The FIVE best stationary bike stands to keep you cycling through winter 2013-14!

With those autumnal evenings already kicking in, we thought it was about time we reminded you of some of the very best stationary trainers out there, just to keep your winter training session in gear!

With wet and windy weather soon on its way (hands up who’s missing the summer already?), there are, of course, a number of indoor biking stand types to consider, depending on your budget and preferences. In this post, we’ve come up with FIVE stationary bike trainers that we highly recommend, ranging from old popular models that are always big sellers throughout the winter, to a couple of newer models we’ve come across recently.

I’m pretty certain one of these will do a very fine job this coming winter – and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.

With the New Year in full swing, don’t miss our TEN must-have cycling accessories –
perfect for any keen cyclist (we originally wrote this for Christmas)!

Our fave: the quality Kurt Kinetic Road Trainer

The Kurt Kinetic Road Trainer is a fluid-based bike stand that really will have your winter biking sessions right on track. Its unique magnetic drive system ensures that, unlike other fluid-chamber stands, this one won’t leak. No need for the usual rings and seals that often break down with extended use – the Kurt Kinetic Road Trainer will keep on keeping on! It’s also a very quiet stand, very durable and stable, and fits wheels up to 29″. And although it’s one of the more expensive stationary bike stands out there, it’s also one of the very best.

Read our full review here.

The stationary bike stand that will keep the budget-conscious VERY happy

I think we’re all aware of how much the economy has been biting many of us very hard over the last couple of years (at least), so a budget friendly stationary stand is always a good thing, right? We did a review of the best bike stands out there for under $80, but the Indoor Cycling Trainer Exercise Stand shipped by CyclingForLess is a superb option from those we reviewed. Stable and durable, it’s also fold-able, a great plus for those with minimal storage space. It might be a little noisier than our fave the Kurt Kinetic Road Trainer, but it truly is really great value!

See our review of the best budget bike stands for under $80.

Quality for beginners and pros alike: the Blackburn Tech Mag 6

If your budget can’t quite stretch to the Kurt Kinetic, but you want a little more than the budget option we listed above, then I’d highly recommend the Blackburn Tech Mag 6 Trainer. Priced at typically the $200 mark, this bike trainer is perfect for whatever level you ride at. With SIX levels of resistance, which can be easily adjusted from your handlebar, this is one bike stand we’ve enjoyed immensely (my son too!). Made of tubular steel, this trainer is also very hardy and stable, yet suitable for road and mountain bikes.

Read our full review here.

Regularly voted as top choice for pros: the 1Up USA

A stationary bike stand that we’ve recently come across is the 1Up USA, a stand that has been regularly pulling in the top votes in online cycling forums (such as MountainBikeReview.com) for the last few years. To be honest, this one you won’t find in online stores like Amazon (bit of a shame for those hoping on a seasonal discount), but it has proven very popular among pros and keen enthusiasts. A great reason to purchase this one is its Centrifugal Pressure Resistance, which many suggest gives a more realistic ride.

The stand costs around $300, and is shipped direct from the official website.

One for the biker who has everything: the Tacx Fortius

If you, or a loved one, is a biker that has tried and tested the various stationary trainer models out there, then consider the ultimate bike trainer, the Tacx Fortius! Coming in two versions, the iMagic and the Multiplayer, this bike stand comes at a price (over $1000) but uses Virtual Reality as part of a system that you literally plug in to, meaning you can turn your training session into the complete lifelike road session, complete with races against others!

The Tacx Fortius is definitely one for the serious biker, and one with deeper pockets. And our tip: try the cheaper iMagic model, which seems to have gotten better reviews on Amazon. Also see the official Tacx website for more.