Early Black Friday deals on top-rated smart trainers

By Paul Norman

Published: Friday, 27 October 2023 at 17:00 PM


Indoor training has really taken off in the last few years, with both indoor training apps and the hardware to run them on becoming ever more sophisticated. While it’s still possible to spend thousands on a smart trainer, new entrants to the market and a flood of post-pandemic stock have also forced prices down in many cases.

You can choose between wheel-on options, where your rear tyre provides the connection to the trainer or direct drive models, where you remove your rear wheel and attach your bike to a cassette on the trainer. Wheel-on trainers are in general more affordable, but direct-drive models provide a better experience and avoid wear on your bike’s tyres.

Here, we’ve rounded up the best cheap turbo trainers and smart trainer deals to help keep you riding this winter.

Where to buy a turbo trainer online in the UK and US

Here are some good places to shop for a turbo trainer if our selection below isn’t quite what you’re looking for.

UK retailers

US retailers

Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer

Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer
Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media

A UK-only option, the Pinnacle HC trainer comes from Evans Cycles’ own brand. It’s compatible with eight to 12-speed drivetrains and you can buy an XDR freehub body if you run a SRAM drivetrain. It’s not without its issues but will simulate a 20 per cent gradient and provide 2,500 watts resistance, so it’s up there with top trainers from the big brands while undercutting their prices.

It started off at £700, then dropped to £500, but right now it’s priced down by 70 percent at £210, so it’s one of the lowest-priced options available, particularly for a direct drive model.