If you enjoy cycling to keep fit, the Bike Lane Trainer is a great little investment, typically coming in at under $80. Having this budget-friendly trainer in your home allows you to enjoy those bike rides you’ve been hankering for, even when the weather makes a turn for the worse.
It might seem like it’s a little on the cheap side (there are, of course, some GREAT budget-friendly trainers out there, many of which we’ve reviewed for you), but this trainer employs electromagnetic induction to provide continuous and adjustable resistance (7 levels of resistance!). Thus making it a suitable option for keen cycling enthusiasts or beginners, since you can choose the setting that will suit your training requirement and skills from those seven levels of resistance.
The resistance itself is induced by the internal magnet as you pedal, and as you change your pedaling speed or shift your bike gears, the resistance increases or decreases accordingly so you can easily fine tune the machine to get the level of resistance that you desire.
Check out the very latest discounts on the Bike Lane Trainer HEREWhat we liked about the Bike Lane Trainer
There was lots to like but we liked two major elements of this trainer…
First up, setting up the trainer is easy since the legs are extra wide and easy to manage. You will find your back wheel elevated by a few inches, so you really should buy a riser block to level up your bike (unless you like the downward angle – but you should realise you may strain your back muscles as you pedal energetically). If you do not have a riser block, you can use a block of wood or a stable stack of magazines under the front wheel to keep the bike level, but a riser block is certainly the better option since in addition to keeping your bike level, it will also anchor your tire in place. Those trainer legs also mean the Bike Lane trainer is easily stored away, just like an ironing board.
The other feature we liked about the Bike Lane trainer is its SEVEN levels of resistance. The variety of resistance levels ensures that most beginner/hobbyist cyclists will find the perfect level for themselves. Again, if you’re looking for something beyond the beginner level, you should perhaps try one of these great trainers.
Some of the Bike Lane Trainer’s main features
- Provides you with an efficient, durable, and safe indoor bike trainer at an affordable cost – less than $80.
- It has 7 levels of resistance that is induced by an internal magnet, making it suitable for beginners and even professional cyclists. The resistance is automatically induced as you pedal on your bike. Beginners will find this feature helpful as they build up their stamina during their fitness training.
- The wide base and sturdy frame keep the machine stable, ensuring that you get a smooth ride.
- It has a built-in 850 gram flywheel made of machined steel that makes the pedal feel smooth and natural.
- Features a quick release foot pedal system that keeps the tire pressure constant.
- Portable and easy to store. Its dimensions are 18.8 x 21.5 x 15.2 inches, and can be folded like an ironing board when not in use.
- Easy to set up, dismantle, and store. Assembly time takes only a few minutes, so putting it on and taking it off your bike is no trouble. Quite useful when the weather is changing since you can easily alternate between biking indoors or outdoors.
Things to take into consideration…
Some reviewers have mentioned its noise level, though we’d put its levels at something similar to a vacuum cleaner. We’d suggest setting it up away from the rest of your household, so your nearest and dearest are not disturbed by the noise. This can be a problem when you live in an apartment complex where you have to take into consideration your neighbors. If you are worried about the noise levels, it might be better to go for something like a fluid trainer (such as a Cascade Fluid Pro or the awesome CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer), but they don’t come quite as budget-friendly as this Bike Lane trainer…
The back wheel of the bike is elevated by the trainer, causing a forward slant that is uncomfortable, hence the need for a riser block to correct the slant. This will typically set you back another $15 or so.
So, does the Bike Lane Trainer give good value for money?
Yes, it does.
It’s not expensive, and won’t give your bank manager palpitations, and can be the perfect solution for maintaining a year-round fitness regimen. Storing it around the house is not an issue since it easily folds; when that inclement weather hits, you can opt to stay indoors to burn those calories with this trainer as it’s so quick and easy to setup…
