- A high-quality indoor bike trainer can help you replicate the outdoor riding experience, isn't too loud, and is made of durable materials.
- Our guide features trainers that are easy to use, work with a variety of bike types, and have a track record of performance.
- The Elite Direto 2 Interactive Smart Trainer is our top pick because it's easy to set up, compatible with the most popular training apps, and lightweight and affordable compared to other direct drive trainers.
With an indoor bike trainer, I can simulate the outdoor riding experience when the weather turns nasty without risking life and limb.
Bike trainers have been around for more than a century. The first trainers were bike rollers, which consisted of three rolling cylinders - two in the back and one in the front - on which the bike rests as you pedal away. You can still find bike rollers, and they are excellent for fine-tuning your balance. However, they are no longer as popular as they once were.
Most of today's trainers hold the bike in place. Here are the types of trainers you will come across:
- Friction Trainers: Until recently, friction trainers were all the rage. They supply fluid or magnetic resistant to the rear wheel via a small roller.
- Direct Drive Trainers: These trainers recently took the industry by storm. With these, you remove your back wheel and attach the rear dropout to the trainer. They require a cassette compatible with your bike. Direct-drive trainers offer the highest level of resistance and are the most accurate. Yet, they also cost the most. Direct-drive trainers are "smart," which means you can connect to your mobile device and experience the wonder of the many virtual riding apps. You can control the resistance yourself or have it adjust automatically based on the workout.
- Fluid Trainers: Direct-drive trainers are not the only smart trainers. There are also several fluid trainers with Bluetooth or ANT+ connectivity. And even if you choose a "dumb" trainer, you can purchase accessories to make it smart. For instance, the Garmin Bike Speed Sensor 2 and Cadence Sensor 2 bundle should get the job done and can provide you with valuable data when you're riding outdoors as well.
While researching the best indoor bike trainers, we looked at hundreds of buyer and expert reviews and ratings of dozens of models. Our guide features trainers that are easy to use, work with a variety of bike types, and have a track record of performance. When shopping for a trainer, make sure the model you look at is compatible with your bike. If not, you may need to buy additional parts.
Here are the best indoor bike trainers you can buy:
- Best indoor bike trainer overall: Elite Direto 2 Interactive Smart Trainer
- Best high-end indoor bike trainer: Tacx NEO 2 Smart Indoor Trainer
- Best smart indoor bike trainer on a budget: Kinetic Road Machine Smart 2 Trainer
- Best indoor bike trainer for power accuracy: Wahoo Fitness Kickr Smart Bike Trainer
- Best "dumb" indoor bike trainer: CycleOps Fluid2 Indoor Trainer
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