Saris Fluid2 Indoor Bike Trainer, Smart Equipped Option, Fits Road and Mountain Bikes, Compatible with Zwift App

Product Information

Better health. Faster splits. More me-time. Whatever your goals may be, the Fluid² helps you get the most out of each

Sitting comfortably in the top spot as the best turbo trainer is the Tacx Neo 2T. If you were looking for the best direct-drive smart trainer then look no further. This very quiet trainer is a highly capable piece of equipment that's easy to set up as well as store and has a resistance unit that’s able to simulate road surfaces by altering the resistance hundreds of times a second. Therefore helping to replicate a realistic riding experience on Zwift (which it is compatible with) from the comfort of your own home. When it comes to wheel size, the M2 works with a wide range of diameters including 650b, 700c, 26in, 27in and 29in, and will work with tyres up to 2in wide. The trainer can also replicate graidents of up to 15 percent. Claimed power accuracy is +/- 5 percent. Simon Bromley/Immediate Media The unit has integrated, dual ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth connectivity, which makes for an easy life when it comes to pairing the trainer with your phone, tablet or computer. Connecting to third party software is a doddle too and it works with all the main players. I hooked up with Zwift during testing and everything worked instantly.This depends on what type of trainer you have and its capabilities; but generally, unless you're using ERG mode on a smart trainer, it's always a good idea to change gears when using the turbo to alter your resistance and cadence.

Turbo-trainers and rollers are the perfect accessories for the stay-at-home cyclist. Strap on any road bike and you’ll be able to exercise in your own home. When using a wheel-on turbo trainer, your existing rear wheel will rest against the pressure pad which will apply resistance. On a direct-drive turbo trainer, you remove the rear wheel and secure your frame to the turbo, with your chain threaded onto the cassette on the unit. Interestingly, according to Elite, they claim that the maximum resistance offered by the Qubo is 1,070W, which for the vast majority of people would be enough, however if you are someone who often sees past this output then this is unlikely to suit your needs. On the other hand, the accuracy for measuring power is pretty impressive given it’s one of the cheapest smart trainers on the market. In addition to the impressive accuracy, for a wheel-on turbo trainer, this unit is pretty quiet in comparison to others of a similar design, but it unfortunately cannot beat the quiet nature of the direct drive turbos. Finance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply. The M2 will also link up to your bike computer and allow you to operate things from your Garmin. Firmware is kept current on the M2 thanks to over the air updates via Bluetooth devices. Saris M2 impressionsThe ride feel is high quality, it's highly accurate with power accuracy a claimed +/-1%, and not even world-class sprinters will trouble its wattage ceiling at a huge 2,200 watts. The Wi-Fi connection is claimed to be 65% faster than Bluetooth or ANT+, so if you race on indoor training platforms like Zwift it's probably the best on the market for ensuring nothing cuts out mid-event. The Saris H3 is another very well-priced direct drive smart trainer which offers the rider a quiet, solid and accurate ride for a lot less money than many other rivals within the market. It’s also pretty user friendly in terms of setting it up and is a great all round option for those looking in the mid-price range but still want a quality feel. Still, the Fluid 2 has a relatively natural feel, and it's near enough to the road that it's not a distraction or frustrating, the way the slippier tire drive models can be. For its low cost and simplicity, it's an excellent choice, especially for riders just looking to get a few hours in a week for a short indoor season. Design All turbo trainers have a frame that supports you and your bike. Some trainers are sturdier than others, but trainers from specialist brands are all pretty solid. A larger footprint and heavier frame will ensure it's more stable, which you want if you're doing maximum-effort intervals.

We'll deal with smart trainers first. These sophisticated trainers are trying to replicate the outdoor riding experience from the comfort of your own home, and if this is what you want then it's useful to practise your outside riding habits like changing gear. If you want to take part in virtual cycling events like Zwift races, you'll need to use your gears to react to changes in gradient or catch breaks, so it's just as important that your gears are shifting properly indoors as outdoors. At the current price, the Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer is very affordable for a direct-drive unit. It works seamlessly with all your favourite training apps and you can expect mostly reliable figures from its built-in power and cadence sensors. But, just because this offering from Saris is cheap doesn’t mean you have to miss out on riding with friends or using your favourite indoor riding apps. Usefully fitted with a speed/cadence sensor, this means that the unit works with training apps like Zwift and Rouvy. Therefore, although basic, you can still enjoy some visual stimulation and motivation for a fraction of the price of other turbo trainers. That being said, it isn’t as quiet as a direct drive turbo and the simulated power reading won't be accurate. Tacx claims the Flux S reads your power to an accuracy of +/- 3%. As well as that, this model can also simulate a maximum resistance of 1,500W which is very reasonable and good enough for most riders and their training needs. Additionally, the Flux S can simulate a climb of up to 10%. It’s also worth noting that the latest version now allows for the use of both gravel and mountain bikes as it has enough clearance for a long-arm derailleur. Paired with useful software such as Zwift, TrainerRoad, Wahoo SYSTM or others, smart trainers can be a great tool for winter training as they allow you to train to a specific power output target. The best turbo trainers can also simulate hills or put you in a virtual race or group-training session, all of which helps to make indoor training more enjoyable. Couple this technology with some of the best indoor cycling accessories like a whopping great fan, indoor-specific clothing and a sweat catcher to protect your bike, and you're bound to find indoor training a joy instead of the task it once was.Setup essentially involves bolting on the resistance unit, and screwing the adjustment lever for the wheel and the clutch knob that is used to apply pressure to the tyre. The accuracy is excellent considering it's not a top-of-the-range trainer, and we found it to be consistently within +/-2% of our power meter in comparison tests. Recalibration is only required when you move the trainer, so it's literally plug and play in most cases. Setup is a fairly simple affair and took me around 20-25 minutes, including faff time. It wasn't made any shorter by the rather brief instruction manual with tiny pictures, but it's simple nonetheless. Maximise your indoor workout with our huge range of smart turbo trainers from the Elite Direto to the Tacx Neo , for when cycling outdoors just isn’t possible. Whether you’re short on time, or the weather is too treacherous for cycling on the roads - smart turbo trainers will allow you to transform your bike into a stationary bike in a matter of minutes.