Functionally it’s fine if you can deal with some noise. If it’s $599 and has a warranty I’d get it. After I sent mine back and got a refund I tried a Neo and a Kickr and didn’t care for them so picked up a used one cheap and am working on my own pulley fix
Thanks for the reply. It sounds like you’ve had so many issues with Saris, I’m surprised you’re still on board with this trainer. The trainer is at the local Scheels, which has a 100% guarantee (like REI) that allows you to return if any problems, no time constraint either, so that’s great if any issues arise.
I do like Wahoo’s stuff and they have a Core at Scheels for $699 and a Climb for $400, which looks really interesting to me (albeit $500 more total from the H3). Again, it seems like the Core also has issues and it’s very easy to get caught up in negative reviews and issues with any trainer. I’m sure there are many H3 and Wahoo Core trainers out there that are perfectly fine, it’s just more likely to hear someone complain than heap praise I guess.
I’m a big guy (6’3", 280lbs) and the H3 has a higher weight limit than the Wahoo also. I don’t know if that would be an issue either way. I’m looking to get down weight, hopefully to 230 or less with discipline.
Btw, Scheels prices on these trainers are in the store only. The prices on their website are full retail price. I assume they are clearing these out in summer. They seem to be awesome deals!
Had a minor issue with mine around 5 months ago and Saris swapped it out. Since then been rock solid and love it. I mainly use erg. That is close to what i got mine for and happy with it.
At your weight you’re probably putting out decent power and I would expect the noise issues to surface pretty quickly. I’m at 310ftp, did the sanding trick to my used unit and it was silent, only lasted 2 weeks till it made noise again
My relationship with the H3 is Strange. From a performance standpoint I like it, I like how it handles Zwift and intervals, and quality of the workout is most important to me. I can live with some noise for what I paid used, but not for new. They have no real solution anyway so whether I buy a new one or a used one it’s going to have the same problems. The warranty is useless at this point since it just exchanged one faulty product for another
Get the trainer unless it’s got an issue. Majority of owners of this trainer have no issues.
Im between a H3 and a Tacx Flux Smart II. The H3 is cheaper in my country. What would you do?
Both are good but depends on where you are. Saris is much easier to deal with if you are in the states. Mot saying you would or could have an issue but something to consider. With tacx being garmin now I am not sure where they are handling those claims.
Mine seems to work in TR if I calibrate via “devices”. But not if I’m already in the workout / if I’ve forgotten to calibrate, then try to calibrate in the “pair” screen of a loaded workout.
Posting an update. I wrote that my H3 began reporting low power numbers compared to my Power2Max. After the problem worsening I made an exchange for a new H3 from saris and received it on Saturday.
The power readings after my first ride were in line with my power2max. .5–1% discrepancy which is great.
However, I noticed that when I pedal and unclip the crank arms still rotate for quite some time. See this video.
Is that normal?
Mine always has done. Especially when finishing at speed.
This sounds lilke a really good deal to me!
H3 is my first and only trainer. I got mine for 6 months and have been using it regularly.
It did the job well, especially for interval training. I set 3-second power recording and use it under ERG mode. I find my power charts usually look much smoother than many others’.
I am still having issues with mine, Saris have acknowledged the issue and agreed to send me a new unit except that there is no units available in the UK.
Sigma where I got the Saris from also have no stock until the end of July.
Is it unreasonable to ask for a refund? Sounds like it will disintegrate if I keep using it for another 7 weeks.
Do wheel on trainers have the same issues?
Refund seems practical to me, since they can’t offer a replacement for a while.
That was my thinking too, a shame really as I really like the trainer.
Since lockdown is easing I shall make the most of the good weather!
Any thoughts on a wheel on trainer? I only have one bike so may be a better option for me.
Especially in the UK with the weather.
Wheel on can be great. Typically not as accurate as wheel off. Wheel slip can be an issue for some high power efforts, but is no deal killer.
I used one for years and it was perfectly fine.
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Cheers!
I suppose by the end of summer there should be some good deals to be had!
Maybe. With the shutdowns, there was a run on indoor cycling equipment, so stock may not be the usual excess rolling into Fall.
Hello All
My relation with the H3 is quite new, I am on the 3rd week of use, bought new from Chain Reaction Cycles.
I was immediately affected with the belt slipping issue, so after a few hours I was disassembling it an increasing tension ob the belt; it is strange that a device announced as a beast for dealing with 20% inclinations was slipping under a low effort.
Done increase of tension on the belt (despite I have no idea of what is the suitable tension); on that matter the Saris instruction video gives no input since the tension screw on the H3 is on the left compared to the exposed on their video. https://www.saris.com/product/direct-drive-belt-replacement
Yesterday, again slipping while climbing in Rouvy at lower than 10% gradient; again unit open…
Quite easily was noticeable some rubber powder laying on the interior of the plastic cover and erosion on other area (to the level of melted plastic due to the heat of the belt touching it).
You aren’t supposed to sand the belt. You’re supposed to sand the pulley.
Correction, Saris should just fix this damn thing so customers can ride it instead of playing inspector gadget trying to fix their engineering fails.
Still no response from Saris about that textured pulley that one customer got, but the guy I asked had no idea it even existed. Such a disorganized place
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Thats correct…thanks…I sanded the big diameter plastic pulley, not the belt…
The unit is open and will be checked after each use until I feel trust enough to close it gain.
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