Well-designed 14″x28″ desktop has a non-slip surface, two cupholders, a tablet/phone stand and channels for cables Although wheel-drive trainers work well and are less expensive, you should get a direct-drive trainer which is usually more durable, accurate, powerful and realistic. There are two types of bike trainers. One is direct drive. A wheel-on trainer, also known as an indoor bike stand, means removing your rear wheel and putting it in the trainer. Until an all-in-one Zwift bike comes out, you’ll need to buy a smart trainer to put your bike on. Smart trainers wirelessly broadcast your cycling data to your computer via ANT+ or Bluetooth so Zwift can figure out how fast you are going. If you're running Zwift on a laptop or PC, the Graphics Processor Unit or GPU will have a significant impact on how the graphics are rendered. Our friends over at Zwift have put together a handy guide that lays out exactly what Windows or Apple PC hardware you will need, which we've duplicated below.

Wahoo Desk has better and silkier wheels than RAD/Lifeline, which a professional rollerblader might notice. Didn’t matter to me.

Aero Mount

On the other hand, if you (and the people you live with) can put up with a bit of noise then a cheaper wheel-on smart trainer would be a great budget option. Maximum power When it comes to ports, the Surface Pro 7 comes with USB-C and USB-A connections, though Thunderbolt 3 is still missing. It also supports wireless networking and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for peripherals.

But, if you are just thinking about trying out Zwift or another indoor cycling application, there are plenty of budget wheel-on turbo trainer options. Saris TD1 Bike Trainer Desk: the most expensive option, but also the sturdiest. Plus it’s got power plugs built in! When I started using Zwift, the laptop was actually below the min spec, but it worked for several years, so can’t really grumble.This stylus allows you to write and draw on the screen, which is a great feature if you use your tablet for work. Another great feature is the screen, which is great for productivity and video streaming. This is a useful chart if you race IRL, or want to begin doing so. It helps answer common racer questions. Are you racing the “right” category? Are you underpowered for your category, overpowered, or in the right place? And what sort of potential do you have as a racer given your current fitness level?