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review
£182.99
VERDICT:
Not for gnarly racers but ideal for sportive riders looking to improve their fitness
Weight:
0g
Contact:
www.chickencycles.co.uk
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Jetblack Cycling Mag Pro Hydro Smart Release Magnetic Trainer is third in their range of six trainers and is their top magnetic trainer behind their three fluid resistance trainers.
Frame
The Jet Black trainer comes pre-assembled so is very easy to set up and pretty much ready to go straight out of the box. It comes with a quick release skewer that fits neatly into the trainer. A good, wide base along with its solid construction ensures it doesn't flex or bend making it feel sturdy and secure.
Even under the duress of seated sprints it only wobbled slightly; you have to make a conscious effort to chuck your weight around and make it move! The frame is easy to fold and unfold for storage and transport, this is done by simply adjusting a nut on each side.
Resistance unit
Jet Black's Hydrogel roller gives a nice, natural ride feel and claims to reduce tyre wear. Indeed during fifteen hours of using this trainer, I saw no noticeable wear in my Conti Gatorskin rear tyre.
The resistance unit is clamped onto the rear wheel by twisting a moulded plastic handle. The instructions say to turn a further one and a half times from contacting the wheel. I found I had to use two full turns to get meaningful resistance and as mentioned above this had no adverse effect on tyre wear.
There are five resistance settings controlled by a handlebar mounted lever that slides through the different settings with ease. I did all my training on setting 5, the hardest, and had a few gears left. If you put out a lot of power or are looking to do a lot of sprint work you may run out of resistance but for most it will be fine. I would say this trainer is ideal for longer intervals and time trial efforts.
Wheel mount
Mounting the rear wheel is a straight forward operation. It takes just a few seconds from once the trainer is set up to fixing the supplied skewer in the back wheel of your bike. The skewer sits in the trainer and JetBlack's new SRS Smart Release System consists of a handy lever which snaps closed to secure your bike.
Noise
This is a little louder than the Tacx Sirius I usually use but the hydrogel roller makes it quieter than most magnetic trainers. With all trainers of this kind I would be reluctant to use this in a flat with neighbours below but it'll be fine for the garage with headphones on.
Verdict
Not for gnarly racers but ideal for sportive riders looking to improve their fitness
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: JetBlack Cycling Mag Pro Hydro Smart Release - Magnetic Trainer
Size tested: N/A
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Jet Black say: "The Jet Black Mag Pro Turbo Trainer is aimed at riders looking to train between 5 and 350 Watts. The wide base frame with anti-slip feet offer rock-solid stability for the toughest rider. The super compact, foldable frame is ideal for easy transport and storage. A replacement skewer is supplied in order to ensure the perfect fit. This trainer is equipped with a Hydrogel roller that operates quietly and smoothly. Noise is reduced by 55% and tyre wear is reduced by 25-30%."
I think powerful riders will run out of resistance but is fine for most of us mere mortals. I agree that the frame is stable and the unit is easy to transport but would challenge whether it is 55% quieter than a standard magnetic trainer.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
A solidly constructed frame. The areas of moulded plastic could be thicker, a couple on the test trainer did get damaged in transit. A minor niggle was one of the plastic feet was also loose and fell off a few times when the trainer was being moved around the garage and transported, but this never happened when in use.
Rate the product for performance:
7/10
The trainer performed well during warm ups, interval sessions and time trial efforts. I did spin out during full on sprints, but in fairness Jet Black state that 350 Watts is the limit.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
This trainer was heavy enough to be stable while in use and light enough to transport to races without fear of putting my back out.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
7/10
The Hydrogel roller provides a smooth and comfortable ride but wobbled slighty when sprinting.
Rate the product for value:
7/10
At the rrp of £182.99 I think quieter turbo trainers are available, but this trainer is available at a good discount providing better value if you shop around.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The product performed well for it's designed purpose of up to 350 Watts.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The stability and smooth ride.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Noisier than I was expecting.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, but not at rrp.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, but not at rrp.
About the tester
Age: 39 Height: 6 foot Weight: 12st 2
I usually ride: Giant TCR Advanced My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding,
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