Blackburn Raceday trainer

Feels solid ! (at first)

Well well well, it’s been a while I haven’t wrote anything but my apologies. Today, enough of running related posts and I’ll give you a long term review on one important tool used by enthusiast cyclists, the trainer !

Trainer is an efficient way of building up your FTP (cycling power) but as the offer has fairly broaden over the recent years, it could be difficult to select the right one for your need.

On my side, the needs were basics:

- Silent

- Provide enough resistance for a good workout

- Lightweight

- Small or foldable

- Avoid the change of the rear tyre

After many researches, the Blackburn Raceday was the one I chose to be my training buddy. It has a tripod fork mount design and the two rollers at the back provide resistance while the wheelbase length is adjustable via sliding the base and securing it with a screw. 

As tiny as the Feedback Omnium (even more actually once folded)

Now, after 3 years of on/off training (thanks again to Covid), how does it answer to the points above?

SILENT

This trainer is using two fluid rollers, making them supposedly more quiet than a magnetic resistance roller. I tend to agree and my neighbors too, never had a complain and kids can sleep deeply while you train

RESISTANCE

Blackburn is claiming 650W of resistance – This is bull$#|+ !! To the very maximum I managed to get 400W of resistance at the extreme, meaning with a cadence of 130+ which is clearly not sustainable. While cruising you can get a good 200-230W but that’s it, don’t expect doing too much structured workout from it. Tried a few FTP20 test with it and the maximum reached was 260W – that was with lower tyre pressure AND at 110+ RPM.

WEIGHT

At 6.3kg, this thing can be moved around without any fuss and I really enjoyed being able to do that. Guests are coming, no problem you can empty the guest-room in no time – Want to do your workout in front of the big TV screen in the living room, that’s easy too – Warmup outside next to the race, no issues here. In minutes you can setup it and be ready for your “virtual” ride wherever you want.

SIZE

Does it matter? YES. Not everyone has a 2000sqf apartment and while folded it takes minimum space and can be stored anywhere you like. A sturdy bag is also provided to keep it away from dust. The two front legs are also telescopic and can be adjusted quickly via a dedicated button.

CONVENIENCE

Very convenient and fast to setup. You just have to remove your front wheel, attach it to the trainer, then adjust the wheelbase so the rear wheel can be centered between the two rollers. 

Finished.

QUALITY

That was initially not in my list but after months of using it, I have to say this became a big issue. At the beginning I was very satisfied and the trainer looked well built, I could easily forecast many years of training without problem when I first get my hands on it but after a while, annoying things started to happen. Two issues have been experienced, one minor and one major (see the footage).

First issue was coming from the big bolt to adjust the wheelbase in the middle. While you train, you obviously sweat and where does it go? On your mat but also on the trainer and right where that bolt is… If you trainer is setup for some time in the same room and position for a while and you don’t fold it back regularly, sweat and therefore salt starts accumulating in the bolt thread. Then one day when I tried to unscrew it, it didn’t. I broke the plastic part that was made to manually adjust it and had to use an adjustable wrench to unscrew it. Eventually the bolt head broke and I was left with an un-adjustable trainer. I had to drill a new hole to free the bolt and redo the screw thread to fit a bigger screw.

Second issue. After a few years using it (3 years on and off), I started to nothing and unbearable noise that started to show up after around 30 minutes. It seems the bearings were failing, either from extended use while I don’t think that was the case regarding my low volume training or misalignment. Well I checked both and carefully check the bike is perfectly aligned when starting to workout. The noise come less often but still happened and I have to stop pedalling totally before restarting again – pretty annoying and definitely not noiseless.

Third issue and last. The sliding adjustment foot support broke after a ride on Zwift.. My FTP is clearly not insane but still this tiny piece of aluminum broke. After checking why, it seems the foot was allowing more room than was this sliding part was capable of and under stress broke. This is not a deal killer but that’s too many problems for one important training tool.

RATING: Poor quality long term and low resistance offered.