The best indoor bike trainers for 2020: Tacx, Wahoo, Saris and more

The Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer is not your grandmother’s bike trainer. OK, your grandmother probably didn’t have a bike trainer, but my point is that this thing is intense – in the best way. Although you can use the Neo 2T as a standalone trainer, I focused on testing its smart training features by connecting it to the Tacx Training app, which is free for basic features but one for accessing premium features Requires $ 12 to $ 17 monthly subscription.

With the app, which is similar to Zwift, you can connect your trainer via Bluetooth and choose from various workouts or “films” that guide you through simulated roads and inclines of up to 25%. The result was almost incredibly realistic and made for a serious driving experience. If I had closed my eyes, I would have thought I would drive up the slopes of the Dolomites.

The trainer was super quiet, which is nice if you are an early riser who wants to do some exercise without waking up the rest of your house. And although I personally don’t have the leg strength or endurance to reach the Neo 2T’s 2,200 watt power limit, it stayed stable even at my personal high speeds without shaking.

However, there are a few things you need to consider with this trainer. The Neo 2T Smart Trainer is the only one on this list that requires the rear wheel and cassette of your bike to be completely removed. And to do the job properly, you need special tools. Also note that the Tacx Neo 2T is equipped with several spacers to make your bike fit, but is only compatible with certain cassette models. If you want to buy the Neo 2T, which is retailed for around $ 1,400, check the specs first and you have a compatible bike – or you can easily invest in another bike.

I had a positive experience with all of the indoor bike trainers on this list, but if I had to choose just one, it would be the Wahoo KICKR Snap. The whole process was easy to follow. And as someone who doesn’t have much time, simple setup is always at the top of my list.

The trainer was immediately ready for use without the need for assembly. You need to set up your bike – either with the included quick release or a suitable adapter if your bike has a rear-axle rear wheel – but once you get the hang of it, it’s done in no time (super kitschy pun intended). I wish there was an option to choose which spit you’d like to have in the trainer (even if it costs a bit more), but this isn’t a blow to the KICKR Snap itself. It’s a problem with all of these types of indoor Bike trainers in general.

Once the bike is in use, you can connect the trainer to any third-party training app. A free 30-day trial of Zwift is included in the purchase. So this is the program I used to test the trainer. When I moved I was immediately impressed. The 10.5-pound flywheel offered a smooth ride with a hyper-realistic feel. When using Zwift, the resistance was automatically adjusted and the actual road conditions and inclines of up to 12% were mimicked expertly. As I got faster, the KICKR Snap stayed stable without shaking, and the front wheel riser block stayed firmly in place even on a slippery vinyl floor.

Some things to consider: The trainer is only delivered with a quick spit. So if you need an adapter for a thru-axle wheel, you have to buy it separately. The trainer is also the only one on this list who needs an external power source, meaning you’ll need to plug it into a wall outlet. While this wasn’t a deal breaker, it was a potential disadvantage as it limits the trainer’s portability. There’s also no on-off switch – you turn the trainer on and off by plugging it in or out. Again, this is not a big deal as I like to unplug all of my electronics when I am not using them anyway, but it is still worth mentioning.

Alpcour is not as well known in cycling circles as Wahoo or Saris. When I saw that there were mainly 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon and you could buy it for under $ 300, I had to test it to see if it could stand up to the bigger boys. Unlike other similar models in this list, it doesn’t have smart training features, so you can’t use it with training apps. But I was impressed with the basic performance.

Flowing bike trainers ensure a stable but outdoor-like ride, and the Alpcour did not disappoint. The trainer was sturdy and held on to the bike even as I got faster. The resistance and friction changed automatically with fluctuations in my pedaling speed, so it really felt like an outdoor ride. The front wheel riser block slipped a little while driving, which wasn’t a big deal, but it could get a bit annoying. To be honest, I had the trainer set up on vinyl floors that can get slippery. If it bothers you too much, you can easily fix it by placing a thin rubber exercise mat under the bike trainer.

The Alpcour Fluid Bike Trainer was a bit louder than the other similar trainers on this list, but it didn’t make enough noise to give me real points. The noise also depends on the type of bike used. When I used my Schwinn racing bike with smooth wheels, it was barely audible. But when I tested it on my niece’s mountain bike, which has thick, treaded tires, it was much louder.

While the trainer is compatible with most 26- to 29-inch bikes and 700c bikes, like the Wahoo, you need to make sure you have the right spit to properly secure your bike. Like the Wahoo, it comes with a standard quick release. However, if you have a bike with a thru axle, you have to buy one separately.

I want to anticipate this by saying that the reels on this list may look the least technical, but don’t judge a book by its cover. Compared to all other models, the Saris aluminum rollers, which have a 16-inch wheelbase for most bike sizes and three 3.25-inch aluminum roller drums, were the most difficult to get used to.

This is partly a reflection on me as a rider (if you already have a lot of experience with indoor bike trainers or outdoor cycling, you will probably take care of it immediately) and partly on the fact that bike trainers require a more focused focus than other models. If you lose focus and your thoughts start to wander, you can easily fall over – a situation I’ve found myself in more times than I want to admit.

But trainers are supposed to improve balance and control. After just a few days of practice and some serious frustration, I noticed a huge improvement in my performance, which is evidence of how well the trainer is doing his job. And since you have to pedal all the time you use the trainer to keep the bike upright, you get a killer workout. When I got the hang of it and actually moved, I was surprised at how quiet the wheels were and how firm the rubber foot pads held the coach in place, even as I got faster.

Another plus is that the rollers were ready for use almost immediately. All I had to do was unfold it and adjust the front roller so that it was properly aligned with my bike and I was ready to ride (or topple over several times before actually riding).

Kinetic

I haven’t had a chance to personally test the Kinetic Rock and Roll Trainer yet, but I’ve added it to the list for several reasons. As the name suggests, the Rock’n’Roll trainer is designed to allow a sideways rocking motion that mimics the natural sway of outdoor riding.

At 12 pounds, its flywheel is also bigger than any other trainer in this category. According to Kinetic, this enables automatic app-controlled resistance, whisper-quiet operation, a wider range of bike compatibility, and improved inertia that gives a more road-like feel. While the maximum slope is slightly lower than the Wahoo KICKR Snap – 10% vs. 12% – it reaches a maximum resistance of 1,800 watts at 30 miles per hour.

Since it is an intelligent trainer, the rock and roll trainer works with Kinetics own training app or apps from third-party providers such as Zwift or TrainerRoad. The Kinetic trainer is compatible with almost every bike. However, if your bike has a rear axle like other similar models on this list, you’ll need an adapter that will cost you an additional $ 49.

It all sounds good, but if I have the opportunity to test the trainer myself, I will report on my personal experiences.