How to Choose Bicycle Trainer Stand | Buyers Guide 2022
One of the best accessories that you can buy for your bike is an indoor bike trainer. This amazing equipment lets you train all year round, even when the weather outside is not favorable or you just do not want to go out for a ride.
If you want to enjoy a trainer's versatile benefits and aspire to buy one, this article is for you. In this article - how to choose bicycle trainer, we have talked about everything so that it’s easier for you to find the right one according to your riding needs and buy them effortlessly.
How to Choose Bicycle Trainer: Everything You Should Know
How to Use Indoor Bicycle Trainer
An indoor bike trainer stand is an accessory that makes it possible to ride your bicycle at a stationary position.
This amazing equipment is most commonly used for warm-up before races or when the riding conditions outside are not favorable for your regular riding.
Indoor bike resistance trainers are effortless to use. However, to get the best training experience, first, you need to find a suitable one. You must then set it on the floor with screws and bolts to securely place it so that it doesn’t move or wobble and cause any accidents.
Once it is set perfectly, now it’s time to place your bike on it and make sure that this setting is also secured. After the trainer and bike are placed properly, you can now use it to ride the bike perfectly, even without leaving your home.
Advantages of Using a Bicycle Trainer Stand
You cannot match the benefits of outdoor biking. However, indoor cycling using a bike trainer stand has its own set of benefits. Let’s discuss the advantages for your better understanding.
Incredible Convenience
One of the greatest advantages is it gives you the freedom to use your road or mountain bike even inside your home.
If you are not in the mood to go outside or the weather is no favorable to ride, a trainer would prove to be an incredible companion for you. With its help, you can fulfill your daily riding routine without even stepping outside.
Time Efficient
Another amazing advantage is that it is super time efficient. For outdoor riding, you must first dress up, get the right gears, and then go for the riding- this “getting read” session might kill half of your free time.
However, when you are training inside your home, you won’t need to go through the getting ready session and you can actually use your full time riding and getting fit.
When you train indoors, getting on your riding tracks or finding the helmet is unnecessary; therefore, you can start your riding session without wasting any time.
Absolute Safety
In addition to other conveniences, an indoor bike trainer also ensures your extreme safety. Riding outside in cold or dark conditions is not safe at all. But if you have only time to ride after the dark, then this would be very beneficial for you.
With the help of this bike accessory, you can train at your most convenient time and can actually avoid going outside and face any unfortunate events.
Types of Bicycle Trainers
There are more than a few different types of bike trainer stand available in the market. Let’s talk about them to know more.
Wheel-on Trainer
A wheel on trainer is the simplest one that you will get in the market. It is also compact, affordable and can be stored and carried around easily without killing your car space.
On a wheel-on trainer, you fix your bike's rear-wheel with trainer axle easily to create resistance and enjoy riding.
It is compatible with almost any bicycle and therefore, you won’t have to worry about the bike's model while purchasing it.
Direct-drive Trainer
A direct-drive trainer is a stylish one that also connects your bike’s rear wheel for a stationary riding experience.
However, unlike the wheel-on, you have to remove your rear wheel with a direct drive trainer and directly attach the trainer mechanism to your bike’s drivetrain.
One of the benefits of direct drive trainers is protecting your rear tire, rear-wheel, and cassette from regular wear and tear and extending these components durability.
Roller Trainer
Rollers are the original indoor trainers introduced in the market to help you ride inside the house. Even though they were the first to introduce, the roller are still immensely popular because of their improved balance, pedaling efficiency, and cycling-specific core strength.
Moreover, roller are also super fun and more realistic to ride than stationary trainers and hence, are more popular.
Bike Simulator
A bike simulator is less of a trainer and more of a stationary bike. This premium standalone stationary exercise bike is considered as an alternative to the indoor trainer as it offers a realistic riding experience without an actual bicycle.
This exceptional indoor bike usually comes with one wheel that uses fluid, wind, or magnetic resistance to provide you the riding experience.
The most beneficial aspect of this bike simulator is that it doesn’t suffer from any wear and tear. It is also more stable than other trainers and, therefore, gives you a sense of security while riding it.
Smart Trainer
Even though a “smart trainer” is a feature rather than a separate category, its wireless capability makes this an incredibly useful item for home riders.
The smart trainer function wirelessly connects the trainer to the world of different cycling apps so that you can use versatile riding features without even riding on actual roads and terrains.
These apps not only help you to enjoy various riding aspects but, at the same time, also keep track of your riding data for additional convenience.
Trainer Type by Resistance
The type of resistance a trainer comes with greatly impacts its cost, durability, road feel, weight, and the amount of noise it produces. That’s why it is essential to check its resistance before making your purchase decision.
Fluid Trainer
If you want to enjoy the most realistic bike riding feel at the comfort of your home, then the fluid trainer is just the one for you. It can produce the same resistance as a road bike and can mimic the road feel like no others.
A fluid trainer has a progressive resistance, which means getting more challenging as you pedal faster for a more effective riding session.
Aside from its real-life feel, this trainer is trendy because it is super durable and compact also isn’t too heavy to put in the back of your car for traveling purposes.
Magnetic Trainer
If you do not have a flexible budget yet want to enjoy a trainer as good as the fluid one, then go for the magnetic trainers. It uses magnetic resistance that is as quiet and effective as the fluid trainers.
A magnetic trainer comes with a weighted flywheel with magnets to produce resistance when you ride it. As you pedal, these magnets get closer to one another and the opposing forces produce the tension. The harder you pedal, the more opposing force is used for greater resistance.
Also, remember that the heavier the flywheel, the better resistance it will produce.
Wind Trainer
Another one that offers a road-like feel is the wind trainer with progressive resistance. This was one of the first indoor trainers that offered a real road riding feel at the comfort of your home.
Even though wind resistance trainers are very noisy, they are still immensely popular because of their simplistic design and durability.
The wind resistance mechanism uses a fan that is responsible for producing resistance. As this fan spins, it produces tension against the air and helps you to ride the bike effectively. The quicker the fan spins, the more resistance it produces.
Centrifugal Trainer
The centrifugal resistance trainer is not as popular as its other competitors. A very small number of trainers use this resistance type to create tension during the riding sessions.
This special kind of resistance mechanism uses centrifugal pressure plates to provide various resistance levels to allow the users to adjust the tension according to their needs.
What to Look for in a Bicycle Trainer
Buying an indoor trainer feels super easy and hassle-free when you know what to look for. To make your buying process easier, we have discussed the features and aspects you must keep in mind to pick the best in the market without trying so hard.
Budget / Price
One of the most important things you must keep in mind when shopping is its price.
The type, durability, workability, etc., largely depends on the price you are paying for the tool. That’s why it is crucial to set a liberal budget before buying.
But then again, even with a low or moderate budget, you can still get the best one if you keep in mind the other features that we are going to discuss below.
Durability
Durability is yet another factor to keep in mind as it determines how long your trainer will last. It doesn’t matter how much you have spent on a tool or its features; if it is not durable enough, all the money you have paid will go to waste.
Buy a well-made trainer that requires less maintenance to not only ensure the longevity of the tool but at the same time also to reduce stress on taking care of the tool.
Fit to a Specific Type of Bikes
Even though most of the indoor trainers are compatible with all types of bikes out there, it is still a wise decision to check if it fits your specific bike type or not before buying. Some high-end bikes come with some fancy features.
If your cycle also has these features, especially at the rear-most part of your frame and the rear dropout area, never hesitate to check its compatibility with the trainer before making your final call.
Remember that if the bike doesn’t fit the trainer like a glove, you won’t enjoy the most benefits and might also face unfortunate events during the ridings.
Noise Factor
You obviously wouldn’t want to train on a trainer that is loud and noisy. A noisy trainer would disturb the peace of your mind and annoy your family members.
And therefore, you must check how much noise it makes before buying it for your regular riding sessions.
Flywheel Size
When checking out indoor bike trainer, do not forget to check out the flywheel size and weight as these features of the flywheel determine the amount of resistance you will enjoy while training at a stationary position.
If the flywheel is heavy and oversized enough, it will offer you more resistance and a real-life road biking feeling whereas, a smaller one would limit the resistance and won’t be as effective as a real one.
Hence, to enjoy a real-life bike riding experience indoors, select one that has a big and heavy flywheel.
Power & Wattage
If you plan to buy an indoor trainer with smart features, you must check the power and wattage before purchasing. These two are super important because the performance of the tool entirely depends on them. While higher power capacity means the highest amount of energy a trainer can tolerate and record, the wattage helps achieve it.
Footprint & Weight
The trainer's footprint or size is also an important aspect to consider as it determines how much space your tool will occupy in your house.
The larger the footprint, the more space it will take when it is set and the smaller the footprint, the less space your trainer will occupy. We would suggest you adopt an indoor bike trainer that is not too big and not too small.
A medium trainer will not only offer amazing stability and support to the bike but at the same time, it will also make sure that it doesn’t take up a lot of your home space. Try to find a folding one for better storage options.
Similar to the size, the weight also matters. It is one of the most crucial aspects to keep in mind if you plan to carry it with you wherever you go for easy portability.
However, if you use trainer in the comfort of your home, then the weight won’t matter much.
Sizes
Before buying, don’t forget to check its size with the size of your wheels. If the trainer doesn’t fit your bike's rear wheel, then it might wobble and cause accidents. Both of them should fit one another like a glove to provide phenomenal safety and support as well.
Trainer Installation
Even though it’s not a crucial aspect to consider, installation process also plays a part in choosing the best one for your indoor riding sessions. The easier the installation process, the more appealing it is to the users.
When making your purchase decision, try to find a trainer with an easy, effortless installation procedure. It would save a lot of your time and save your money (you have to spend money for a professional assembly process).
Ease of Mounting and Removing Bike from the Trainer
Another essential aspect that you must keep in mind when buying is its accessibility. If your bike gets stuck to the tool while you want to dismount, it is not a good sign.
This will not only waste your time but might cause harm and damage to your cycle as well.
Main Muscle Training
If your primary purpose of buying to build muscles, don’t forget to look for a well-balanced one.
A well-balanced trainer would help balance the bike and your body perfectly to ride on it and build muscles that become much easier and more convenient
Connectivity
When you are using a smart trainer, connecting to external software through a wireless connection is essential.
This wireless connectivity (through ANT+, Bluetooth, or a combination of the two wireless protocols) helps to monitor riding data like speed, cadence, heart rate, etc. and keep track of them through a fitness app to know your exact progress easily.
Other Trainer Accessories
Even though the trainer accessories are the additional Components, there is no denying that they can enhance your indoor bike riding experience even more efficiently and delightfully.
Let’s discuss some of the most prominent accessories for better understanding.
Training App& Videos
With the rise of smart trainers in recent years, the importance of fitness apps and videos has also risen like never before. These fitness apps like Zwift and MyFitnessWorld enhance your riding experience by keeping regular track of your riding data and allowing you to ride with other people in a virtual world.
Tire Block
One of the disadvantages is that it results in a lot of wear on your tire.
To protect your tires from these wear and tear and prolong their lives even when using a trainer tool, a tire block comes in handy. This block is designed to save your tire from wears that you can enjoy worry-free training.
Trainer Mat
A mat is used underneath the trainer to protect your floor from wear and sweat. This is usually made from high-quality fabrics to make sure that it doesn’t slip while training.
Another advantage of this bicycle mat is that it absorbs some of the trainer's vibration and noise for more comfortable riding.
Personal Fan
During intense riding sessions, it is very natural that you would sweat and get uncomfortable. To keep you cool and comfortable on the bike, nothing can beat the convenience of a personal fan.
Water Bottle
Aside from the fan, a cycling water bottle also helps you keep yourself comfortable on the bike resistance trainer. When a water bottle is nearby, you can always take a sip while training to keep yourself hydrated and energized.
Sweat Towel
When you are riding outside, the wind blows away sweat off your body. However, indoor training can result in a lot of sweat.
Keeping a sweat towel handy would not only keep you fresh but at the same time, it will save your training tool. If your sweat starts dropping on the equipment, it might corrode and suffer from rust over time.
Riser Block
Many indoor trainers raise the rear of the bike to give you an impression of riding downhill. However, you might not want to ride downhill and instead want to ride on a regular surface.
A riser block is beneficial in allowing you to mimic the average road surface's riding posture. It props up the front wheel and levels the position for a more stable riding position.
Skewer/thru Axle
Safety is the main priority while attaching a bike to an trainer, and to fit your cycle securely, you will need a skewer. This amazing tool will help you tighten things perfectly to have zero chances of falling apart while riding on the trainer.
Dry Chain Lube
Even though you are riding your bike inside the house, it always collects dirt and dust from the surroundings and jams the chain. To keep the chain and the crankset in the best condition, use dry chain lube regularly to dissolve all the dirt, debris and clean the chain for a smoother ride.
Spare Rim, Cassette, and Skewer (Optional)
Riding indoors also causes some wear and tear to the bicycle. To keep your training session smooth and always on point, you can keep the spare rim, cassette, and skewer handy so that you don’t have to run to the store in times of need.
Care & Maintenance
Even though it comes with an excellent warranty, you must maintain it properly to not only prolong its life but also to enjoy a smooth and safe indoor riding experience all day, every day.
Most of the trainers should come with a care instruction manual. But if you don’t, make sure that you clean and dry lubricate the bike and the trainer regularly to don’t have any accumulated dust for a smooth training session.
Riding Bicycle Trainers Safely
As a indoor cycling trainer holds a regular bike in a stationary place for indoor riding, it can be dangerous if the safety measures are not taken precisely.
Before buying, ensure that it comes with an adequate amount of safety features to keep you safe and secure even during intense riding sessions.
Comparison
Let’s compare some of the trainers to find out which is best and why.
Should I Get a Smart Trainer?
One of the most common questions that hit a user’s mind is that whether they should buy a smart trainer or not.
Well, the answer is if it fits your budget, then it’s a wise decision to buy a smart trainer over the others.
This is because a smart trainer comes with a set of extra features that would make your indoor riding sessions even more delightful and effective at the same time.
Fluid vs. Magnetic Bike Trainers
The fluid and magnetic are two types of trainer mechanisms that provide different resistance for the riding sessions. While a fluid trainer uses an impeller that rotates through the fluid to gain resistance, a magnetic one doesn’t use a fluid to produce resistance.
Instead, it uses magnets in the trainer to cause the opposite energy and provide tension to the users with each pedaling stroke.
Moreover, a fluid trainer would provide you a more real road-like riding experience with its excellent resistance compared to traditional trainers.
Additionally, you will easily increase and decrease the riding intensity level for a more customized riding session.
On the other hand, magnetic trainers are relatively simple to use and are more affordable than fluid ones. However, it doesn’t provide as versatile resistance as a fluid trainer and, therefore, limits your workout variance.
Smart vs. Classic Indoor Trainers
The main difference between these two types of trainers is that while one comes with several smart features to make your indoor training experience even better, the other lacks these features.
A smart trainer can monitor your riding, keep track of your workout data easily, and at the same time, also deliver different entertainment options, including listening to music or riding virtually with others.
However, a classic trainer will never be able to deliver you such aspects. This is pretty much all about allowing you to ride your road bike indoors in a stationary position.
Wheel-on Vs. Direct-drive Trainers
The main difference between a wheel-on and a direct-drive trainer is how you place your bike in each of them. While on a wheel-on, you fix your rear wheel in the trainer with two simple clicks.
To attach your cycle to a direct-drive, you must first remove the rear wheel and then mount it directly on the cassette mounted on the trainer.
Choosing Between Bike Rollers Vs. Bike Trainers
Bike rollers and trainers use are somewhat the same. You use both these tools to use your road bike in a stationary position to use it indoors for more convenience. While a trainer is a single piece of tool that helps keep the bike stable and secure, the rollers come in a three-piece set.
The two are used to rest the rear wheel and the one is to cradle the front one. Unlike the trainer, a roller is not attached to the bike frame and hence, is not as safe and secure as a trainer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Get a Smart Trainer?
If you have the means and a flexible budget, then it’s better to get a smart trainer than any other classic trainer.
Because with a smart one, you can enjoy more than a few fantastic smart features not provided by any other trainers in the market.
Which Muscles of Your Body Are Being Worked Out When Cycling Indoors?
Like many other workouts, indoor cycling also involves many body muscles to make you fit and active.
When you are riding indoors, the main muscles involved are the upper body, core, back muscles, glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and lower legs. Because all these muscles work together, indoor cycling helps you burn calories quicker than other exercise tools.
How Many Calories Can You Burn While Indoor Cycling?
The amount of calories you will burn on an indoor cycle entirely depends on your riding difficulty and duration. However, you can burn 400 to 600 calories per session if you ride the bike at medium intensity for at least 30 minutes.
Will You Lose Weight When Using These Bicycle Trainers?
Absolutely. It doesn’t matter if you are riding on the actual road or training on an indoor trainer; riding a bike will help you lose weight.
When you are riding the bike, more than a few body muscles get involved, burning many calories. And we all know that the higher the calorie burn, the quicker you will lose weight.
Do These Devices Come Assembled, or Can I Put Them Together Easily?
Well, it entirely depends on the manufacturer and seller. While some comes fully assembled, you have to assemble the others to use them properly.
What is Ftp for Cycling?
The term FTP is used to represent the Functional Threshold Power of the cycle. This is used to measure cycling performance.
Wrapping Up
There is no doubt that indoor trainers are a great accessory to make your training sessions even better.
However, as there are different types of trainers available in the market with various features and functions, you must do your research well before purchasing.
We hope that this article will guide- how to choose bicycle trainer and help you find the best one for your bike.
