Best Indoor Cycling Upgrades to Level-Up Your Winter Bike Training
Compared to riding outdoors, indoor cycling offers a practical alternative for a number of reasons. A controlled environment offers controlled training. So for serious cyclists, having an indoor bike setup is crucial in helping build fitness. But some people love the interactivity and live-stream group rides that come with the Peloton community.
Whatever your preference – between an interactive exercise bike and an indoor bike trainer – there are a few particular products that deliver the best indoor cycling upgrades. Here are our recommendations to level-up your wintertime (or rainy day) indoor bike training.
Wahoo KICKR SNAP
The Wahoo KICKR SNAP is one of the few wheel-on bike trainers that still falls under the “smart trainer” category. The SNAP is less sophisticated compared to wheel-off, direct-drive bike trainers, but it delivers an incredibly smooth and realistic ride feel. What’s more is that the SNAP is super easy to set up and pairs with popular training platforms like Zwift, Rouvy, and Trainer Road.
While the KICKR SNAP is an entry-level bike trainer from the high-end brand of Wahoo, it’s one of the best in its class for wheel-on options. It features a robust 10.5lb flywheel that’s engineered to deliver accurate inertia and rolling resistance needed to simulate outdoor ride feel with an indoor training setup.
What makes the Wahoo KICKR SNAP a smart trainer is that it syncs with interactive training platforms which mimic outdoor conditions and elevation changes. This is our favorite wheel-on option, but you find more of the best indoor bike trainer products from Wahoo and other quality brands. Purchase the KICKR SNAP Wheel-on trainer on Amazon.
Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC Bike
For serious cyclists, one of the most important parts of the indoor cycling experience is just how well a bike can mimic the feel of outdoor riding. When you ride outside, there are turns and hills that you can’t simulate with a standard bike trainer. But the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC Bike defies these standards with something unique.
What makes the VeloCore 16 IC Bike a standout option in the indoor exercise bike space is that it stimulates the tilt and lean of riding outdoors on the road. With its sturdy foundation and engineering, you can experience a real-world lean that effectively simulates the twists and turns of outdoor riding.
With the VeloCore 16 IC Bike, you can connect to video streaming services through Bowflex’s exercise programs. Next to Peleton, it’s one of the few indoor bikes that offer such interactivity. Check out the VeloCore 16 IC Bike on Amazon.
Saris H3 Smart Trainer
The Saris H3 is one of the highest quality bike trainers on the market that has raving customer reviews. The H3 trainer has a robust flywheel that provides a realistic riding experience that’s both smooth and quiet. It also provides ample maximum power output at 2,000 watts and can simulate up to 20 percent grade climbs. Compared to similar bike trainer models, it comes at a much cheaper price tag.
As a giant leap forward from the Saris H2 model, the H3 is a more accurate, stable, and interactive indoor bike trainer with smart capabilities. The H3’s power accuracy is within (+/-) 2 percent, which isn’t the best compared to Wahoo and other high ends brands. But this range is still sufficiently accurate for most cyclists. Like the best models, the Saris H3 trainer provides 2,000 watts of maximum power output and is one of the quietest options on the market.
You don’t have to drop a thousand bucks for a premium direct-drive trainer. You can find the Saris H3 for an affordable price on Amazon.
Peloton Exercise Bike
When it comes to streaming workouts and live training sessions, Peloton has the corner on the market. There is no better way to get in shape than with the thousands of live and recorded Peloton workouts available on the largest touch screen on any stationary bike. In addition to indoor cycling, the screen can rotate for strength and yoga workouts as well.
Peloton’s exercise bike has 100 levels of resistance and is one of the highest-quality bicycles on the market. This is a great option if you want an at-home workout system that will mimic the outdoors. However, the highlight of Peloton is the additional membership with live and recorded training sessions for all types of workouts.
With a Peloton exercise bike, you have access to thousands of cycling workouts that you can view from a rotatable screen. It’s also well-designed with comfortable handlebar placement designed for multiple riding positions.
Check out the original Peloton exercise bike on Amazon.
Keep Riding Year-Round
Whether you competitive cyclist looking to maximize your training or one of the best eBike enthusiasts who are trying to stay fit and ready for summer, an indoor cycling setup can provide a great investment to keep you moving year-round.