Turbo Trainer Guide

A smart trainer is an advanced type of turbo trainer that brings a new level of interactivity to your indoor cycling sessions. Unlike traditional trainers, smart trainers can connect with popular indoor cycling apps such as Zwift, TrainerRoad, Wahoo SYSTM, and RGT Cycling. This connectivity allows the trainer to automatically adjust resistance to simulate real-world cycling conditions like hills, headwinds, and drafting effects within virtual environments.

These apps can also guide you through structured power-based interval workouts, with the smart trainer adjusting resistance to keep you in the required training zones, a feature known as ERG mode. This makes smart trainers an ideal choice for cyclists looking to replicate outdoor riding conditions and enhance their indoor training experience. Whether you’re tackling a virtual mountain or sprinting through a digital cityscape, a smart trainer ensures your indoor rides are as immersive and realistic as possible.

As with most areas of cycling, there are a vast number of options available when it comes to indoor bike trainers, with various features affecting both the price point and its suitability for your individual needs. Direct drive smart trainers offer quiet operation and impressive performance features, making them a popular choice. Before purchasing a trainer for indoor cycling you should consider where it will be stored and whether it will be regularly transported, this is due to differences in weight and packability between models.

Smart trainers can use magnetic resistance (allowing you to adjust the magnet power from a remote unit on your handlebar), fluid (where power changes based on your pedaling effort), or a direct drive trainer, with the latter offering superior performance. Direct drive trainers, such as the Wahoo KICKR Core, provide excellent stability, quiet operation, and eliminate issues related to tyre wear, making them a recommended choice for serious trainers. Higher specification models automatically adjust to simulate the climbs and descents of your virtual reality route.

Value wise, smart trainers sit across the board, with the method of resistance, connectivity and number of features impacting the price. It’s worth noting that a smart trainer often isn’t the best choice for race warmups as they can be reasonably heavy and some models require plugging into the mains to function.

Power and Gradient

• Power Output: High power output is essential for simulating steep hills and intense training sessions. Look for a smart trainer that can handle high wattage to accommodate your training needs.
• Gradient Simulation: A smart trainer that can simulate steep gradients provides a more realistic and challenging workout. This feature is particularly beneficial for those training for hilly or mountainous rides.
• Power Accuracy: Accurate power measurement is key to effective training. A smart trainer with precise power accuracy ensures that you are training at the correct intensity, helping you to achieve your performance goals.

Direct drive trainers replace your bike's rear wheel. While this can sometimes mean purchasing a second cassette, although the Wahoo KICKR is actually supplied with one, it does eradicate the hassle of swapping out specific trainer tyres and skewers.

The setup tends to be more stable, allowing you to get out of the saddle and confidently lay down some power. By eliminating the tyre-trainer interface, the direct drive system is the quietest option available, particularly important for those living in apartments as that droning sound can really travel. Another benefit is that power accuracy is improved. Direct drive trainers generally sit within the mid to high price point and are generally larger than traditional designs, often suiting those with a space dedicated to their training.

As the popularity of indoor training grows, technology becomes more and more advanced. Relatively new to the market, a whole host of smart bikes are now offered by a range of brands. Completely eliminating the need to use your own bike indoors, you'll prevent wear to expensive components, and won't have to lug a dirty bike through the house. Essentially, this new equipment makes it as easy as possible to ride, with a design that allows you to replicate your setup and easily change this to suit different members of your household, so there are no excuses not to train.

A smart bike streamlines the training experience and although different units offer different features, all will measure power, provide resistance and connect to your favourite training apps, some even have a tilting mechanism that physically simulates virtual changes in gradient. Obviously much heavier than a turbo trainer, the ride feel is stable and realistic, and operation quiet enough so you won't disturb the neighbours.

One of the quietest direct drive turbo trainers on the market, the Tacx Flux S Smart Trainer allows you to train precisely, as it provides power readings to +/- 3%. For those partial to a bit of climbing the addition of incline simulation is a welcome one.

The ability to recreate gradients of up to 10% and sprints to 1500 watts make this really a do it all indoor trainer. ANT+ compatibility means you can pair it with a range of apps, so whether you are a fan of Watopia or love a spin on Whoosh you can ride in confidence, knowing you have a reliable connection.

For the ultimate indoor training setup you would be hard pressed to beat the Tacx Neo 3M Smart Trainer with its built-in multidirectional movement and a cutting-edge Neo magnet motor. The new integrated motion can be turned on and off and has been paired with an innovative Tacx virtual flywheel, enabling the trainer to simulate different road surfaces from cobbles to gravel.

Compatible with most training apps like the Tacx Training app, TrainerRoad, and Zwift, it can automatically upload your ride via the Garmin Connect app. The trainer can handle up to a 2200 watt max sprint and has 1% accuracy to cater to a broad range of power outputs. A feature we love are the LED lights which show how hard you're pushing through the colour range and change while riding and during efforts.

If you are running a trainer tyre yet feel the noise is still too intrusive, a turbo trainer floor mat will be a good addition to your setup. The anti-slip, waterproof finish protects surfaces from sweat, energy drinks and grease, while the thick material further reduces noise and helps damp vibrations.

Specific to Wahoo, the latest three trainers are compatible with the Wahoo KICKR CLIMB, a device that physically adjusts the bike's position relative to gradients on the virtual route. The KICKR HEADWIND is a smart fan that can run and adjust automatically according to fluctuations in heart rate or speed, or manually, so you can take control of your environment.