Removing your wheel to mount your bike to your smart trainer doesn’t have to be painful. If you’re switching over to indoor riding, then removing the rear wheel is the first step to getting set up.

Why remove your rear bike wheel?

If you’re using a direct-drive smart trainer, like the Wahoo Kickr, JetBlack Victory, Elite Direto, Van Rysel D1000, or other smart trainer where the bike mounts directly to the cassette of your trainer, your rear wheel will need to be removed to ride.

If using a trainer with the Zwift Cog, things get even easier when getting ready to ride on the indoor trainer. With the Zwift Cog, there is no need to swap cassettes or adjust your gears – Zwift Cog will work with almost any 8-12 speed bike and has in-built adjustment for the perfect setup. Simple! 

Ready to start Zwifting? Follow these simple steps to remove your rear wheel and you’ll be riding in no time.

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How to remove your bike’s rear wheel for a smart trainer

1. Prep Your Bike

The first step is to shift your gears: 

• Move the chain to the largest chainring in the front.
• And the smallest cog on your cassette (the hardest gear).

This reduces chain tension and gives you more slack to work with.

If you’ve got rim brakes, don’t forget to open the brake caliper so your tire can pass through easily.

If your bike has disc brakes, the wheel can be removed without adjusting the brakes. The only caution is to avoid pressing the rear brake while the wheel is removed. This can cause your brake pistons to close fully and can be a pain to separate. Top tip – once you have removed your wheel, place a piece of card between your brake pads to prevent them from closing. 

Some gravel or mountain bikes with 1x drivetrains come with clutch rear mechs designed to help keep the chain secure. These rear mechs have a switch that helps to make removing your wheel easier. Here’s how:

Shimano: Flip the clutch switch to the “off” position. It’s clearly labeled on the derailleur.

SRAM: Push the derailleur cage forward and press the cage lock button to hold it in place.

This reduces tension in the chain, giving you more slack to work with.

2. Identify Your Axle Type

Before removing the wheel, you’ll need to know what kind of axle your bike uses. There are two main types of axle:

Quick Release: A thin skewer with springs at each end. These are common on older bikes and some road bikes.

Thru Axle: A thicker axle that screws directly into your frame. They’re standard on most newer road, gravel, and MTB bikes. If you have a Thru Axle without a handle you’ll need an Allen key (typically 5 or 6mm).

3. Remove the Rear Wheel

The final step is to release the rear wheel.

For Quick Release:

• Open the quick release lever all the way (180 degrees).
• If needed, loosen it further by turning the lever counterclockwise.
• Pull the wheel free from the frame. You might need to push the derailleur back slightly.

For Thru Axle:

• Use an Allen key (typically 5mm or 6mm) or the axle’s built-in lever to unscrew it.
• Slide the axle all the way out.
• Push the derailleur back to create space, then remove the wheel.

How to mount the bike to a direct drive smart trainer

Once your bike is without its rear wheel you’ll be able to mount it to your indoor trainer. Make sure you follow your trainer manufacturer’s instructions.

This is where the Zwift Cog makes the difference. The Zwift Cog is a single-speed sprocket designed to work with most 8-12 speed bikes, streamlining your setup by eliminating the need to swap cassettes. It’s perfect for shared trainers or riders who frequently switch bikes, offering broad compatibility and hassle-free transitions. Zwift Cog makes getting started on Zwift simpler and more accessible.

Pair the Zwift Cog with Zwift Click, a compact wireless controller that unlocks the power of virtual shifting. With Zwift Click, you can shift gears directly in-game so there is no need to touch your physical drivetrain. Mount it wherever it feels most natural, drop bars, aero bars, or flat bars for intuitive, effortless control at the push of a button.

Once you have:

• Assembled your trainer according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
• Installed your Zwift Cog and Zwift Click (if you’re using them); and
• Inserted the correct thru axle or quick-release adapter,

Simply follow these steps:

1. Shift to the smallest chainring in front and a middle gear in back (e.g., gear 5 of 10).

2. Push the derailleur back and gently lower the bike onto the indoor trainer.

3. Align the dropouts with the adapters and secure the bike.

4. Tighten the quick release or reinstall your thru axle. Make sure the bike is securely attached to the trainer before riding.

5. Jiggle the bike gently to ensure it’s seated properly.

6. Turn the pedals forwards. Avoid “back-pedalling” at this stage as this is where your chain can come unshipped from your chainring.
   
7.  If you hear ticking or skipping, shift the rear derailleur slightly to align the chain with the Zwift Cog.

💡 The goal is a straight chain line. If your chain is angled, try another gear until it runs smooth and quiet.

FAQ

Should I turn the bike upside down when removing the rear wheel?

It’s better to keep the bike upright when removing the rear wheel. This means that gravity will be working in your favour and the wheel should “fall” downwards. It also makes it easier to transfer over to your smart trainer.

It can be daunting holding the bike, the derailleur, and catching the wheel, so if you’re lucky enough to have a helping hand to hold the bike by its saddle whilst you remove the wheel this will make the process easier.

Why won’t my wheel drop out?

Make sure:

1. The axle or quick release is fully loosened or removed.
2. The derailleur is pulled back slightly to free the cassette.
3. If using rim brakes, make sure they’re released (a small lever or cam on the brake caliper usually does this).

How do I stop my hands from getting oily / greasy?

You shouldn’t need to touch the chain or cassette when removing the rear wheel. These tend to be the greasy parts of the bike. If you hold the bike and derailleur your hands should stay clean. 

Nonetheless, keeping your bike as clean as possible will help stop grease building up and transferring to your bike over time. Some gloves can also be a good idea if you want to be extra sure.

And That’s It!

With your rear wheel removed and your bike mounted on the smart trainer, you’re officially Zwift Ready. No cassette removal with Zwift Cog and no hassle. Just smooth indoor riding ahead.

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