That isn’t to say the trainer is in any way compromised, though – its specs are more than sufficient to cope with any kind of typical session you may want to complete. The Wahoo Kickr Core is the little brother to the regular Kickr but trades in a few of its more advanced features for a substantial cost reduction. The best smart turbo trainers Wahoo Kickr Core turbo trainer: Best all-around trainer In our round-up, we’ve looked at turbos that deliver all the bells and whistles, along with options to get you on Zwift – or any other virtual training platform, without costing the earth.īelow are our favourites. Chief among these developments is their ability to cooperate with training software, allowing you to compete in virtual races or automatically vary their resistance, to cover virtual courses or complete set workouts.Įven better, they are no longer the preserve of the extremely well-heeled, and a few hundred pounds will secure you a perfectly serviceable entry-level model. Happily, the features and ride-feel offered by modern smart turbo are much improved on models from just a few years ago. You bolt your bike onto the device with either a roller on the wheel or, more likely, a direct-drive system recreating the resistance you’d feel when riding on the road. Nowadays, whether lured by the virtual world of Zwift or by the many benefits of stationary training, they’re increasingly a year-round companion for many riders.Īnd while turbo trainers have drastically improved in recent years, the fundamental concept remains the same. It used to be that the turbo trainer was only resorted to in the direst winter conditions or for pre-race warm-ups.