There are some amazing turbo trainers out there as you can see in our in-depth reviews of the Bkool Pro and Kinetic Rock & Roll trainers. Also the Wahoo Kickr and Tacx i-Genius indoor cycle trainers deserve a mention.
However, not everyone wants a high-end turbo trainer with all the bells and whistles. Sometimes a reliable and sturdy machine that lets you spin your back wheel indoors is all you need. Below we have the Top 3 Best Super Budget Turbo Trainers that cost less than £60 in 2015.
Note that these prices are correct at the time of writing and sometimes prices can vary over time.
Top 3 budget turbo trainers in 2015
BDBikes Magnetic Turbo Trainer – £56.99
The BDBikes magnetic turbo trainer has an RRP of £79.99 but at the time of writing is advertised at £56.99 on Amazon.co.uk. This turbo trainer uses magnets to generate ‘Eddy Current’, which are caused when a magnet spins relative to a metal disc. You can learn more about how magnetic turbo trainers work here.
One of the main benefits of this magnetic resistance is that you can move the position of the magnet within the resistance unit via a handlebar mounted resistance lever. This in-turn changes the resistance applied to your back wheel, so you can have harder workouts if you choose too. In total there are 6 resistance levels. The BDBikes trainer also comes with a front wheel support and a 12 month (no quibble) warranty.
There are over 270 reviews for this trainer with an average rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Check out the latest price and reviews on Amazon here!
PedalPro Turbo Trainer – £47.99
The PedalPro turbo trainer uses a magnetic resistance unit just like the BKBikes trainer above. However, the lower price of PedalPro means that it does not have an adjustable resistance unit. Also it does not include a front wheel support. The PedalPro turbo trainer has an RRP of £149.99 but I do not expect you to pay anywhere near this. At the time of writing it is available on Amazon for £47.99.
For around £20 more a variable resistance model is available although you would still need to purchase a front wheel support if you need one.
Read more about the PedalPro turbo trainer and see current price here!
Homcom Deluxe Fan Turbo Trainer – £39.99
The Homcon turbo trainer uses a fan resistance unit (learn more about the different resistance technologies here) that generates smooth progressive resistance as you pedal. What this means is that the faster you spin your back wheel (i.e. the faster you turn your pedals) the greater the resistance gets. This is similar to what happens out on the open road and fan (AKA wind) trainers are known for being pretty realistic. Although, the more expensive wind trainers, such as the LeMond Revolution, are considered more realistic and the more budget trainers will not match this performance. Homcom also have magnetic resistance trainers that are slightly more expensive.
That being said the Homcon indoor cycle trainer is a solid, well built, and has a stiff frame. The trainer has an RRP of £79.99 but at the time of writing it is for sale at £49.99. You cannot vary the resistance of wind turbo trainers but you can simply pedal faster and shift up through your bikes normal gears to get a harder workout.
Summary
There are literally 100’s of turbo trainers out there ranging in price from less than £60 all the way up to £1000+. Because this price range is so huge so is the level of complexity of the turbo trainers. For £60 you will get a simple device that lets you spin your back wheel, which may be exactly what you need. For a higher price you get either more realistic performance, higher build quality from a trusted brand, or you get an interactive computer controlled experience where you can ride virtual reality courses, monitor performance data such as power and heart rate, and the resistance of the trainer can even automatically vary depending on the gradient of the course you are riding.
The 3 turbo trainers in this guide are all solid budget trainers, but if you want to see a lager range check out our full lists here: https://turbobiketrainer.com/turbo-trainer-search/
Also, if you are new to turbo trainers see our detailed guide to the different types: https://turbobiketrainer.com/wind-fluid-electromagnets-the-ultimate-buyers-guide-to-turbo-trainers/
