4 TOP
INDOOR
BIKETHE PLATFORM: ZWIFT TRAINERS
best for:Riders who want
to bring all the fun of cycling
inside. details: $14.99/month;
available for iOS, Apple TV, Android, Mac,
and Windows/PC; requires a trainer or
a smart trainer for the best experience.
how it works:Create a personalized
avatar, and zip along at speeds based on
the power you’re putting out for your
weight. You can join group rides, line up for
a race, meet up with a friend to just ride,
or do pre-programmed workouts. You can
also take an in-app FTP test and follow a
training plan to get ready for a century
or other goal. But the real gold is in the
game: earning new wheels, unlocking new
courses, “chatting” with fellow riders via
the app. It’s all the trappings and socially
competitive stuff you love about outdoor
cycling, indoors.
TRAINERROAD
best for: Riders who want
progressive, structured
training—no games neces-
sary. details: $19.95/month or $189/year,
available for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC;
requires a speed sensor or a power meter
and smart trainer for automatic resistance
control indoors. how it works:Establish
your baseline FTP using an in-app test.
Then choose from over 100 training plans
(or 1,000+ indoor/outdoor workouts) to
prepare for whatever races or events are
on the calendar. The professionally cre-
ated plans are periodized to take you from
building base to honing your performance
needs to reach a specific goal. The app lets
you watch whatever you want while the
guided workout streams on the bottom
of the screen.
SUFFERFEST
best for:HIIT fanatics who
are hunting for solid power-
based training and complete
fitness coaching. details:$12.99/month or
$99/year, available for iOS, Mac, and Win-
dows; requires an indoor or smart trainer.
how it works:With workouts called “Vio-
lator” and “The Hunted,” the Sufferfest
employs a proprietary power measure
they call 4DP, short for 4 Dimensional
Power. It tests your five-second, one-
minute, five-minute, and 20-minute
power to see how your max wattage mea-
sures up from sprinting to time trialing.
Your training plans are adjusted accord-
ingly to target the areas you need to build
on to achieve your goals. If you geek out
on HIIT training, you’ll love it. It’s also
one of the best apps for multisport and
all-around athletes, as they have running,
cycling, and triathlon videos, as well as
mental training programs, strength train-
ing, and cycling-centric yoga workouts.A SMART INDOOR STATIONARY BIKE
best for: Serious, all-season
cyclists who want to simulate
the outdoor riding experience
indoors on a moment’s notice.options:Wahoo Kickr Bike, $3,499;
Technogym Skillbike, $4,870; Stages SC3
Indoor Bike, $2,599. how it works:New
high-tech, smart stationary bikes await
if you’re willing to invest in what is
essentially a permanent inside ride.
Unlike basic indoor cycling bikes
commonly used in Spin classes, these
specialized bikes are designed to more
closely mirror your outdoor bike, from
the geometry and fit to real shifting and
accurate gear ratios—the Wahoo Kickr
can even match your 11-speed drivetrain
groupset. These smart cycles can cost as
much as a second bike, but if you want
to really bring the outdoor experience
indoors and are tired of dragging your
bike through the house and wrestling
it on and off the trainer, they could be
worth it.1
KINETIC R 1 /
$1,050
Allows the bike
to rock from side
to side for that
real feel.2
ELITE SUITO /
$800
Easy to carry,
easy to store,
and ready to use
out of the box.3
WAHOO KICKR
CORE /$900
Nearly all the
functionality of
a Kickr in a com-
pact design.4
BKOOL SMART GO
/$300
Lightweight,
portable, and
affordable smart
trainer.4ISSUE 1 | 2020 • BICYCLING.COM 33