If you already own a road bike and a TV, the best indoor cycling setup to start with costs about $600. It is a Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 smart trainer, a used Apple TV 4K and MyWhoosh, which is free. Add a trainer mat to protect the floor, and that is everything you need to ride races, group rides and structured workouts through the winter.
The starter kit
| Item | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Your bike | Fits onto the trainer in place of its rear wheel | Already owned |
| Your TV | Shows the ride | Already owned |
| Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 | Sets the resistance for every climb and workout and measures your power | $549.99 / £499 |
| Used Apple TV 4K, third generation | Runs MyWhoosh and Zwift on the TV | About $50 as owners upgrade |
| MyWhoosh | Virtual worlds, races, group rides, workouts and training plans | Free |
| Trainer mat | Protects the floor from sweat and cuts some of the noise | See below |
The trainer: Wahoo KICKR CORE 2
KICKR CORE 2 is a direct-drive trainer, so the bike’s chain runs on a cassette fitted to the trainer and the rear wheel comes off. That makes it quieter and more accurate than a wheel-on trainer, and there is no tyre to wear out. It measures power to within 2%, can simulate climbs up to 16%, and connects over Bluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi. The standard version costs $549.99 with an 11-speed cassette already fitted.
Buy the standard cassette version to ride MyWhoosh. The bundle with Zwift Cog and Click replaces the cassette with a single cog and virtual gears, which works best in Zwift and Rouvy and ties you to those apps. My KICKR CORE 2 review covers that trade-off in detail.
Wahoo KICKR SNAP was the budget alternative. It was a wheel-on trainer that clamped your rear wheel against a roller, so setup was quicker and it cost less, but it was louder, less accurate and wore the tyre. Wahoo has discontinued it, so it is only worth buying used and cheap.
For more choice, including trainers that rock and tilt, see the best smart trainer guide.
The screen: a used Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K is the simplest way to put the ride on your TV, and I use two at home. The fourth-generation model costs £299 / $299 new, but it adds nothing for indoor training. The third-generation Apple TV 4K runs MyWhoosh, Zwift and Rouvy just as well, and I expect used ones to sell for about $50 as owners upgrade. Choose the version with an Ethernet port if you can, because a cable is more reliable than Wi-Fi.
MyWhoosh needs an Apple TV 4K from 2021 or later, so avoid older boxes. If you’d rather use a phone, tablet or laptop you already own, the best device for Zwift guide compares each option.
The app: MyWhoosh
MyWhoosh costs nothing and gives you virtual worlds, group rides, races, structured workouts and training plans. That makes it the obvious place to start, because you can find out whether you enjoy riding indoors before paying a subscription. Zwift has more riders on the road and a 14-day free trial, so it’s worth trying both. The best indoor cycling apps guide has prices for every alternative.
The mat
A trainer mat stops sweat reaching the floor, keeps the trainer from creeping on a hard surface, and absorbs some of the noise that travels into the room below. Wahoo’s own mat is sized for its trainers, but any thick, dense rubber mat of a similar size does the same job.
Quick answers
Can I use my normal road bike on a smart trainer?
Yes. A direct-drive trainer such as KICKR CORE 2 takes the place of the rear wheel and fits most road bikes with quick-release or thru-axle hubs, using the adapters in the box.
Is MyWhoosh really free?
Yes. MyWhoosh charges nothing for its worlds, races, group rides, workouts or training plans. Free accounts can keep only a limited number of custom workouts.
Does KICKR CORE 2 work with MyWhoosh?
The standard version with a cassette works with MyWhoosh and every other major app. The version sold with Zwift Cog and Click is designed for Zwift and Rouvy.
Which Apple TV runs MyWhoosh?
MyWhoosh needs the second-generation Apple TV 4K from 2021 or a later model. Zwift runs on every Apple TV 4K.
What to add next
- A fan, because you will overheat within minutes without moving air. A household floor fan works, and a smart fan such as Wahoo KICKR HEADWIND speeds up as you work harder.
- A heart rate strap, so your workouts and training load are based on more than power.
- A sweat cover for the bike and a towel within reach.
Best-of guides
Explore the full resource library
This site covers endurance sport technology across a range of dedicated reference sections. Each one collects the most relevant articles, tests, and analysis on its topic in one place.
Buyer guides
- Best sports watch: tested recommendations by sport and athlete type (triathlon, running, marathon, cycling, hiking, and women)
- Best Garmin watch: Forerunner versus Fenix by series, sport, and budget
- Best wearables: fitness trackers, recovery trackers, heart rate monitors, running power meters, and female athlete tech
- Best cycling products: computers, smart trainers, indoor cycling apps, power meters, and cycling heart rate monitors
- Buying guides: every upgrade guide and product comparison in one place, by brand, for owners deciding whether to move to the newest model
- Gear I use: the watches, bikes, sensors, fuel and sleep kit tfk actually trains and races with, and what his partner uses
Brand and product guides
- Amazfit: the full Amazfit range from Balance to Cheetah to T-Rex, accuracy tests, HYROX partnership, and Zepp Health analysis
- Apple Watch: athlete-first coverage of Apple Watch across running, cycling, and triathlon
- COROS: watches, features, and firmware across the full COROS range
- Garmin: the company, the platform and the full range, and the starting point for choosing across every Garmin product line
- Garmin Edge: bike computers from entry-level navigation to flagship endurance and mountain biking
- Bike computers: Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead, COROS and the value brands compared
- Bryton: the Rider range compared, from basic GPS units to the S810 with maps
- Garmin Fenix: every model, feature, and firmware development for Garmin's flagship outdoor watch
- Garmin Fenix 8 Series: which variant to buy, upgrade advice, accuracy data, and the full Fenix 8 review and firmware coverage
- Garmin Forerunner: the full Forerunner line covered from entry level to triathlon flagship
- Garmin Instinct: rugged GPS watches for endurance and adventure athletes
- Garmin Features Explained: how Garmin's metrics work, from Training Load and Body Battery to Race Predictor and HRV Status
- Garmin Connect IQ charts: the most popular watch faces, apps, data fields and music services on the Connect IQ Store, updated monthly
- Google Fitbit: Fitbit Edge, Fitbit Air, Google Health, Pixel Watch and the Wear OS platform
- Magene: which Magene bike computer to buy, from the C506 to the C706, with tested verdicts
- Polar: watches, sensors, Polar Flow and training science across the full Polar range
- Runna: coach-written running plans that adapt as you train
- Suunto: Race, Vertical, Run and the SuuntoPlus ecosystem
- Strava: features, privacy, segments, and how Strava fits into a serious training setup
- Ride with GPS: route planning, navigation and how it works alongside Strava
- Wahoo: KICKR trainers, ELEMNT bike computers, and the Wahoo ecosystem
- WHOOP: strain, recovery, sleep and the full WHOOP ecosystem
Specifications database
- Full Specifications Database: detailed spec sheets, battery life, sensor lists and generation-on-generation comparisons for current Garmin, COROS, Amazfit, Samsung, Google Fitbit, Huawei, Polar, Suunto, Wahoo and Apple Watch models
Glossary
- Sports Technology Glossary: non-branded terminology across running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, hiking, strength training, HYROX, sensors, ecosystems, and brands
Sport and topic guides
- Running Watches: how to choose by discipline (road racing, trail, track, beginner, and multisport)
- Triathlon and Multisport Technology: watches, sensors, and race-day tools for swimmers, cyclists, and runners
- HYROX: training science, race analysis, and technology for the functional fitness race format
- parkrun: technology, training, and performance for the weekly 5K
- Hiking Technology: navigation, safety, and trail tech for walkers and hikers
- Heart Rate Monitoring: optical sensors, chest straps, accuracy comparisons, and how to set training zones
- Optical Sensors (PPG): the 40 things a wrist optical sensor could measure, from heart rate to glucose, ranked by evidence
- GPS Accuracy: how satellite systems perform across brands, terrains, and conditions
- Sports Watch Battery Life: battery claims, real-world tests, and how to manage battery life across Garmin, Apple, Amazfit and COROS
- Recovery Trackers: WHOOP, Oura, and the science of readiness scoring
- Muscle Oxygen Sensors: SmO2 and NIRS explained, Train Red and Moxy compared, and the category from BSX and Humon to Garmin and WHOOP
- Female Athlete Tech: wearables, physiology, and performance for female endurance athletes, covering cycle-synced training, RED-S, HR accuracy, and VO2max
- Sports Science: peer-reviewed research on HRV, VO2max, lactate threshold, running power, wearable accuracy, and supplementation
- Testing Methodology: how this site tests GPS accuracy, heart rate, battery life, and other performance claims
Content series
- Release Radar: confirmed launches, leaks, and rumours across Garmin, Apple, COROS, Polar, Suunto, and Wahoo
- Deep Dive Feature Files: weekly firmware feature updates across all brands (bug fixes excluded)
- Fix Files: weekly firmware bug fix tracking across all brands
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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