The best bikes for indoor cycling will provide an option to leave your set-up ready to go, so you're not going to need to spend time preparing for a turbo session.
The best indoor cycling apps can be addictive, and if you're spending a lot of time riding indoors, you may want a dedicated set-up, which allows you to leave your bike on your smart trainer and be ready to ride.
Last updated 22nd January 2026 It's the season for training indoors, and if you're regularly riding and training indoors, it's a big time saver having your smart trainer permanently set up and ready to go. Bikes were checked for availability and replaced where no longer sold. How to choose, FAQs and how we test sections added. Zwift Ride has been added as an option.
Best bikes for indoor cycling
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Best bikes for indoor cycling for the casual rider
If you're just looking for a bike for indoor cycling to hook up to your trainer for shorter, lower-intensity riding, you're probably not going to want to spend too much. You're also more likely to want to adopt a more comfortable, more upright ride position, particularly since aerodynamics isn't an issue, as it is when riding outdoors.
Many of the best budget road bikes are designed for an endurance ride position, so you'll not be too stretched out, and the bars will be higher, resulting in you sitting more on your saddle with less weight on your arms. You may even prefer a hybrid bike with flat bars to a dropped handlebar road bike.
➕ Upright geometry for training comfort
➕ Full 10-speed Tiagra groupset
➕ Broad gear range
➖ On the expensive side for indoor use
The Cube Attain road bike has an upright geometry to keep you comfortable on a long Zwift ride. There's a full Shimano Tiagra groupset with 50/34T chainrings at the front and an 11-34T cassette. The frame is based around Cube's Road Comfort geometry, meaning that as you slog through a long structured workout, the relaxed position will temper some of the non-aerobic discomfort.
With the bike being a disc-equipped roadie, the rear hub spacing is 12x142mm, so when you mate it with your direct-drive smart trainer, make sure you have the right adaptors. Most direct drive trainers come with these, so you should be ok, but it's worth checking the specs before you buy.
➕ Endurance ride position
➕ Wide size range
➕ Cheap components to replace
➕ Affordable
➖ More limited gear ratios from the 8-speed groupset
The Giant Contend is the brand's entry-level road offering, with a high-quality frame with comfortable geometry. The frame is made using Aluxx-Grade aluminium and sees plenty of design elements borrowed from the Defy — so don't expect it to flex under power. At the same time, the all-rounder geometry provides a comfortable position for hours of riding on the smart trainer.
The Contend 2 sees a 2x8 Shimano Claris groupset bolted on, and the chain, cassettes and chainrings won't break the bank when they do eventually wear out over time. There's a good range of sizes from XS to XL and the rim brakes and quick-release hubs should mean compatibility with a wide range of trainers.
➕ Durable component choice
➕ Disc brake frame ensures wide trainer compatibility
➖ More limited eight-speed groupset
Trek makes quality bikes that are widely available in the UK via retailers and online. At the bottom of the range, the Domane AL 2 packs disc brakes and an upright endurance bike riding position.
There's a decent spread of gears via the 2x8-speed Shimano Claris groupset and a robust alloy frame that should cope well with indoor stresses. Trek's Bontrager components are well chosen and durable, and it's a bike that should be comfortable enough to take outdoors too.
Best bikes for indoor cycling for the racer
While a casual user may be happy to sit up and ride, it's likely that if you're racing, you'll want to be able to adopt a more aggressive position on your trainer, so that you get used to holding this in a race and can reap the aero gains available.
If you're into Zwift racing, you'll want a race-ready set of gears as well, whereas if you're just using ERG mode, gearing isn't going to be important. You might even be able to use a single-speed bike for your workout, while a fixed gear will ensure that you can't coast, which should produce fitness benefits.
A bike that will let you mimic your race position is likely to have a lower stack than a bike for use by a more casual user. Lower-priced bikes are usually designed for a more upright, endurance ride position, so it might be difficult to mimic a more racy bike.
The other option is to fit a longer stem to a smaller frame size so that you're more stretched out. Unless you have an Elite Sterzo steering plate, you're not going to need to turn your bars as you cycle indoors, so any effect on steering geometry is irrelevant.
➕ Race-oriented alloy frame
➕ Competitive price
➖ Another 8-speed Claris groupset
Among the best aluminium road bikes, Cannondale's CAAD is probably one of the most universally loved and race-ready, and the Optimo borrows most of its design cues from past models of the CAAD bike series. The rim brakes and semi-external cabling aren't going to be an issue for indoor riding and help keep the price competitive.
This particular version of the CAAD Optimo comes with a Shimano Claris groupset with an 8-speed 11-30t cassette paired with an FSA Tempo 50/34 crankset.
➕ Short headtube
➕ 2x11-speed Shimano 105 groupset
➖ Carbon frame may be unnecessary for an indoor bike
The Boardman SLR 8.9 offers a shortish 151mm head tube in size M. Strip out the spacers and you should be able to get the bars fairly low for a racy position. The aero tube profiles aren't going to do much for you on the turbo, but they signal the bike's more racy intent.
You also get an 11-speed Shimano 105 groupset with an 11-30t cassette, so there's a decent spread of gears without large jumps to train your cadence. Quality Boardman-branded components should be reliable and comfortable too.
➕ Wide gear range for hill training
➕ Good spec for the price
➖ Need to drop the stem for a more race-oriented position
The Triban RC500, sold by Decathlon, offers a Shimano Sora 9-speed groupset and an 11-32 tooth gear range, so there's plenty of scope to tackle harder climbs on your turbo. Although the ride position is quite upright, swapping the stem and spacers will let you drop the handlebars for a racier workout.
Upgrade to the RC520 Disc and Shimano 105 is on offer, which gives you a 2x11 setup for more gearing versatility.
Best bikes for indoor cycling for the triathlete
For triathletes, being able to hold their race position and produce power on their tri bars is vital. Indoor training is a great way to fine-tune your bar set-up and test it thoroughly before your race.
That makes a lower-priced tri bike a good option to hook up to your trainer and there are a few options available. The alternative, if your position isn't too aggressive, is that you might be able to add some clip-on aero bars to a road bike.
Whether that would work will be highly dependent on the geometry you need to adopt. Does a road bike let you get your bars low enough? Can you get your saddle position far enough forward?
A zero setback seatpost may help you to push your saddle further forward, but the geometry may still not be right, or you may be at the limit of adjustability, so fine-tuning may not be possible.
➕ Low price for a tri frameset
➕ Comes with bars
➖ Need to build up the bike to use
Indoors is a great place to get used to holding your triathlon or time trial position. A turbo with a power meter is a good way to fine-tune it to ensure that you can push out maximum watts over your chosen distance, and it's a safe way to test a new position. Some top triathletes do the majority of their training on the turbo.
The Trek Speed Concept rim brake frameset is about the lowest-priced option to get a tri frame with bars and a seatpost. Add a low-priced groupset and a budget quick-release front wheel, and you're ready to hook up to your turbo and get training.
➕ Wide adjustability
➕ Stiff frameset
➖ Not a bike you're going to want to use outdoors in a race
The Liv Avow Advanced provides a lot of adjustability, so you can experiment with your race position on your turbo. The rim brakes and external cables may be old school, but indoors, that's not going to matter, and there's the frame stiffness to handle your toughest sessions.
As with the brakes and cables, the shallow stock wheels aren't going to cut the mustard in a race, but they're robust and fine for the indoor rider, particularly since you're probably not going to be using the rear on your smart trainer.
➕ Another bike with plenty of adjustability
➕ Decent spec for the price
➖ An indoor-only option
The Cervelo P Series tri bikes offer a reasonably affordable option for the indoor triathlete. The current range starts off with a Shimano 105 build with Zipp Vuka basebars and extensions, shallow section Alexrims wheels and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes.
It may not be the spec you'd choose for a race, but for training, it's a set-up that gives plenty of adjustability without breaking the bank.
Best bikes for indoor cycling for the mountain biker
If you're riding a mountain bike, whether casually or in competition, and want to stay fit by working out indoors, you'll probably not want to be bent over a set of road bike drop bars. So it makes sense to hook up a mountain bike to your indoor trainer.
There are advantages to buying a cheaper mountain bike, as pretty much every trainer comes native with quick-release compatibility, and many cheap mountain bikes still use this standard, so you'll avoid any problems with axle compatibility.
Tyre size may still be an issue, so if you're riding a wheel-on trainer, check that there's space for your tyre width and compatibility with your wheel size. With a direct drive trainer, this is less likely to be a problem.
It's also worth considering buying a mountain bike with a rigid fork or a hybrid. Without any obstacles to ride over, a suspension fork will either bob like crazy, or you'll have to lock it out, which makes it redundant.
➕ Good gear spread to train for climbs
➕ QR axle should ensure wide compatibility
➖ No lock-out to the fork, which may bob
➖ Eight speeds only
If you want to keep up your mountain bike fitness indoors, there is a good range of budget MTBs available.
The Marlin 4 is Trek's entry-level hardtail with a 1x8-speed Shimano Cues groupset, with an 11-45T cassette and a 32T chainring, giving you the option to train for steep climbs on your turbo. The Marlin has a 135x10mm quick-release rear axle, so you should be able to slot it into most trainers.
There's a coil spring Suntour fork, although there's no lock-out, so harder out-of-saddle efforts may cause bobbing.
➕ Low priced, quality bike
➕ QR hubs for trainer compatibility
➖ 1x8-speed only
➖ Fork bob may be an issue
The Giant Talon 4 is another inexpensive mountain bike option to perfect your pedalling indoors. As with the Trek, it has quick-release wheels, so trainer compatibility shouldn't be an issue. The current spec bike has a 1x 8-speed drivetrain rather than the triple shown, so you don't need to contend with a front mech when perfecting your ride strategy.
There's an SR Suntour XCE suspension fork, which again, like the Trek, may be subject to bobbing unless you choose to swap it out for a rigid model.
➕ Rigid fork
➕ 9-speed gearing
➖ May not suit more aggressive MTB positions
Not an MTB, but MTB-adjacent, the Sirrus X is designed to be used off-road as well as on. It comes with a 1x9-speed Microshift groupset and quick-release wheels for broad turbo compatibility.
The Sirrus X has a rigid fork, so it avoids problems with suspension bob, and it should be amenable to an MTB-like ride position.
Anything secondhand or your old bike
Rather than buying a new bike to use on your turbo, another option is to look for something second-hand or to use an old frame. Buying a bike second-hand, you never really know what it has been through or if/how many times it has been crashed, so there is some degree of risk. That said, if it's only going into the trainer, equipment failure has a much lower consequence than something you'll be riding outdoors.
The advantage of using one of your old bikes is that you know it fits, you know its history and it probably already has your preferred touchpoints installed. That said, some of the parts may already be worn and this will be further exacerbated the more you ride indoors, so you may have to replace or upgrade parts and it may not be a zero-cost option.
How to choose the best bike for indoor cycling
Here are the factors we'd consider in selecting a bike for indoor training:
- Does it match my riding style? A major advantage of a dedicated indoor bike is that you can choose a bike type that allows you to train for the riding you do, rather than having a generic road cycling set-up.
- Does it fit my trainer? You probably don't want to have to buy expensive adapters to fit your bike to your trainer.
- What's the gearing? You may want to choose a gear range that meets your needs, although if you run in ERG mode, this may not be necessary.
- Are the touchpoints comfortable? The saddle, in particular, needs to suit you, as indoor cycling is more static than riding outdoors.
- How much does it cost? You'll probably want to choose an affordable bike for indoor riding, although specialist options like a tri bike can be expensive.
Bikes for indoor cycling: Frequently asked questions
Why have a separate bike to ride indoors?
We mentioned at the top the hassle of prepping your bike to ride indoors. If you're short on time, spending an extra 5 or 10 minutes getting your outdoor bike ready to ride indoors may mean that it's not worth the effort. So having a bike that's ready to roll for a turbo session is an advantage, particularly if you're riding indoors regularly and have space to leave your bike set up between sessions.
You're going to save wear on your best bike too and you'll have a budget bike you can take for an outdoor ride in poor conditions if you want to. There are other reasons to keep your best bike for the best too, as we'll explain below.
What should I look for in an indoor bike?
Most of the things that we bang on about, such as weight, compliance, aerodynamics and handling characteristics, don't come into play with a bike that is going to be used indoors, because you're not actually going anywhere.
With that, the most important factors are really bottom bracket stiffness and geometry that fits. If you're training for TTs or triathlons, being able to set up your aero bars to mimic your race position is an important part of training too. Likewise, a mountain bike has its own position that you may want to replicate, rather than taking to a road bike, even an endurance model.
Obviously, the drivetrain is important as well, and this will weigh heavily on the price, based on how many gears you want at the back. If you're only going to be riding in ERG mode, you don't really ever need to shift, so you don't need 12 cogs at the back, but if you're competing in Zwift rides and races, or want to mirror your outdoor bike set-up and ratios, you may want to opt for more gears.
Will using my bike on a turbo trainer damage the frame?
When you're chasing attacks on Zwift or pushing through a VO2max interval, there is a lot of force going through the frame. When you're out on the road, the bike can move around underneath you, and some of that energy can dissipate through this movement. When riding indoors, however, unless you've bought one of those Saris MP1 Infinity trainer platforms, have the latest generation Wahoo Kickr or built a DIY rocker plate, every bit of that force will be absorbed by your bike.
These forces won't break your frame, but they will introduce additional fatigue over time, not only to the tubing but also to bearing systems like bottom brackets.
We've all heard horror stories of brands voiding the warranty on a frame due to indoor use, but the likelihood of damaging your frame in the indoor trainer is pretty low. We've been riding carbon frames with all types of turbo trainers for years and never had an issue. If you are unsure or want to double-check, get in touch with your trainer manufacturer and ask them about your specific frame.
Will sweating more corrode my bike?
While we've never seen a frame break that has been properly installed into a trainer, we have seen handlebars snap due to salt corrosion. While most aluminium bars are anodised to stave off corrosion, scratches or imperfections can allow the nasty salty bits inside, and sweat can also corrode or freeze bolts and shifter mechanisms.
You are going to get exceptionally sweaty when riding indoors, and that sweat is going to drip off and make its way onto your bike, stem bolts, bearings and whatever else.
This can be avoided with a sweat net or a beach towel, but there will still likely be a bit that finds its way through.
It's also worth bearing in mind that aluminium and carbon are on opposite ends of the galvanic scale, and when you connect them with an electrolyte, like sweat, it can speed up the corrosive process. That's why almost all the bikes we've recommended here have alloy frames.
How long will my drivetrain components last?
When you're riding inside, there is no such thing as just spinning along, and the majority of your time on the trainer will be high-intensity intervals and plenty of watts. Whether using a smart trainer, a dumb trainer or even rollers, we tend to stick to only a few gears on the rear cassette, whereas if you're using ERG mode, there is no need to shift at all.
All of this can prematurely wear out drivetrain components, so it's especially important to clean and lube your drivetrain to prolong its life as much as possible. Don't fall for the trap of neglecting it because "you've only been on the trainer."
The good news is that if you've got a cheaper bike with a lower-spec drivetrain, the cassette sprockets and other components are likely to be more robust than those from a flashy groupset, and the cost of replacement parts will be a lot less too; another argument to opt for a cheaper spec for a dedicated indoor training bike.
Which type of wheel axle do I need?
Regardless of what bike you're using, we cannot stress enough the importance of using a steel skewer rather than the lightweight titanium one you're using with your nice wheels for riding outside. The skewer is taking on far more force than it would outside, and needs to be more stout to prevent damage.
Additionally, lightweight skewers don't always interface well with wheel-on indoor trainers and can be damaged or even pop out. While we've never seen frames damaged because of significant efforts on the trainer, we have seen broken frames as a result of people falling out of trainers because their skewers weren't mounted correctly in the trainer itself.
With regards to the type of axle - quick-release skewer vs. thru-axle - most, if not all, turbo trainers come ready for a quick-release skewer, so if your bike has thru-axles, you may need to buy a separate adapter to make them compatible with each other.
Almost all modern disc brake bikes, although not budget ones, will use a thru-axle rather than a quick-release axle. Many have standardised on a 12x142mm rear thru-axle. Particularly for mountain bikes, 12x147mm Boost spacing is a common alternative, although lower-priced MTBs, including those featured above, often stick to quick releases.
Why choose an indoor bike rather than a smart bike?
The main reason is price, with many of the best smart bikes being significantly more expensive. They're also heavy and difficult to lug around or store if you don't have a dedicated training space.
There is an alternative...
Zwift Ride is a smart bicycle frame that is attached to a trainer to form a complete indoor smart bike. It's a lot more affordable than most smart bikes, modular, so it's easier to move around and may be a cheaper alternative to an indoor bike-plus-trainer.
It's sold with the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 trainer, but you can also buy the Zwift Ride Smart Frame on its own. It's compatible with newer models of several other trainers, giving you some options.
It also includes the Zwift Cog single sprocket, which gives you virtual shifting, controlled by the built-in shifters on the Zwift Ride frame, so you don't need a cassette on your trainer.
You can read our Zwift Ride review to learn more.
How we test?
Here at Cyclingnews, we've reviewed a wide range of indoor cycling equipment, including smart bikes, smart trainers and more basic options, plus all the extras that make for a modern indoor training set-up.
We've set up trainers with a wide range of bikes too, so we understand what makes a good bike for indoor training.
You can read more about our approach to reviews on our how we test page.
