Indoor training is a great way to keep riding through the rainy months, fit in a workout after work, or follow a structured training plan without worrying about traffic, weather, or daylight. But with so many trainers and indoor cycling setups available, finding the right one can feel a little overwhelming.
Do you need a basic smart trainer or a high-performance model? How much maximum power is enough? Is power accuracy important? And what about a dedicated indoor bike?
Whether you're looking to get started with indoor cycling or upgrade your current setup, we're breaking down the key features to consider when choosing an indoor bike trainer, along with some of the options available at Steed Cycles.
1. Start with your riding goals
Before comparing specifications, think about how you plan to use your trainer. The right setup depends on your budget, how often you ride indoors, and the type of training or experience you're looking for.
Looking to stay active through the winter?
If your main goal is to maintain your fitness, get in regular rides, and stay consistent when the weather isn't cooperating, you may not need the highest-powered trainer on the market. A reliable smart trainer with app connectivity can give you everything you need for indoor rides, workouts, and virtual routes.
Training for a race or following a structured training plan?
If you're using power-based workouts, intervals, or a training platform, you'll want to pay closer attention to power accuracy, resistance control, connectivity, and how easily the trainer works with your preferred apps.
Want the most immersive indoor riding experience?
If you enjoy virtual riding, racing, climbing, or spending long hours indoors, features like realistic resistance, road feel, motion, and additional training controls may be worth prioritizing.
The goal is to find a setup that fits how you ride and makes it easier to get on the bike consistently.
2. Smart trainer vs. indoor smart bike: What's the difference?
One of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether you want to use your existing bike on an indoor trainer or invest in a dedicated indoor bike.
Smart trainers
Indoor trainer technology is more accessible than ever. At Steed, all the smart trainers we offer now feature direct-drive technology, making it easier to get a reliable, connected indoor riding experience without needing to navigate the older wheel-on trainer setup.
A direct-drive smart trainer connects to your existing bicycle in place of the rear wheel. It controls resistance through a compatible training app, bike computer, or other device, and depending on the model, can simulate changes in gradient, control resistance during structured workouts, and transmit ride data such as power and cadence.
The biggest advantage? You can train on the bike you already know and ride outdoors. When you're ready to head back outside, simply remove your bike from the trainer, pop the wheel back on, and get riding.
The disadvantage? Your bike needs to be clean. All that grime picked up from winter riding can make its way onto your floor, walls, furniture, and, of course, your smart trainer. We recommend giving your bike, especially the drivetrain, a good clean before bringing it indoors. Even better, consider waxing your chain if you're using the same bike indoors and outdoors. It'll keep things cleaner and make the whole experience a lot easier.
One trainer, multiple bikes: Zwift Cog and Click
The Zwift Cog and Click system makes sharing a trainer across the household easier than ever. By using a virtual shifting setup, you can run practically any compatible bike in the household on the same trainer, without needing to swap cassettes every time you change bikes.
This is particularly useful if you share your indoor training setup with a partner or family member, or if you have multiple bikes you want to use indoors.
Instead of being limited to a single drivetrain setup, virtual shifting allows you to change gears through the Zwift Click controller, helping make the transition between bikes simpler.
Keep in mind: Compatibility still matters. You'll want to check bike fit, axle standards, and the specific trainer and Zwift Cog requirements before purchasing.
Dedicated Trainer Bikes
An indoor trainer bike is a standalone training setup. Instead of mounting your outdoor bike to a trainer, you ride a dedicated bike designed specifically for indoor use.
Most trainer bikes allow you to customize the fit, so you can dial in your position and keep your indoor setup consistent. They’re also a convenient option if you want a permanent training space, don't want to move your outdoor bike on and off a trainer, or want to share a setup with multiple riders.
Depending on the model, you may also get features like virtual shifting, integrated controls, and adjustable fit settings.
The Zwift Ride + Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 is a great example. You get the proven KICKR CORE 2 smart trainer while the Zwift Ride takes the abuse of indoor training, leaving your regular bike ready to head outside whenever you are. It’s quiet, stable, durable, and designed specifically for indoor riding.
**We're expecting a few Zwift Ride setups in the next couple of weeks, and they'll be available for pickup at the store. Click here and set a "Back in stock notification" to know when they arrive.
3. What to look for when shopping for a smart trainer
Once you've decided on a smart trainer or trainer bike, there are a few specifications worth understanding. You don't need to be a numbers expert, but knowing what the key features mean can help you compare models with more confidence.
Maximum power
Maximum power is one of the specifications you'll see most often when shopping for an indoor trainer. It refers to the maximum power output the trainer is designed to support under its specified operating conditions.
If you're doing endurance rides, easy spins, or structured workouts at moderate power, you may never get close to the maximum power rating of your trainer. If you enjoy sprinting, high-intensity intervals, or producing substantial power, having more headroom can be more relevant.
For example, our Van Rysel range includes trainers with different maximum power ratings:
- Van Rysel D100: 600W maximum power.
- Van Rysel D500: 1500W maximum power.
- Van Rysel RCR: 2800W maximum power.
These ratings help give you an idea of the resistance capacity of each model, but they should be considered alongside power accuracy, gradient simulation, connectivity, and your actual training goals.
It's also worth remembering that power output can feel a little different on an indoor trainer than it does outdoors. If you generally use a power meter, you might think that 600W sounds like more than enough, especially if you rarely reach that number during your outdoor rides. However, the maximum power rating describes the trainer's resistance capacity, not the power you would typically sustain during a ride.
For example, if you're sprinting or standing up on the bike, you may reach the limits of a 600W trainer fairly quickly. Once you've exceeded what the trainer can provide, you may feel like you're spinning out or freewheeling, even though you could produce more power. That's a bummer. A trainer with a higher maximum power rating gives you more headroom for short, high-power efforts.
Simulated gradient: How does it translate to your ride?
Smart trainers can simulate changes in terrain when connected to compatible training platforms. When you ride up a virtual climb, the trainer can increase resistance to reproduce the feeling of climbing.
The maximum simulated gradient tells you how steep a climb the trainer is designed to simulate under its specified conditions. A higher gradient rating can be useful if you enjoy virtual climbing or want a setup that can reproduce steeper routes.
However, simulated gradient is influenced by factors such as rider weight, power output, and speed. A trainer's maximum gradient rating isn't a direct promise that every rider will experience a particular climb in the same way.
What should you consider?
- Do you primarily ride flat routes or enjoy climbing?
- Do you want to follow virtual routes with changing gradients?
- Are you interested in structured workouts where the trainer controls resistance?
- Is realistic terrain simulation an important part of your indoor riding experience?
Power accuracy: How important is it?
Power accuracy describes how closely the trainer's reported power measurement is expected to correspond to the actual power being produced, within its stated tolerance and conditions.
You'll often see specifications such as ±1%, ±2.5%, or ±5%. These figures can be useful when comparing trainers, particularly if you're following structured workouts or tracking your training data over time.
Why does this matter? If you're training with power, you want your data to be consistent and reliable enough to help you understand your effort and follow your workouts. A trainer with a stated accuracy of ±1% and another with ±5% have different published accuracy specifications, but that number alone doesn't tell you everything about the overall training experience.
Consider:
- How important is power-based training to you?
- Do you follow structured workouts or simply ride for fitness?
- Are you comparing power data with another power meter?
- What other features matter to you, such as connectivity and resistance control?
Power accuracy is one part of the decision, not the only measure of trainer quality.
ERG mode: What is it and do you need it?
ERG mode is a feature found on many smart trainers and indoor training platforms. It allows the trainer to automatically adjust resistance to help you maintain a target power during a structured workout.
For example, your workout may call for 200 watts for five minutes. In ERG mode, the trainer adjusts resistance as your cadence changes to help you maintain the target.
This can be useful for:
- Interval workouts.
- Endurance training.
- Following structured training plans.
- Keeping your effort consistent without manually changing resistance.
ERG mode is different from simulated mode, where resistance changes based on virtual terrain, such as climbing or descending a route. If you plan to follow structured workouts, look for a trainer and app combination that supports the features you want to use.
Connectivity: How will your trainer connect?
Smart trainers use connectivity protocols such as Bluetooth and ANT+ to communicate with compatible devices and training platforms. Some models also offer Wi-Fi.
Before buying, consider how you plan to ride:
- Will you use a laptop, tablet, or smartphone?
- Do you want to connect to Zwift, ROUVY, MyWhoosh, or another platform?
- Will you connect a bike computer or heart-rate monitor?
- Do you need multiple devices connected at the same time?
Check the trainer's compatibility and the requirements of your chosen platform before purchasing. A trainer may support several apps, but the specific connection method and features available can vary.
Ready to look at the Smart Trainers options available at Steed? Click on the link below and contact our dedicated customer service team to get help making the right choice.
