Source
r/Zwift•
Its_it

< $1000 Bike Recommendations for Direct Drive trainer

As the title says. I know almost nothing about bikes, if you can recommend or point me to what I should look for that would be great. I got bored one day and bought a used Saris H3 direct drive trainer after lots of research about price/performance. My current issue though? I didn't want to spend the money on an expensive bike yet since I didn't know if the trainer would work so I bought a $80 used Walmart bike (that doesn't connect to the trainer properly) and I've been using that.

I'm in the US. I was thinking about just buying some random $1000 bike with a 8-11 speed Shimano cassette and hoping it works but thought it would be better to ask here.

Posted Jan 4, 2021, 11:37 PM UTC

24
tbst•

Get an 10 or 11 speed bike if possible so then when you upgrade again to something nice, you won’t have to fuck around with cassettes.

4
bbpr120•

Pretty much anything that fits you and that you can sit on for hours on end, will work. Try to avoid 1x drivetrains (mtn bikes mostly) as they are the most restrictive in gearing and may hamper your efforts to hang with group rides.

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Whatever gearing issues (lack of low end) can be resolved with the poorly named "trainer difficulty" slider. It's basically a way to expand your gearing if you cassette doesn't go low enough on its own by reducing the resistance your legs feel on the grade changes. You still move at the same virtual speed but your legs aren't getting hammered for it (like shifting into a lower series of gears outdoors).

2
SnollyG•

Yes, 8-11sp would be fine.

I use a 50yo frame built up with a 2x8 drivetrain for my trainer bike.

1
StylishWickerPants•

Try the buy/sell on pinkbikes. I got my current bike for $500 and it routinely still goes for $1500 elsewhere

1