You'll win your indoor cycling competitions with these Elite turbo trainers! [Buyer's guide]

Share this post

You'll win your indoor cycling competitions with these Elite turbo trainers! [Buyer's guide]

15 October 2024

Indoor cycling season has arrived once again. That's why you'll need a quality turbo trainer that'll do exactly what you need it to do. Elite has of course thought about this, which is why it offers a wide range of Direct Drive turbo trainers with names like Suito, Justo 2, Avanti and Direto XR-T. But what are the differences between all of these turbo trainers? How do they work? And which is best for you? We'll tell you all about that in this blog.

First things first: what's a Direct Drive turbo trainer? Put bluntly: a turbo trainer with Direct Drive functionality. That means you install your bike directly onto your turbo trainer, but without its rear wheel. Such Direct Drive turbo trainers come with a freehub body that you'll still have to fit a cassette on. Once that's done, you can remove the rear wheel from your bike, mount its rear derailleur with chain on the trainer's cassette and you'll be ready to go! Do note that you'll need a specialised thru axle to install your bike on some turbo trainers.

Overview of all Elite turbo trainers:

Elite Suito-T
Elite Avanti
Elite Justo 2
Elite Direto XR-T and Elite Direto XR Zwift Click & Cog

1. The Elite Suito-T Turbo Trainer

Power: 1900 Watt
Incline percentage: 15% maximum
Movement: None
Intensity of use: Good

The Elite Suito-T bike trainer has one of the best price-performance ratios found among modern turbo trainers. This turbo trainer is very stable, thanks to its collapsable feet and metal casing. These also make it easy to store when you hit the road again after the indoor cycling season. That's not all: this turbo trainer is also interesting because of its maximum power of 1900 Watts and a maximum simulated incline percentage of 15%, all at a relatively low price. Those are serious numbers which tend to cost a lot more at other brands.

Elite Suito-T turbo trainer — The Elite Suito-T is the turbo trainer with the best price-performance ratio out there.

This trainer is also very attractive because it's highly precise, mostly quiet and comes with adapters for quick release skewers as well as thru axles. As long as you've mounted the right cassette, you'll be able to install your bike with disc or rim brakes on this turbo trainer, using the included axle. Once that's done, simply pair the trainer with your laptop using ANT+, ANT+ FE-C or Bluetooth Smart to use Zwift, Elite My E-Training or other third-party apps. And just like that, you'll be ready to go.

To top it all off, this turbo trainer comes with an integrated speed sensor, cadence sensor and power sensor, like most other Direct Drive turbo trainers. These sensors allow you to set clear training targets, so you can keep up the condition you gained outdoors even while you're riding indoors!

In conclusion: this is the turbo trainer with the best price-performance ratio

We've said it before, but this truly is the turbo trainer with the best price-performance ratio on the market. Yes, there are turbo trainers that can provide more power or handle a higher incline percentage, but this turbo trainer performs very well with its 15% incline percentage and 1900 Watt power output. And let's be honest: you can't find any climbs over 15% in the Netherlands, so with this trainer's maximum incline percentage you'll be able to train even harder than you can do outdoors!

2. The Elite Avanti Bike Turbo Trainer

Power: 2100 Watt
Incline percentage: Maximaal 18%
Movement: Average
Intensity of use: Better

The Elite Avanti is the bike trainer for anyone who wants to train seriously indoors. You could even say that you can use this turbo trainer year round, if you want to. First off, this trainer comes with collapsable feet that make sure this trainer is solid and secure while you're training. Do note: this trainer doesn't come with a cassette, either. Keep in mind that you'll have to buy and install one before you can start training.

Secondly, this turbo trainer can simulate an incline percentage of at most 18%, with a maximum power output of 2100 Watt. Plus, this trainer can simulate descents: that means that, when your character is riding downhill in your training software, you'll also feel like you're riding downhill. You won't have to keep pedalling like mad all the time, and you'll even get to keep your legs still while you're descending.

Elite Avanti turbo trainer — You'll be able to seriously train indoors with the Elite Avanti!

Plus, this trainer is equipped with a precise Optimal Torque Sensor (OTS). This sensor ensures your power output is recorded immediately and precisely, with a margin of error of less than 1%. If that wasn't enough, this trainer is also very quiet: the only thing you'll hear is your chain as you shift gears. Ideal for you as well as the people you live with.

Easily connect the Avanti to various devices via ANT+, Bluetooth and WiFi. This allows you to pair this turbo trainer with your phone, laptop, TV, tablet and software like Zwift, TrainerRoad, Kinomap, BKool and Rouvy. To top it all off, the Avanti comes with a power plug, an adapter for a 142x12 mm thru axle and a front wheel support. You'll be able to start your next indoor bike ride immediately with this turbo trainer.

In conclusion: the turbo trainer for people who want to cycle indoors year round

The Elite Avanti is the turbo trainer for anyone looking to cycle indoors year round. With its maximum incline percentage of 18%, this trainer simulates climbs you won't find in the Netherlands. Plus, this trainer can simulate a maximum power of 2100 Watts, a power level even professionals find difficult to achieve. In addition, this turbo trainer is very quiet, you can mount your thru axle on it directly and this trainer is easy to store, because you can simply fold up its feet once you're done!

3. The Elite Justo 2 Turbo Trainer

Power: 2400 Watt
Incline percentage: 24% maximum
Movement: Average
Intensity of use: Best

Go for the complete indoor cycling experience with the Elite Justo 2 turbo trainer. This turbo trainer has everything you could want in an indoor turbo trainer. Like all other Direct Drive turbo trainers for Elite, this trainer has collapsible feet as well as integrated speed, cadence and power sensors, and it's made of durable materials. But the Justo 2 is much more than that.

There's a good reason this is the favourite turbo trainer of professional pelotons. That's because this trainer can simulate incline percentages up to 24%, and can handle up to 2400 Watts of power. Only true first-rate sprinters and competitive cyclists are able to reach power outputs like that. Plus, this turbo trainer is Di-2 compatible, so you can truly finetune it to your electronic gear shifting system. If that wasn't enough, this trainer also has an internal battery, which means you can even bring it to competitions or other places without a power plug.

Connecting to your Justo 2 is easy-peasy thanks to its ANT+, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. The Elite Justo 2 comes with a TravelBlock front wheel support, adapters for 130x5 mm, 135x5 mm and 142x12mm axles and a 12-speed Shimano 11-34T cassette. You won't have to buy these yourself, so you can get started immediately, as long as you have a cassette removal tool, lockring and a chain whip.

In conclusion: this is the bike trainer for those who truly want to get the most out of their gear

You'll certainly get the most out of your indoor bike rides with the Elite Justo 2. This turbo trainer can handle up to 2400 Watts and can simulate an incline percentage of up to 24%. That means you can be sure those simulated tough climbs, like the Mont Ventoux or the Alpe d'Huez, feel the same way they do in real life.

4. The Elite Direto XR-T and Elite Direto XR Zwift Click & Cog Turbo Trainer

Power: 2300 Watt
Incline percentage: 24% maximum
Movement: None
Intensity of use: Better

And last but not least: the Elite Direto XR-T. This powerhouse has been around for four years already, but that doesn't mean its features or capabilities are any less than before. To start, this trainer can simulate incline percentages up to 24% and can handle 2400 Watts of power. Those are the same numbers as those of the Justo 2, but at a considerably lower price. But like we said above, this turbo trainer is a few years old already. That does come with some level of risk: as the trainer's software gets older, it might not pair as well with certain training programs, like Zwift, My E-Training and TrainerRoad, anymore.

Elite Direto XR-T turbo trainer — You can still hold your own in competitions with the Elite Direto XR-T!

In addition, this turbo trainer is only compatible with 11-speed drivetrains. That means the newest 12-speed bikes aren't compatible with this turbo trainer. That might be a problem in the future, as 12-speed is becoming more and more common. Lastly, this turbo trainer, like many others, doesn't come with a cassette. That means you'll have to order one and install it yourself.

That's not to say you won't be able to use this trainer just fine. The power levels this trainer can handle, combined with its maximum incline percentage, mean this turbo trainer is comparable with the Justo 2 - but at half the Justo 2's price. It might be a little less future-proof than the Justo 2, but if you're a cyclist who just wants to ride their turbo trainer for the next two years, this is the turbo trainer for you.

Complete your setup with Elite accessories

You can expand your setup and optimise your indoor training sessions with Elite turbo trainer accessories. The Elite Rizer Climbing Simulator, which simulates realistic climbs and descents, is a popular accessory. This device increases the intensity and realism of your training sessions by mimicking inclines up to an impressive 20%. The Elite Sterzo, on the other hand, is a front wheel support that registers handlebar movements. This makes your training sessions even more interactive by making steering in virtual worlds, like Zwift, even more realistic. Next, there's the Elite Gateway, a powerful ANT+ and Bluetooth connection hub that allows you to effortlessly pair multiple devices with your turbo trainer. Last but not least, Elite turbo trainer mats dampen sound and protect your floor, while also providing extra stability during intense training sessions. These accessories push your indoor cycling experience to the next level.

Figuring out which Elite turbo trainer is right for you can be quite a challenge. Of course you want to know what a turbo trainer costs, how long it'll last and what its most important specs are before you buy it. We've tried to explain all specifications and price points of our Elite turbo trainers in this blog, but we understand completely if you haven't entirely made up your mind yet. That's why you're always more than welcome in our Superstores to test these Elite turbo trainers. Our staff will be happy to help you choose the best turbo trainer for you!

Have a look at all Elite turbo trainers