The best indoor bike trainers for 2022: Tacx, Wahoo, Saris and more in comparison

The Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer is not your grandmother’s home bike rack. OK, your grandmother probably didn’t have a bike trainer, but I think this thing is intense – in all the best ways. Although you can use Neo 2T as a standalone trainer, I focused on testing its smart training skills by connecting it to the Tacx Training app, which is free for basic features but requires a monthly subscription of $ 12 to $ 17 to access top features.

With the Zwift-like app, you can connect your trainer via Bluetooth and choose from several different workouts or “movies” that guide you through simulated paths and inclines of up to 25%. The result was almost eerily realistic and provided a serious feeling along the way. If I had closed my eyes, I would have thought I was riding along the slopes of the Dolomites.

The coach was super quiet, which is nice if you’re an early riser who wants to train without waking up the rest of your house. And while I personally do not have enough power or endurance to reach the maximum power of Neo 2T of 2,200 watts, even at my personal high speeds, it remained stable without any tremors.

However, there are some things you need to keep in mind with this coach. The Neo 2T Smart trainer is the only one on this list that requires complete removal of the rear wheel and cassette on your bike. And to get the job done right, you need specialized tools. Another thing to note is that although the Tacx Neo 2T comes with a few spacers to fit your bike, it is only compatible with certain cartridge models. If you’re thinking of buying the Neo 2T, which retails for around $ 1,400, check the specs first and see if you have a compatible bike – or that you’re also comfortable investing in another bike that is.

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

The coach was ready to get out of the box, without the need to assemble. You have to adjust your bike – either with the included quick-release spit or the appropriate adapter if your bike has a rear wheel through the axle – but when you tackle it, it’s done in an instant (super cheesy pun). I wish there was an option to choose which skewer you want included in the tracksuit (even if it costs a little more), but this is not a problem for Kickr Snap itself. In general, this is a complaint for all these types of indoor cycling trainers.

Once the bike is set up and set up, you can connect the trainer to any third-party training app – a free 30-day trial of Zwift is included with the purchase, so this is the program I used to test the trainer. When I left, I was immediately impressed. The 10.5-pound flywheel provided a smooth, quiet ride with a hyper-realistic road feel. When using Zwift, the resistance is automatically adjusted and expertly mimics actual road conditions and climbs up to 12% incline. As I increased the speed, the Kickr Snap remained stable without any vibration, and the front wheel lift block remained firmly in place, even on the slippery vinyl floor.

A few things to keep in mind: The trainer only comes with a quick-release spit, so if you need a bike adapter through the axle, you’ll have to buy it separately. The trainer is also the only one on this list that requires an external power source, which means you have to plug it into an electrical outlet in the wall. While this was not an obstacle, it is a potential drawback as it limits the portability of the coach. There is also no on / off switch – you turn the trainer on and off by turning it on or off. Again, it’s not a big deal because I like to turn off all my electronics when I’m not using it anyway, but it’s still worth noting.

Alpcour isn’t as well known as Wahoo or Saris in cycling circles, so when I saw that it has mostly 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon and that you can get it for less than $ 300, I had to test it to see if it could stand up to bigger guys. Unlike other similar models on this list, there is no smart training option so you can’t use it with any training app. But in terms of basic performance, I was impressed.

Fluid bike trainers provide a stable ride in the open and Alpcour did not disappoint. The trainer was firm and held the bike firmly in place, even as I increased my speed. Resistance and friction automatically changed with fluctuations in my pedaling speed, so I really felt like driving outdoors. The front wheel lift block tended to slip a bit while I was driving, which wasn’t a big deal, but it could have been a bit boring. Honestly, I put the trainer on a vinyl floor, which can become slippery. If it bothers you too much, you can easily correct it by placing a thin rubber exercise mat under the bike trainer.

The Alpcour Fluid Bike Trainer was a little louder than other similar trainers on this list, but it didn’t make enough noise to take away any real points from it. Noise also depends on the type of bike you use. When I used my Schwinn road bike with smooth wheels, it was barely audible. But when I tested it with my niece’s mountain bike, which has thick tires, it was much louder.

Although the trainer is compatible with most 26- to 29-inch bikes and 700c wheels, as is the case with Wahoo, you need to make sure you have the right skewer to properly attach the bike. Also, like the Wahoo, it comes with a standard quick-release spit, but if you have a bike with a through axle, you’ll have to buy it separately.

I want to say this preface that the rollers may look the least technical on this list, but don’t judge the book by its cover. Compared to all the other models, the hardest to get used to was the Saris Aluminum Rollers, which has a 16-inch wheelbase that fits most bike sizes and three 3.25-inch aluminum roller drums.

This is partly a reflection of me as a rider (if you’ve already had a lot of experience with indoor bike riders or outdoor bikes, you’ll probably figure it out right away) and partly due to the fact that rollerblading tracksuits require more thoughtful focus than other models. If you lose concentration and your mind starts to wander, you can easily fall – a situation I have found myself in more times than I would like to admit.

But roller trainers are made to help improve balance and control and after just a few days of training and serious frustration, I noticed a big improvement in my performance, which is proof of how well a coach does his job. And since you have to pedal all the time while using the trainer to keep the bike upright, you will get a killer workout. When I tackled the roller skates and really set off, I was surprised at how quiet the roller skates were and how tight the rubber foot pads held the trainer in place, even as I increased my speed.

Another plus is that the rollers were practically ready to get out of the box. All I had to do was unfold them and adjust the front roller so that it was in line with my bike and I was ready to ride (or roll over a few times before I actually rode).

Kinetic

I haven’t had a chance to personally test the Kinetic Rock and Roll Trainer yet, but I put it on the list for several reasons. As its name suggests, the Rock and Roll Trainer is designed to allow rocking from one side to the other that mimics the natural rocking ride outdoors.

At 12 pounds, his flywheel is also bigger than any other coach in the category. According to Kinetic, this allows for application-controlled automatic resistance, quiet operation, a wider range of bike compatibility and improved inertia, providing more feel on the road. While the maximum tilt is slightly lower than the Wahoo Kickr Snap – 10% vs. 12% – it reaches a maximum resistance of 1800 watts at 30 mph.

Being a smart trainer, the Rock and Roll trainer works with Kinetic’s own training app or third-party apps such as Zwift or TrainerRoad. The Kinetic Trainer is compatible with almost all bikes, but, like other similar styles on this list, if your bike has a rear axle, you’ll need an adapter that will cost you an extra $ 49.

This all sounds good, but when I have the opportunity to test the trainer myself, I will report on my personal experience.

Follow the special user guides for your bike and bike trainer to make sure everything is installed correctly. A bike trainer is not necessarily bad for your bike, but it can put pressure on the components that come in contact with the bike.

If you are worried about wear and tear, consider using an older or spare bike on your exercise bike and reserving your road bike for the road.

Whether it pays to get a bike trainer really depends on your cycling goals, the environment you live in and your budget. Do you want to train often and need to be able to fit into that training whenever it suits you? Do you live in a climate with weather conditions that keep you off the road or trail for an extended period of time? Do you have extra money to dedicate to the coach?

These are all factors to consider before buying. Weigh how often you think you would use a bike trainer with their average price and decide if the value is there for you.

We like the Wahoo Kickr Snap trainer for beginners the most. Setup is simple, works with third-party apps (including a free monthly trial of Zwift) and has a quiet ride that largely reflects road driving.

Read more details about the Wahoo Kickr Snap in the section on the best cycling trainer for beginners above.