It’s that time of year when the temperature begins to dip daily (in most parts of the country) and we are left with fewer daylight hours to fit outside rides into our busy schedules. Thankfully, indoor riding setups just keep getting better—and more entertaining. Several companies have debuted new or updated models (or have plans to do so in the very near future) that can take your living room trainer sessions to a whole new level. All of the trainers on this list are smart trainers, meaning you can connect them to any ANT+ or Bluetooth device that will display and record your data, and sync up with third-party apps like Zwift and The Sufferfest to reflect resistance changes in your virtual course. While riding inside is definitely a necessary evil if you want to maintain fitness through colder months, trainers and bikes like these allow you to have a much more realistic-feeling experience, and in turn encourage you to ride harder and longer. Check ’em out below.
Elite Suito
elite Elite Suito Direct Drive Smart Trainer
elite Elite Suito Direct Drive Smart Trainer
Pros
- Smooth transitions
- Cassette included
Cons
- Maximum resistance only 15% grade
The sturdy steel Suito is the best new trainer we tested this year. It comes pre-installed with a Shimano 11-speed cassette and pre-assembled legs. Compared with the company’s top-end model, the Drivo II, this direct-drive trainer sacrifices only a smidge of accuracy (+/-2.5% vs. +/-0.5%) but offers faster resistance transitions and the freedom to ride untethered (the Drivo II is managed through the company’s My E-Training app, which costs $18.95 a year)—all for $400 less. And when disconnected from the virtual world, the Suito offered the most generous momentum experience of any other trainer in this test—in other words, resistance doesn’t top out the faster you go.
Elite Tuo
$499; available November 2019
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This friction trainer looks like a mid-century mod kitchen appliance, and delivers a lot of useful features. The bamboo front legs absorb some vibration for a smoother ride. The magnetic resistance unit is based on prior Elite models, but has a new algorithm to better manage inertia for more realistic acceleration and decelerations. Two dials in the back make it easy to find the right resistance for your wheel size, and an oversize level at the axle allows you to lock your bike in bike in place with one hand. When you’re done it folds up into a compact little box.
Tacx Neo 2T
$1,400 Buy Now
The Neo 2T (the T stands for torque) is the latest version of the company’s direct-drive Neo 2. Upgrades include 12mm thru-axle compatibility, a double-sided power meter that measures power balance from one leg to the other, and the ability to replicate up to a 25 percent grade’s worth of resistance at a minimum of 5 miles per hour (the previous version slowed down below 7 mph on a climb, for example, and didn’t require as much of an effort to maintain speed). The result is a more realistic, outdoor-like ride experience as well as the trainer’s ability to mimic gravel on Zwift: An optional function (as in, you can turn it off if you don’t want it) allows the trainer to vibrate slightly as you ride over virtual gravel sections. Tacx also claims the newest version is quieter and smoother.
Saris H3 Direct Drive Smart Trainer
CycleOps Saris CycleOps H3 Direct Drive Smart Bike Trainer, Zwift Compatible
CycleOps Saris CycleOps H3 Direct Drive Smart Bike Trainer, Zwift Compatible
Pros
- Very quiet
- Incredibly smooth resistance changes
- Easy to store
Cons
If you’re familiar with the CycleOps H2 direct-drive smart trainer, then you’re familiar with the Saris H3—nearly the same CycleOps product, with new Saris branding. The H3’s numbers are identical to the H2’s—2,000 watts, 20% max incline, +/-2% accuracy. And like the H2, the H3 is compatible with the most popular virtual cycling platforms via ANT+, FE-C, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. And while pairing to those apps is simple, that’s not the case with the Saris companion app, which is prone to crashing and generally just annoying to use. Fortunately, you really only need it for software updates and to calibrate the trainer. And if you want to just plug in and ride, no app is needed. Resistance changes on the H3 are as pleasantly smooth as the best trainers we’ve tested. And that dead feeling often associated with heavy flywheels isn’t as noticeable on the H3—it provides enough momentum to simulate “real” ride feel without feeling sluggish.
Wahoo Kickr Bike
The all-new Wahoo Kickr Bike smart trainer is a training station that’s always ready when you are; just get on it and ride. As a standalone machine, it doesn’t require you to install anything on it but pedals, and even comes with platform pedals so you can ride it right out of the box. It connects with a large range of training apps (Zwift, Sufferfest, TrainerRoad, etc.) on your laptop or TV screen, and provides unmatched real-feel feedback to the rider based on the terrain in the game. It has integrated sensors that measure your cadence and power output (with +/-1% accuracy power output up to 2,200 watts) so you can fully connect with the training app of your choice. It has five different adjustment points: standover height, saddle height, setback, reach, and stack height. The easiest and most accurate way to use it is with the Wahoo Fitness App, which allows you to take photos of your outdoor bike and gives you the measurements for which to adjust the Kickr Bike to mirror the exact geometry you need.
Stages StagesBike
$2,600 and up; available early 2020
Not to be confused with the company’s spin bikes, which are direct drive and don’t let you coast, the StagesBike has a 50-pound flywheel that does allow you to coast and provides a more realistic ride feel than a lighter flywheel would. It also has a drop handlebar instead of cow-horns—if you don’t like it, you can swap in your favorite bar to replicate your outdoor bike. The StagesBike has an integrated Stages LR dual-sided power meter and offers up to 3,000 watts of resistance and uses shift/brake levers to simulate shifting and braking by adjusting the unit’s electronically controlled resistance. It offers tool-free reach, stack, and saddle-position adjustment, and has four crank-arm-length positions (165, 170. 172.5, 175mm). Its driven with a smooth, quiet, lube-free Gates belt drive.
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Xpedo APX Pro
$1,099; available early 2020
The pedal company decided to enter the indoor trainer game this year and debuted the all-new APX Pro at Eurobike. The direct-drive smart trainer comes with built-in power, speed, and cadence sensors as well as ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to pair it with third-party training apps. It gives riders about five degrees of yaw angle in either direction at the hub, allowing for a less rigid, more realistic road feel. The feet fold in so you can store the trainer more discreetly. It doesn’t come with a cassette, however, so users will need to install one.
Riley Missel is an experienced road racer, mountain biker, national champion on the track, and a former Bicycling editor. She is a USA Cycling-certified Level 1 coach, a loud and very stoked Spin instructor, and she will definitely stop the ride to pet that dog.
