How to Choose a Bike Trainer? Spend Your Money Wisely!

How to Choose a Bike Trainer? An example of a wheel-on and direct-drive trainer, rollers, and bike simulator

Based on my experience, discussions with pro cyclists, and in-depth market research, I explain the benefits and disadvantages of different bike trainers so you spend money on your next bike trainer wisely.

You find out who are individual types of bike trainers suitable for, what to expect in every price range, and much more. You can also take advantage of my tips on accessories and useful resources to kick off your indoor training.

KEY TAKEAWAY

If you are on a tight budget, consider getting a wheel-on bike trainer. Remember, though, it will be challenging to stay motivated because it usually can’t automatically adjust resistance like a smart bike trainer. The latter is the best option for most people as they are more engaging, especially with indoor cycling apps. Rollers and smart bikes are niche-specific.

Continue reading for more info.

What Is a Bike Trainer?

Before I dive into the individual bike trainer types, let me quickly explain what bike trainers are and why they are so popular.

A bike trainer is a device that allows you to mount a bike for a pre-race warm-up (eventually a post-race cooldown) or indoor training. There are many types of bike trainers. The two basic types are wheel-on and direct-drive bike trainers. Bike trainers also differ in resistance type.

With the boom of indoor training apps like Zwift, ROUVY, TrainerRoad, etc., bike trainers are a useful accessory not only for pro cyclists but also for advanced and casual riders who want to maintain their fitness during winter.

Here are the three main benefits of bike trainers:

  1. Bad weatherproof – You don’t have to worry about cold, rainy, or windy weather with an indoor bike trainer. Instead, you can jump on a bike and start riding whenever you want, despite the outside conditions.
  2. Time-efficient – indoor bike training is more time-efficient than outdoor training. Unfortunately, most of us don’t live in a perfect area for bicycle training. A bike trainer allows you to set the resistance so you can do recovery, endurance, or interval rides from your living room, basement, or garage at any time.
  3. No interruptions – you know the feeling when you have just started an interval, and suddenly you come across an intersection or increased traffic. If you train indoors, you don’t have to worry about this. Plus, it is safe.

How to Choose a Bike Trainer?

In this section, you learn what types of bike trainers are there, who they are suitable for, and what to be aware of when purchasing them.

Here are the main features to consider:

  1. Type of bike trainer (wheel-on, direct-drive, bike simulator…)
  2. Resistance type (wind, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid)
  3. Price
  4. Accuracy
  5. Bike Compatibility
  6. Noisiness
  7. App & Device Compatibility
  8. Stability

Type of Bike Trainer

The market is flooded with various types of bike trainers. So which one is right for you? Let me explain bike trainer types, their advantages and disadvantages, and who they are for.

Types of bike trainers (wheel-on, direct-drive, bike simulators, rollers).
Basic types of bike trainers | Product picture source: garmin.com

Wheel-on Trainers

Wheel-on trainers allow you to mount your bike without taking off your rear wheel. The rear wheel is then set up against a roller that provides resistance.

Elite Novo Force Mag Trainer on a wooden floor.
Wheel-on bike trainer (Elite Novo Force)

Depending on the price range, wheel-on trainers use different types of resistance. The lower-end models use wind or magnetic resistance. The more advanced trainers use fluid resistance (learn more).

TIP: Browse these fluid bike trainers.

The price of the trainer also determines how you can change the resistance (either using a dial / remote control or it changes the resistance automatically based on the training app).

These trainers are the most affordable. They are also very portable, and you can use them with almost any bike type (double-check the bike compatibility).

The lower-end models are noisy and don’t provide a realistic riding feel. This means they won’t keep you as engaged and can bore you quickly (especially the non-smart models).

They can also smell like burning rubber (because of the friction between the tire and the cylinder).

Pros of Wheel-on Trainers

  • More affordable than direct-drive trainers
  • Compatible with many types of bikes
  • Take up less space than direct-drive trainers and are more portable

Cons of Wheel-on Trainers

  • Worse riding characteristics than direct-drive trainers
  • Less stable than direct-drive trainers
  • Low-end models are often not “smart” and, therefore, not compatible with training apps
  • Usually noisier than direct-drive trainers
  • Can smell like burning rubber due to the tire-cylinder friction

Who are wheel-on trainers ideal for?
Thanks to their affordability, wheel-on trainers are great for people with a limited budget. However, the lower-end models are pretty noisy, so they are not very suitable for apartments but rather for people who don’t have neighbors.
If you don’t have a non-smart trainer but a power meter, you can use them with training apps. More dedicated cyclists should think about buying a smart trainer.

What is a smart bike trainer?
A smart bike trainer can control the resistance based on the instructions from a training app. This means the resistance increases or decreases depending on the terrain (climb, flat, descent).

Direct-drive Trainers

Direct-drive trainers (sometimes called wheel-off trainers) have an attachment mechanism with a cassette*. This means you must remove your rear wheel and mount your bike directly in the bike trainer.

*The cassette is not always included, so you may need to buy it separately.

Wahoo KICKR v5 from the rear right side on a wooden floor.
Direct drive smart trainer (Wahoo KICKR)

Direct-drive trainers are more expensive than wheel-on trainers but provide better riding characteristics and stability. The power transmission is also much more efficient.

One of the biggest benefits of direct-drive trainers is their quiet operation. Some direct-drive trainers are so quiet that your bike’s drivetrain causes the only noise.

Most direct-drive trainers are “smart,” so you can use them with most cycling training apps.

Pros of Direct-drive Trainers

  • Better riding characteristics than wheel-on trainers
  • More stable than wheel-on trainers
  • Usually “smart” and compatible with training apps
  • Very quiet

Cons of Direct-drive Trainers

  • More expensive than wheel-on trainers
  • Take up more space than wheel-on trainers
  • They require accessories like a cassette
  • They may not be compatible with every bike

Who are direct-drive trainers ideal for?
Direct-drive trainers are suitable for experienced, demanding, and performance-oriented riders. They are usually quiet, so you can use them in apartments without disturbing your household members or neighbors. In addition, most direct-drive trainers are “smart,” so you can use them with training apps like Zwift. However, due to their construction and weight, it is better to have a dedicated training area.

You might also be interested in finding out whether to invest in a smart trainer or power meter.

Bike Simulators / Smart Bikes

Bike simulators, also called smart bikes, can completely replace your bike with a trainer. These sophisticated devices are equipped with everything you need for indoor training.

Wahoo KICKR Bike on a Wahoo KICKR trainer mat in front of a TV
Smart bike (Wahoo KICKR Bike)

They provide excellent riding characteristics and efficient power transfer. For example, it is possible to train sprints thanks to their excellent stability. Of course, you can adjust the bike fit to your needs.

One of their biggest disadvantages is the high price, making them more of a product for passionate riders. They also require a dedicated training area or space.

Pros of Bike Simulators

  • Great riding characteristics and efficient power transfer
  • Stable, quiet, and clean
  • Highly adjustable
  • Don’t require mounting your bike

Cons of Bike Simulators

  • Very expensive
  • Not portable

Who are bike simulators ideal for?
If money is not an object for you and you take cycling seriously, a bike simulator will provide you with the best riding characteristics possible while being quiet. However, you will need a dedicated training area because bike simulators are not portable.

Further reading
How to choose a smart bike?
Smart bike trainer or smart bike: Which one to Choose?

Rollers

Rollers are not like standard bike trainers but are often used for indoor training or pre-race warm-ups. They consist of three cylinders that act as a “floor” for your bicycle. When pedaling, the rollers rotate so you can pedal in place.

How To Ride The Rollers – A Beginner's Guide
How to start riding rollers

The main advantages of the rollers are their easy adjustment for many types of bikes and relatively quiet operation (unless you are riding them with knobby tires). At the same time, they will make you improve your pedaling technique and strengthen your core muscles because you have to balance to avoid falling off them.

Pros of Rollers

  • Easy to setup
  • Affordable (price similar to low-end direct-on bike trainers)
  • Relatively quiet
  • Portable
  • Improve pedaling technique and balance
  • Compatible with almost any type of bike

Cons of Rollers

  • Limited resistance
  • Take time to get used to (not very beginner-friendly)
  • Require a lot of concentration

Who are rollers ideal for?
Rollers are perfect for all riders who want to improve their pedaling technique and strengthen core muscles. Thanks to their portability, they are suitable for people with limited space. It takes some to get used to them, and they are not very suitable for long training sessions because they require a lot of concentration.

TIP: Learn more about the differences between rollers and bike trainers.

Resistance Type

You will encounter different resistance types when buying a wheel-on or a direct-drive trainer. These include:

  • Magnetic resistance
  • Electromagnetic resistance
  • Fluid resistance (are becoming obsolete)
  • Wind resistance (wind resistance trainers are obsolete)

NOTE: Even rollers can have a resistance mechanism. It is usually (electro)magnetic.

The question is, does the resistance type matter?

Yes, it does because it affects the trainer’s price and other features like the ride feeling and noise. The following table shows their advantages and disadvantages.

Type of ResistanceProsCons
Wind• Cheapest
• Progressive resistance
• Very noisy
• Lack of resistance adjustability
Magnetic• Relatively affordable
• Quieter than wind trainers
• Manually adjustable resistance
• Linear resistance
• Maximum resistance level
Electromagnetic• Adjustable resistance based on 3rd party apps
• Very quiet
• Expensive
• Require electricity
Fluid• Progressive resistance translating into
a very realistic riding feel
• Quieter than wind and magnetic trainers
• No maximum resistance level
• Expensive
• Lack of resistance adjustability
Pros and cons of wind, magnetic, electromagnetic, and fluid bike trainers | Sources: cyclistshub.com, youtube.com, medium.com (The Pacemaker)

What is progressive resistance?
The progressive resistance means that the more you pedal, the higher the resistance. It is common on fluid and air resistance trainers. This resistance type is closer to outside riding conditions because the air resistance increases exponentially the faster you ride. The opposite of the progressive resistance is the linear resistance (used on low-end wheel-on trainers).

You might also be interested in my comparison of magnetic vs. fluid bike trainers or a more in-depth explanation of how bike trainers work.

Price

Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t have an unlimited budget, so we must compromise. So, what type of trainer can you expect at every price point?

Price rangeTrainer
Up to $300Low-end wheel-on bike trainers
Rollers
$300-500Smart wheel-on bike trainers
Rollers with resistance
$500-1500Direct-drive bike trainers
Above $2000Bike simulators/smart bikes
The estimated price ranges for different types of bike trainers.

The price usually determines the features I explain more in-depth below.

Accuracy

When buying a smart trainer, you should care about its data accuracy. It determines the power deviation. This means that if you ride at 250W and the trainer has an accuracy of 3%, the real watts can vary between 242.5-257.5W.

Power chart of my ERG mode test of Tacx NEO 2T.
One of the accuracy tests I did

The general rule of thumb is the more expensive the trainer, the better the accuracy. High-end trainers have an accuracy of ±1% to ±2%. Mid-range around 3%, and low-end around ±5%.

The following table shows the power deviation for different power outputs and accuracy levels.

Accuracy250W500W1000W2000W
1%247.5-252.5495-505990-10101980-2020
2%245-255490-510980-10201960-2040
3%242.5-257.5485-515970-10301940-2060
4%240-260480-520960-10401920-2080
5%237.5-262.5475-525950-10501900-2100
Bike trainer accuracy for specific accuracy rate (1%, 2%...) and power output (250W, 500W, 1000W, 2000W)

Bike Compatibility

Not every bike trainer is compatible with every bike. You may need to return your new bike trainer if you skip double-checking it.

Information about the compatibility of the trainer can usually be found on the product pages.

For example, the following disclaimer can be found on the Wahoo website:

Wahoo Compatibility Disclaimer | Source: wahoofitness.com

Wahoo also explains the compatibility of its KICKR trainers in the following video.

Is My Bike Compatible with the KICKR Indoor Bike Trainer?
Wahoo KICKR compatibility explained

Noisiness

The noisiness of the trainer will affect not only how pleasant your ride without headphones will be but also whether you annoy your neighbors.

Especially if you live in an apartment, a noisy trainer can be a problem. Fortunately, technology is moving fast forward, and buying a quiet trainer is no longer a problem.

Read these proven tips on how to make a bike trainer quieter.

The silent trainers are usually more expensive, but this investment will pay off. Trust me.

When I talk about quiet trainers, I mean trainers with a noise level of around 55 dB. The drivetrain of your bike will cause more noise than the trainer itself. I measure trainers’ noisiness during my reviews, which fluctuates around 60 dB.

You can also watch the following video that compares three quiet bike trainers.

Finding The QUIETEST TRAINER 2019: Sound Test Tacx NEO 2 vs Wahoo KICKR 18 vs STAC ZERO
Bike trainers’ noisiness measured

App & Device Compatibility

When buying a trainer, double-check their compatibility with applications and devices. Suppose you want to use popular applications such as Zwift, ROUVY, TrainerRoad, etc. In that case, looking for just a “smart trainer” is not enough because:

  1. Interactive smart bike trainers can adjust the resistance based on the training app (ZwiftROUVYTrainerRoadetc.).
  2. Noninteractive smart bike trainers can’t adjust the resistance but can transmit your ride data to the training app. These usually include fluid-smart trainers such as Elite Turno. Due to their nature and low popularity, they are becoming obsolete.

TIP: Check out the Best Bike Trainers for Zwift.

DC Rainmaker wrote a great article on this topic, so I recommend reading it if you are a tech geek. In summary, if you want to use your smart bike trainer via a desktop app, you will need an ANT+ USB adapter that ensures connectivity with your computer and trainer.

Stability

The stability of the trainer is important if you are used to training sprints, for example. Bike simulators are known for excellent stability. Low-end wheel-on trainers are on the other side of the spectrum.

However, stability varies between models, and if you can’t try the trainer before you buy it, you have to rely on reviews from other customers.

Some bike trainers (like a Kinetic Rock and Roll trainer) even allow side-to-side movement. This is great for a more realistic ride feel. Recently, manufacturers like Tacx and Wahoo developed solutions (Tacx NEO Plates and Wahoo KICKR Move) to improve riding comfort and realisticness.

Bike Trainers Accessories

Bike trainer accessories to make your indoor training more enjoyable. Some accessories can even help you perform better.

I admit that buying an indoor bike trainer and its accessories is costly. The good news is you don’t have to buy them all at once. You can slowly collect them over time.

So, what accessories should you get?

  • Fan – to cool you down. Trust me, you will overheat without it, and you won’t perform well.
  • Towel – to wipe off excessive sweat.
  • Bike trainer mat – to keep your floor clean from sweat and your neighbors from the noise.
  • Trainer tire (for direct-drive trainers) – to get better traction for your powerful accelerations.
  • Front wheel riser block – to keep you level and stable.
  • Rocker plate – to make your ride more comfortable, engaging, and fun.
  • Sweat guard – to keep your bike clean and protect bolts from corroding.
  • Phone mount and wireless headphones – to keep yourself entertained if you don’t have a TV or PC.

Useful Indoor Training Resources

If you decide to give indoor training a go, I recommend checking out the following resources:

  • Indoor cycling beginner guide – My in-depth guide on how to get started.
  • Zwift – One of the most popular indoor cycling apps with a completely virtual world.
  • ROUVY – An indoor cycling app with maps from the real world.
  • Zwift Hub – includes everything you need to know about Zwift worlds, routes, achievements, etc.
  • Zwift Insider – tracks Zwift updates and provides tips, tricks, and guides on squeezing the maximum potential out of Zwift.
  • What’s on Zwift – is a database of worlds and workouts on Zwift.
  • GCN Indoor training – guided video training sessions.
  • This Is ANT – for checking ANT+ device compatibility.

Summary

If you are one of the more casual riders who want to relax occasionally, I recommend buying a cheap wheel-on trainer with magnetic resistance.

Advanced riders, for whom cycling is an important part of their routine but have a more limited budget, can reach for more affordable smart trainers with fluid or magnetic resistance.

Thankfully, the prices of bike trainers are decreasing, and indoor cycling apps’ quality is constantly improving. So, I recommend buying a smart interactive trainer with electromagnetic resistance for the best possible indoor cycling experience.

Bike Trainers FAQ

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