Which turbo trainers are best? Read all about turbo trainers in our buyer's guide!

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The dark days of the year are approaching once again. Temperatures are falling, trees are losing their leaves and it won't be long before the road salt truck is driving through the streets again. So how do you, as an avid cyclist, make sure you get enough exercise and can compete in races? The answer: by using indoor cycling software on your own turbo trainer. But how do you decide which turbo trainer you should buy? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of a turbo trainer? And which turbo trainers are there? You'll learn everything you need to know in this buyer's guide.

What will you use your turbo trainer for?

This is the most important question you'll have to answer before deciding which is the best turbo trainer for you. Turbo trainers come in many shapes and sizes: some are perfect for a calm ride while watching Netflix, while others are designed especially to simulate realistic inclines, so you can follow a realistic training schedule or join a race.

Indoor turbo trainer — You won't have to think about traffic when using a turbo trainer!

How tough do you want your training sessions to be?

As mentioned above, it's important to consider how hard you want to train, and to take this into account when deciding on your budget. As a general rule: the harder you want to train, the more expensive your turbo trainer will be. A good indicator is the incline percentage a given turbo trainer can simulate. If it takes you a lot of effort to tackle 10% inclines when riding outdoors, there's no use in simulating 10% inclines on your turbo trainer, unless you really want to push yourself. On the other hand, there are turbo trainers that can even simulate inclines up to 25% for the real powerhouses and climbing enthusiasts, so even professionals can keep training during the off-season.

The advantages of training with a turbo trainer

You can keep on cycling during the winter season with a turbo trainer, but an (interactive) bike trainer can be used for far more than that. First of all, interactive trainers do a lot more than simply house your bike during indoor rides. You can pair these trainers with your smartphone, tablet, laptop or smart TV using Bluetooth, which can all run training software.

Secondly, smart trainers come with an integrated power sensor. That way, you'll know precisely how much power you're putting on the pedals, and you'll be able to perform real interval training schedules using programs like Zwift or the Tacx Desktop App. These programs provide various worlds and training schedules for anyone, from novices to real professionals. Zwift is of course the most popular program, which is why a lot of people look for a specialised Zwift turbo trainer. However, you have many other options: Tacx has built the renewed Tacx Desktop App, which is very nice software. Other options include Rouvy, Bkool, MyWoosh, Kinomap, Trainerroad, The Sufferfest and Fulgaz, all of which will help you enjoy many hours on your turbo trainer.

Plus, you won't have to worry about a lot of aspects of outdoor training: you won't have to wear a helmet, bring a spare tube or ring your bell to warn others.

Smart, indoor turbo trainers — You'll get a realistic cycling experience with a Smart trainer and a specialised climbing setup!

Disadvantages of turbo trainers

The main and most important disadvantage is heat. As you probably know, you'll heat up quickly while you're cycling. Outside you won't notice as much, because you're cycling in the wind. Inside you won't have these winds, of course, so your living room, shed or attic can heat up very quickly. That's why we recommend using a fan and protecting your bike and floor from perspiration and scratches with the right tools. You'll read more about this later in this blog.

Which bike trainers are there?

One of the first things you'll run into when looking for a turbo trainer is jargon like Direct Drive, Smart Bike, Wheel On and Rollerbank. That's because these are roughly the types of turbo trainers available. Below, we'll explain what kinds of turbo trainers these are and how you should use them.

Contents:

Direct Drive turbo trainer
Smart Bike
Wheel-On trainer
Rollerbank

Direct Drive turbo trainers

At the moment, Direct Drive turbo trainers are by far the most popular type of turbo trainer. They're made by brands like Wahoo, Elite and Tacx, among others. These trainers are very popular because they can simulate inclines (up to 25%), are very precise, and are affordable. You'll have to install a cassette on these trainers, but once that's done you can remove the rear wheel from your bike and simply mount your bike on your turbo trainer using a thru axle. That's why they're called Direct Drive turbo trainers. These turbo trainers are also Smart, which means you can pair them with software like Zwift, Rouvy, Bkool and MyWoosh. They're also relatively silent, and provide a realistic cycling experience for every type of cyclist.

Plus, you can easily pair these trainers to your computer using Bluetooth, and they're sturdy thanks to the included or integrated stand. That means you can cycle at full force while sitting on your own bike with a direct drive turbo trainer.

A Direct Drive turbo trainer is installed directly on your rear axle, without a training tyre or rear wheel.

An overview of the best Direct Drive turbo trainers:

The Smart Bike

Smart Bikes are the most durable, powerful and quiet type of turbo trainer there is. These trainers are full bikes, designed especially for indoor cycling. They're designed to barely make any noise at all. This is possible because of their lack of a physical chain on the cassette. Plus, they can handle extreme amounts of power, making them highly suitable for hardened competitive cyclists, though that doesn't mean they're unsuitable for mere mortals. As you can easily adapt these trainers for specific body types, they're ideal for use by multiple people. That's why the whole family can enjoy one of these trainers when the weather outside is bad.

Of course, this type of Smart Bike is compatible with popular cycling software like Zwift, Kingomap, Fulgaz, Trainerroad and more.

An overview of the best Smart Bikes:

The Wheel On trainer

Wheel On turbo trainers are perfect for anyone who wants to start cycling indoors, without paying full price. These Wheel On turbo trainers can only be used in combination with a complete road bike and a training tyre. Using a training tyre is very important, because all the resistance you experience on this kind of turbo trainer is caused by a roller in the middle of the trainer. This roller pushes back against your wheel as you pedal, making it feel like you're climbing. Do really buy a training tyre for use with your Wheel On trainer, because a normal one will wear out quickly and that would be a waste of your tyres.

Plus, these turbo trainers can simulate incline percentages up to 6% and can be paired to your laptop using bluetooth. They're relatively noisy, compared to direct drive turbo trainers and smart bikes.

An overview of the best Wheel On turbo trainers:

Bike rollers

A bike roller is another option for indoor cycling. Do note: these aren't meant for inexperienced cyclists. Although you can use this type of turbo trainer indoors, it does require some practice. That's because you place your entire bike on a bike roller, after which you'll have to keep your balance. That's not a problem while you're cycling, but first getting started is tough, especially if you're doing it alone. These bike rollers are often used at cycling competitions, for warming up and cooling down. Plus, they're often lightweight, making them easy to bring along.

Bike rollers are compatible with smart apps like Zwift, but this does require a bike with multiple sensors. Consider using cadence and speed sensors, and a heart rate monitor and power sensor will also come in handy.

An overview of the best bike rollers:

Which accessories do I need to use a turbo trainer?

As mentioned above, heat is your greatest enemy when cycling indoors. Luckily we've got all sorts of useful tools in our range, so you'll be able to counter any heat related issues. There are plenty of turbo trainer accessories and extras to make indoor cycling a lot more pleasant! We recommend aiming a fan at yourself at all times when you're training indoors. It may not be an AC, but it does help a lot to feel some wind while you're cycling. It'll help you cool down and help reduce how much you're sweating, too.

Turbo trainer accessories and extras — Combat heat related issues and protect your bike and floor from moisture and scratches with the right bike trainer accessories.

And while we're on the topic: make sure to place your turbo trainer on a trainer mat. This is a rubber mat that protects your floor from scratches, because things can get heated while you're performing a tough climb or sprint. And you don't want your moving turbo trainer to scratch up your floor, right?

Last but not least, we'd like to tell you about sweat catchers. This could of course just be a towel hung around your neck, but specialised sweat catchers that stretch between your handlebars and seatpost are also available. These have an extra advantage: they catch all sweat that falls down while you're training, which is important to protect your bike. Sweat on your bike's bolts may oxidise, causing corrosion. And of course you don't want that, right?

You'll get through the winter with a turbo trainer!

Turbo trainers come in various shapes and sizes. By now you'll know that the more luxurious a trainer is, the more expensive it'll be. But that's not the whole story. The most important thing is to consider how often you'll use the turbo trainer, and what for exactly. Maybe you'll want to try it first, to see if indoor training suits you. In that case, a wheel-on trainer will work for you just fine. But if you already know what indoor cycling is like and want more of a challenge, then a direct drive trainer will suit you more. Want to go for that real, full-blown indoor cycling experience? Then you can go all out with a smart bike. It all depends on those few questions: how much do you want to spend on a turbo trainer, and what will you use it for? Once you have the answers to those questions, you can use this buying guide to determine which trainer is the right one for you.

Can't make a decision? No problem. Stop by one of our stores and we'll help you choose the right turbo trainer for you!

Have a look at all our turbo trainers

Which turbo trainers are best? Read all about turbo trainers in our buyer's guide!

What will you use your turbo trainer for?

How tough do you want your training sessions to be?

The advantages of training with a turbo trainer

Disadvantages of turbo trainers