The best smart trainers

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It started with phones, moved to TVs and now it seems like everything has to be ‘smart’ these days, including turbo trainers.

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Having something to entertain or guide you while you’re slogging your guts out on your own makes sense. And having accurate feedback on your power — or even control on required power — is invaluable for training.

But what companies mean by ‘smart’ can vary. Some units are ANT+, so need a dongle to connect to your phone, tablet or computer, but can link to most bike computers. Some are Bluetooth-only, so can connect to electronic devices without a dongle — but can’t connect to most cycle computers. The CycleOps comes in either ANT+ or Bluetooth. Others are smart enough to communicate in both protocols so you can connect to whatever device you like.

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There are two main selling points for smart trainers, and they both center around interactivity. By measuring power and cadence, smart trainers can animate both virtual riding games like Zwift and facilitate specific training with programs like TrainerRoad. This can also be done with a regular trainer and a power meter, though.

The cool thing about smart trainers is that third-party software like Zwift and TrainerRoad can control resistance as you ride. Hit a hill in Zwift and all of a sudden you are really having to grind out the power; come to a rest interval in TrainerRoad and the power required immediately drops to the prescribed level.

Updated December 2016

Things to consider

1. Brain

2. Direct drive

3. Axle clamp

4. Wheel Drive

5. Frame

6. Brake

The best smart trainers

Tacx Flux Smart

• Price: £699 / $900 / AU$1,100

• Buy now from Chain Reaction

Tacx Vortex Smart 

• Price: £400 / $530 / AU$749

• Buy now from Amazon

• Wattage deviation: -5
• Roll down from 200W: 11 secs
• Noise level (200W): 85dB

Tacx Satori Smart

• Price: £250 / $400 / AU$569

• Buy now from Chain Reaction and REI

• Wattage deviation: -10
• Roll down from 200W: 13 secs
• Noise level (200W): 90dB

Tacx Neo Smart

• Price: £1,200 / $1,599 / AU$2,299

• Buy now from Evans Cycles and REI

• Wattage deviation: -5
• Roll down from 200W: 11 secs
• Noise level (200W): 78dB

Wahoo Kickr

• Buy now from Wiggle and REI

Elite Drivo

• Price: £1200 / $1,299 / AU$1,750

• Buy now from Madison and Wiggle

• Wattage deviation: +/- 1 watts
• Roll down from 200W: 18 secs
• Noise level (200W): 71

Kinetic Rock & Roll 2 inRide 

• Price: £465 / $569 / AU$ TBC

• Buy now from Evans and REI

• Wattage deviation: +0-10
• Roll down from 200W: 19 secs
• Noise level (200W): 80dB

Wahoo Kickr Snap 

• Price: £650 / $699/ AU$949

• Buy now from Wahoo Fitness

• Wattage deviation: -50
• Roll down from 200W: 16 secs
• Noise level (200W): 83dB

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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