Should I buy an indoor trainer?

Equipment
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I go back and forth on buying an indoor trainer so I asking for advice!

I started structured training a few weeks ago with the goal of slowly getting faster, building my FTP, and getting healthy. I don’t race. This is all for fun. I have power meters on both of my bikes and all of my rides have been outdoors. I live in the Bay Area where I can mostly bike year-round and rain is the only thing that keeps me inside. I’d most likely only use TrainerRoad and not sign up for swift.

I’ve been looking at a new Core, used v5, or a new Neo 2T that’s currently on sale.

I think about a trainer when it’s raining, when I just want to jump on the bike and bang out a session without all the prep, and when I don’t want to plan outdoor routes to fit a workout.

Money and a tiny workout space in my garage are both limiting factors.

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The single thing that improved my cycling fitness the most was getting an indoor trainer. The ability to knock out a very high quality workout in an extremely time efficient manner should not be underestimated, imo.

If you’re in the bay, you should have no problem finding a used trainer on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace if you need to save some cash, but still expect to put out several hundred dollars for a direct drive trainer like the ones you listed.

In terms of footprint, as long as you have room to sit on your bike and pedal, you’re good - just make sure you can position a fan to get airflow over you. You can drive most smart trainers from a phone using the TrainerRoad app.

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Best thing that happened to my training was going back to training outside - after 2 years of heavily using Kickr and TR. Live down the road in Sac. Fitness went backwards, honestly disappointed but learned a lot of what not to do. This is all for fun, I don’t race but really enjoy pushing myself on our local Wednesday Worlds. A few people around here do some indoor work, but even those people do most training outside.

You’ll get plenty of people on the forum who think indoor training is best. I gave it my best shot and training outside, at least here in NorCal, is far superior on several levels IMHO. I work in front of a computer all day, one unexpected learning was the last thing I want to do before/after work is stare at a screen. My opinion is that humans are programmed to be outside and moving, not staring at screens. I say don’t fight nature.

If absolutely necessary - say bad AQI from forest fire smoke, or a really heavy downpour - I’ll do intervals in sim mode on Zwift/RGT (3 times in past year). But I only use Zwift for sim mode, to simulate rolling terrain, and I use my bike computer to prompt workout. Past year also saw six hotel spins on Peloton and exercise bikes. Last month it was raining so hard I didn’t bother setting up my Kickr, and drove 5 minutes to the gym and used a Stages power meter bike. My Kickr v5 is going to waste and I feel stupid for buying it.

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Indoor training is great for a time crunched athlete. You never have to ease off on the power on a bend, stop light, coast downhill or get stuck in traffic. You can get more work done in a shorter space of time. Its also much safer doing HIIT indoors away from traffic.

Ultimately what pushes up FTP is volume and that’s best done outdoors, but an indoor trainer can help you get riding in when otherwise you’d just be staring at rainy windows.

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I’ve no experience of the KickR or Tacx but those factors led me to the Elite Suito. I suspect the Core will handle ERG better than the Suito though and the Neo 2T definitely will. I’ve more space in my current place but I still prefer the Suito for compactness but I don’t use ERG.

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You don’t need much space for an indoor trainer setup. I have mine in a niche in the basement. I face a wall. I put a shelf on the wall to hold a Lasko-type air mover fan that blows directly into my face. Another Lasko fan sits forward of my front wheel and is angled up toward my chest. This setup takes very little space. And it’s no problem facing a wall since I’m always looking at my computer screen anyway. I have one of those trainer-desks for my laptop.

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I think it really depends on how often you train, how willing you are to train in bad conditions, and how much time you have for prep/getting to the start of the ride. Almost everyone prefers to ride outside when they can, but if you’re doing a 90 minute workout inside, that can easily turn into 2 hours if you want to take it outside, not to mention charging devices, airing up tires, cleaning/maintaining the bike and drivetrain, additional laundry, etc. But, if you have the time, a safe place to ride, and decent conditions, getting outdoors has lots of quality of life benefits that can outweigh all that.

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@WindWarrior what WOs / system are you using on your bike computer for your outdoor WOs? Running it on what, a Garmin with power meter pedals?

What terrain / routes do you find work best for WOs? I’m guessing mostly flat loops, where you’re using wind resistance as the “infinite power sink”, rather than hilly routes that invariably have unpredictable / un-scheduleable breaks, that don’t line up w the intervals? I’m highly interested in the possibility of taking my WOs outside, but can’t figure how I could do them, well, without tons of mini breaks that I do not want to be in there, esp as my focus events are TT.

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My indoor trainer was unequivocally the greatest cycling investment I have ever made. Any fitness gains I made since I started road cycling is because of my Kickr V5.

With that being said I wish I could do the majority of my training outdoors. I can’t. I live in Pennsylvania where weather, especially during the cold months, won’t allow me to train outside. And with a 9-5 job I don’t have enough daylight during the winter months to get enough volume.

If you are able to ride a lot outside all year around then that is awesome.

But an indoor trainer is awesome for this.

I would recommend the new Kickr Core :dizzy: Zwift One :dizzy: . I know you mentioned you would use TrainerRoad over Zwift but you can get the Kickr Core with a year subscription to Zwift:

So you can have the option of both TR and Zwift, essentially, while only needing to pay for TR for a year.

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I’m a wimp in cold weather. I live in a city with zero biking infrastructure. Without my trainer, H3, I would only get 1-2 rides a week.

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This seems to answer the question. A trainer will give you another option. Also it will help with all the other excuses not to do a workout.

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12

Yes. For when the weather sucks, you’re time limited, and/or don’t feel like getting kitted up.

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13

You just summarize my thoughts spot on.

Riding a bike is an OUTSIDE ACTIVITY. Indoor trainer was developed to overcome something stopping you from going outside. That means outside is a rule, and indoor is sporadic if needed.

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14

Also, you don’t need to be stuck on expensive direct-drive trainers. There is life outside them.

I changed an Elite suito for a set of dumb rollers and it was the best decision I’ve made. My indoor trainer is way more enjoyable. I’ll list what I think is relevant:

  • cheaper than DD
  • way more engaging
  • it forces you to improve your pedal technique
  • pretty easy to toss under the bed and done, no need to remove the wheels, plug it into a wall outlet, it just put your bike on top of it and ride.

There’s an excellent thread somewhere here that helped me in this decision. I’ll try and find it.

edited: here → Switching to rollers - and why you should try too

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Agreed. However counterintuitively, having an indoor trainer also makes me mentally tougher about riding outside. I do my longish winter weekend rides outside, 3.5 hours both Sat and Sun. Having been training inside all week makes me look forward to riding at 25 degrees. It’s a challenge, but I’m mentally up to it, in fact excited about it, since I’ve been inside all week.

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Some great thoughts already shared. I’ll drop another perspective, that hasn’t yet been mentioned.

End point is: I say 100% get one. You’ll love having it, when you need it, and can’t / don’t want to ride outside.

I’m also in the “single best thing I ever did for my fitness & power as a rider, and race day successes” camp, but for a different reason:

I live in a big city, with no real access to roads where I can go full rip. To do that, I have to throw the bike in the car and drive 30 - 45 mins to the country roads. Here, I’m restricted to quiet res. streets and bike paths, all of which have tons and tons of stops = mini breaks.

Getting the indoor trainer allowed me to massively increase the effectiveness of my training, power output, and do structured training properly, without interruptions. This = huge gains, and actual in-race successes last two seasons that were nowhere near happening before.

I now honestly really really can’t ride on the trails or res. streets, except for just casual / fun rides. I’m far too powerful, and have TR & my trainer to thank for that. And NGL, it feels sorta cool to be able to say that, with honesty! :slight_smile:

EDIT TO ADD: You don’t need direct drive. I’ve done 4 winter seasons now; 2 on Zwift, 2 on TR [in the middle of the 2nd], and did it all on a Saris M2 with a normal tire. The M2 is +/- 1-3%; daily your FTP is up & down more than that. I’m no watt monster, but I’m 2.5 - 2.8 w/kg; 185 - 210 FTP range in the last 12 mo, so no slouch either. The machine, and tire, can handle the load just fine. Although it sorta seems >225 - 300 ish w consistent output, the tire may start to degrade faster… unsure.

If I did it again, I’d highly consider rollers. You already have the power pedals, so could get away w more economical dumb rollers, as @AlexMartins mentioned above. Have heard it makes your indoor rides way better. Thinking of going that way myself when $ can work.

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and I agree. I need to do it indoors as well. I’m in Canada, you know, there’s the white stuff around. :rofl:

This is my first year fatbiking, and it’s been great. Even the indoor sessions are better as I interchange outside fatbike days with indoor sessions, it’s excellent. But the pair of rollers has its place for sure, it’s inevitable.

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Do you work a lot like? Do you have kids? Do you want to build fitness? Do you want a way to ride when weather sucks?
If you answered yes to any of those questions. Then yes an indoor trainer is worth it.
I went from a wheel on trainer to a Tacx neo2T which made my indoor experience much more enjoyable. No more pumping up my tire every ride. I have a dedicated bike for the trainer. So I have zero excuses to get in a workout or ride. I started cycling to be in shape and having an indoor trainer was way better than those bikes at the gym.
Those are a few of my reasons why it’s worth it.

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As mentioned above don’t underestimate the audits of life benefits of getting outside. I do so much work on the trainer and I think it led to a lot of mental burnout. Of course it’s useful if it’s downpouring. Just don’t get caught in the convenience trap. It’s a little
More of a hurdle but it’s always worth it. I am running into that now. And I live in the Northeast

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I love riding outside, and if available I do it. But sometimes I don’t have time to mess around and just need to get some solid work done in whatever amount of time I have available. This is when the trainer is awesome, because no matter what time it is - you can get a session in 24/7 as long as it doesn’t wake the family or neighbors up.

Also, buy a used one. Personally I’ve been using a kurt kinetic, wheel on trainer since starting TR in 2014/2015. I haven’t cared to upgrade because I get my workouts in, no frills. Also budget for a fan. After that you can get started and see if you like it enough and upgrade.

Kurt Kinetic Fluid Bike Trainer - bicycle parts - by owner - bike sale - craigslist $60 bucks is an inexpensive entry to have the option.

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