THREE things you really need to consider before splashing out on a bike trainer stand…

buying stationary bike standOK, before you go and splash that hard-earned cash of yours on the first stationary bike trainer that catches your eye, we’ll have to point out that there are some serious factors that really need to be considered before you open that wallet. We’ve whittled the list down to THREE, but each of them will have some serious impact on the trainer you end up choosing…

>>> Don’t miss our guide to the must-have trainers and accessories this winter AND the 7 major ways an indoor bike trainer can change your life!

Define Your Goals

The first thing you really need to consider is what exactly are you aiming to get from buying a stationary bike stand?

Are you looking to recover from an injury that has left you physically sidelined for a while? Do you intend to use a trainer to lose weight? Or are you simply a semi-serious/professional cyclist looking to stay in form over the winter months when you can’t squeeze those calorie-burning sessions in between snow showers?

Whatever your goals, there’s typically a stationary bike stand ideal for your purposes; check out our introduction to the different types on the market.

How Much Time Will You Be Devoting?

The next thing to consider is just how much time will you be spending on your new bike stand? Just how often will you be squeezing in a training session? If you’re looking to clock some serious mileage, then we’d highly recommend quality over cheap and cheerful any day of the week (take a look at the CycleOps Fluid 2 or the Kurt Kinetic Rock n Roll trainer as two very excellent options; see other high-end models here). If it’s a once a week thing, then you could probably get away with a more budget-friendly trainer (depending, of course, on what exactly that once a week “thing” means…).

What Is Your Budget?

The final deciding factor has to be your budget. There’s really no point in going above and beyond that budget if you’re not totally convinced by a trainer and your reasons for buying it (here are TEN reasons for buying it!)

The first two points above will have a determining factor on your budget, that’s for sure, so let them dictate the actual amount of money you’re willing to spend. Other factors like an unsupportive spouse or a hard-nosed bank manager will also play their part, but we won’t go into those for our own, ahem, reasons…

But yes, their are bike trainers for EVERY budget, you just have to make your decision and go with it, all the way!

Good Luck!

And don’t forget our comparison table for a quick overview of prices and features, hopefully it will help!

Here are another three critical factors to look at, especially if you’re serious about your training: ride-ability, durability, and repeatability.

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