For most, indoor cycling is a necessary evil. A way of keeping your fitness up during the colder, wetter months so you’re ready to go when spring and a new outdoor season rolls round.
Jet Black Z1 Fluid Pro: Best Turbo Trainer For Preserving Your TyresThe Jet Black Z1 is an impressively quiet trainer with fluid resistance and a sturdy set-up that allows you to push the pace without fear of toppling over. Jet Black claims the 3kg Hydrogel roller reduces tyre wear by 25-30% compared with its competitors. That’s hard for us to verify, but you can be sure of a realistic feel to your rides on the Z1.
Tacx Trainer Review
£229.63 Bkool Smart Go Trainer: Best Smart Turbo Trainer Under £300If you’re on the hunt for a smart trainer proper to connect with Zwift or Bkool’s own training platform then the Smart Go is one of the best-value options, especially now that it’s easy to find for considerably less than its £349.99 RRP. The top power level is 800W and the trainer can simulate slopes of up to 8%, with changes to resistance controlled automatically if you link it to a virtual training platform. £262.99 Kinetic Rock And Roll: Best Turbo Trainer For A Realistic RideThe killer feature here is the Kinetic Rock and Roll’s ability to sway from side to side, which makes for a realistic indoor interpretation of the feel of getting out of the saddle when riding. As well as this nifty feature, you get resistance up to 2000W and the ability to link with apps like Zwift and The Sufferfest. £269.50.
Wahoo KICKR Snap: Best Turbo Trainer Under £500If Wahoo’s top-end KICKR trainer, the Smart, is a little out of your price range, its little brother the Snap is worth considering. It will connect with all kinds of virtual training software and has a maximum power of 1,500W, with the magnetic resistance easily and precisely controlled via a smartphone, tablet or computer. £499.99 Wahoo KICKR Smart: Best Smart Turbo TrainerThe KICKR is used by pro teams thanks to the ultra-realistic feel of the ride. And there’s seemingly nothing it can’t connect to – you can control it via your smartphone and it links with almost every third-party app going, including Zwift. As with the Bkool Smart Pro 2, connected apps can control the gradient on the trainer automatically for a more immersive indoor ride.
Basically the KICKR offers pretty much the best of everything – tracking accuracy, ride feel, connectivity and ease of use.