If by now you are convinced that you need an indoor trainer but is wondering whether your current bike is even compatible with the indoor trainer you have in mind, then you have come to the right place.
If you have a road bike or mountain bike, then most likely you will not have any problem. But if you are planning to use your indoor trainer with a BMX bike, your options will be a bit limited.
What are the indoor bike trainers that are compatible with BMX? Based on my thorough research, there are at least four brands that offer models that are compatible with BMX bikes: BKOOL, Elite, CycleOps, and KurtKinetic. CycleOps models and some models of KurtKinetic will require you to buy a conversion kit for you to be able to use a BMX bike.
The typical wheel size of the BMX bike is 20″. But some BMX bikes with larger frames have 22″ to 24″ tires. Kid’s bike sizes are around 16″ to 18″.
Here is a rundown of BMX bike-compatible indoor trainers.
BKOOL
Bkool’s unique design allows it to work with all types of bikes with wheel sizes of 20″ to 29″.
While most wheel-on indoor trainers have an inverted v-frame to support your bike, BKOOL has an adjustable pair of arms to support your bike. To accommodate smaller bikes like BMX bikes, the arms can be positioned at a lower angle.
Also, unlike other trainers wherein you have to manually adjust the pressure between the bike’s tire and the trainer’s roller, BKOOL trainers use your body weight to apply the right amount of pressure between your tire and the trainer’s roller.
The company recommends BKOOL Smart Go for beginners and BKOOL Smart Pro
for intermediate users. Both are smart trainers with ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity.
You will get a free three-month subscription to the BKOOL simulation app when you purchase the trainer. It can also work with the Zwift app if that is what you prefer.
The trainer also adjusts the resistance automatically according to the simulated route to make your experience more realistic.
The main difference between the two models is the maximum power they can generate. Smart Go’s maximum wattage is 800 watts while Smart Pro is 1200 watts.
Elite
Elite Qubo Fluid Trainer is compatible with 20″ to 29″ bikes.
Its frame is slightly similar to BKOOLs’ since it has adjustable arms to support the bike.
The weight of the rider directly rests on the trainer. This matters when training with power since the power output of the cyclist can be affected by his weight.
Like the BKOOL trainer, it uses your body weight to put enough pressure between the tire and the roller. No manual adjustment is necessary.
Since it is a fluid trainer, you cannot adjust the resistance, manually or automatically. The more effort you put into it, the greater the resistance would be.
Elite Qubo Power Mag Smart B+ is another option from the Elite lineup. It is a lot similar to the Qubo Fluid trainer except that it uses magnetic resistance.
Also, the Elite Qubo Power Mag Smart B+ trainer is equipped with sensors that can transmit your workout data to the app of your choice. But unlike BKOOL, it is not interactive so its resistance cannot be controlled by an app.
CycleOps
CycleOps’s frame is like most indoor trainers. It is really designed to be used with road and mountain bikes.
Some CycleOps models namely Wind, Mag, Magneto, and Fluid 2 can be made compatible with BMX bikes by using a wheel adjuster (purchased separately).
The wheel adjuster raises the resistance unit to the height of the bike’s wheel. It works with 20″ and 24″ BMX bikes.
Kurt Kinetic
You can also install a small wheel adapter for some Kinetic indoor trainers. The adapter is good for 16″ to 22″ bike wheels.
This kit also comes with a pair of shorter feet for the frame to adjust the trainer’s height.
It works with Kinetic Road Machine 2.0 trainers with a U-shaped frame.
For older Kinetic models with V-shaped frames, use this small wheel adapter instead.
There are also some models of this trainer that are compatible with 22″ BMX without the need for a wheel adjuster.
Kinetic Rock and Roll Control Trainer is compatible with virtually all bikes.
This is an interactive smart trainer with both ANT+ FEC and Bluetooth so you can use it with your favorite indoor cycling apps like Zwift, TrainerRoad, SufferFest, Fulgaz, Rouvy, KinoMap, and its own app, Kinetic Fit.
The resistance of the trainer is automatically controlled by the app depending on the course or workout.
Kinetic Rock and Roll Control can generate a maximum of 1800 watts at 30 mph. Its maximum slope is 10%. Buying this trainer will also entitle you to a free six-month subscription to the Kinetic Fit training app.
If you prefer a fluid trainer, you can also check out Kinetic Rock and Roll Smart. This one is not interactive, meaning the resistance cannot be controlled by your apps. But it does have Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity so it can send riding data to your app which is useful when you are training with power.
It is compatible with 22″ bikes, but you can use the small wheel adapter if your bike’s wheel size is smaller.
In summary
If you are in the market for an indoor trainer that is compatible with BMX bikes, your options will be somewhat limited.
But view it as a blessing in disguise since you can narrow down your choices much easier now instead of poring over hundreds of options for an indoor bike trainer.
Elite and BKOOL have models that are compatible with BMX bikes and any type of bike for that matter.
Since you don’t have to attach a converter on the mentioned indoor bike trainers above, they are the best choice if you foresee multiple users each owning a different type of bike (for instance you have a road bike and your son has BMX).
Cycle Ops and Kurt Kinetic, on the other hand, have small wheel adjusters for BMX and other types of bikes. You have to buy them separately and install them yourself.
Related Questions
Will the small wheel adapter of Kurt Kinetic work with ElliptiGO Bikes? Yes, it will work with ElliptiGO as well as Brompton folding bikes.
What other accessories must I get if I want to pursue indoor cycling? Make sure you have a fan, water bottles, towels, appropriate clothing, and shoes to ensure that you will have a safe and relatively comfortable ride on your indoor trainer.
Will the indoor trainer wear out my bike? Since the rear tire is always in contact with the trainer’s roller, expect some wear especially if you are biking indoors often. I advise you to get a trainer-specific tire so you can save your road tire for outdoor use and also lessen the noise from your trainer.
Can I use a classic trainer with Zwift? You can use a classic trainer with Zwift using virtual power. But you have to get a speed and cadence sensor that can wirelessly transmit data (Bluetooth or ANT+) and be sure to enter the correct model for your indoor trainer when prompted by the Zwift app. Also, keep your tire and roller pressure consistent in every ride to be sure you will get consistent data from your sensors.