
The elastogel roller is a great feature that not only reduces noise, but
will help extend the life of your trainer tires and prevent slippage. The quick release that secures your bike is
really easy to use and I have no worries that it will release while I am
riding.
All in all, this is one exceptional
trainer for beginners, weekend warriors, and even professionals. I would highly recommend the Elite
Tuno Power Fluid trainer even without the smart functionality that you get
when you purchase the Misuro B+
Smart Sensor. That just takes and
awesome trainer and makes it exceptional.
You can purchase your trainer online.
The best deal I found was for $309.90 including free shipping (click
here). Get your trainer today and
start your winter training on the right pedal.
Note: I received this product
in exchange for a review. The review is my personal opinion of the
product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so please use all of the
products that I review at your own risk.
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