Against the power meter readings my zPower was overreading quite considerably, but then again neither Zwift nor Saris claim the estimated power is accurate.Īlso, it overreads quite consistently, so if you just want a number and aren't particularly bothered if it's real-world, it's cheaper than going for direct drive. While I do have a power meter I used for most of my training on the Fluid2, I did put a few sessions in using Zwift's zPower estimate from the Saris speed/cadence sensor. On the later reps I was probably wasting a fair bit of effort as the trainer rocked considerably while dealing with the strain, but it can just about cope. Having said that, this nasty Zwift workout, which involves 12 x 30 second efforts at 650W, was doable. The Fluid2 is a bit wobbly during big efforts, and if you're doing serious virtual racing or lots of huge bursts, a smart trainer might be the way to go. Other moans included fluid leaks, but again, that didn't happen to me – it worked exactly as intended during two months of heavy use so far. My trusty Favero Assioma power pedals report the effort necessary was pretty consistent on long steady-state sessions.
It doesn't feel exactly road-like, of course – and it's not as good as a high-quality direct drive – but the gear switching element and clever progressive resistance-matching is arguably even more realistic than smart training where the machine does the work.īrowsing the hundreds of customer reviews online I found a few grumbling about the resistance having a tendency to drift, even getting harder after a few minutes, but that's not something I experienced. I don't really know what that means, but I do know that for a trainer that isn't smart, the ride is definitely the best I've tried. Saris says the Fluid2 is 'power-tuned for a road-like feel'.
The trainer comes with a month's free trial of Rouvy, but I used Zwift, which found the sensor via Bluetooth after a few of spins of the wheel. Insert a CR2032 battery, holding the device either horizontally (if you want a speed sensor) or vertically (for cadence), and then wrap it around your rear hub. Setting up the Smart Equipped version's speed/cadence sensor is simple too. Although I do have a space to set it up permanently in my new flat, I shifted it outside and back again on a warm day and the whole process took about a minute each way. Weighing a shade over 9.5kg, the Fluid2 is good for those who don't have a dedicated trainer space, or want it for pre-race car park warm-ups. When you click the clutch knob into place the tyre looks kind of squashed don't be afraid, I can vouch for it being the optimal connection between roller and tyre. The pads on the legs can be rotated if you're using on an uneven surface, and I recommend a riser block so the front wheel doesn't move around. Loading the bike up just involves lining up the quick-release and pulling down on the lollipop to secure it.
Judging by the comments from confused customers, though, Brian is not really helping.
With his friendly demeanour I'd trusted Brian, and to be fair it actually still seemed to work just the same. Saris has confirmed that Brian is in fact wrong and the bowl-shaped side should face the bike. He also inserts the tube with the flat side facing the bike, which contradicts the instruction manual.
In my opinion, Saris hasn't helped itself by putting an 'unboxing and assembly' video on YouTube, where our presenter Brian spends most of his time talking up the product, rather than showing us how to work it.
It wasn't made any shorter by the rather brief instruction manual with tiny pictures, but it's simple nonetheless. Setup is a fairly simple affair and took me around 20-25 minutes, including faff time.