As winter begins to wrap its icy fingers around your hemisphere, the brutally cold weather conditions and lack of daylight all contribute to a waning desire to ride outdoors. Riding the trainer inside isn't exactly on our list of favorite activities to do, partially because of the monotony of spinning in circles going nowhere, its unrealistic feel, and the insistent whining of rubber or roller. It is however often a necessary evil and it’s a hell of a lot easier than losing that hard-earned fitness and starting from scratch in the spring. Thankfully the newer crop of smart trainers does a wonderful job of simulating road-feel and direct-drives make them much quieter. One brand that's been making them for a while is Tacx and its Flux 2 Smart Trainer is an update on the original utilizing a heavier flywheel and stronger electromagnets to better simulate the load you would experience on a typical road ride. Boasting compatibility with many third-party apps and the ability to transmit via Bluetooth Smart as well as ANT+ FE-C, the Flux 2 can pair with virtually any smartphone, tablet or computer and transform your indoor riding experience this winter.

Of course, the Flux 2 will work with Tacx's own app, which comes with a free 1-month subscription, but the fun really begins when you tap into popular apps such as Zwift and TrainerRoad where it controls the resistance of the trainer and allows you to virtually race online. Two LEDs illuminate on the side to let you know when you're connected to your device, so there's no guessing whether or not you've successfully paired with the trainer before hopping on. The trainer is intuitive and fully programmable for your training plan du jour. Smart electronics work to increase resistance accurately when you make even the slightest adjustments to your power settings, so you know the resistance will increase or decrease as needed during your routine, and the information output is accurate to within an impressive +/- 2.5%. Firmware, testing, and calibration are easily updated on the Tacx app, so you can always keep things running smoothly and with the latest technology.

Boasting a heavy 7.6kg flywheel, the trainer is seriously smooth and uses 8 permanent ferrite magnets and 8 electromagnets to replicate road feel. Need a hard workout? The Flux 2 has a max power resistance of 2,000 watts at 40 km/h and can simulate a 16% grade. That's plenty for a thick World Tour sprinter or a sinewy grimpeur. You'll certainly want a stable base when practicing your sprints or out-of-the-saddle climbing and you'll enjoy the large footprint and quality materials that keep the Flux solid and prevents it from scooting across the floor.

You'll need to bring your own cassette to the party, and its compatible with 8 through 11 speed Shimano/SRAM cassettes with Campy freehubs sold separately. The trainer is compatible with standard 130mm road and 135mm mountain bike spacing with quick-releases and come with adaptors for thru-axle and boost spacing requirements.