It’s been so long since I last wheeled out the Malvern Star Octane, I almost forget it was there.* But could a bargain wind trainer get me back in the saddle? I mean, bike seat? I paid a staggering ten bucks to find out..
*It’s usually parked at the back of the carport and can easily be run into when reversing if I’m not careful. So it has been hard to forget when I see it in the rear view mirror daily.
And if you’ve jumped onto this post with the obvious question ‘What the hell is a wind trainer?’
A wind trainer/bike trainer/bike roller is a piece of equipment that makes it possible to ride a bike while stationary. Or in laymen’s terms = turn a bike into an exercise bike for the back shed.
Buying a wind trainer – it’s the age old story
You know how it goes, you collect enough plastic bottles that the bottle bins in the carport start to overfill and you figure ‘I probably should do something about those.’ And today was that day, where I strapped in our massive haul of soon to be recycled plastic into the Mazda and took it down to the recycling machine down the road.
Which were all out of order.
Honestly this isn’t anything new – every time I take the bottles down to the one closest to me its either a) broken b) full c) busier that a bracelet seller at a Taylor Swift concert with a line of old blokes who arrived with a VN Commodore wagon full of Great Northern cans. This time there were just two old blokes there having a loving chat when I arrived, explaining to anyone who showed up that they were waiting there for something to happen because they couldn’t be bothered going home and returning later. And as much as I wanted to join them and compare (bottle) sack sizes, I moved on – to the next one down the road.
Thankfully the ones in Lavington usually work, even if you have to wait sometimes. But I managed to miss the wait and any conversations about impending court dates today and cashed out my impressive $9.80 (10 cents for every bottle, you can do the maths there) before you could say ‘While we’re out here, maybe we should check out the op shops? There’s a couple of great ones in Lavington and I had plenty of time before I had to pick up the kids, so..
What I was looking for: A cheap speaker I could take apart for a current project. I’ll explain later. Possibly.
What I found instead: A wind trainer in sensational condition!
This is not the speaker I was looking for..
Nor was it something the staff at the op shop could easily identify.
‘Is it gym equipment?’ They asked me when trying to key the sale into the computer.
‘Sure!’
‘You’re doing well carrying it, it looks heavy!’
Oh bless their caring hearts. They even offered me a receipt for my ten dollar bargain just in case ‘any parts are missing.’ But I passed on that because even if this genius idea of mine doesn’t work, then a local charity still got a ten dollar donation and I feel good about it.
I just hoped it was complete because I’ve wanted one ever since I signed up for broadband (this was a very long time ago obviously) and got a free mountain bike as part of the deal. As soon as the bike arrived I put it together and then bought a pump and helmet but after a couple of blocks, I wondered if there was a device to turn it into something that killed me inside the flat instead of huffing and puffing outside on it.
‘You mean a wind trainer?’ the confused bike store guy asked when I described what I was after. ‘Why would you want one of those?’ he continued before pointing out that no, they didn’t sell them and I should dodge traffic like everyone else. So I’ve been without one…until this afternoon, almost two decades later.
A wind trainer? It turns out I’ve actually brought home…a magnetic trainer?
This is a Jet Black Cycling M5 Mag Pro and a little Googling brought up a couple of surprises. Firstly that it still retails for over $300 new (holy bike batman!) and it works just fine with mountain bike wheels which I was wondering about..
Yes it turns out there’s a lot going on with my little ten dollar wind trainer/bike thing bargain here:
Description
The JetBlack M5 Pro is a high quality, magnetic resistance bicycle trainer. Magnetic resistance allows fine-tuning of your training schedule through the combination of five levels of resistance adjustment and correct gear selection. Where a fluid trainer increases resistance according to the speed of the flywheel, a magnetic trainer can be overridden, making it suitable for recovery sessions, climbing and specifically tailored workouts. When used with the full range of JetBlack sensors (see below), you can enjoy training sessions identical to those used by professional cycling teams.
You can even upload your session to Training Peaks and Strava.
The JetBlack M5 Pro features a handlebar-mounted remote lever for resistance adjustment and comes equipped with a HYDROGEL Roller, which reduces noise by 55%, and tyre wear by 25-30% giving you the ultimate quiet and smooth ride.
Key Features & Benefits
- Free app for iOS or Android with Audio Training Sessions, Read and Ride Sessions, Gear Recommendations, Goal Cadence, Session Time, Session Profiles. Additional sensors (sold separately) allow upgrades to include, Speed, Cadence, Heart Rate, Power (watts), and Calories Burnt
- Multiple coaching sessions crafted by Olympic cycle coach Murray Healey
- Test and monitor yourself with an in built Fitness/Zone test and Training Zone calculator
- Upload your workout to Training Peaks and Strava
- JetBlack SQR quick release system allows easy mounting and once set remembers your bike position. Set and forget!
- 130mm, 135mm (QR and Boltup) 12mm x 142mm with trainer axles. (Not suitable for Boost 148mm thru axles)
- Hydrogel roller for less noise and reduced tyre wear. Reduces noise by 55%, and tyre wear by 25-30%
Trainer is pre-assembled and ready to ride - Rock-solid design is stable for any size or style of rider and the most punishing of training sessions
- Suits road and mountain bike wheels between 700c, 29”, 27.5”, 26” and many 24” wheels
- Wide Base and Anti Slip Feet keep the trainer still for even the toughest of riders.
- Lifetime warranty
- Folds into compact shape for easy storage and transport. Lowest profile of any trainer.
There’s every chance something of this level has never met or hooked up with something of the level of the Malvern Star Octane though. Or be used by someone of my level..
Giving it a spin and going nowhere
Setup was painfully easy (especially as I’ve never used one before), it fits the Malvern Star perfectly and I got it a short burst for five minutes before my legs reminded me that I haven’t been on a bike forever while my asthma reminded me to calm the farm and that we were still recovering from some rough nights. I was listening to a podcast at the time (Jim Cornette Experience) which helped those five minutes absolutely fly buy.
It’s very stable. At absolutely no stage did I feel it was about to break free and launch me into the neighbours bricks. The resistance controller works just fine and there’s about as much noise from this thing as there would be if I took the bike on the bike track (I’ll get back to doing that again, I swear!
Now that I know there’s an app that goes with this wind trainer…sorry, magnetic trainer, I’ve see if that improves things any. But otherwise this is the best ten bucks I’ve spent in a long time.
Who knew recycling bottles would get me back on the bike?