Find the best indoor bike trainer for you with a little help from Saris.
Whether you’re training for an event or looking for a way to stay on your bike in the cold or rainy weather, indoor cycling trainers have likely already made their way into your routine.
Indoor cycling has a range of benefits, including time efficiency, uninterrupted rides, beating bad weather, and more.
And, these days, indoor cycling trainers are even more connected than ever. With Bluetooth® connectivity and ANT+, smart bike trainers can now connect to your smartphones, computers, and GPS devices, allowing you to easily measure your heart rate and power output, program resistance, and even simulate rides, all while connecting with your friends via indoor cycling apps.
With so many different indoor cycling trainers to choose from, finding the right one can feel overwhelming.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
In this bike trainer buying guide, we’ll review some key considerations when purchasing a new indoor cycling trainer.
Let’s get started!
Types of Indoor Cycling Trainers
Bike trainers fall roughly into three categories: Wheel-on, direct-drive, and rollers.
Wheel-on Bike Trainers
The most compact and affordable option, wheel-on bike trainers attach to the axle of your bike’s rear wheel and create resistance using a roller pressed against the tire.
- - Pros:
o Initial setup is very fast
o Lightweight and portable
o Low price point
- - Cons:
o Noisy operation
o Less precise power readings
o Can cause wire tear
Ideal for: Cyclists on a budget.
Direct Drive Bike Trainers
On this style of indoor cycling trainer, the rear wheel is removed and its mechanism is mounted directly to your bike’s drivetrain. As the cassette and hub of the trainer turn, magnets or a belt transfer the movement to your trainer’s resistance unit.
- - Pros:
o Quiet operation
o Lifelike road experience
o Precise power measurement
o Greater stability
- - Cons:
o Requires removal of the rear wheel
o More expensive
o Take up more space
Ideal for: Experienced, demanding, and performance-oriented riders.
Typically used for indoor training or pre-race warmups, rollers consist of three cylinders that act as a “floor” for your bike by rotating as you pedal.
- Pros:
o Compatible with almost any bike type
o Improve pedaling technique and balance
o Relatively quiet operation
- Cons:
o Some initial difficulty in use
o Limited resistance
o Require a lot of concentration
Ideal for: Cyclists who want to improve their pedaling technique and strengthen core muscles.
Smart Bike Trainers
For a trainer to be considered “smart,” it must measure user output, provide user-controlled resistance in the form of watts and grade simulation, be compatible with third-party apps like Zwift and ROUVY, and use ANT+ FE-C or Bluetooth Smart communication.
Smart bike trainers let you track real-time metrics and participate in virtual rides and challenges while delivering an extremely immersive, realistic ride.
For most, these real-time workout feedback and social riding features can be a huge game changer. If you’re looking to stay connected via apps like Zwift, ROUVY, and more, look out for a smart bike trainer or purchase add-on sensors separately. And if you have a favorite app, make sure your trainer is compatible before buying.
Resistance Types
Indoor cycling trainers come in three basic resistance types, magnetic, fluid, and wind.
Magnetic/Electromagnetic
Indoor cycling trainers with magnetic/electromagnetic resistance allow easy adjustments via wired resistance controls that are typically mounted to the handlebars or adjusted on an app. The ability to increase and decrease resistance allows for wider training options and greater compatibility with virtual training rides.
- Pros:
o Easy resistance adjustments
o Quiet operation
- Cons:
o Require electricity
Fluid
Bicycle trainers with fluid resistance operate on a flywheel or propeller that creates resistance by spinning through a liquid, so the faster you pedal, the greater the resistance. These indoor bike trainers tend to be quieter and offer the most realistic, road-like feel with a progressive resistance curve that mimics the effect of changing gears on the road.
- Pros:
o Progressive resistance creates realistic road feel
o Quieter than wind and magnetic trainers
o No maximum resistance level
o Easy operation
- Cons:
o Can’t adjust resistance in increments
Wind
Indoor cycling trainers with wind resistance offer the same progressive resistance as fluid trainers but at a cheaper price. These trainers use an integrated flywheel which creates wind resistance as the user pedals and simulates the feeling of riding outdoors.
- Pros:
o Low price point
o Progressive resistance creates realistic road feel
- Cons:
o Noisy
o Can’t adjust resistance in increments
Additional Factors to Consider
Bike Compatibility
Indoor cycling trainers can fit a wide range of bikes, but you need to double-check your bike and trainer’s specifications to be sure. Most trainer brand websites will have fit guides, so you can make sure your fit is just right.
Noise
Over the years, indoor cycling trainers have gotten significantly quieter; nowadays, most of the sound generated comes from the drivetrain of your bike – not the trainer mechanism. Look for a quiet indoor bike trainer that will keep the volume down, so you can get a good ride in without disturbing others.
Expected Use
If you plan on using your indoor bike trainer several times a week, it may be worth splurging on a smart bike trainer that offers real-time data and app connectivity. Otherwise, if you’re looking for something a bit less intensive, friction bike trainers are a great, affordable option for occasional use.
Ease of Use
Direct-drive and flywheel trainers are fairly easy to use, even for a beginner, because they’re secure and stable. Rollers, on the other hand, require reliance on your own movement to stay balanced, so be prepared to fall over a few times before you can really get things going.
Price
Indoor trainers come in a wide range of prices, with wheel-on or friction trainers typically being the least expensive and direct-drive and smart trainers typically being the most expensive. Ultimately, your choice will depend on your specific needs and budget, but Saris offers plenty of affordable bike trainers for every price point.
Accessories
Make your indoor training session even more enjoyable with accessories that will keep you and your trainer performing better, longer.
For the perfect setup, we recommend the following accessories:
- Fan: Cool you down and mimic the feel of riding outdoors
- Bike Trainer Mat: Protect your floor from sweat and absorb vibration and noise
- Phone Mount and Wireless Headphones: Keep you entertained while you ride
- Trainer Tire: Get better traction and avoid ruining your wheel on direct-drive trainers
- Front Wheel Riser Block: Level your bike and add stability to your ride
- Sweat Guard: Protect your bike frame from corrosive sweat
- Hydration and Nutrition: Fuel up during the session or recover afterward
Final Thoughts
The best indoor bike trainers will let you simulate your ideal bike ride, right from the comfort of your home.
If you’re on the hunt for a great indoor cycling trainer, you can’t go wrong with any of the quality bike trainers by Saris.
For more help choosing a bike trainer for home use, check out Bike Trainers 101 and read up on the differences between Saris trainers.