Yesterday Brian wrote a great review of the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Trainer where he described why it’s known as many cycling enthusiasts go-to trainer, which then sparked a reader’s question about the difference between “fluid” and “magnetic” trainers.

We want to salute you, Chris from Minneapolis, for sending in the question. Put your hand out in a high 5 motion and gently thrust it into your monitor.

Digital high 5 from us at excelcyle.*

While we probably don’t need to beat a withered horse with only 3 legs with a metal spoon…

Or however that saying goes, training off season is seen by many as a cycling death sentence. But it’s also an inevitable. Knowing the difference between your many trainer options is important based on how and why you want to train off-season (we will go into detail later in the week about these options**), where may of those options—such as fluid and magnetic trainers —share the same features, but knowing their individual differences, strengths and weaknesses will help you determine which one is right for you.

What the Deuce is a Fluid Trainer?

Fluid trainers function based on the use of a flywheel mechanism that is controlled by your bike’s rear wheel. It creates resistance through an impeller rotating fluid inside the flywheel, and the higher the temperature the thicker the solution gets. So, if you’re going to town and spinning like a mad man, the higher resistance and the more challenging your ride is going to be, and vice-versa.

What is this Magnetic Trainer you Speak of?

A magnetic trainer functions by use of magnetic resistance that creates drag against the bike’s wheel. The use of a flywheel, similarly to a fluid trainer, with rotating magnets creates a set amount of resistance as you engage or disengage with it. To change the amount you must either get off your bike and select a new level or by use of a handlebar mounted cable.

The +’s & -’s of Both

If you’re looking to jumpstart your training with a bang, searching for an indoor experience that’s very similar to the road and want to build your core strength and improve your handling, a fluid trainer is your best option.

Fluid trainers are much quieter than magnetic trainers, often viewed as the best “building” trainers on the market and because of their design, you’re never able to “overpower” your trainer making it the perfect fitness tool.

While technology has improved this potential negative, because this trainers has sealed liquid, overtime, leakage may occur. Fluid trainers may also come with a heftier price tag in comparison to magnetic trainers.

If you’re looking to simply train longer and log in miles a magnetic trainer may be your best option.

They are typically seen as easier to use, a great starting trainer for a newbie and normally less expensive than fluid trainers.

On the other hand, they can be quite noisy, where if you live in an apartment or share a house with others you may get a handful of “shut the deuce up” screams. Also, because you’re able to manually set your own resistance, you’re able to out power your machine making the tool limited in its fitness abilities.

Check out our huge selection of indoor cycle trainers to jumpstart your off-season training today!

*If you’re jealous you didn’t get a digital high 5 from us, it’s NEVER TOO LATE. If you have any comments, questions, input or want to tell us a joke, simply comment on the blog posts of feel free to send an email to sohail@excelcycle.com

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