Guides
Train smarter indoors
Setup walkthroughs, training science and fixes for the things that go wrong in the pain cave.
Getting started
Setup
Training
Creating a Weekly Turbo Training Plan (Coach's Guide)
Build a weekly turbo training plan that works: session structure, polarised vs sweet-spot, recovery weeks, and a ready-to-ride sample week.
How Long Should Beginner Turbo Trainer Sessions Be?
How long should beginner turbo trainer sessions be? Aim for 30 to 45 minutes, learn why indoor riding is harder than the road, and follow a safe 8-week build.
How to Prevent Boredom on Long Turbo Sessions
Beat turbo trainer boredom on long indoor rides with coach-tested tactics: structured workouts, Zwift group rides, films matched to effort, music and fans.
How to Structure a Basic Turbo Training Session
A British Cycling coach explains how to structure a turbo training session: warm-up, main set and cool-down, with a worked 45-minute example.
Understanding Power Readings on Your Turbo Trainer
Turbo trainer power readings explained: what a watt really means, estimated vs measured power, accuracy percentages, and how to calibrate for numbers you can trust.
Understanding Training Zones on the Turbo (Coach's Guide)
Turbo training zones made simple: Coggan's 7 power and heart rate zones, how to set them from your FTP, when to use each, and a full zone table.
Turbo Trainer Resistance Levels Explained (2026 Guide)
Turbo trainer resistance levels explained: magnetic vs fluid vs electronic, plus how manual level, ERG mode and simulation work, and which to use when.
What Are Micro-Bursts in Turbo Training? (Coach Guide)
Micro-bursts are short, repeated 10-30 second efforts with equally short rests. The science, a worked 15s on/15s off turbo session, and how to pace them.
What Is Sweet Spot Training on a Turbo? (88-94% FTP)
Sweet spot training explained by a British Cycling coach: what 88-94% FTP feels like, why it works, and a tested example turbo session you can do today.
Why Do Short Intervals on a Turbo Trainer? A Coach Explains
Why short intervals work so well on the turbo: total power control, time efficiency, and big VO2max gains, plus three copy-and-ride sessions.
Apps & data
How Do Training Apps Track Progress? (Coach Explains)
How training apps track progress: FTP tests, power curves and CTL/ATL/TSB fitness and freshness. A British Cycling coach explains what the numbers mean.
How to Export Training App Data: Zwift, TrainerRoad
Export your .fit workout data from Zwift, TrainerRoad, Wahoo SYSTM and Garmin Connect, then import it cleanly into Strava or TrainingPeaks without duplicates.
Understanding Power Smoothing in Training Apps
What power smoothing is, why it flatters your numbers, how to turn it off in Zwift and Wahoo, and how raw watts compare to smoothed on the turbo.
Workout Builder Features in Zwift & TrainerRoad
How the workout builder works in Zwift and TrainerRoad: intervals, ERG mode, ramps and text cues, plus a coach's step-by-step guide to your first session.
What Are Power Curves in Training Apps? (Explained)
A power curve is your best power for every duration. Here is what it shows about your rider type and how to read it in Zwift, TrainerRoad and intervals.icu.
Maintenance & fixes
Common Causes of Turbo Trainer Vibration (and Fixes)
Turbo trainer shaking or vibrating? I diagnose the real causes: worn tyre, roller tension, uneven floor, frame flex and the mat. Fixes table inside.
How to Fix Turbo Trainer Slipping Issues (Coach's Guide)
Turbo trainer slipping under power? Fix it in order: rear tyre pressure, roller tension, a clean contact strip, a trainer tyre and a seated skewer.
Preventing Rust on Your Turbo Trainer (Sweat Guide)
Stop sweat from rusting your turbo trainer and bike: the sweat guards, towels, wipe-down routine and frame protection that actually prevent corrosion.
What Causes Tyre Wear on Wheel-On Turbo Trainers?
Why wheel-on turbo trainers chew through rear tyres: the real causes (heat, slip, pressure, alignment) and seven proven ways to make a tyre last.
Understanding Turbo Trainer Error Codes
Decode Wahoo, Tacx and Elite smart trainer error and connection messages, what each one means, and the exact fix order that gets you riding again fast.
Why Is My Turbo Trainer Not Detecting Power?
Turbo trainer not broadcasting power to Zwift or TrainerRoad? A coach's step-by-step fix: pairing, firmware, batteries, dual-connection conflicts and more.
Buying advice
Are Turbo Trainers Bad for Your Bike? (Coach Tested)
A British Cycling coach answers whether turbo trainers damage your bike: frame stress, sweat corrosion and tyre wear, plus the mitigations that actually matter.
Can You Use a Mountain Bike on a Turbo Trainer?
Yes, you can put an MTB on a turbo trainer. I cover axle adapters, swapping to a slick or trainer tyre, thru-axle vs QR, and what actually works.
Can You Use a Turbo Trainer in an Apartment? (Noise Guide)
Yes, you can use a turbo trainer in a flat. I tested noise levels, mats and the quietest trainers so you can ride without annoying the neighbours.
Do You Need a Mat Under Your Turbo Trainer?
A British Cycling coach explains when a turbo trainer mat is essential for noise, sweat and floor protection, when you can skip one, and what to buy.
Direct Drive vs Wheel-On Turbo Trainers: A Detailed Comparison
I tested direct drive and wheel-on turbo trainers side by side: noise, power accuracy, ride feel, price and setup. Here is which one is right for you.
How Does a Turbo Trainer Work?
How does a turbo trainer work? A plain-English guide to mag, fluid and electromagnetic resistance, smart control, flywheel feel and power accuracy.
Mountain Bike Turbo Trainer: Best Options & Setup (2026)
Best turbo trainers for mountain bikes: sort the Boost 148mm axle, swap the knobbly tyre, and why direct drive beats wheel-on for MTB riders indoors.
Do You Need a Special Turbo Trainer Tyre?
Find out when a dedicated turbo trainer tyre is essential, when it is a waste of money, and exactly what to buy if you ride a wheel-on trainer this winter.
Are Trainer Tyres Quieter? Worth It in 2026?
Are turbo trainer tyres actually quieter and worth buying? I tested a dedicated trainer tyre against a road tyre with a sound meter at 1m. Honest verdict.
Wahoo KICKR vs Tacx Neo: Which to Buy
Wahoo KICKR vs Tacx Neo compared on power accuracy, ride feel, noise and price. I rode both for weeks and explain which trainer is the smarter buy for you.