The best turbo trainers
Ride your own bike indoors through the winter: simple wheel-on trainers with a lever on the bars, and direct-drive smart trainers that set the resistance for you.
A turbo trainer holds the back of a bike still so it can be ridden indoors. Wheel-on trainers clamp the rear axle and press a roller against the tyre: they’re quick to set up and cost the least, but they’re louder and wear the tyre. Direct-drive trainers replace the rear wheel altogether, with the chain driving a cassette on the trainer, which is quieter and feels closer to the road. The ThinkRider needs a cassette bought and fitted separately; Wahoo’s comes with one already on.
The other choice is smart or manual. The magnetic trainers here have a lever on the bars to change the resistance by hand, while the smart ones connect over Bluetooth and ANT+ and let apps such as Zwift raise it for climbs or hold a set wattage. Before buying, check the fits row against the bike’s wheel size and axle: quick-release, or a thru-axle, which is common on disc-brake bikes.
What matters
- Wheel-on or direct drive: simplicity and price, or quiet and a road-like feel.
- Smart or manual: apps set the resistance, or a lever on the bars does.
- Fit: wheel size and axle type, and whether a direct-drive trainer comes with a cassette.
- Noise: direct drive is quieter; on a wheel-on trainer a smooth road tyre helps.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 with 11-speed Cassette
£499.99 RRP
A direct-drive smart trainer that sets its own resistance: apps such as Zwift raise it on virtual climbs or hold a target wattage, and it measures power to within 2%. The 11-speed cassette comes fitted, so the bike goes straight on once the rear wheel is off.
What owners say: Owners say it goes together quickly out of the box and keeps their training going through the winter.
Heads up: Connect it to the home Wi-Fi during setup: that’s how it pairs faster and keeps its firmware up to date.
A closer look: It runs from the mains, and at 13.6kg it’s happiest left set up in one spot, on a mat to protect the floor. Adapters for quick-release and for 12x142 and 12x148mm thru-axle frames are in the box, so most road and gravel bikes go straight on, and riders up to 113kg are covered.
- Up to 1,800W and 16% gradients
- ±2% power accuracy
- 11-speed cassette fitted
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ANT+
- Works with Zwift Cog and Click
Best for: Smart training and Zwift
- Type
- Direct drive
- Smart (apps set resistance)
- Yes
- Links to Zwift and apps
- Yes
- Resistance
- Up to 1,800W
- Cassette
- 11-speed, fitted
- Fits
- QR and 142/148mm thru-axle
#2 of 5
Best wheel-on
Elite Novo Force
£75–£100 Price range
Eight magnetic levels from a lever on the bars, up to 690W at 40km/h, and an Elastogel roller that Elite says halves roller noise and cuts tyre wear by up to 20%. Elite has made trainers, bottles and bottle cages near Padua since 1979.
What owners say: Owners find it well built, sturdy and stable in use, and like the look of it.
A closer look: Fitting the bike is a lever job: swap the rear skewer for the one supplied, then the frame grips it in one movement. Thru-axle bikes need Elite’s adapter, sold separately. Pump the rear tyre up firmly before each session so it doesn’t slip on the roller when the effort goes up.
- 8 levels via a lever on the bars
- Up to 690W at 40km/h
- Elastogel roller
- Fits 24–29in wheels
- Add a Misuro B+ sensor for Zwift and apps
Best for: A proven wheel-on trainer
- Type
- Wheel-on
- Smart (apps set resistance)
- No
- Links to Zwift and apps
- With Misuro B+ sensor
- Resistance
- 8 levels, up to 690W
- Cassette
- Not needed (wheel-on)
- Fits
- 24–29in wheels, QR
#3 of 5
Best value
Sportneer Magnetic Turbo Trainer
£75–£100 Price range
A wide, low-slung stand with five adjustable rubber feet to level it on an uneven floor, six resistance settings on a bar-mounted lever, and a riser block for the front wheel in the box, so there’s nothing else to buy to get going.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to set up and like how sturdy it feels once the bike is clamped in.
Heads up: Sportneer suggests a road bike: knobbly mountain bike tyres make much more noise on the roller.
A closer look: The clamp holds the rear axle’s quick-release: press the lever down to lock the bike in, and lift it to free the bike for a ride outside. Rear axles from about 125 to 167mm wide fit, which takes in most road, hybrid and mountain bikes.
- 6 resistance settings, bar-mounted lever
- 5 adjustable anti-slip feet
- Front wheel riser block included
- Quick-release lever clamp
- Fits 26–28in and 700c wheels
Best for: Getting started indoors
- Type
- Wheel-on
- Smart (apps set resistance)
- No
- Links to Zwift and apps
- No
- Resistance
- 6 levels
- Cassette
- Not needed (wheel-on)
- Fits
- 26–28in and 700c, QR
#4 of 5
Best budget smart
ThinkRider X2Max Smart Trainer
£200–£300 Price range
Direct-drive smart training that follows the gradient in apps such as Zwift up to 18%, measures power to within 2% and runs at about 58dB, which ThinkRider pitches as quiet enough for neighbours.
A closer look: The cassette isn’t included, so budget for one to match the bike’s gearing, plus a cassette tool to fit it. It pairs over ANT+ or Bluetooth with phones, tablets, computers and bike computers, and the adapters for 12x142 and 12x148mm thru-axle frames come in the box.
- Up to 2,000W and 18% gradients
- ±2% power accuracy
- About 58dB
- ANT+ and Bluetooth
- QR and thru-axle adapters included
Best for: Smart training for less
- Type
- Direct drive
- Smart (apps set resistance)
- Yes
- Links to Zwift and apps
- Yes
- Resistance
- Up to 2,000W
- Cassette
- Not included
- Fits
- QR and 142/148mm thru-axle
#5 of 5
Best budget
Sportana Magnetic Turbo Trainer
£50–£75 Price range
The simplest way to ride a road or hybrid bike indoors: six magnetic levels from a shifter on the bars, a steel frame rated for riders up to 150kg, and it folds away when the evenings get lighter.
A closer look: Sportana’s tip is a smooth, unprofiled rear tyre, which runs quieter and spares a knobbly tread from wear. It takes 26 to 28in wheels but not fat bikes, and set up it measures 54 x 46 x 42cm, so it fits in a corner of a spare room.
- 6 levels via a handlebar shifter
- Magnetic roller
- Riders up to 150kg
- 5 adjustable feet and front wheel support
- Folds for storage
Best for: The lowest price
- Type
- Wheel-on
- Smart (apps set resistance)
- No
- Links to Zwift and apps
- No
- Resistance
- 6 levels
- Cassette
- Not needed (wheel-on)
- Fits
- 26–28in and 700c, QR
How they compare
| Feature | #1Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 | #2Elite Novo Force | #3Sportneer magnetic | #4ThinkRider X2Max | #5Sportana magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best wheel-on | Best value | Best budget smart | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Price | £499.99 RRP | £75–£100 Price range | £75–£100 Price range | £200–£300 Price range | £50–£75 Price range |
| Type | Direct drive | Wheel-on | Wheel-on | Direct drive | Wheel-on |
| Smart (apps set resistance) | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Links to Zwift and apps | Yes | With Misuro B+ sensor | No | Yes | No |
| Resistance | Up to 1,800W | 8 levels, up to 690W | 6 levels | Up to 2,000W | 6 levels |
| Cassette | 11-speed, fitted | Not needed (wheel-on) | Not needed (wheel-on) | Not included | Not needed (wheel-on) |
| Fits | QR and 142/148mm thru-axle | 24–29in wheels, QR | 26–28in and 700c, QR | QR and 142/148mm thru-axle | 26–28in and 700c, QR |
| Best for | Smart training and Zwift | A proven wheel-on trainer | Getting started indoors | Smart training for less | The lowest price |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Swipe sideways to see all 5.
Photos are illustrative. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How we pick · How this works.
