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Top Rated Product
Product Reviews
Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
CRONO FLUID from Elite is a sealed hydrodynamic system that regulates the effort of the pedalling through a rotor submerged in oil with special characteristics of viscosity and high temperature resistance.
Average Customer Rating:
(442 Reviews) 442
Rating Snapshot (442 reviews)
5 stars
277
4 stars
155
3 stars
8
2 stars
1
1 star
1
431 of 442(98%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Review 1 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
roadracer101
City: Cambridge
Country:United Kingdom
Age:Under 18
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Occasional
Gender:Male
Featured Review
Road Cyclist
Date:October 15, 2011
A revelation
Pros: Great Value, High Quality, Adjustable
"After getting fed up with the horrific noise, lack of 'feel' and general bad quality of my cycleops turbo, I saw this on a hot deal and purchased straight away. It only cost slightly more than my other turbo, but the difference is incredible.
It is so quiet, it's actually disconcerting when doing sprint intervals- you don't feel you're working hard enough! Excellent ride quality, and the resistance range is brilliant.
Could not recommend highly enough."
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MCLTRI
Essex, UK
Additional information about MCLTRI could not be loaded.
Resistance
Posted November 1, 2011
Is there enough resistance to stand during an interval?
Review 2 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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adm1
City: Guildford
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Cross Country MTB
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Featured Review
Mountain Biker
Date:January 4, 2011
A great value trainer
Pros: Durable, Great Value, Attractive, High Quality, Rugged, quiet, simple to use
"Turbo trainers aren't really awe-inspiring objects by themselves. In fact, they are more objects of torture. However, given the English winter weather, they are a necessary evil if you want to keep or even build your fitness over the winter months.
With that said, this is a great trainer. It's exceedingly simple, solidly built and just oozes quality. It's also at a great price point - a fluid trainer for the same price as many of the electromagnetic ones. Top marks for value.
It's heavy and comes in a big box - you won't sneak it in past an unaware partner. It's very easy to set up - simply bolt the fluid roller unit to the frame - 4 Allen bolts, and even an Allen key provided by the thoughtful people at Elite. That's it for the setup of the trainer itself.
Then you just need to replace the quick release skewer in your rear wheel with the one provided ( maybe a one minute job....no need to remove the wheel) and you are ready to put the bike onto the trainer and ride. The rear skewer fits into a cup on one side of the trainer, then you just turn the handle to secure the bike in the frame, turn another three quarters of a turn to secure it and flip the locking collar, then you can climb on. It's rock solid. The frame is hefty steel with tasteful graphics and you feel really secure on the bike.
There's no need to move the roller unit up against the rear wheel, or adjust the tension at all - your weight pushes the bike wheel onto the roller at just the right tension, so there's absolutely no adjustment of the trainer needed - it's all done by the gears on your bike. Awesome. No need to route a remote mechanism or add anything to the bike at all. It couldn't be any simpler or more consistent.
Once you are set up and on the bike, the first thing you'll probably notice is the lack of noise. This thing is quiet. Really quiet. I've been using it on a carpeted floor and it's easy to hear music or video from my laptop four feet in front of the bike. It's also a very smooth ride and because the resistance is adjusted by the gears of the bike there's a full range from "easy" to "ouch". You won't beat this trainer......it just ramps up the difficulty as you go through the gears.
Anyway.....I can't rate this highly enough. It's tough, looks good, is well built, is as simple to set up and use as is possible and it will give you as much of a workout as you want. Every time. Which is great when it's raining outside! It even folds flat when you want to store it somewhere.
I will mention that there are a couple of accessories you might want to buy at the same time as this (or any other trainer). The first is a riser block for the front wheel so your bike is flat (or tilted up a bit to simulate a climb). I'm currently using a phone book, which works fine, but I think I'll buy the riser block anyway. The second is a "bike thong" to protect your bike from all the sweat that use of this trainer will produce. Neither is essential, but they are both "nice to have" items.
Finally, turbo training is essentially boring - so I'd recommend something to keep you interested and motivated. I've been using the "Spinervals" DVD series of workout videos. These are fun, and very hard work. But they certainly keep you motivated as you feel you are training with other athletes - and they are suffering too!
Anyway.....the bottom line on this product is a "highly recommended". I couldn't really ask for more from a trainer in this price range. It does exactly what it says on the tin."
11 of 11 found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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Besley
City: Bristol
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Featured Review
Road Cyclist
Date:November 25, 2010
Which Turbo Trainer
Pros: Great Value, Attractive, High Quality, Rugged, Adjustable, simple to set up
"I looked into turbo trainers at all price levels before purchasing the Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer.
The reason I chose this one firstly was down to the value, and the features it offered. I wanted a simple trainer that could be set up without too much hassle. I also did not want to have to have an additional resistance dial on the handlebar. I was worried how much I would use it once the novelty had worn off ,and therefore did not want to commit a huge amount of money just in case.
On looking at many trainers it seemed that the general consensus was that fluid trainers were better in terms of the ride being more 'road like'.
It was easy to set up, is rugged, very stable, and looks good. I opted for the Elite Traing matt and Front wheel block as well, as it was being set up in my kitchen, and am delighted with my set up.
The ride is quite good, it is not really like being on the road, but you can get decent resistance and speed, and a good workout. I use 2 o 3 times a week for 45 min bursts. It is boring so you do need a TV or radio. It is not realy quiet but would not disturb someone in another room, although you would need your tv to be quite loud to hear above the whirring.
I have not noticed significant wear on rear tyre but am monitoring and will change my tires when the weather impoves anyway.
In summary, the Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer is well put together simple to use and gives a worthwhile workout. It is also very good value. I am very pleased with my purchase."
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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Torsobob
Country:United Kingdom
Age:55-64
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Occasional
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Featured Review
Road Cyclist
Date:October 9, 2010
Pros: simple to set up, easy to store
Cons: front block not bundled
"Needed something to keep me in the saddle during the winter months, a trainer looked ideal and at the sale price this one seemed good value for money. It's robust and very simple to set up using the replacement spindle provided. It is a basic trainer but it does do what is says on the box very well in my opinion and what you get out of the session is based on what you put in to it in effort - simple as that. Have already recommnded it to friends."
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Review 5 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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lankylarry
City: Armagh
Country:United Kingdom
Age:19-24
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Featured Review
Road Cyclist
Date:July 2, 2010
Excellent trainer
Pros: Great Value, Attractive, High Quality, Adjustable
"This is my second turbo trainer and i am so impressed with the difference in this, set up in half the time just a matter of changing the quick release skewer put your bike in and start your training. With my last turbo trainer i was down fiddling with a tension screw, sometimes i would go till start my training and the tyre would be slipping on the roller, then back of fiddling about. The Elite fluid trainer works with your body weight, while training this operates so much smoother and much more quiet, if u like a bit of tv are music while training you dont have till hve the volume up full, you dont have to be messing about putting resistance level on the handlebars of your bike, this all operates with the gears. compared till my last turbo trainer the roller is bigger which leaves it a lot easier on your tyre. I would definately recommend this to anyone."
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Review 6 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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Cheesebeanie
Featured Review
Date:February 23, 2010
So glad I got this!
Pros: Adjustable, Attractive, Durable, Great Value, High Quality, Lightweight, Rugged
"This is a great piece of kit. Its the first trainer that I have bought and wanted a good entry-level piece of kit and this kit certainly delivers, and more.
Nice and quiet - I had a training DVD on and didn't need to turn up the volume. Sturdy build (I am a hefty rider). Gives an overall great workout.
I was surprised at how quick it was to set up. I am not brilliant with 'flat-pack' situations but this only required one bit to be bolted on and then changing the quick release pin on the back wheel for the one supplied - easy peasy 1 minute job! I was set up and ready to go within 10 mins. And if the weather should ever change (!) then it only takes one turn of the handle to release the bike and you're off!
Glad I bought this - nice warm/dry training for me this winter!"
Nice and quiet - I had a training DVD on and didn't need to turn up the volume. Sturdy build (I am a hefty rider). Gives an overall great workout.
I was surprised at how quick it was to set up. I am not brilliant with 'flat-pack' situations but this only required one bit to be bolted on and then changing the quick release pin on the back wheel for the one supplied - easy peasy 1 minute job! I was set up and ready to go within 10 mins. And if the weather should ever change (!) then it only takes one turn of the handle to release the bike and you're off!
Glad I bought this - nice warm/dry training for me this winter!"
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Review 7 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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doubledrop
City: Langley Mill, Derbyshire
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Cross Country MTB
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Featured Review
Mountain Biker
Date:January 13, 2010
Affordable Quality
Pros: Attractive, Durable, Great Value, High Quality, Rugged
"I've retired my MTB indoors for the winter and was looking for an affordable entry-level turbo. This is my first experience of these so I can't compare it to other models.
Set up is very quick and simple with clear instructions. The unit itself folds away for easy storage and is quite compact. You need to spend an extra tenner to get the wheel riser block which should be bundled IMHO, as you want to feel horizontal.
The turbo operates very quietly. Mine is in a Victorian house with wooden floorboards and the noise is a quiet hum. Doesn't disturb the neighbours and you can listen to music over it very clearly.
The different levels of resistance come from using your bike's gears and there are no extra controls to add to your handlebars which is great.
As for the exercise you get from using it, the first minute you might think this is nothing, after ten minutes you'll be sweating buckets, and the most I've managed so far is 50mins which my Garmin clocks in at 1,000 calories.
The turbo comes with a useful booklet explaining how to use it with a heart rate monitor and cadence sensor. There are a few different exercise schedules for you to follow which I have found a useful guide. It really comes to life when you add a cadence sensor, as you have realtime feedback of how hard you;re working. Bear in mind a decent cadence/HRM will set you back as much as the cost of this turbo, but I'd say it's well worth it.
I'd highly recommend this product. If on MTB then buy a road slick tyre for the back and lock out your suspension."
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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malc1
City: London
Country:United Kingdom
Age:55-64
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Advanced
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Featured Review
Triathlete
Date:December 13, 2009
Superb training aid
Pros: Adjustable, Durable, Great Value, High Quality, Versatile
"This has to be the easiest turbo trainer to assemble and use. two screws, allen key supplied.Change the skewer in your back wheel(supplied). Lock your bike into the trainer and away you go.Others around me at the turbo sessions are fiddling with tension and resistance settings you have neither with this turbo trainer, the resistance on the turbo wheel is your body weight and to increase or decrease resistance just change gear as you would on the road. The spinning action is the smoothest I have ever used far better than magnetic versions. This trainer needs no adjusting for different wheel diameters due to the unique nature of its design - fantastic. The coach at our turbo sessions is so impressed that he is changing his magnetic turbo trainers to the Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer ."
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Review 9 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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Iskanda
City: Cardiff
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Featured Review
Triathlete
Date:December 8, 2009
What a box...
Pros: Adjustable, Durable, Great Value, High Quality
"First, a bit of background on me. I’m what could be described as a novice cycler. And when I say novice, I mean it feels like it’s only in the last couple of years I’ve removed the stabilisers off my bike. I’ve a history of competitive sports; Rugby, Karate, boxing and I’m a ex-schoolboy international Cross country runner, but I’ve never really cycled; apart from the 5 miles or so back and fore to work every day (does that count?) So, with a Triathlon in mind circa 2010, I borrowed a 11 year old Turbo trainer from a friend, cleared some space in my garage, pegged on my rusting 18 speed road bike and off I went…for about 15 minutes. Thereupon, a distinct harpy-like cacophony of whirring and screeching made me check first A) the wheels were still on my bike, and B) that my legs were still attached to my hips. You’ll be glad to read it was a yes to both the above.
After much deliberation (over a beer), I discovered the source of the noise was the trainer I’d borrowed. I persisted for about 2 months of 3 weekly training sessions or so, just to confirm my level of deafness,and decided enough was enough and to take the plunge into the market for a new trainer. As I said, being a relative cycling novice, at least to all the myriad gear you can buy, I had no firm idea who I should buy from or what I should buy. I’d been a customer of Wiggle for years, but hadn’t bought anything heavily bike related from them. Thus, another of my cycling friends came to the rescue and recommended a few makes of trainer and I went off to investigate the options. Why the Elite you ask? I’ve got to be honest, the first motivator was the price. I knew Elite were a pretty good and reliable make and with the additional discount wiggle were offering, I couldn’t find the same trainer anywhere near the price offered at Wiggle. Hence, I placed the order for my Elite Chrono. First, let me describe the box it came in. It’s a smashing box, made out of cardboard; recycled cardboard I expect as well. And it’s an Italian box to boot, so not just any Chinese type box for us here. The Turbo trainer inside is Italian made too don’t forget. And it was very, very shiny and looks superb. The instructions to assemble were so simple, even I managed to follow them, and the resistance unit was bolted onto the frame in a jiffy. I attached my bike in less than a minute, gritted my teeth and off I went on my first training session. From box to bike in less that 5 minutes in total. Noise you say? Well, no, there isn’t any really, apart from me grunting and cursing during the training session. It’s an incredibly quiet unit and very, very smooth too. Also, a quick mention of the service from Wiggle. Unit ordered, despatched and received by me in two days..awesome! Overall, I’m very, very happy with the Elite Chrono fluid. It’s excellent value for money, looks great and the build quality is second to none. And the box it came in is lovely too….."
After much deliberation (over a beer), I discovered the source of the noise was the trainer I’d borrowed. I persisted for about 2 months of 3 weekly training sessions or so, just to confirm my level of deafness,and decided enough was enough and to take the plunge into the market for a new trainer. As I said, being a relative cycling novice, at least to all the myriad gear you can buy, I had no firm idea who I should buy from or what I should buy. I’d been a customer of Wiggle for years, but hadn’t bought anything heavily bike related from them. Thus, another of my cycling friends came to the rescue and recommended a few makes of trainer and I went off to investigate the options. Why the Elite you ask? I’ve got to be honest, the first motivator was the price. I knew Elite were a pretty good and reliable make and with the additional discount wiggle were offering, I couldn’t find the same trainer anywhere near the price offered at Wiggle. Hence, I placed the order for my Elite Chrono. First, let me describe the box it came in. It’s a smashing box, made out of cardboard; recycled cardboard I expect as well. And it’s an Italian box to boot, so not just any Chinese type box for us here. The Turbo trainer inside is Italian made too don’t forget. And it was very, very shiny and looks superb. The instructions to assemble were so simple, even I managed to follow them, and the resistance unit was bolted onto the frame in a jiffy. I attached my bike in less than a minute, gritted my teeth and off I went on my first training session. From box to bike in less that 5 minutes in total. Noise you say? Well, no, there isn’t any really, apart from me grunting and cursing during the training session. It’s an incredibly quiet unit and very, very smooth too. Also, a quick mention of the service from Wiggle. Unit ordered, despatched and received by me in two days..awesome! Overall, I’m very, very happy with the Elite Chrono fluid. It’s excellent value for money, looks great and the build quality is second to none. And the box it came in is lovely too….."
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
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Review 10 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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pedlo
Featured Review
Date:December 6, 2009
Awesome
Pros: Durable, Good Fit, Great Value, High Quality, Rugged
"Simply, the best cycle accessory ever sold. Everyone shound have one. If I had to be critical I would say that the optional front wheel support should be in the box also. Don't talk yourself out of buying this - just do it!"
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Review 11 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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head909
Featured Review
Date:December 4, 2009
"This is my first turbo trainer. i am mostly pleased with it. first the bad points. the fixing to the axle is not as described in the owners manual, they want to to tighten it a whole turn after it touches the bike axle, i feel that only half a turn is realistic as the thread is so corse. any more than this is straining the frame too much. also it only just opens wide enough to get the wheel in, so most of the thread is pointless. Itailian engineering for you!! However it is secure and works faultless when up and spinning even if it is not as quiet as they make out, i carnt see the misses putting up with it in the living room. It is fine in the garage and the noise is not a problem whilst riding. Great buy to keep me away from overpriced gyms this winter and to keep the legs going over the winter months."
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Review 12 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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Tachless
City: Croydon
Age:25-34
Interest:Cross Country MTB
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Featured Review
Mountain Biker
Date:December 4, 2009
Great Value Trainer
Pros: Comfortable, Durable, Great Value
"This is my first trainer and spent a lot of time researching which unit to get. Have to say very pleased with my choice. This unit is very easy to set up and the resistance changing as you go up and down the gears is ideal (no wiring). The unit is quiet enough that the bike drive train is more audible! It is a sturdy unit and have no worries about it moving about whilst using the machine. Would recommend this if you are looking for a good value and quiet trainer"
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Review 13 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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worldwide3rider
City: Plymouth
Country:United Kingdom
Age:25-34
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Featured Review
Road Cyclist
Date:November 7, 2009
Best Turbo Trainer Purchase
Pros: Attractive, Comfortable, Durable, Great Value, High Quality
"I purchased this after initally buying a cheap fan turbo trainer for £50 (beto tr-001), which was like a concorde taking off and freaked the life out of my cats and nighbours.
This trainer is a different story, as soon as I got it out of the box it looked strudy, smart and quite stylish compared to some blocky looking trainers.
I was able to set the trainer up in minutes and was off for my indoor ride, and wow was I pleased, you cant argue with the noise it gives out because its almost quiet, ok it gives a little bit of whuurrrrr noise when you are sprinting (but what trainer wont) but compared to any other trainer I have tried its great. I was able to watch a movie on my laptop in front of me on regular sound. Living in an apartment I feel confident I could get up in the morning and use it without waking my partner or cats up. I do have the trainer on a carpeted floor with a thick carpet style rug under it so I am sure that helps.
Riding is a pleasure although I feel much higher than normal and I would recommend getting the front riser too, there is no slipping and I felt a smooth and comfortable ride which I would recommend to anyone. If you think of buying of a fan resistance, take a 2nd look at this as the extra couple of quids investment is well worth it."
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Review 14 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
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groove65
City: Windsor
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:New to sport
Gender:Male
Featured Review
Competition Winner!
Road Cyclist
Date:November 6, 2009
Superb quality and value - buy one !
Pros: Adjustable, Attractive, Durable, Good Fit, Great Value, High Quality, Lightweight, Rugged, Versatile, swiss-army knife trainer !! more than one use
""OK this review is not going to be short because...... well its MORE
than just a turbo !!!
than just a turbo !!!
in fact i think it has 3 "extra" features no one thinks about or
mentions. the 3 features are due entirely to the clever design of the
"compass" mounting pivot. What Elite haven't realised is that this is a:
mentions. the 3 features are due entirely to the clever design of the
"compass" mounting pivot. What Elite haven't realised is that this is a:
1) great device to "tune" your rear mech (i'll explain this later)
2) great device to use to true up a rear or front wheel (more later)
3) an aid in finding issues with drivetrain bearings
2) great device to use to true up a rear or front wheel (more later)
3) an aid in finding issues with drivetrain bearings
1) Turbo - simply great - all i had to do was 3 simple things to be up
and running - first, change my rear quick-release skewer (spindle) to
the one supplied in the kit (3 min job). Second, attach the resistance
unit to the compass frame (2 allen bolts and use the supplied allen key) - 2 minute job. 3 attach the bike to the now assembled unit.
Voila ! one turbo trainer.
and running - first, change my rear quick-release skewer (spindle) to
the one supplied in the kit (3 min job). Second, attach the resistance
unit to the compass frame (2 allen bolts and use the supplied allen key) - 2 minute job. 3 attach the bike to the now assembled unit.
Voila ! one turbo trainer.
In terms of the actual USE of the trainer, its VERY quiet indeed -
almost inaudible to be honest. the pedal action is great and what i
really like is the fact that again, due to the compass frame design, the
weight of the rider is taken into account and is what provides the
pressure from tyre to roller. this is very unlike other trainers and
means there is NO fiddly tuning or adjustment needed - EVER!!
The elastogel roller is very good as well - almost no tyre wear and
keeps cool in use unlike some of the bear metal types used on others.
almost inaudible to be honest. the pedal action is great and what i
really like is the fact that again, due to the compass frame design, the
weight of the rider is taken into account and is what provides the
pressure from tyre to roller. this is very unlike other trainers and
means there is NO fiddly tuning or adjustment needed - EVER!!
The elastogel roller is very good as well - almost no tyre wear and
keeps cool in use unlike some of the bear metal types used on others.
shifting up through the gears gives a very road-like feel and the
resistance curve is very subtle and realistic in my opinion. I love the
fact that I can just concentrate on the job at hand - cycling - and not
worry about resistance levers and the chance of the cable catching in
the pedals - i can keep my hands on the bars and ride just like i do on
the road ! the unit is very sturdy indeed but not so rigid that it gives
a false and dead riding experience that other more rigid trainers can
give.
resistance curve is very subtle and realistic in my opinion. I love the
fact that I can just concentrate on the job at hand - cycling - and not
worry about resistance levers and the chance of the cable catching in
the pedals - i can keep my hands on the bars and ride just like i do on
the road ! the unit is very sturdy indeed but not so rigid that it gives
a false and dead riding experience that other more rigid trainers can
give.
The fluid unit doesnt seem to get very hot after reasonable amount of use and when you're out of the saddle giving it the beans in a small gear simulating a hill climb the quality of the build, welds and paint job very nice indeed - easily matching products much higher up the price scale.
but on to the hidden "uses" of this product. Because of the clever
compass pivot, you can pop the bike in the trainer and have the rear
wheel clear of the roller. now you have the bike securely upright with
the rear wheel free. its very easy to adjust the rear mech and shift
pattern now !!!! why this is so important to mention is that the CHAIN
is under LOAD when you put the rear down onto the rollers and turn the pedal over by hand - this is a very handy "feature" and ive adjusted my rear mech in this way.
compass pivot, you can pop the bike in the trainer and have the rear
wheel clear of the roller. now you have the bike securely upright with
the rear wheel free. its very easy to adjust the rear mech and shift
pattern now !!!! why this is so important to mention is that the CHAIN
is under LOAD when you put the rear down onto the rollers and turn the pedal over by hand - this is a very handy "feature" and ive adjusted my rear mech in this way.
Similarly, by clamping/taping a metal ruler or cocktail stick from the seat or chainstay to the wheel rim, you can then spin the rear wheel to check for true-running. its very easy then to see how much the wheel runs out of true and therefore make some spoke tension changes to bring it back into true.
overall the added 'features' are great but this is really just a great, well thought out and constructed turbo trainer. sure, other brands have lots more to them, maybe with wireless or other such stuff but at this price i personally think the Elite is a very good choice - im certainly delighted i chose this one over the others on here and it delivers great value for money.
Go buy one now the winter's here !"
Video Review:
(click on the play button to start movie)
Video review of the Elite Turbo Trainer
20 of 20 found this review helpful.
Response from Wiggle:By Marketing, November 20, 2009
Congratulations this review was picked as one of our favourite reviews submitted in our November review competition sponsored by Suunto, and won a Suunto TC3 HRM worth £120! Read more on our bloggle: http://www.wiggleblog.com/2009/11/16/suunto-review-competition-winners-announced/
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Review 15 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
Quality:
Avg 5
/
5
from
Value:
Avg 5
/
5
from
Performance:
Avg 5
/
5
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BigBadBill
City: Retford
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Occasional
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Featured Review
Road Cyclist
Date:October 29, 2009
Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Pros: Great Value, High Quality, Rugged
"Since I somehow managed to let my two younger brothers talk me into doing the Caledonian Etape next year in support of Macmillan Cancer Relief, I thought I'd better do something about getting fit for it. I'm the wrong side of forty now and only ever done shortish rides on a clapped out old MTB. 20k counts as an epic expedition in my book.
Having been hitting the roads for a couple of months the encroaching gloom of the winter evenings meant I had to look for alternatives for mid week training so I started looking at turbo trainers.
Having read *a lot* of reviews and advice I came to the conclusion that I wanted either a magnetic or fluid trainer and having looked on Wiggle the Fluid version of the Elite Crono was only £5 more than the magnetic version so I decided to go for that.
The trainer arrived in a single, reassuringly heavy, box containing the main frame and a smaller box containing the turbo unit, instructions and replacement skewer.
Assembly was simple and the instructions were clearly written and easy to follow, although there were a few hiccups in the translated text it was nothing significant. The uinit bolted together quickly and easily, although the bolts connecting the turbo itself to the frame were a little fiddly to place and tighten.
The mounting/release mechansim is simple and sturdy and the whole thing feels solid and secure in use. This being my first use of a turbo I was a little unsure how stable it would be, but these fears were unfounded. Even standing up and pushing hard on the pedals the unit felt solid and stable underneath me, and surprisingly similar to riding on the road thanks to the design that uses your own weight to hold the bike in place against the roller and allows the unit to flex a little.
In use the resistance felt relatively high in 1st gear compared to riding on the road, but you get used to that quickly enough. Being able to adjust the effort required through the use of the gears makes it easy to find your level and work there or provide a little variation to relieve the tedium of pedalling on the spot. Speaking of tedium, I can heartilly recommend a portable tv and dvd player to set up in the garage / spare room / wherever if your significant other refuses to let you use the turbo in the living room!
The unit is surprisingly quiet in use, certainly compared to the old turbo fan versions that would do a credible impression of a 747 on take off when going at anything other than a slow tickover. I have no problems hearing the tv/dvd player over the sound of the turbo with no need for headphones.
When not in use it folds down easily to minimise storage requirements and also makes an handy bike stand for doing simple maintenance jobs when you don't have a third hand spare to hold the bike steady.
One final tip. You will need something to raise the front wheel to level the bike when it's on the turbo, as the back wheel is raised a couple of inches off the floor. It's that or you feel like your pedalling down hill all the time. Elite don't include anything with the trainer so this will be an added cost ( unless you cheat like I did ).
You can buy lovingly designed and moulded chunks of plastic to do it and I'm sure Wiggle would sell you one for a very reasonable price. I use an off cut from a 3"x3" timber fence post, it seems to work just as well :)"
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Review 16 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
Quality:
Avg 4
/
5
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Value:
Avg 4
/
5
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Performance:
Avg 5
/
5
from
DamoC
City: Ratoath, Co. Meath
Country:Irish Republic
Age:25-34
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Featured Review
Triathlete
Date:October 28, 2009
A trainer worth every cent
Pros: Adjustable, Comfortable, Durable, High Quality
"With the winter nights setting in, the laisse-faire side of my brain was winning in its attempt to convince me that I had every reason not to get out on the bike. If it wasn't the darkness, it was the wetness or the coldness. Add to this the paucity of good roads and appropriate road lighting where I live, doing absolutely nothing on the bike for the next month or two began to appear as a real prospect. I could almost hear the words 'couch potato' blowing on the wind.....
With these reasons, I shut the window (it was a cool breeze after all) and I purchased the Elite CronoFluid trainer. First off - it was very easy to set up. Even for the technically illiterate like myself. It took all of 10 mins to set up, mount the bike and get a good solid fit.
Performance wise, I've found no difference to riding on this than being on the road. And I can't say I miss having to swerve for speeding motorists, potholes or the odd stray child.
Noise wise, it's a dream. I've been using it in my upstairs backroom, meaning close proximity to other bedrooms, early in the morning and have not woken a single soul in the house. Granted, there is some sound in the room underneath, although this is partially magnified by the wooden floorboards under it. With some padding, this reduced dramatically.
This is my first trainer - but based on the easy set up, the performance to date and the overall quality of the product, I'll certainly be sticking with Elite products in the future."
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Review 17 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
Quality:
Avg 5
/
5
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Value:
Avg 5
/
5
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Performance:
Avg 5
/
5
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Hyamie
Date:May 15, 2012
Dont hesitate
Pros: Durable, High Quality, Adjustable
"I have used a number of trainers ranging from cheap to very high end jobs and this is BT far the easiest to put on without all the hassle of adjusting pressure rollers etc. it is just the weight of the rider that makes it harder. One draw back is that if you are doing interval training and want to stand up to crank out a heavy set it is not as good as you loose weight but I have just changed the set to include the heavy set sitting down"
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Review 18 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
Quality:
Avg 5
/
5
from
Value:
Avg 5
/
5
from
Performance:
Avg 5
/
5
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RoadCyclistStaffs
City: Stoke on Trent
Country:United Kingdom
Age:25-34
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Road Cyclist
Date:May 3, 2012
Great for the dark evenings
Pros: High Quality
"I have used this turbo trainer all winter with no complaints, It takes about 2 minutes to set the bike up onto the trainer. You do feel like you are riding down hill all the time without a riser block but I've found that the yellow pages works just as well.
The only downside to the trainer is that it is very noisey, because of this I have been banished to the garage with it"
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Review 19 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
Quality:
Avg 5
/
5
from
Value:
Avg 5
/
5
from
Performance:
Avg 4
/
5
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LeftyJay
City: hampshire
Age:25-34
Interest:Cross Country MTB
Level:Occasional
Gender:Male
Mountain Biker
Date:May 2, 2012
Awesome product!
Pros: Great Value, Attractive, High Quality, Good Fit
"After abit searching and some advice from wiggle, I chose the elite croon fluid trainer.
What can I say apart from the noise level is so low I can get up early in the morning without waking anyone! The design allows constant contact of the rear tyre. All that and it stores quickly and neatly!
I would recommend this trainer to anyone, and a fantastically cheap price!"
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Review 20 for Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Overall:
Fatmac
Country:United Kingdom
Age:55-64
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Advanced
Gender:Male
Road Cyclist
Date:April 14, 2012
Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer
Pros: Adjustable
Cons: Expensive
"The Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer is expensive; but it is much better than the mag turbo that it replaced.
Hardly any noise in use, & much smoother pedaling action; but I felt it had less resistance overall.
It is much easier to set up & get going, so that in itself is a bonus, as it will get used more often.
It is also quite a bit lighter than the mag turbo, so if you take it out & about, that would also be a bonus.
I put it down as adjustable, as it is supposed to work with different wheel sizes."
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