The Zwift Cog is a universal sprocket that fits most modern smart trainers in lieu of a cassette [the cogs on the back wheel of your bike]. Whereas the ‘old’ method would require a toolbox and time to either switch the cassette from bike to trainer (and back again), or the cash to fork out for a new one, the Zwift universal sprocket fits across a range of different smart trainers meaning more time riding and less time fettling. 

The Cog pairs with a Zwift Click shifter that allows for remote transitions when riding on the platform. When working in unison you’re ultimately gifted with electronic shifting  – a premium feature in the world of cycling. Clunky mechanical gear changes are a thing of the past, with Zwift’s Cog seamless shifting stands front and centre. And what’s more, you get 24 virtual gears to toggle through – no harsh jumps, just buttery smooth changes.

Smart Trainers Around $/£/€500

In this blog post we’re going to look at some smart trainers around $/£/€500 that come with Zwift Cog and Click pre-installed. These trainers are classified as Zwift Ready. We will rate each of these on real road feel, power accuracy, weight, price and special features. At the end of this article you should have a good idea of the right smart trainer for you.

But first let’s take a look at three key factors that could influence any potential purchase decisions.

1. Accuracy: Power meter accuracy is, to some, the most important detail when it comes to buying a new smart trainer. If the meter is inconsistent or reads too high or low, it’s tough to track progress effectively. At our price point here, +/- 2% accuracy is highly respectable; but consistency is key – as long as your trainer is consistent, it’s doing its job.
2. Weight: The next point to consider is the weight of your new smart trainer. There’s pros and cons with both weighty and lighter options and it very much depends on the type of riding you’re planning to do as well as your training space. For those with a dedicated room to train in, a heavier item would be well worth considering – it’ll rarely. If ever need to be moved and the extra weight will help keep your bike planted during more energised efforts, ie sprinting. However, if you aren’t planning on cranking out high power and are more likely to be easy spinning during your sessions then a lighter and potentially cheaper trainer would fit the bill and save you some cash.
3. Cost: The trainers here start from around £279.99. Price is generally determined by accuracy, ride feel, weight and construction. Make sure to pick an item that suits your needs rather than reading too deeply into the spec sheet of each model. 

The Wahoo KICKR Core

American smart trainer stalwarts Wahoo were founded in 2009 and brought its first direct drive offering to the market in 2012. Several iterations and many refinements later and the Wahoo KICKR Core is now considered one of the best budget smart trainers available today. 

The KICKR Core delivers consistent power readings with a +/- 2% accuracy. While 2% itself is a low number, it’s the consistency of this trainer that makes it such a useful training tool, making fitness gains easy to track. 

The ride feel comes courtesy of a 12lb flywheel which offers smooth pedalling and seamless resistance delivery in ERG mode. Smart trainers can sometimes feel a little jumpy upon transitions but the KICKR Core is butter smooth.

The scales are tipped at 18.1kg making it a comparatively weighty option but this makes the  KICKR Core a very solid base from which to unleash a high wattage sprint. 

The  Zwift-ready KICKR Core will set you back around £450 ($534, €499) and is available for purchase at zwift.com in the US, EU and UK. The trainer can be purchased on wahoo.com in several more countries and at select bike retailers globally.

Van Rysel D100 with Cog and Click

The French marque owned by sporting goods titan Decathlon is relatively new to the virtual cycling world, but they’ve come to the market with a keenly priced smart trainer that would best be suited to new riders or those looking for a more relaxed pedal. 

The direct drive Van Rysel D100 is Zwift Ready, coming with the Cog and Click package. This makes the Van Rysel ride-ready straight out of the box. 

However, the Van Rysel’s competitive price tag comes at the detriment of maximum power output. While many smart trainers will max-out at over 1,600 watts, and sometimes go all the way up to 2,000, the D100 is capped at just 600 watts. If you’re just starting out on your indoor cycling journey then this shouldn’t hinder your progress. Rarely will you be required to pedal at a higher wattage than this unless you try your hand at Zwift racing.

Power readings – as expected for a smart trainer at this price point – is entry level. But a +/-5% is still a very good start and it’s unlikely you’d find such a reliable gauge elsewhere at this incredible price. 

At just 10.5kg this is a very portable piece of equipment and because of the power cap will remain planted while you turn the pedals. 

The Van Rysel D100 with Cog and Click will set you back just £279.99 (€299 Euros) and will see you saddled up and ready to roll minutes after opening the box. The trainer can be purchased online or in store at Decathlon and is currently not available in the US.

JetBlack Victory with Zwift Cog & Click

A smart trainer specced especially for Zwift, the Jetback Victory is equipped with Cog and Click at the point of sale. It’s another budget option that sets a high bar at this price with power accuracy levels at just +/-2% and a 10HZ Race Response mode that optimises ride fluidity while traversing undulations and virtual road imperfections such as gravel or cobbles. 

The Jetblack Victory is packed with features and now comes specced with Auto Spin-down calibration that ensures power accuracy is maintained throughout your ride. This latest offering from Jetblack is also wi-fi enabled, which minimises the chance of those pesky bluetooth drop-outs.

The hits just keep on coming with this £399 ($399/ €449) smart trainer; to bolster the CV of an already stellar machine, the Victory also has the capacity to put out 1,800 watts and mimic gradients up to 16%. 

The Victory tips the scales at 16kg making it portable while maintaining a solid base from which to spin-up some big watts. 

Conclusion

There are plenty of smart trainers to chose from when it comes to getting on Zwift all with different features and benefits. Whatever you decide we’re exited for you to start your journey on Zwift.