A smart bike trainer is an indoor bicycle trainer that utilizes technology to control the trainer's resistance during a workout. With a smart trainer,workouts can be easily modified at the touch of a button. Smart trainers also provide incredibly useful data, including power data. Of course, all this technology comes at a price.

A basic/classic bike trainer is an indoor bicycle trainer that relies on a resistance curve paired with a resistance unit to simulate riding a bike indoors. A great place to start, a basic trainer can be made compatible with virtual training programs by adding a cycling power meter or a speed/cadence sensor to the bicycle.

It’s important to know the difference between the types of bicycle trainers in order to choose the right one to fit your needs. Creating resistance is one of the basic features of any trainer. These are three major ways of creating resistance.

WIND TRAINERS
As you pedal, your rear wheel turns a roller unit which is attached to a fan. Spinning this fan becomes increasingly difficult as you pedal faster because it is fighting against increasing air resistance. While low on cost, these end up being very noisy.

MAGNETIC TRAINER
As you pedal, your rear wheel turns a roller unit which is attached to a set of magnets. These magnets spin past another set of magnets with similar poles, thereby creating a repulsive effect. As the magnets get close to each other again and again as you spin, the repulsion creates the resistance. 

FLUID TRAINER
As you pedal, your rear wheel turns a roller unit which is attached to an impeller which sits in a fluid bath. As you pedal faster, it becomes more difficult for that impeller to move through the fluid. This gives you realistic exponential resistance. The most common trainer purchase as these are priced well, barely need any maintenance and most importantly operate very quietly.