Best Bike Trainers of 2021 | Smart Trainers for Zwift

We’ve scoured the forums and asked our friends. Here’s our list of the best indoor bike trainer set ups for cyclists looking to pair their trainer with Zwift, Sufferfest, Trainerroad or another training app. Or maybe you just want a great smart trainer so you can sit back with Netflix or a podcast and ride in peace with the real-life feel of riding outside. 

It turns out the entire world is looking for these, so some are perpetually out of stock. 

Best Smart Trainers

For the legendary feel of riding outside.

1. Wahoo KICKR Smart Power Trainer ($1199). The choice of many pros as well as Zwifters looking for the best from @wahoo. The latest update includes AXIS feet which allow the trainer to rock side to side. The feet can be customized with 3 stiffness settings for a realistic ride feel. Other upgrades: automatic calibration, speeding up your time from login to ride and improved accuracy of +/- 1%. Offers a huge 2200 watts of resistance, and the 16-pound flywheel was engineered to provide riders with more precise inertia to recreate an outdoor ride feel while training in Zwift. It includes an 11-speed cassette.
2. Saris H3 Direct Drive($999). Beyond the price point, people love the reliability, power accuracy, floor stability, responsiveness and updates that have made this Saris’ most quiet trainer yet. Max power is 2,000 watts, which should be enough for even the strongest pros.
3. Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer ($1399). The only trainer where you feel the vibration of the virtual roads of Zwift. With responsive road feel you’ll experience the sensation of riding everything from gravel roads and cobblestones to smooth asphalt. With descent simulation, you’ll feel the acceleration as you soar down the backside of the mountain. For design lovers, it includes multi-color LED lights that illuminate the floor while riding. It is one of the quietest trainers and the only that does not require calibration to maintain accurate and reliable data measurement within 1%.

Best Trainers at lower price

Perfect for Zwifters or indoor cyclists who want a capable trainer, but don’t want to break the bank.

1. Wahoo KICKR Core ($899) – currently out of stock
2. Elite Suito Trainer ($949)
3. Tacx Flux 2 Smart Trainer($899)

Accessories to enjoy the ride

1. Get a mat so you don’t vibrate through your floor and burn a hole in it with your sweat. 
2. Come up with a DIY desk to watch videos or work while you ride, or splurge and make it easy with an adjustable Wahoo Kickr Training Desk ($249) or Saris Training Desk($329) 
3. A fan is a must. Go for the Wahoo KICKR Headwind ($249), the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP04($650) if you want the luxury of clean air and need to heat a basement/garage, or the old school powerful and quiet Rowenta VU5670 Turbo Silence Extreme($140)
4. Go all-in: Mimic the climbing gradient of riding outdoors with the Wahoo Fitness KICKR Climb($599). A pricey nice to have for Wahooligans, but not necessary. For Saris, add the MP1 Platform ($1200)

Smart Indoor Bikes

Don’t want to deal with hooking your bike up to a trainer? You can always get a full indoor training bike. We’ll continue to update this list as most are out of stock but you can currently still get:

1. Stages Cycling Smart Bike ($2899)
2. NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle ($1999) Note: Doesn’t work with Zwift

What trainers do the pros ride?

The Prokit community as seen riding in barns, above garages, and wherever the magic can happen.

For more, read an in-depth review on everything you need to know from DC Rainmaker. Or head over to @iamtedking to Learn how to Ride Zwift from a Zwift Pro.

Go behind the scenes with the pros on their physical, mental and gear kit in Prokit’s exclusive interviews.

Cover image: @laura in Vermont. Let us know what we missed in the comments!