A Guide to Turbo Trainers

Summary / Key Features

  • A turbo trainer is a resistance based trainer
  • Convert your bike into an indoor trainer
  • Essential training tool when it gets cold, dark and wet
  • Makes uninterrupted interval training possible
  • Very effective at maintaining/improving form
  • Turbo trainers fold up very neatly
  • Bike rollers are great at improving technique and for low intensity training

What is a Turbo Trainer / Roller is suitable for?

  • Riders targeting specific power/stamina gains
  • Anyone looking to improve fitness/lose weight
  • Not getting wet!

Turbo Trainer Overview

  • Turbo trainers (also known as resistance trainers) are a great way of improving or maintaining fitness and strength inside.
  • Some turbo trainers offer variable resistance, and some offer a quieter or more road like ride – it all depends on the amount you are prepared to spend and the type of resistance unit that is used.
  • At the entry level they are a very affordable way of training indoors, with the turbo unit simply attaching to your existing bike.
  • At the higher end they provide highly scientific ways of tracking your output. Some more expensive models also come with virtual reality features, turning your living room into the final kilometres of Milan-Sanremo (for instance).
  • Bike rollers are very different to a turbo trainer. You rear wheel is not locked in place, and the sensation of riding is far better because you are riding. Because you aren’t locked in they are less stressful on bike frames and ensure the ride has to concentrate on their form.
  • Most rollers don’t offer resistance, but are great for high cadence workouts.
  • However much you spend, the ability to train indoors when it’s the middle of winter is priceless.
  • A hard session on any turbo trainer is a hard session. You’ll never have realised that you could sweat so much. Buy a fan – you will need it.

Turbo Trainers VS Rollers

Joe at Tredz: “A quality half hour session a few times a week in winter – you’ll be surprised just how fit you are when spring comes around.”

Choosing the right Turbo Trainer or Roller for you

How resistance is generated is the most important consideration when choosing a turbo trainer. It affects the ride feel, the noise, the ability to track progress and how much you’ll need to spend.

Type of trainer

  • Air resistance turbo trainers: The cheapest option, these use a fan powered by your pedalling to provide resistance on the wheel. It’s progressive, as in the faster you go the more resistance is created, but not adjustable. These offer a fairly realistic style of riding – but thanks to the fan are the noisiest type of trainer.
  • Magnetic resistance turbo trainers: The resistance on ‘mag trainers’ is caused by a metal plate spinning in a magnetic field, this drives a flywheel which creates the resistance. This style of trainer offers a very adjustable and quiet ride. It’s not progressive – quite stop, start, so it’s not the most realistic road feel. Despite this it’s fine-tuneability makes for a very scientific and popular training tool. Probably the most popular type of turbo trainer there is. The cost of a mag trainer varies hugely, from entry level models, with simple adjustments – to the most expensive models with very precise tracking and adjustment.
  • Fluid resistance turbo trainers: The resistance here is found through the flywheel operating in a fluid chamber. This makes for a very quiet unit and realistic feel. These are as adjustable as the mag trainers and more progressive. Starting price is more expensive than wind and mag options, but the benefits have ensured these are increasingly popular.
  • Bike rollers: These have the best road feel of all, effectively you are riding. You have to concentrate when using them as you aren’t locked in, this means that a lot of riders believe they can see genuine improvements in form when using one. Entry level rollers don’t come with resistance.

Dave at Tredz: “If you’re going to be targeting specific gains, get some kind of heart monitor. Whether it’s connected to the trainer or not, it’ll allow you to be much more exact with your training.”

What its important to you?

  • Best value trainer: Wind/mag
  • Quietest trainer: Mag/fluid
  • Most realistic trainer: Wind/fluid/roller
  • Most adjustable trainer: Mag/fluid

Gideon at Tredz: “Noise is really something to consider – my mag trainer combined with the training mat is really quiet. Try to place it on a solid floor. A rattling wooden floorboard on the second floor will keep the neighbours awake!

Recommended brands

Turbo Trainer Price Range

Entry level/cheap turbo trainers (£80 – £150)

This price range starts with fairly simple wind and mag trainers. At this budget you can at the very least expect a very effective trainer, with excellent reliability. Remote adjustment starts coming in toward the higher end of this bracket.

Mid range turbo trainers (£150 – £300)

Very adjustable mag and fluid trainers are found at this price. You can expect a far higher degree of adjustability and a smoother, quieter ride.

Top end turbo trainers (£300 +)

A smooth, quiet and adjustable turbo trainer is bare minimum here. The more you spend on a trainer above this point you start getting a far more realistic road feel (hill simulation etc). The most expensive trainers offer a complete training package – with heart rate/cadence monitors to allow for very precise sessions.

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