What is a bike trainer?

A bike trainer is a piece of indoor/static training equipment that allows you to work out on your bicycle without having to leave the comfort of your own home. They differ from exercise bikes and indoor bikes, as you have to connect your bicycle up to the equipment to ride it. There are three different types of bike trainer available: wheel-on turbo trainers, direct drive bike trainers and rollers. Each has its pros and cons, we will look at these in a bit more detail in the buying guide after the bike trainer reviews.

As with many pieces of indoor training equipment, bike trainers are called several different things, including turbo trainer, indoor trainer, static trainer, cycling trainer, and bike trainer stand. No matter what you decide to call it, a bike trainer is an effective way to get you more used to riding your bike and build up your fitness while at home.

What is a smart turbo trainer?

Smart turbo trainers use either Bluetooth or ANT+ to project your training data such as speed, Watts, cadence and distance to a tablet, phone or computer. They have become increasingly popular thanks to fitness and cycling apps such as Zwift that add a social aspect to your indoor training. By syncing up your real-time training data, you can watch as your avatar competes with other indoor cyclists around the world.

Why buy a turbo trainer?

Use your own bike

A turbo trainer is an excellent training aid. Not only do you get a great workout, but it also makes you spend more time on your own bike. From beginners to seasoned cyclists, you will notice how quickly your body gets used to a particular riding position. By being able to train on the bike that you will use for your next charity bike ride or race, you are improving your chances of performing at your peak on race day.

Save money

Also, as you are supplying the bike, turbo trainers are a lot more cost-effective than indoor exercise bikes. You can buy a smart turbo trainer for a lot less money than a smart exercise bike would cost. You are just buying a piece of equipment that allows you to cycle in one place and not the whole contraption.

Have fun and track your progress

While we are on the subject of smart turbo trainers, connecting to 3rd party fitness apps, joining in on group bike rides, or even participating in virtual races really helps you keep engaged. Indoor cycling should be fun, and by tracking your metrics, recording your progress and engaging with a community of like-minded individuals, you find that you can ride faster for longer.

Top 15 Turbo Trainers

We have scanned the market to bring you the top 15 bike trainers. We have split the list into the top five wheel-on trainers, top five direct drive (wheel-off) trainers, and top five rollers.

Top 5 wheel-on bike trainers

Top 5 direct drive turbo trainers (wheel-off)

Top 5 bike trainer rollers

Buying Guide

There are a number of factors to consider when buying a turbo trainer. In this buying guide we cover the key things to consider and questions to ask yourself.

Type of Turbo Trainer

Wheel-on turbo trainers

As the name suggests, you leave your bike intact with these turbo trainers and just connect up your rear axle to the turbo trainer. Sometimes you will need to replace the axle to fit the skewers, but these are often included in the package. You should consider investing in a trainer rear wheel as standard rubber tires are quickly worn out using wheel-on turbo trainers. A magnetic system often provides the resistance. However, you can also get fluid resistance systems that are usually a bit more expensive but also give a smoother and quieter riding experience.

Wheel-on turbo trainers are an excellent introduction to the world of indoor cycling. They are relatively inexpensive and very stable. However, you will find that the cheaper models are a little bit noisy once you build up speed. If you are incredibly fit, the resistance levels may not be quiet enough for you. Wheel-on turbo trainers are a great place to start, but once you have fallen in love with indoor cycling you will need to look to upgrade to a direct drive turbo trainer.

Direct drive (wheel off) bike trainers

Relatively new to the indoor cycling market, direct-drive bike trainers provide you with a smoother riding experience and all of them come with Smart connectivity. Thanks to their design, the flywheels and drivetrains are often heavier and more efficient, which adds to their relatively quiet running. You will have to buy a rear cassette for most direct drive bike trainers, but this is a relatively inexpensive purchase that will last for ages (unlike the tires on wheel-on turbo trainers).

Once you have removed your rear wheel and set up the gears, they are incredibly low maintenance. However, they can be a bit of a faff if you are looking to ride your bike outdoors in between workouts. Direct drive bike trainers are often the most expensive options and require a powered connection, so make sure you have the budget and enough space to make the most of these innovative machines.

Rollers

Rollers are not just the preserve of professional cyclists. You will no doubt have already heard that many people struggle to get used to rollers, but once they have, they fall in love. The riding experience is unique as neither your wheels or frame are connected to anything, so you have to rely on your body and momentum to give you balance. Most rollers offer little in the way of resistance so they are only suitable for high cadence and tempo training.

They are an excellent way for you to improve your pedalling efficiency and balance while riding. However, they do take some getting used to. If you need a compact and affordable way to get your heart rate up and are already a relatively experienced cyclist, then these are a great way for you to change up your training plan.

Quality and Performance

Honestly, the best way to gauge quality and performance is by looking at the brand and price. You will have noticed that the same names repeatedly appeared throughout the best bike turbo trainers reviews. The likes of Tacx, Saris and Elite are well known and quality brands. The higher your budget, the better the performance.

The more expensive turbo trainers will withstand higher power, increased gradient simulation, reduced noise and provide the most realistic riding experience. That does not mean that the entry-level or more affordable options are no good, they are a great introduction, but as you get into indoor cycling, you will need to spend more for an all-around smart turbo trainer.

Technology

You will have noticed, turbo trainers are either smart, or they are not. Smart means that they have both Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity. This allows you to sync your turbo trainer up to your phone or tablet and get instant fitness data. You can also connect to a bike computer or HR monitor using the ANT+ tech.

Naturally, those with the most technology are more expensive, so you need to decide how vital it is to use apps such as Zwift or keep track of your workouts. A relatively inexpensive ‘hack’ is to get a basic turbo trainer and then buy separate cadence, power and speed sensors (you generally find that these sensors are not as reliable or accurate as the tech built into smart indoor bike trainers).

Budget

As a minimum, you are looking at £100 ($140) for a basic turbo trainer. These will provide you with a workout but have limited resistance and no added frills. Suppose you are looking to take your indoor cycling a bit more seriously. In that case, you will need to spend around £500 ($700) plus for a smart turbo trainer that is both reliable, relatively quiet and provides a smooth riding experience.

For the best on the market, the latest tech more accurate power measurement, then be willing to part with £1,000 ($1,400), but this is really only necessary for seasoned cyclists that will make use of all the tech packed into turbo trainers in that price range (and want the most realistic cycling experience without having to leave the house).

FAQs

What is the best type of bike trainer?

It depends on your budget, current fitness levels and how 'smart' you want your turbo trainer to be. Due to their versatility, the direct drive turbo trainers are the most popular among regular cyclists. They give you a good smooth riding experience, sync to your favourite app and are relatively quiet even at high speeds.

Can you use any bike on a turbo trainer?

You can use most road, hybrid, tourer, and mountain bikes on turbo trainers. However, you should just double-check the wheel size before taking the plunge and buying a turbo trainer that you might not be able to use. All the main types of turbo trainers allow for an element of adjustment, even if you need to replace your rear axle. If your current ride runs on disk brakes, just double check that there is enough clearance on wheel-on turbo trainers.

Is a turbo trainer bad for your bike?

A turbo trainer is not bad for your bike, but you will be using your bike, so it will require maintenance. You must keep your chain well oiled (rusty chains seriously increase the amount of noise generated while cycling indoors). Wheel-on turbo trainers will quickly wear out your rear tire, so it is recommended that you buy a specific training tire made of a slightly harder compound.

Turbo trainer vs exercise bike: which is better?

If you are already a cyclist and own a relatively decent bike, then a turbo trainer is your best indoor cycling companion. However, sometimes it does mean that you need to take the wheel off and replace some parts. So if you just want an easy life, leave your bike locked up and buy an exercise bike. You can get a ‘high-spec’ smart turbo trainer for less money than a smart exercise bike, but there is no denying that exercise bikes require less maintenance and are super easy to use.

Turbo trainer accessories

Along with a turbo trainer, you should consider getting a few accessories to make your indoor cycling workouts as comfortable and effective as possible:

• Trainer mat
• Headwind Smart Fan
• A desk to place your device on

A must-have for any wheel-on turbo trainer:

• Trainer tyre

For a full-on indoor riding experience you could also pair your turbo trainers with these:

• Rocker plate
• Grade simulator

Sensors to upgrade to a smart turbo trainer:

• Speed and Cadence Sensors

Using your bike trainer with Zwift

Some say Zwift is the best thing to happen for cyclists since the invention of the bicycle. It is an app that has made indoor cycling interactive and fun. It has several great features, but one of the best parts of it is the community. You can sync up your smart turbo trainer to Zwift using your phone or tablet and participate in group rides and races. This short description hardly does it justice, but you will question the need to don lycra and compete with motorists on the road again once you have used it.

Purchasing a smart turbo trainer is by far the easiest way to use apps such as Zwift. All the turbo trainers that have made this list allow for you to seamlessly sync up your turbo trainer with the app for real-time training data and avatar feedback. You can buy 3rd party sensors to make your turbo trainer smart. However, these are a little more temperamental and require some more patience. As a minimum, you should get a speed sensor (attach to your rear wheel) and cadence sensor (connect to your crank arm).

However, to make the most of apps such as Zwift, you will also want a power meter. These can be a little pricey and is one of the main reasons most cyclists opt for the reliable option of buying a turbo trainer with all the tech already.

Zwift is not the only reason you should get a smart turbo trainer. There are several great fitness and cycling apps, including Kinomap, Tacx Training, iFit (and the list goes on). Some are free, but to make the most out of all the features, you usually have to pay a monthly subscription.

Conclusion

We scoured the market to bring you a definitive list of the best bike turbo trainers in 2021. Throughout our research, we considered the brand quality, reliable sellers, value for money, and customer reviews. Although you would not be disappointed with any of the turbo trainers that have made this list, you need to decide what features are most important to you and what budget you have. For value for money, the Tacx Flux S Smart Turbo Trainer is the best bike trainer available. Also, Tacx has an excellent range of accessories that will upgrade your indoor cycling experience.

If you're still not sure about a turbo trainer and think a home exercise bike might be better for you then check out our ultimate guide to help you work out which one to buy.

For the rest of your man cave needs and desires, why not explore our site or head over to the Exercise Bikes section to see more posts and recommended products!

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