Originally Posted by
dmanthree
I'm about to transition from a road bike/trainer to a dedicated trainer. The new trainers, like the Neo Bike Smart, offer way more options and less maintenance than a road bike on a trainer. No drive train, unlimited fit options, lots of gearing options, etc. Works for me, but as usual YMMV.
I went down that route this winter with a Wahoo Kickr Bike. It's very impressive and very convenient. My previous setup was a mid-range smart trainer (Elite Direto X) using my regular road bike. That was pretty good too, but not so convenient. The only real downside to a dedicated smart bike is the cost relative to a smart trainer. But it does keep wear and tear off a potentially expensive road bike. Using an old road bike with a well-maintained drivetrain on a smart trainer is the best option on a budget. But a Smart Bike is the ultimate solution if cost is not critical.