Smart trainer maintenance tips: Protect your investment and keep training

A man riding on a smart trainer in a garage
(Image credit: Getty: Robert Cianflone / Staff)

Smart trainers represent a sizeable cycling investment. Forget about all of the associated kit you need, the cheapest smart trainers alone will set you back a few hundred dollars or pounds. The best budget option in our best smart trainers guide will set you back £449 / $499 at retail. 

Plenty of cyclists set their trainer up at home, be it in the garage or house and never think of it again, just plug in and ride or train as often as they like, but all mechanical objects need a little maintenance from time to time. 

Tom Wieckowski
Tech writer

Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of. 

He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.