Elite Direto XR-T Smart Turbo Trainer review
The days are getting shorter, but your bike training sessions don’t have to. Our expert tester Jack Sexty puts the Elite smart turbo trainer to the test...
Elite’s top-of-the-range trainer comes without a cassette, while the XR version comes with an 11-speed, Shimano 105 cassette; otherwise, they’re the same product.
A riser block and adapters for disc brakes are included, as are one-year Elite My E-Training and one-month Zwift subscriptions.
At 16kg it’s not difficult to move around and is ready to go out the box; you just need to unfold the two sturdy legs and plug in.
The Direto’s ride feel is second-to-none, while the power adjusted quickly and smoothly in every session, overshooting slightly on shorter intervals with ERG mode turned on, but nothing out of the ordinary.
A huge 2,300w max resistance means even your most furious sprint won’t trouble it an inch.
Verdict: Outstanding deluxe smart trainer that’s worth the cash
Score: 92%
Also consider…
ThinkRider X7 Smart Turbo Trainer
It’s Bluetooth ANT+ compatible, which means you should be able to easily connect up to Zwift and other virtual reality platforms.
The Y-shaped design is said to reduce any damage to your bike frame that may occur when hooked up to a standard trainer. It also has a five-degree tilt to provide a heightened real ride feel, as well as the ability to measure and control temperature.
ThinkRider claims that the power reading is highly accurate with a discrepancy of only +/- 2%. It’s also worth bearing in mind that a UK 3 pin plug adaptor & Shimano/ SRAM 9/10 or 11 speed cassette will be required to set-up and use this trainer.
Jack Sexty
Editor at road.cc 
