Feedback Sports Omnium Portable Trainer

Robert Matusek

Review of the Feedback Sports Omnium Portable Trainer

This simple and light-weight fork-mount design is optimized for pre-race warm-up, travel, and those days when life (or the weather) gets in the way of your ride. The Omnium trainer utilizes Internal Progressive Resistance delivering a real-road feel with minimal noise.

Race warm up or indoor training, Omnium lives up to its name

The Omnium Portable Trainer accompanied me on race days and indoor training sessions. Consequently I can’t praise high enough its stress-free handling, weight, folded [66 cm x 18 cm x 20 cm] and unfolded dimensions. In case I kept this trainer, it might end up my sole trainer since it is compatible with Kinomap, Sufferfest, TrainerRoad and Zwift. The Omnium Portable Trainer also makes travelling and on site race training an easy task. Not many indoor trainers are so flexible, and rollers aren’t as useful for comprehensive training at home.

The Omnium Portable Trainer is sturdier than it looks

I wasn’t sure about the Omnium’s long-term durability. Its low weight: 14 lbs (6.35 kg) made me doubtful. The Omnium Trainer looks rather fragile. Granted, a couple of month doesn’t warrant any durability statement. But given the frequency, intensity, and environments this trainer had been subjected to, I am impressed by its sturdiness. The Omnium Portable Trainer took some scratches, understandably, and those various tyres leave their marks on the metal roller too. But other than that, the trainer rolls smoothly and soundly.

That looks like gravel to us! The Omnium Portable Trainer really can go anywhere

At the beginning I was missing the resistance adjustability I am used to applying on my current trainer. The Omnium Portable Trainer has a progressive resistance, meaning that the resistance increases as you pedal harder. You also have the option of further increasing the resistance using the gear ratios on your bike. The Omnium Trainer has a magnificent road feel. And, truthfully I wouldn’t trade a more adjustable resistance for its light weight and portability.

Once folded, the Omnium Portable Trainer is easy to transport

This time around my usual test procedure took a different turn. Due to illness in our team, I had agreed to support a different team. Meaning I got invaluable feedback from 4 different racers. The team riders quickly realised what a treat they had been given, and there was a separate race to gain access to the Omnium Portable Trainer.

Here Andre Greipel of Lotto Soudal makes use of the Omnium Trainer even though space is limited

Interestingly, I got requests from racers of other teams as well, although they all had the use of warm-up trainers at hand. Some of them even admitted openly they were committed to their sponsor equipment. Hence, we arranged to test the Omnium Portable Trainer in their hotel room. That was the weirdest experience I had during this test.

The Omnium is compatible with various fork and axle options.

I’m amazed how quick and simple this trainer is to set up. To adjust the wheelbase without tools was a no-brainer. To unfold and fold it took me no time. Indoors, it’s never an issue, but prior to the race where every minute counts this attribute is truly welcome. I sought feedback and opinion about the product from these additional testers. One of them told me she was interested enough to buy it despite being sponsored by another brand, and would use it in private areas.

Others were willing to buy it right away, regardless of the [used] state of the Trainer. But I made a “deal” with the junior, unsupported team I was attending to: in agreement with Feedback Sports the Trainer ended up being donated to the team. Feedback Sports were very generous. No wonder, their commitment and support in our sport is almost unparalleled.

Like a set of rollers, but with less chance of falling off

With the Omnium Portable Trainer’s portability, easy handling, and reasonable weight it has grown on me very quickly. What I value the most has been its simple fork-mount design, numerous axle fitments (QR, 12×100, 15×100 & 15×110 (boost) thru axles), meant that I was able to swap bikes easily. Whether on slick road tires or more rugged MTB ones, the noise level is very satisfactory.

Feedback Sports Website

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