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Buying Guide: Home Trainers
Turbo trainers are a static device that your bike will attach to. Some use only the rear wheel, whereas
others are attached using both the front and the rear wheels of your bike. Turbo trainers keep your bicycle
safe and stable, allowing you to easily ride and use your bike indoors – as you would a normal exercise
bike.
Some turbo trainers can even connect with your PC or phone/tablet via Bluetooth, to give you all the
important information about your ride. In this buying guide we will help you to choose the best style of
turbo trainer to suit your riding style.
Magnetic
To change the resistance in a magnetic turbo trainer, the force of a magnetic field will create turning
resistance on the back wheel that sits against the roller. Most magnetic resistance turbo trainers give you
the ability to change the force output, usually with a trigger that you can mount onto your bikes
handlebars.
Fluid
The resistance in fluid turbo trainers is created by a propeller spinning inside of a fluid filled chamber.
This provides a steadier resistance than magnetic trainers and the resistance is controlled by you changing
gear on your bike, making a more natural experience.
Trainers at a higher price point give you a range of extra functions. These units are generally known as
'Smart Trainers'. The extra features that Smart Trainers can be equipped with vary - for the more analytical
rider, data-driven turbo trainers will record cadence and power so you can reliably track your performance.
Some units will allow this information to be transferred directly to your personal computer and some will
even transfer it straight to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
As price increases, so does the maximum power threshold. These units often use fluid resistance rather than
magnetic, which increases as you pedal harder and removes the need for fixed resistance levels which come
with most Turbos. Smart Trainers cater for riders who want a very realistic ride or a higher level of
feedback from their session. Some top of range units will even implement virtual reality elements through
the resistance level so you can feel inclines as you ride, or allow road-like movement that forces you to
use core muscles.
These are the highest end Smart Trainers on the market and provide the most realistic experience, enabling
you to connect your trainer with your computer so you can ride the same courses as the pros and even take
part in virtual races against riders from all over the world. The resistance in these systems is controlled
by the computer connected to the trainer that mimics the conditions of the ride, uphill gets harder and
downhill is a breeze.
This system of turbo trainers involves removing the skewer of your back wheel and replacing it with the strong,
quick release skewer that comes with the turbo trainer. It is worth considering buying a new tyre for your
wheel, to preserve your tyre.
Direct drive turbo trainers are one of the latest enhancements to the indoor trainer market. These systems work
by removing your back wheel and mounting the rear drop-outs of the bike onto the trainer itself.
For this system to function, you’ll need to fit a cassette to the trainer, however this means there’s no need to
replace your tyres or swapping wheels to a ‘turbo specific’ set up.
For a more 'interactive' training experience you could also opt for a classic set of rollers. Rollers don’t
require your bike to be fixed to them (unlike with turbo trainers). Instead the bike rolls independently on
top of a dual-rear roller and a single front.
Rollers take some practice to get your balance, but as you have to use your core and find your balance, once
you've got the hang of it they are great for extended steady efforts. With short interval sessions you'll
concentrate on balancing as well as your pedalling power. At Evans Cycles, we stock a range of rollers, so
whether you want a basic set, like the Tacx Antares or something more advanced like the Elite Real E-Motion
rollers, we’ve got you covered.
What turbo trainer accessories will I need?
Once you're all set with your chosen trainer, there are a few essentials we recommend to complete the set.
Firstly, fitting your rear wheel to a trainer will raise the back end slightly, therefore a riser block will
keep you level and steady. Secondly, headsets and frames do not like salt, so a sweatcatcher will fit nicely and
avoid any unwanted contamination.
Worried about the noise? Training mats not only fit nicely, keeping your carpet clean, but they are also made
from vibration absorbing rubber which will keep any noise to a minimum. Finally and perhaps most importantly, we
suggest you fit a specific trainer tyre to your rear wheel, as these are made from a denser, tougher rubber,
avoiding your regular tyres wearing down in no time.