The Best Indoor Bike Trainers of 2025

While we’d almost always prefer to ride outside, sometimes it’s just not feasible. Limited daylight, inclement weather, and time commitments often conspire against us, so having the best bike trainer is a great way to maintain your fitness and stay on top of your training.

Love it or hate it, indoor training is a necessity for many serious cyclists in the fall, winter, and spring. For others, bike trainers can provide a level of control and efficiency that can be hard to replicate outdoors. Thankfully, there are more bike trainer options than ever before and more ways to maintain and improve your fitness from the comfort of your own home — or “pain cave.”

From high-end training tools like the Garmin TacX Neo 2T to the super-simple and affordable Alpcour Bike Trainer, we’ve got recommendations for all types of indoor riders and budgets. If you’re new to indoor bike training, our Ultimate Guide to Indoor Bike Training has all the info you need to get started.

Editor’s Note: We refreshed this guide for the fall and winter indoor riding season on October 15, 2024, with the addition of several recently tested models, including the affordable direct-drive Saris H3 Plus, the race warm-up ready Feedback Sports Omnium Overdrive, and the top-rated Garmin TacX Neo 2T.

The Best Bike Trainers of 2025

Best Overall Direct-Drive Bike Trainer: Garmin TacX Neo 2T
Best Overall Wheel-On Bike Trainer: Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP
Best Budget Direct Drive Bike Trainer: Saris H3 Plus
Best Budget Wheel-On Bike Trainer: Alpcour Bike Trainer Stand
Best Bike Trainer for Pre-Race Warm-Ups and Travel: Feedback Sports Omnium Over-Drive
Another Excellent Direct-Drive Bike Trainer: Wahoo Fitness KICKR Smart Trainer

Best Overall Direct-Drive Bike Trainer

Specifications

Type: Direct-drive
Smart: Yes
Max. Resistance: 2,200 watts
Accuracy: +/- 1%
Weight: 47 lbs.

Pros

Accurate power measurement
Super quiet
Stable
Steel frame
Simulated vibration

Cons

Expensive
No carry handle
No cassette included

Despite remaining unchanged since launching in 2019, the Garmin TacX Neo 2T’s ($900) realistic ride feel, quiet operation, smooth transitions in resistance level, and brilliant flywheel technology mean it’s still one of the best, perhaps the best, smart trainers available. Yes, Garmin recently launched the TacX Neo 3M ($1,999), but that has only made the awesome Neo 2T even more affordable — it used to sell for $1,400.

Compared to the masses of smart trainers, the Neo 2T has a more refined appearance that’s matched by a sturdy feeling during assembly. We had the whole thing unboxed and ready to go in a few minutes (or so we thought). It took us about 15 minutes to swap out the end caps to fit the 12×142 mm thru-axle on our test bike. Fortunately, that’s a one-time thing, but it would arguably make more sense to have it set up for thru-axles, which most modern bikes have.

We tested the Neo 2T with the optional TacX Neo Motion Plates ($300) that connect to the base. These plates allow the trainer and bike to move fore/aft as much as 50mm as you pedal to simulate how a bike feels on the road. This was a nice upgrade, as a completely static bike doesn’t feel all that realistic. The motion plates are easy to position and very secure during intense intervals and sprints.

Connecting the Neo 2T via ANT+ or Bluetooth was quick and easy. This enabled control of the trainer’s resistance using erg mode and recording all ride data to your head unit or preferred app. Power measurement throughout the test was consistent. While the numbers didn’t match our crank-based power meter perfectly at all times, the discrepancy was less than 1%.

Riding with Zwift on the Neo 2T was a delight, as it can simulate extreme climbing gradients of up to 25%, downhills, and even vibration over rough surfaces like cobblestones. All the transitions feel natural and as realistic as one can expect compared to riding outdoors.

The downhill simulation was especially fun, as the flywheel spins up to increase interia, mimicking the sensation of gathering speed over the tops of rollers. The Neo 2T’s virtual flywheel can simulate inertia up to 125kg, so there is almost limitless virtual speed based on how much power you can muster.

The Neo 2T boasts up to 2,200 W of resistance. While most will never come close to hitting that limit, this extremely high level of resistance allows the Neo 2T to better simulate the strain of riding at high power and low speed (aka climbing), especially for larger riders.

Lighting on the bottom of the trainer changes color in accordance with power output during the ride and adds some ambiance to the pain cave. Lights on the side of the Neo 2T indicate the connection to electrical power, ANT+, and Bluetooth. At 47 pounds, the Neo 2T is hefty and doesn’t have a handle, so it isn’t the easiest to move around. If you need to store it, however, it folds up neatly and can easily fit in any small closet.

If you’re serious about your indoor training, the Garmin TacX Neo 2T is a fantastic tool to take your fitness to the next level. With the money you save at the new lower price, we recommend picking up some motion plates for a more comfortable and realistic ride feel.

Best Overall Wheel-On Bike Trainer

Specifications

Type: Wheel-on
Smart: Yes
Max. Resistance: 1,500 watts
Accuracy: +/- 3%
Weight: 38 lbs.

Pros

Accurate power measurement for the cost
Relatively affordable
Competition-ready resistance
Less involved setup compared to direct drive

Cons

Price point too close to direct drive
Need to use a trainer tire
142 mm thru-axles require purchase of an adapter

The Wahoo KICKR SNAP ($350) is an impressive wheel-on trainer. It offers electromagnetic resistance that supports up to 1,500 W, ±3% accuracy in power measurement, and a smooth, realistic ride feel. Compared to the very good TacX Flow, the KICKR Snap is a more powerful and refined tool for indoor training at the same price.

The KICKR Snap is a “wheel-on” or “tire drive” trainer, meaning that it holds the rear axle of the bike, and the tire rolls on a drum that, in turn, spins the 4.7kg flywheel. That 4.7kg mass supports up to 1,500 W of resistance, which is a huge figure that most cyclists will never even come close to. But it’s nice to know that when competing on Zwift, you won’t run out of resistance during that race-winning sprint or attack, which is a distinct possibility with the TacX Flow, which is maxed at 800w of resistance.

LED lights indicate when sensors are paired via Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ protocols or if there is a connection issue that needs troubleshooting. We found pairing the KICKR Snap to training apps and cycling computers to be quick and easy and that the connections were reliable throughout testing.

The KICKR snap comes stock with hardware that accepts a quick-release rear axle of either 130 or 135mm in width. For current road, gravel, and CX bikes with 12×142 thru-axles, a hardware upgrade is available but must be purchased separately. That’s not ideal, considering 142 mm thru-axles have been around since 2017.

That added expense to run a current drop bar bike means that the small gap in price from the KICKR SNAP to entry-level direct-drive smart trainers is even smaller. This price point situation is the only major drawback to the KICKR. For not a lot more money — certainly, less than $200, if you look in the right place — Wahoo’s own KICKR Core and similar trainers can be had and will work seamlessly with any modern disc brake road, gravel, or CX bike right out of the box.

On the flip side, because of its wheel-on design, the KICKR SNAP can be moved around easily and frequently for race warm-ups or lunchtime training sessions at the office. It’s significantly lighter than any direct-drive trainer and more compact in size.

While we didn’t measure the decibels produced by the KICKR SNAP, we can say that for a wheel-on trainer, it’s relatively quiet. Riding in the inner chainring whenever possible will make the trainer run more quietly, as wheel speed — not wattage — dictates the noise level.

The KICKR SNAP feels stable and free of vibration. Like most trainers, it will feel even better when placed on a rubber mat, which is not included. Thankfully, a stabilizing block for the front wheel is included. The power cord is fairly short, but you can always use an extension cord to suit the requirements of your indoor training space.

If you want a wheel-on trainer that can handle a huge amount of power and supports all the indoor riding apps like Zwift, Sufferfest, and Trainer Road, then the KICKR SNAP is our top recommendation.

Best Budget Direct Drive Bike Trainer

Specifications

Type: Direct-drive
Smart: Yes
Max. Resistance: 2,000 watts
Accuracy: +/- 2%
Weight: 48.3 lbs.

Pros

Affordable for direct drive
Relatively quiet
Works great with Zwift and other apps
Folds up relatively small
Compatible with most axle sizes

Cons

Need to purchase a cassette – or swap from your bike
SRAM XD/XDR freehubs sold separately

While some direct-drive bike trainers will set you back well over a thousand bucks, the Saris H3 Plus ($700) bucks that trend with a more approachable price point — and it’s currently on sale for only $400, too. Just because it costs less doesn’t mean it isn’t great. In fact, this smart trainer performs nearly on par with the more expensive competition and is more than adequate for serious training sessions.

While the H3 Plus looks nearly identical to the H3, it is now 12-speed compatible for use with more drivetrain configurations, and the price has come down over the years, too. It still boasts a very sleek, fully enclosed design, a carry handle, fold-out legs for stability, and comes with adapters for use with most common axle sizes and widths.

Fortunately, the H3 Plus comes with a Shimano HG freehub, so it worked fine with our 11-speed Frankenstein setup on our gravel bike and will work with most Shimano and SRAM 8-12-speed road cassettes. If you run a cassette with SRAM XD or XDR, you’ll need to purchase a separate freehub.

Since the H3 Plus doesn’t come with a cassette pre-installed, you’ll need to take a little time to get it set up before the first use. If you have a spare cassette, that’s great. Otherwise, you’ll need to pull yours off your rear wheel and install it on the trainer.

If you have the tools and know-how, this only takes a few minutes, but also means that you’ll have to do that in reverse any time you want to ride that bike outside. Beyond that, you simply fold out the legs and adjust the stabilizer feet, then plug it in.

Like most smart trainers, the H3 Plus uses ANT+ and Bluetooth to sync to your devices and works with most of the popular training apps. We used it primarily with Zwift and found it to work pretty much perfectly. It adjusts resistance based on the terrain of the course you’re riding and simulates grades up to 20%.

Changes in resistance felt smooth and natural, and the maximum of 2,000 W is far more than pretty much anyone will ever need. While the ±2% accuracy falls short of the 1% of the TacX Neo 2T and the Wahoo KICKR, you’d be very hard-pressed to ever notice. We certainly didn’t.

In use, the H3 Plus is impressively stable. It never moved around unexpectedly, no matter how hard we mashed on the pedals. We also found it to be really quiet, with the sound of our poorly maintained drivetrain typically overpowering the noise coming from the trainer itself. At 48.3 pounds, it’s about the same weight as other direct-drive trainers, and the carry handle makes it fairly easy to move around, while the fold-in legs keep it compact for storage.

Unlike the Wahoo KICKR with its “axis feet” that allow some motion, the H3 Plus is very static which feels a bit less natural. We tested the H3 Plus with Saris’ MP1 Nfinity motion platform ($950), however, and were super impressed. The MP1 platform is big, kinda heavy, and expensive, but it simulates a natural ride feel better than anything else we’ve tried with fore/aft and rocking motion. It’s also compatible with any trainer that will fit on it, which is most of them.

While the Saris app is useful for firmware updates and calibration, that’s about all that it does. So, you’ll want to use other apps, like Zwift, TrainerRoad, etc., to get the most out of your training sessions. Beyond that, the Saris H3 Plus is a fantastic direct-drive model and an affordable way to make the most of your indoor riding.

Best Budget Wheel-On Bike Trainer

Specifications

Type: Wheel-on
Smart: No
Max. Resistance: Not specified
Accuracy: N/A
Weight: 20.2 lbs.

Pros

Price
Portability
Handlebar-mounted resistance control

Cons

Very basic
No app connectivity
Louder than others on this list

A solid option for riders on a budget, Alpcour’s Bike Trainer Stand ($160) provides a straightforward indoor riding experience in an inexpensive package. The adjustable axle clamp accommodates mountain and road bikes, while the magnetic flywheel provides six levels of resistance to simulate hills and intervals.

Make no mistake — this is a basic bike trainer, and it can’t compete with more expensive models in terms of features or finish quality. That’s also kind of the point. The simple design makes it easy to mount your bike, adjust resistance, and ride however you want with little fuss or connecting apps to your devices. We like the handlebar-mounted cable controller, which lets you adjust the resistance on the fly so you can adjust your intervals and hills as needed.

The mag wheel has built-in noise reduction to minimize whir, while the reduced friction increases the life of your bike. We found that it’s a bit louder than more expensive wheel-on models from Garmin, Wahoo, and Saris, so if you live in an upstairs apartment or have a baby sleeping in the other room, you might want to consider other options.

Still, the heavy-duty metal frame, wide base, and low stance provide good stability, and the anti-slip rubber feet keep you in place while cranking up a simulated hill. Given the lack of connectivity, you’ll need to simulate those hills yourself, of course, so hopefully, you’ve got some willpower and motivation to turn up the resistance from time to time.

Mounting your bike is quick and simple. Your bike attaches in via a quick-release lever, so the second the weather clears up, you can dismount your bike and hit the road. Similarly, if you’re tight on indoor training space, you can easily put it away between uses.

It’s designed mostly for indoor use, but its portability makes it a good choice for race-day warmups. It only weighs 20 pounds, plus it folds and can be stored and transported in the included bag, making it easier to haul around than most other trainers.

If you’re looking for something simple and affordable for self-regulated indoor cycling workouts, the Alpcour Bike Trainer is just that. It won’t knock your socks off with its performance, but it’ll get you moving and help you maintain fitness while helping to maintaining your bank account balance.

Best Bike Trainer for Pre-Race Warmips and Travel

Specifications

Type: Roller hybrid
Smart: No
Max. Resistance: n/a: Internal Progressive Resistance
Accuracy: n/a
Weight: 14 lbs.

Pros

High quality build
Extremely lightweight
Simple to operate and store
Portable – easy to take to races or when traveling

Cons

No connected features
225 lbs. weight limt
Fairly expensive for how simple it is

Smooth, ultralight, and beautifully built, the Omnium Over-Drive ($490) trainer from Feedback Sports is the perfect tool for your pre-race warm-ups, keeping fit on the road, or training in a tiny indoor space. At just 14 pounds, the Omnium folds up into a tidy package that can easily fit in the trunk of a car and then be carried to the race pits in the included travel bag. Or, if you’re living in a compact space, it’s super easy to store and set up the Omnium between training sessions.

Feedback has an uncanny ability to make the utilitarian objects of cycling look glamorous. Anodizing things cherry red helps, but aside from that, it’s obvious that the Omnium — along with Feedback’s workstands — is built to last and inspire you to actually use it.

The Omnium’s 4.25-inch diameter drums roll smoothly and produce a subtle whirring sound thanks to patented Internal Progressive Resistance via frictionless Eddy Current. This design accurately simulates the rolling resistance and wind resistance of outdoor cycling. Indeed, we were able to ride our middling FTP and even Vo2 power on the Omnium.

While we’re not exactly elite sprinters, we never even came close to spinning out the Omnium’s resistance. So, the Omnium could be a one-trainer solution for those with a power meter already on their bike who don’t need the “erg” mode found on many smart trainers to execute their workouts.

Up front, a sturdy tripod houses an adjustable fork mount that’s compatible with all axle standards from 9mm Q/R all the way up to 15×110 Boost. The hold on the fork is so stable that it can feel a bit strange at first because, conversely, the rear wheel is free to migrate laterally across the roller drums in concert with your pedal stroke.

We quickly got used to this feeling and enjoyed how stable everything felt while riding at any intensity level. Like any trainer, it will feel better when placed on a rubber mat. Sadly, even at $490, that’s not included.

So why wouldn’t you get the Omnium trainer? Well, it doesn’t have any connectivity and, therefore, doesn’t work with any of the training apps. You’ll need to train based on feel. It’s also fairly expensive, in line with low-end direct-drive smart trainers and more expensive than wheel-on versions. Obviously, those smart trainers are not nearly as portable and, therefore, fit a different use case than the Omnium.

So, the decision will likely hinge on whether you need to transport your trainer, either from the closet and back, or to your races and back, routinely. If the answer is yes, the Omnium is a no-brainer.

Best Rollers

Specifications

Type: Roller
Smart: No
Max. Resistance: N/A
Accuracy: N/A
Weight: 19 lbs.

Pros

Price
Portability
Balance
Bike control training

Cons

No adjustable resistance
No sensor connectivity

The simplest form of bike trainer is the roller. Basically a treadmill for your bike, a roller trainer consists of rolling tubes that your bike rides freely on top of. This trains not only your fitness and endurance but also your balance and bike control, as you have to work to keep the bike on the rollers. The Saris Aluminum Rollers ($300) are our favorite of this type for their combination of simplicity and sturdy design.

The durable steel frame sports a 16-inch wheelbase that provides plenty of room for any bike size and gives the rider a decent amount of room to move around. Designed for indoor or outdoor use, the rubber foot pads ensure that the rollers are the only things that move. The precision-lathed aluminum rollers won’t warp when exposed to heat or direct sunlight, making it ideal for warming up right before a big race.

Also, because it doesn’t need any power to run (besides your own), the lack of a battery makes it extremely light and portable at under 20 pounds. The Saris Rollers are just as easy to stash in the closet as they are to toss in the trunk to bring with you on race day.

And, since you don’t have to connect anything to the trainer, your bike is always ready to get back outside on warm days with no fuss. The lack of smart features and connectivity makes them a little less appealing these days, but the simplicity, durability, and affordability keep the Saris Rollers on our list.

Best of the Rest

Specifications

Type: Wheel-on
Smart: Yes
Max. Resistance: 800 watts
Accuracy: +/- 5%
Weight: 20.7 lbs.

Pros

Lightweight and folds small for storage
Easy to install and remove bike
Affordable for connected features
Quiet for a wheel-on trainer

Cons

Lower max. resistance
Not the best accuracy – but okay for wheel-on
Need a trainer tire

The Garmin TacX Flow ($370) is a relatively affordable wheel-on smart trainer, allowing users to ride structured workouts and compete on platforms like Zwift. At about one-third the cost of many smart trainers, it’s fair to ask what the Flow lacks and if, despite these shortcomings, it’s still a compelling option for a large cohort of cyclists. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely good enough for most of us.

The Flow’s magnetic brake and 1.6kg flywheel provide up to 800 W of resistance. 1.6 kg is tiny compared to the weight of the flywheels of many direct-drive smart trainers, which tend to weigh in around 10-15 kg. While 800 watts is less than competitive options from Wahoo and Saris, it’s more than adequate for the majority of recreational cyclists.

That said, race-winning efforts at the intermediate to advanced levels on Zwift might require wattage greater than 800 W. So, we see the Flow more as an alternative to riding outdoors in the winter versus the hub of a dedicated indoor training setup. If you’re seeking a wheel-on trainer for competitive Zwifting, the Wahoo KICKR SNAP can handle more power and is more accurate, too.

Another area where the Flow isn’t tip-top is the accuracy of power measurement, at ±5%. To their credit, TacX notes this in the marketing copy for the Flow trainer. While this variance could become more significant at sustained higher wattages, like an FTP test, broadly speaking, it isn’t going to hinder anyone’s progress toward meeting general fitness goals.

You can still record using your bike’s power meter, of course, if you need more precise measurements. The TacX Flow is capable of simulating gradients of up to 6%, whereas most smart trainers in the $1,000 neighborhood can reach closer to 20%.

The Flow’s frame has a wide stance and is filled with an elastic polymer, mitigating vibration for a quiet, smooth ride that accurately simulates riding on the road. Compared to the high-end TacX Neo 2T, the Flow is louder, and the road feel isn’t super realistic. That said, the bar set by the Neo 2T is very high, and for those who haven’t ridden a high-end smart trainer, the experience of riding the Flow won’t be underwhelming at all.

A small amount of assembly is required to connect the TacX Flow to your bike. It only took us about 5 minutes using two tools that are included in the box. The Flow can connect wirelessly to Garmin cycling computers via ANT+ and other devices with Bluetooth Smart. The experience of using Zwift was excellent from a connectivity standpoint.

Calibrating the Flow trainer through the TacX Utility app did take a bit of work, and on subsequent rides, we realized that it’s absolutely imperative to have identical tire pressure on every ride, as any change in that pressure will throw off the calibration of the resistance unit. An easy way to avoid having to recalibrate for each session is to just use a nice round number for tire pressure — we went with 90 psi.

Overall, we were impressed with the TacX Flow, given its modest price. For the rider who only has one bike — or who doesn’t want to mess with putting their wheel on and taking it off every time they hop on their trainer — this is a great option. For maintaining fitness with the added entertainment value of connected

Specifications

Type: Wheel-on
Smart: Yes
Max. Resistance: 1,500 watts
Accuracy: +/- 5%
Weight: 20.4 lbs.

Pros

Affordable
Connected features for use with training apps
Plenty of resistance
Pretty quiet for a wheel-on trainer
Folds small and is relatively lightweight
Easier to install and remove bike compared to direct-drive

Cons

Accuracy is so-so
Need a trainer tire
Need to purchase adapter for thru-axles

The Saris M2 Smart Trainer ($350) is another solid wheel-on trainer option. It combines connected features with user-friendliness to make it a good, but not standout, performer that all but the most serious indoor riders will likely appreciate. Similar to the Wahoo KICKR SNAP, it can handle some serious power, although it is a bit less accurate.

Convenience has always been one of the main selling points for wheel-on trainers, and the M2 Smart delivers. With folding legs and a 20-pound weight, its incredibly easy to store and move around when not in use. It’s awesome in tight spaces or if you don’t have a dedicated workout spce to leave a trainer set up all the time.

Mounting your bike is also impressively easy, and the clutch knob on the resistance roller means you don’t have to mess around with getting the tension perfect every time — it basically does it for you.

It comes ready to attach rear axles between 120 and 135 mm using the included quick-release skewer, but if you’re running a 12 mm thru-axle with 142 or 148 mm spacing, you’ll need to purchase an adapter separately. Beyond that concern, setup is pretty much a no-brainer. Of course, since it is a smart trainer, you’ll need to plug it into the included power cable, and connect to your favorite training app like Zwift or Rouvy.

When connected, the M2 Smart works very similarly to a direct-drive trainer in that it controls your workout and adjusts resistance based on the course you’re riding. It can simulate up to 1,500 W of resistance and grades up to 15%. And, since it uses integrated sensors for speed, cadence, and power, you don’t need to rely on an external speed sensor as you might on cheaper connected wheel-on trainers.

The caveat here is that accuracy is a bit lower at ±5%, so those who are data-obsessed may be left wanting. The Wahoo KICKR SNAP is the most accurate wheel-on trainer we’ve seen at ±3%. Still, the M2 is Zwift and Rouvy-certified.

Wheel-on trainers are generally a bit louder than modern direct-drive models, although Saris is closing that gap. When used with a smooth road tire, the M2 Smart produces a little noise but is barely noticeable from another room. This is in stark contrast to wheel-on trainers from a couple of decades ago, as those could be fairly obnoxious.

Otherwise, we found it to be stable and plenty capable of getting as good a workout as we wanted. Whether for casual spins to get the blood flowing or leg-searing climbs in Watopia, the M2 Smart gets the job done and then some. We even tried it with the MP1 platform which worked beautifully to provide a more realistic ride feel.

Bike Trainer Comparison Chart

Bike Trainer	MSRP	Type	Smart	Weight
Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer	$900	Direct drive	Yes	47 lbs.
Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP	$350	Wheel-on	Yes	38 lbs.
Saris H3 Plus	$700	Direct drive	Yes	48.3 lbs.
Alpcour Bike Trainer Stand	$160	Wheel-on	No	20.2 lbs.
Feedback Sports Omnium Over-Drive	$490	Roller hybrid	No	14 lbs.
Wahoo Fitness KICKR Smart Trainer	$1,000	Direct drive	Yes	47 lbs.
Saris Aluminum Rollers	$300	Roller	No	19 lbs.
Garmin Tacx Flow	$370	Wheel-on	Yes	20.7 lbs.
Saris M2 Smart Trainer	$350	Wheel-on	Yes	20.4 lbs.

How We Tested Bike Trainers

Testing the Wahoo KICKR bike trainer and the Wahoo KICKR Climb accessory — Bennett Shane testing the Wahoo KICKR and KICKR Climb; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Our Expert Testers

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Bennett is no stranger to inclement weather and has spent an inordinate amount of time riding indoors in the darker months or when the rain is falling — which it often does. As such, he has grown an appreciation for quality indoor workouts and has tried nearly every bike trainer on the market over the years. Since he doesn’t always ride inside, Bennett has contributed to winter apparel guides, including the best cycling jackets and our favorite winter cycling gloves.

As an aging competitive gravel and mountain bike racer, maintaining his fitness is incredibly important, particularly during the fall, winter, and spring, when snow often prohibits outdoor riding in the mountains where he lives. He’s no stranger to the pain cave, and he has an impressive collection of small fans which he uses to try and prevent large puddles of sweat from forming in his garage while he attempts to increase his FTP, which is still fairly low. In the warmer months, Jeremy tests a wide range of cycling gear, including the best mountain bike helmets, mountain bike shoes, and hitch bike racks.

The Saris M2 Smart Trainer and all of it parts before assembly and setup. — Initial assembly and setup of each trainer were performed before putting in months of indoor training sessions. The Saris M2 Smart trainer required about 15 minutes to put together; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

Our Testing Process

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Bike Trainer

Types of Bike Trainers

Riding the Feedback Sports Omnium Over-Drive indoor bike trainer — The Feedback Sports Omnium Over-Drive is a hybrid roller bike trainer that is super portable and great for warming up before races; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Rollers

Riding with the Garmin TacX Flow wheel-on bike trainer — Wheel-on trainers, like the Garmin TacX Flow, are convenient, and many now feature connectivity for use with training apps; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Wheel-On Trainers

Riding with the Garmin TacX Neo 2T direct-drive indoor bike trainer — Direct-drive bike trainers attach directly to your bike’s axle and drivetrain for the utmost stability, accurate power measurement, and most realistic ride feel. The Garmin TacX Neo 2T is one of the best on the market; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Direct-Drive Trainers

Speaking of data, direct-drive trainers are almost always “smart,” and they will connect to popular training apps via ANT+ or Bluetooth for virtual training sessions on Zwift, Rouvy, TrainerRoad, and more. Additionally, direct-drive trainers can provide the most realistic ride feel with “erg modes” that change resistance to simulate climbing hills, maintaining momentum, and coasting based on the terrain on virtual courses. In some cases, they even mimic different types of roads like gravel and cobblestone roads.

Testing the Saris and Wahoo Bike Trainer — Connecting smart trainers to training apps makes long hours in the garage feel more bearable; (photo/Darren Steinbach)

Connectivity & Training Apps

They can even let you ride real routes around the world from your garage, mimicking the distance, inclines, resistance, and, in some cases, even the texture of the road. Most apps also will put your virtual ride on a screen — laptop, tablet, or connected television — letting you see the course or views that you’d be seeing if you were out on your ride. For many indoor cyclists, this type of virtual riding is far more motivating, interesting, and engaging than staring at a wall or watching Netflix while you spin away the time.

The Wahoo Kickr smart trainer and its axis-feet — The Wahoo KICKR Smart Trainer comes with Axis-Feet to try and provide a little forgiveness while riding indoors; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Realistic Road Feel

The TacX Neo motion plates attached to the feet of the TacX Neo 2T bike trainer — Accessories like the TacX Neo motion plates can help make your TacX Neo trainer feel a touch more realistic by allowing up to 50 mm of fore/aft motion while riding; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Accessories

The Sari MP1 Nfinity platform and all of its parts — The Saris MP1 platform isn’t cheap, but it provides movement that makes riding indoors feel more like riding outside; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

Riding with the Wahoo KICKR Climb bike trainer accessory — Wahoo’s KICKR Climb raises and lowers the front end of your bike to simulate hills on virtual cycling courses; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Bike Compatibility

A bike attached to the Wahoo KICKR nanp wheel-on bike trainer — Wheel-on trainers like the Wahoo KICKR SNAP attach to the rear axle and apply pressure to the rear tire with the drum of the resistance unit; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Setting up the Saris H3 Plus with the included adapters — Saris includes a full set of adapter to make the H3 Plus compatible with the most common axle types and widths; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

Riding the Garmin TacX Neo 2T trainers indoors — Most direct-drive trainers, like the Garmin tacX Neo 2T, are impressively quiet; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Noise

Direct-drive trainers tend to be the least noisy. They’re more built-up, with bigger, enclosed units that usually sport sound-damping methods to ensure that the machine itself emits minimal noise. More importantly, there’s no sound from the wheels moving against rollers, as the bike’s drivetrain is attached directly to the trainer itself. Often, direct-drive trainers put out less noise than you would riding outdoors, as it’s just the sound of your drivetrain, and none coming from the wheels or tires.

Riding the portable Feedback Sport Omnium Over-drive bike trainer indoors — The Feedback Sports Omnium Over-Drive is the lightest and most easily portable bike trainer we’ve tried; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Storage and Portability

The Sari H3 Plus in its collapsed storage size — It weighs 48 pounds, but with the support legs folded in, the Saris H3 Plus barely takes up any storage space; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

The TacX Flow bike trainer set up with a bike attched — Wheel-on trainers like the TacX Flow are easy to set up, assuming you have the right axle adapters; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Ease of Setup

Direct-drive systems take a little more time and effort. You have to remove the rear wheel and attach the bike to the trainer’s cassette, which requires some familiarity with bike mechanics. As mentioned previously, you may need to switch around axle adapters to work with your axle size/type, and you may need to purchase a cassette or freehub body (or both) for compatibility with your drivetrain setup. Also, smart trainers require an initial setup to connect with apps and devices on their first use — and occasional firmware updates and/or calibration from time to time.

Riding the Garmin tacX Neo bike trainer indoors — Direct-drive trainers take more time to set up when you need to attach or remove the bike given the need to remove the rear wheel; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Durability

Riding the Garmin tacX flow bike trainer — Even a more affordable bike trainer like the Garmin TacX Flow has smart features and can provide a stellar indoor cycling workout: (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Price & Value

Budget

Mid-Tier

Climbing up above the $300 mark, we start to see trainers with smart features and connectivity for use with training apps. Generally, we also see higher-quality materials, more refined finishes, and a reduction in noise. The Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP ($350) is a high-quality wheel-on trainer with connected features. Not only will it pair with your devices and apps for data tracking and virtual training, but it can handle up to 1,500 W of power, boasts ±3% accuracy, and can simulate grades up to 12% — impressive stats for a wheel-on model.

Riding the Wahoo KICKR and Kickr climb — A premium setup like the Wahoo KICKR and KICKR Climb will cost you, but could be worth it if you’re serious about your indoor training; (photo/Ben Guernsey)

Premium

Frequently Asked Questions

The question of rollers versus wheel-on or direct-drive trainers depends on how you specifically want to train. How much you are willing to spend is also a factor.

Roller trainers are great for their simplicity and mobility. They’re great for riders who ride indoors and outdoors in equal measures because there’s no installation required. They tend to last a long time, they’re inexpensive, and they are easy to store and transport. This makes them a good option for travel and pre-race warm-ups.

The simplicity comes at a cost, however. Most traditional rollers do not have the power or “smart” capabilities of their more complicated counterparts — although some do these days.

On the other end of the spectrum are direct-drive trainers. They are on the top end of the price spectrum, and they’re often double the weight of roller trainers. They also take a bit of mechanical know-how to attach and remove your bike. On the other hand, they offer just about everything you’d need to optimize your training.

The power output for resistance is spectacular, and they can simulate inclines (we’ve seen some that go to 25%). Smart ones work with apps to allow you to participate in virtual races. You can also access training, track your workout statistics, and even replicate roads down to the texture. This is a huge bonus for cyclists who want to mimic riding outside.

Wheel-on trainers are in the middle range in price and features. They are heavier and generally louder than rollers, but not as expensive or complicated as direct-drive trainers. Wheel-on trainers tend to hit the sweet spot between price and utility for most cyclists and many now have smart connectivity.

In a word, no. Roller trainers are basically bike treadmills, so the only risk to your bike is you falling off the trainer. Wheel-on and direct-drive trainers put different forces on your frame than riding on the road or trail. Given the static nature of your bike secured in a trainer, it stands to reason that it might torque on your rear axle and frame in ways that could potentially be structurally harmful.

In fact, Specialized used to specifically say that its carbon bikes were not designed for use with a trainer. The company has changed its stance since then, citing new testing protocols. The most severe issue we’ve seen is wear on our rear tire after a winter of riding a wheel-on trainer inside. Of course, your drivetrain will also experience wear and tear, so you’ll want to account for that as well.

Beyond that, unless you’re consistently doing 1,000W sprint workouts, most indoor riders and their bikes should have nothing to worry about.

Wheel-on magnetic and fluid bike trainers can look the same as the bike trainer stand looks the same. Once you get them up to speed, the difference is apparent.

Magnetic bike trainers use a magnetic flywheel to provide resistance. The flywheel has a set of magnets that create resistance as they’re engaged. This lets you choose the amount of resistance by rotating a dial on the wheelfly hub. Some options let you do this via a cable that mounts on your bike’s handlebar.

Fluid trainers have an inner chamber that is filled with fluid that thickens as the flywheel picks up speed. This provides a smoother power increase as you ride and is a closer simulation to road riding. Fluid trainers are generally quieter than magnetic trainers as well.

Fluid trainers tend to cost more than magnetic bike trainers for the reasons listed above. When choosing a wheel-on trainer, weigh the options between your priorities and the cost.

You can use a bicycle trainer on carpet, but there are a few things to consider. A carpet and the padding underneath can stabilize your bike better than tile or concrete, as the trainer’s feet can sink into the material. The combination of bike, trainer, and cyclist adds up to a significant amount of weight. Over a long enough amount of time, your trainer can leave permanent dents in the carpet.

Also, you’re going to sweat a lot when you work out. Eventually, enough sweat will leave stains on a carpet. This can leave unsightly discoloration if you decide to move your trainer. In addition to sweat, your bike’s drivetrain may also shed some grease and grime, which can stain your carpet permanently. Some chain lube brands make trainer-specific lube formulas that shed less and are worth looking into.

If you’re going to ride in the living room on top of your carpet, a good, sturdy mat under the trainer will spread out the weight and minimize permanent dents. It’s also much easier to clean sweat and chain grease off a mat than out of a carpet. Many trainer brands sell trainer mats, and some may even come with one.

Until somewhat recently, smart trainers didn’t even exist and indoor cyclists had to change the resistance on trainers on their own. This took some serious motivation and will power, but plenty of people managed to maintain and even improve their fitness while riding inside. You can still get trainers without smart features, and even some of the connected models can be ridden without connecting to any apps.

When deciding whether or not you need a smart trainer, it’s important to consider your training goals, motivation, and tolerance for modern technology. If you’re simply trying to get the blood flowing and burn some calories while you watch TV, then a simple wheel-on trainer like the Alpcour may be a perfect fit. No power source, no apps, no fuss.

If you looking to build fitness through structured training or you enjoy the added motivation of virtual cycling on apps like Zwift and others, then a smart trainer is the way to go. The ability to track power data, automatic changes to resistance, group rides and races, all add up to an immersive experience that may be beneficial for many riders.

Smart trainers may cost a little more — the prices are coming down, though — but if they motivate you to ride more or reach your training goals, the added price is easy to justify.

Virtual training apps like Zwift and others have completely changed the indoor cycling game. There are plenty lots of trainers that work with Zwift. Zwift’s website has a list on its support page that shows trainers that support the app. It conveniently separates the trainers into four categories: direct-drive trainers, wheel-on trainers, indoor bikes, and even rollers.

This really depends on what you’re hoping to achieve. For people who want a road bike trainer to train specifically for cycling, an indoor trainer is the better option.

Indoor trainers mimic the feeling of riding an actual bike while riding on a stationary bike stand. They can simulate the hills, sprints, and even road textures that riding outside entails.

Indoor trainers also let you use your own bike, so you’ll be more prepared to ride outside when the weather clears up. They’re also lighter and more portable, so you can store them when they’re not in use.

If your goal is to get in shape and you aren’t necessarily concerned with your cycling performance, a stationary bike is a great option. They’re generally quieter, they don’t require you to use their own bike, and there’s no setup required after the initial setup: it’s always ready to ride.

They take up more space, however, so if you don’t have a spot in your house specifically for working out, this may not be the option for you.