[Closed] Best modern turbo trainer

I’ve run an original Kickr for 7 years and it’s been faultless.

If it ever broke I would get another. You could get a Core to save a little cash - slightly smaller flywheel, manual calibration via spin down and I think it doesn’t go all the way up to 20% gradient.

Pair either with Apple TV for a hassle fee setup

I’ve just bought a wahoo kickr and very impressed with how quiet and compact it is.

Had been looking at the Kickr Core but went for the Kickr has it folded away better and comes with cassette

I rode briefly a Tacx equivalent about a year ago, not much in it, but the Wahoo just feels a bit nicer IMO

I got mine from 3 Peak Cycles about 4 weeks ago. They keep doing 10% off, although just checked and not currently

Saris H3 working well for me here.

DCRainmaker and GPLlama both have many high quality reviews - I’d recommend a trawl of both their websites / YouTube channels

What markwsf says.

I chose a Kickr Core and it’s been great for 2 years.

And don’t just assume Zwift many more options out there

If it ever broke I would get another

Mine finally died last winter, it worked okay but power readings were all over the place and Wahoo couldn't sort it.

Picked up a refurb 2018 for £800 to replace it, just added the axis feet...

Are you just training or wanting to race. If you want to race and are more powerful I would push you towards the kickr over the core. There is a trend for great accuracy and although it's more rigourous at the higher levels it is inevitably going to filter down. Anything with <2% accuracy is banned now at higher levels. The auto calibration of the kickr is in my view worth the extra over the core.

The saris is also well regarded I think and if racing is not your thing the kickr core is a great option (it's basically the older kickr on a simpler base).

I bought a Kickr Core last month to replace my previous wheel-on trainer, and no complaints. It's set up permanently in my garage so I didn't need the folding legs of the higher-spec model, and given my feeble legs I didn't need the max 20% incline either...

I'm using it with Systm, rather than Zwift.

DCRainmaker (mentioned above) has a page with most of the current models reviewed:

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/11/smart-cycle-trainer-recommendations-guide-winter.html

Read it, and then you'll be better informed but still have no idea which model to get 😀

A word of warning if you buy a Tacx neo. Basically 3 of my bikes won’t fit on it due to its design, albeit 2 will if you remove the disk brake caliper.

If your bike fits it it’s an amazing bit of kit however

There is a trend for great accuracy and although it’s more rigourous at the higher levels it is inevitably going to filter down.

TBH I very seriously doubt it'll ever get that serious - at elite level you have to video yourself doing a weigh-in, have a calibrated trainer, etc. There's no way Zwift is going to force all its users to do that. If you're racing any recent direct drive (wheel off) model will be fine, and will still be fine in 5 years time.

Another vote for Kickr.

Wahoo all day long, not only is the product exceptional but the customer service is second to none.

I've hand Elite Direto for 2 years, done 1000's of KM on it and it's never missed a beat, it's not quiet but it's not loud either if you know what i mean, nice and stable too.

One thing I hadn't realised is you can buy trainers on cyclesheme (I know). Certini/ Specialised Concept Store do the Wahoo range and are on my scheme.

you can buy trainers on cyclesheme

Nooooo. That’s ruined my whole morning.

TBH I very seriously doubt it’ll ever get that serious

It already is. Elite is regular weight and height videos, there is a prescribed list of allowed equipment that must be verified in advance (serial numbers, firmware versions etc). Dual recording is mandatory as are camera feeds and completion of a prescribed work out to prove performance. All has to be done well in advance. That is already a fair way past the requirements from even 1 year ago.

A cat is already moving towards stricter requirements. HR is mandatory and a fair number of series require dual recording for podium finishes.

You are right it is unlikely Zwift will force it however Zwift don't organise the big series directly and the organisers that do will. WTRL for example already only award half points to any ZRL rider without HR in A & B. Add onto that teams now getting proper sponsorship and relationships with major brands. Those brands do not wish to be associated with dodgy behaviour and the bigger more serious teams are/will be encouraging their riders towards accuracy. My own team is pushing to become a leader in this area. Several riders have already been released after failing to acknowledge and correct unacceptable behaviour (namely use of sticky watts).

Will this make it as far as C/D cat, no probably not for a while but if the A requirements for bigger series are tightened then that will mean a similar up levelling of B requirements (given that a lot of the high Bs should be in A).

If you are on a recent wheel off trainer then yes for the most part your probably right about the 5 years. If your in A I can see a number of devices being banned in big series in the near future (most likely by adoption of the 2% accuracy and in manufacture support rules). Likewise I could see anything other than direct drive being banned in B.

I’ve hand Elite Direto for 2 years, done 1000’s of KM on it and it’s never missed a beat, it’s not quiet but it’s not loud either if you know what i mean, nice and stable too.

The direto was/is a solid machine. The latest version is worth a look. Even though not loud it is significantly nosier than the kickr though. The two biggest issues I had with the direto were stability in ERG (it bounced on transitions and was slow on big power changes) and sticky watts when connected to a PC via Ant+.

@djflexure what scheme allows Turbo Trainers? WE are with cyclescheme and they specifically dont allow turbo trainers.

https://help.cyclescheme.co.uk/article/53-what-can-i-get-on-the-cycle-to-work-scheme

Not that I need a new one mind and i have just ordered a new bike on the Cycle to Work scheme so thats why it was fresh in my mind.

Hi Robbo
We moved to Cycle Solutions and they have trainers (Elite iirc) listed under the scheme, with ability to order from other outlets such as Certini who do Wahoo. Not tried it for a trainer but did buy a powermeter this year.

That rubbish (for me) but good (for you)! With the amount of people working from home allowing a turbo trainer for virtual commutes isnt a bad thing for both physical and mental health

Will this make it as far as C/D cat, no probably not for a while but if the A requirements for bigger series are tightened then that will mean a similar up levelling of B requirements (given that a lot of the high Bs should be in A).

I can see it for elite, and for externally organised events, but Zwift would quickly alienate most of its users if it tried to bring in anything similar for the lower categories (particularly C/D). I really cannot imagine them shooting themselves in the foot this way.

I picked up an Elite Direto x from CRC when it was on offer for £500, 8 rides in and its working fine for me just using their own app to control the trainer, haven't braved Zwift yet.

issue I had with the direto were stability in ERG (it bounced on transitions and was slow on big power changes)

Elite support can fix this with a firmware settings upload.

I'd echo the comments about some bikes not fitting a Tacx Neo - my Tripster fits, but the brake calliper needs loosening sometimes, or it rubs on teh body.

However, it's also a FAB bit of kit - VERY accurate, and also VERY tight when in ERG mode. I.e it will match the required pwer both quickly and accurately.

I like the fact it mimics gravel and planks too!

DrP

Interestingly...Tacx Neo 2 in the CRC black friday sale! £899
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/tacx-neo-2-special-edition-smart-trainer/rp-prod179403

DrP

What about a kikr core and use the change on a rocker plate and a cleva fan.

I second the recommendations for a wahoo kickr core

Got mine last August after badly breaking my wrist in a high speed off on my MTB, knowing I would be laid up for a couple of months at home, I wanted to keep active and speed up the recovery

I was sceptical about them to start with but it's the best decision I ever made, especially with a Zwift subscription.

I had my 1 x 11 XT mtb on it initially but found the 32 tooth front chainring was too small, anything other than climbing and I was spinning out and not generating much power.

Put a cheap road bike on it with a 52 tooth front crank and it transformed it.
Hooked up to my 55" Oled via hdmi from my laptop and a floor standing fan, makes it quite a good setup

I used to just free ride when I first got it, but then discovered the training plans, which motivate you to get on and ride, even when you don't feel like it, rather than just riding around aimlessly.

I hardly ride my MTB these days, especially in winter now as the thought of loading up the bike and spending all day out is hard to get motivated for especially as I get older

The fitness from zwift definitely translates to the real world aswell, I did the transcambrian way in August over 3 days, having only ridden my mtb 5 times since January.

I went out a couple of times in the month before just to check the fitness and the ability to ride long distance was there, before embarking on the tcw, I was comfortably managing 60km rides with around 1400m elevation gain and hitting personal bests on Strava without really pushing myself to the limit, boredom of extending the mileage after 3.5 hrs of riding was more of a problem than the actual mileage!

I find the training plans also help you get used to riding multiple days and your recovery also seems a lot better.

Edit: I only ever ride MTB, not a road rider, obviously 60km on road would not be that impressive! (Not saying 60k off is either! 😀)

Summary: buy one!

+1 for the Kickr core. Got mine a little over a year ago from Sigma Sports and it’s been faultless. Easy to set up and use. I used it with Trainer Road, tried Zwift but preferred the training programs on TR.

I paired it with the cleva fan that gets recommended here for turbo trainers and that works a treat too.
The kickr core is great for maintaining bike fitness over the winter.

Saris H3 working well for me here.,

Those of you using the Core, can you just jump on it and use it without having to connect to anything? I.e. like a "dumb" trainer?

@john_l yes, the wahoo app has a “workout” option, where you just start riding.

Ok, thanks. But you still need to connect to the app, you can't just get on and start riding? (Asking with another member of the family in mind).

Those of you using the Core, can you just jump on it and use it without having to connect to anything? I.e. like a “dumb” trainer?

Yes but there's no way of adjusting resistance without connecting to something, at least the Wahoo app.

@john_l

Ok, thanks. But you still need to connect to the app, you can’t just get on and start riding? (Asking with another member of the family in mind).

ideally no, the workout option in the wahoo app is the bare minimum option, but still doesn’t control resistance, you’re just cycling.

I haven’t tried just getting on and pedalling tbh, it’ll work as it’s just a stationary bike, but with no resistance at all I can’t imagine it would be a good experience.

Thanks, that helps. Sounds perfect if you're ok with connecting to different platforms etc, but Vs just jumping on and riding it sounds like a worse option Vs a dumb trainer. Which makes sense, that's not what it's designed for.

@john_I you clearly want one with knobs on. There was a time when the more you spent on something, the more knobs it had. That time has passed.

I bought my KickR Core back in Feb.I use it for training on Zwift,it's a good piece of kit.
Lots of reviews on YT & the web,DC Rainmaker & Shane Miller have good YT channels.

Those of you using the Core, can you just jump on it and use it without having to connect to anything? I.e. like a “dumb” trainer?

I have a old road bike permanently connected to it,all I do is open up Zwift on the laptop,open the companion app on the mobile & start Zwifting.

Will the Kickr work with 10 speed cassettes?

Yes, comes with the required spacer I think

@greyspoke not me, I'm quite happy connecting to stuff but the other person using it may be less so ;o)

I also have picked up an elite direto x when they were £500 at halfords.
Only managed a few rides on it so far, and unlike the other person on page 1 I’ve done zwift from the start, via apple tv, and using apple watch as HR.
Totally seamless, it all worked immediately.
This is my first smart turbo, and first time using anything like zwift, they are ****ing brilliant, I wish stuff like this had been available decades ago, maybe I wouldn’t be such a fat bast.

Turning "pedal smoothing" to 10 in the Elite app helps my Direto to better power match in ERG mode for non-sprints intervals, the default of 2 helps to get a quicker reaction to surges in races.

From what little I've read on the subject this year, the Saris H3 is supposed to be highly regarded at its price.

Will the Kickr work with 10 speed cassettes?

I use a 10 speed on my KickR Core