If you want to get in more miles on your bike, don’t want to miss a ride due to bad weather, or just want to ride your bike through virtual worlds, then the CycleOps M2 Bike Smart Trainer might be just what you are looking for.
Essentially the trainer is a stand onto which you mount your bike. A metal drum, called the “resistance unit,” is clamped against your rear tire–this provides friction when you ride. More about this in a moment, but just know that out of the box, some assembly is required. However, an assembly guide is provided and there are helpful videos on the company’s website. I was able to put everything together by myself with no problems.
Made in the US (Madison, WI), the stand and parts are made of steel and the trainer is very sturdy–this trainer is rugged enough for the competitive rider. The only adjustment you need to make to your bike is to replace the rear tire skewer with the skewer included with the trainer. The included skewer comes with steel connectors that fit into the bolt action tubes on either side of the trainer. In the picture you can see a lever that tightens the bolt action tube onto the skewer to hold the bike in place.
The closeup of the skewer shows the bike mounted onto the trainer. Just for reference, the bike I am using on the trainer is a Bianchi Via Nirone Claris Compact, with 700c wheels. The trainer fits many common road and mountain bike frames, though for example the trainer does not fit 650c wheels, so check the website if you don’t have a common bike size to be sure your bike will work with the trainer.
There is a yellow knob that you turn to tighten the resistance unit against the rear tire. The resistance unit clicks into place when it is tight enough. Once the resistance unit is tight against the rear tire, you are ready to use the trainer. With the unit turned on but unconnected to any apps, the trainer provides a progressive resistance curve via electromagnetic resistance when you pedal, but the real magic happens when you pair your trainer to a device running a virtual trainer app.
The trainer comes with sensors to detect cadence, speed, and power–no external or extra sensor are needed. The trainer connects via dual ANT + FE-C or Bluetooth to your phone, tablet, or other device running a virtual training app. The M2 is a “smart” trainer because the app can record your training data and also control the resistance you feel when pedaling. Even better–some training apps show you as a rider in a virtual world–as the course changes, so does the resistance you feel when riding. The trainer is compatible with a variety of virtual training applications, though I chose Zwift. In Zwift, not only do you get a choice of different routes, but you can also interact with other riders and the app gives you continuous feedback about your performance during the ride as well as summary statistics once you are done. Note that the virtual training app does not come with the trainer–you must purchase the app separately.
All in all, the CycleOps M2 Bike Smart Trainer is an excellent bike trainer–it’s built to last. The trainer is also quiet–assuming you aren’t using knobby tires, the noise level is 69 decibels at 20 mph. Mounting or unmounting your bike from the trainer only takes seconds, so it’s easy to ride your bike on the road as well as on the trainer. The “smart” controls and virtual training app provides for immersive rides and fun but tough workouts. You will sweat, but you’ll have a blast on your bike while racking up the miles. And best of all, you can get in your rides anytime, no matter the weather outside.
- Pricing and Availability on Amazon: CycleOps M2 Bike Smart Trainer
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