Best Bike Trainer Stands Reviewed

There are many benefits to cycling indoors, but the main one is convenience. Riding outside can be fun and exhilarating, but it certainly isn’t the most convenient method for boosting your cardio routine. With indoor cycling, you don’t have to worry about navigating busy streets or weaving in and out of unaware pedestrians.

With an indoor trainer or roller, you’ll never have to worry about rain or snow keeping you from your cycling routine. Even in the winter months, you can get a healthy cardio workout from the same bike you typically use outdoors. There’s no need to invest in a stationary exercise bike when the easy and cheap solution is to purchase a trainer stand instead.

For beginner cyclists or those looking for a convenient indoor riding experience, investing in a trainer is the right choice. There are several types of trainers to choose from, including wheel drive, direct drive, and smart trainers. A wheel drive system, also called tyre drive, is the least advanced of the three. It works by merely fixing the rear bicycle wheel into place with 2 quick clicks.

A direct drive system requires a rider to remove the rear wheel altogether and mount the bike on the trainer. Although it’s not rocket science, it is a bit more technical than using a wheel-driven system. The smart trainer is the most advanced trainer type. It allows a rider to mount the bike like a traditional direct drive trainer and connect the riding experience to cycle training apps. These apps help to control riding resistance and monitor performance.

When we talk about power and wattage, we’re not referring to the amount of power needed for a trainer to operate. Rather, we’re referring to the amount of power and wattage a rider expends while using the trainer. A source from American Fitness Magazine says that using watts to boost workouts helps cyclists to get and stay fit.

After comparing all the best bike trainer stands on the market, we've concluded that the best overall trainer stand is the Elite Drivo Interactive Trainer. This is the best overall model for many reasons, ranging from the trainer’s safety features to its whisper-quiet operation. The quiet and smooth ride makes this the perfect home training solution.

This is a highly interactive trainer, especially when the rider downloads the Elite My Training app. This app is compatible with 3rd party training tools, including Swift and TrainerRoad. The Drivo comes with Bluetooth and ANT+ capabilities, making it not only the best overall trainer stand but also the best smart trainer on this list.

The foldable legs and integrated handle make it easy to store the Drivo when not in use. Riders say that the magnetic resistance provides a great workout, but some cyclists prefer a fluid system for more of a challenge. But even with magnetic resistance, the Drivo has a high maximum power output, making it the ideal choice for cycle training.

When setting up the Drivo, you’ll connect the stand directly to the bicycle chain. This assembly method is proven to transmit the power generated by the rider accurately. You'll be able to simulate a 22% slope with this trainer stand, which is ideal for building muscle and endurance. The only downside to the Elite Bike Training product is the high price tag, but with so many additional features, you might be able to overlook the high cost.

Another top choice for cyclists looking for fluid resistance, the Travel Trac is as good as it gets when it comes to cost. This is the best trainer stand for the money, namely because it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to get a challenging indoor cycling workout. Just because this is one of the cheapest models on our list doesn't mean it lacks in any way when it comes to performance. 

Similar to the JetBlack model, the Travel Trac utilizes fluid resistance that progressively increases as a rider pedals. It simulates an authentic road-like feel, which is why avid cyclists on a budget turn to this trainer. The other huge perk is that there is no setup required; the Travel Trac comes ready-to-use out of the box. Simply find an open space within your home and lock your bike into place.

The foldable frame folds down to a compact 5.5 inches wide. You can essentially store your trainer anywhere and take it along with you, completely hassle-free. A lot of cyclists wonder about this trainer’s stability since the price is so low, but you don’t have to worry about that. As long as you’re using a compatible bike, the Travel Trac will be able to keep you locked into place with its broad base structure and thick rubber molded grips.

The only downside of choosing the Travel Trac model is that it’s very basic. This is to be expected with the low price tag. But if you’re looking for something more high-tech, you’ll have to dish out more cash on your trainer stand.  To raise the front wheel, you’ll need to purchase an additional riser block, but this won’t cost you much.

We’ve already covered 2 solid choices that feature fluid resistance, but those don’t compare to the fluid resistance created by the Kinetic Road Machine 2.0. This model is currently the best fluid resistance bike trainer on the market. It’s #1 spot in the fluid trainer category can be attributed to the heavy 6.25-pound flywheel. As you probably know by now, the heavier the flywheel, the smoother and quieter the ride.

All fluid Kinetic trainers use a resistance that mirrors the outdoor riding experience, making the Road Machine 2.0 the perfect real power training tool. Riders love the accurate wattage readings and exact speeds that are easy to access with Kinetic’s inRide Watt Meter accessory and handy Kinetic Fit app. Pro cyclists love this since they can get an accurate reading of their wattage output with every cycling session. 

Kinetic offers a lifetime warranty with the 2.0 trainer, and they stand behind this warranty 100%. This trainer frame was designed to be the most durable in the industry. While it's impossible to say if that's actually the case, it's clear that the trainer features a highly durable structural design. Every part of this trainer's stand is constructed from either steel or aluminum.

There is one thing that needs to be mentioned before giving the Kinetic trainer a glowing A+ score. Some reviewers have complained of loud operation while riding, but this is certainly not something that every Kinetic user agrees on. Others say that it is whisper-quiet, so it’s really a toss-up as to whether you’ll experience quiet or loud operation. If you do have complaints about the noise level of your trainer, contact the Kinetic customer support team.

The Conquer Indoor Bike Trainer is made from heavy-duty material and an extra-wide frame for greater stability while riding. Conquer riders love this bike for a variety of reasons, but the main one is its portability. This is the best portable trainer stand since it conveniently folds for compact storage when your workout is over. When you’re ready to use it again, simply unfold it and lock the bike securely into place.

The Conquer trainer stand uses magnetic resistance and comes with a knob for adjusting the resistance level. Aside from the extreme portability, this is the most-loved feature of this bike trainer. Assembly shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes, and there are no tools necessary to get this stand up and running. Included with the stand is a front-wheel riser block, so you don’ thave to worry about purchasing one separately.

This is a fantastic choice for anyone who is wanting to rain inside all winter long, then store the trainer away as soon as the weather is suitable for cycling again. Even when the roads freeze over or the rain falls, you won’t have to worry about missing out on a cycling session with the Conquer Indoor Bike Trainer. This might not be the top choice for a pro cyclist, but it’s a great solution for rainy or snowy days.

For those of you who are looking for a cheap indoor bike trainer stand, you can’t go wrong with the Sportneer. This is the best cheap bike trainer, costing less than $100 from most sellers. But just remember that with a cheap price comes very basic functions. There is nothing high-tech about this bike trainer, but it gets the job done if you're looking for a simple solution to indoor cycling.

This magnetic trainer provides stability on any surface with its wide base and low stance. It comes with a set of 5 anti-slip rubber feet to hold the bike securely in place, even during intense interval training. This trainer was designed with quiet operation in mind. Although it’s not entirely silent, you certainly don't have to worry about bothering your neighbors. The Sportneer uses a noise reduction resistance wheel to ensure that you can cycle without making a peep.

The price is low, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get everything you need from this bike trainer. You’ll even be able to simulate the toughest inclines with the 6 adjustable resistance settings. When you’re ready to hit the outdoor trails or bike paths, all you have to do is press down the release lever and remove the bike from its resting spot on the trainer.

One critique that has been expressed by several Sportneer reviewers is that the trainer lacks portability. Although this is not entirely true, it is true that this trainer isn’t as compact when folded as a few others on this list. When folded into its smallest setting, the Sportneer measures 22 by 18 by 6 inches. This is still plenty small to fit in a car trunk or stow away for the winter, but it doesn’t compare to the more portable Conquer trainer.

Not many bike trainers feature wind resistance these days. This is mainly because wind trainers are known to be the loudest type of indoor cycling solution. But as long as you can look past the noise, there are certain perks to choosing an indoor bike trainer stand with wind resistance. The main benefit is that you’ll be able to get a high-intensity workout at a low cost.

If high-intensity at a low price point sounds good to you, you'll want to invest in the best wind trainer on the market, which is, without a doubt, the CycleOps Wind Trainer. It features a Vortex Blade Design to generate progressive resistance to match each pedal stroke and gear click. Riders love that wind resistance creates a real-road cycling experience, which is precisely what you'll get with the CycleOps.

Men's Journal even dubbed this as the best wind trainer back in 2015, saying that, 

The Feedback Sports Omnium is unlike any trainer covered on this list so far. When a bicycle wheel needs to be removed for trainer use, it is typically the back wheel. But in the case of the Omnium trainer, you’ll be removing the front wheel of your bicycle. According to the Omnium product details, 

Taking care of a stationary bike trainer is something that many riders fail to do. But if you plan on using the trainer for years to come, you'll need to maintain it properly.

After each training session, wipe down the trainer with a soft cloth and mild cleaner. When not in use, store the trainer in a safe place, out of the way and protected from settling dust. It’s a good idea to lubricate and tighten the trainer’s hardware every so often.

The type of indoor cycling workout you opt for depends entirely on your personal fitness goals. Are you merely trying to stay sharp for the outdoor cycling season, or is slimming down your main goal.

Whatever your fitness goals may be, engaging in HIIT workouts for cyclists can help you to achieve them.