Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer with Zwift Cog and Click

Review by Erin Trail

As a triathlete, I feel that I’m a near expert when it comes to indoor cycling. I’ve been using trainers since my first Ironman in 2011 and they’ve been a key tool for year round quality training.  Trainers are great when you want to get in a focused ride or when the weather outside isn’t suitable for riding.  I typically ride the trainer once per week year round and in the winter, I’ll add in longer weekend rides.  My record indoor ride is 5.5 hours, during a badly timed Colorado snowstorm during my peak Ironman block. I’m also a triathlon coach and I help manage a women’s triathlon Facebook group. I think I have a good handle on barriers and and potential issues when it comes to indoor bike training.

I the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer, on paper, has the potential to be a game changer for the smart trainer market.  The price is incredibly low, at $299, which also includes a Zwift Cog.

For reference, in 2010, I paid $300 for a CycleOps rear wheel fluid trainer. The closest competitor to the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is a Wahoo Kickr Core (with Zwift Cog installed), currently priced at $550.

In my personal pain cave inventory, I own the following trainers:

• CycleOps Fluid Trainer
• Wahoo Kickr (2016 version or “Gen 2”)
• Wahoo Kickr Core (2023 version)
• Zwift Cog (2024 version)

In this review, I’ll discuss the set up of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer and it’s performance during my training rides.  This review will not evaluate data accuracy, as there are many others out there who do a great job in that arena.

Technical Specifications

• Weight: 23.1 lbs (10.5 kg)
• Dimensions: Unfolded: 23.6 x 19.3 x 17.7 in- Folded: 23.6 x 11 x 21.3 in
• Maximum of 600 watts
• Grade simulation capped at 6%
• Zwift Cog and Click system is preinstalled. This system is compatible with SRAM, Shimano, and Campagnolo 8 to 12-speed drivetrains.
• D100 is compatible with:-Shimano 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12-speed-SRAM 8, 9, 10. 11-speed*SRAM 12-speed XDR requires a separate cassette hub.
• Supports both Quick Release (130–135 x 5mm, included) and Thru Axle (142–148 x 12mm, adapter kit included) systems.
• Fits 26 to 29-inch mountain bike wheels and 700C road wheels
• Uses Bluetooth FTMS to sync seamlessly with leading indoor cycling apps like Zwift, Kinomap, Bkool, and Onelap. Compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows devices for effortless connectivity.

Detailed Review

Setting up the Trainer

Set up of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer was one of the easiest I’ve done, largely because it comes with the Zwift Cog already installed (a $50 value).  The direction booklet leaves a lot to be desired, relying only on graphics to explain the set up.  But fortunately, the trainer build only required putting on the legs and plugging the system in. Set up maybe took me 30 minutes, and that was with taking photos and taking breaks to make sure my cat wasn’t misbehaving.

This version of the Zwift Cog and Click is SUBSTANTIALLY better than the one I purchased in 2024. I did not like the 2024 version (that I installed myself).  Installation wasn’t all that easy, as the cog kind of fell apart and I had to rebuild it.  And I never got the Cog to feel good when riding – it was never quiet and always had a bit of chain vibration. The buttons to control the unit were pretty basic and I didn’t really use them. The 2024 Zwift Cog noise only got worse with use and I ended up putting my cassette back on my trainer.

The 2025 version of the Zwift Cog and Click is SO much better. The controller buttons are better quality (and they do more within the game).  I also haven’t experienced any chain noise. Kudos to Van Rysel for selling the D100 with the Zwift Cog already installed. One of the barriers to trainers is that people don’t know how to install or swap out cassettes.  By having the Zwift Cog and Click pre-installed, Van Rysel has eliminated that pain point.  I had a very easy time getting the Zwift Cog calibrated to my TT bike and the ride quality and noise, even with many rides, has been great. The controllers also seem to be more functional and better quality than the prior iteration.

Once assembled, getting the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer connected and updated was an easy process. I did have to install a new app on my phone, but connecting the trainer and getting the firmware updated was a smooth process. The app (OnelapFit) doesn’t have a ton of functionality for me, other than updating the firmware for the trainer (I need to also download the “Onelap” app, which isn’t compatible with my phone).  I was also playing around within the app and I got re-directed to a Decathalon website that was only available in French. I haven’t been able to replicate that issue to figure out exactly that I did.

The app supporting the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is pretty basic.  I can only use the app to connect the trainer and update firmware.  By comparison, the Wahoo app is significantly more robust, including workouts for riders to use in lieu of subscription services, and better data logging and review platforms.

Using the Trainer

Riding with the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer has been great.  I am really impressed with how quiet the trainer is – it is SO quiet that I don’t need the TV volume nearly as loud as I do for my Kickr trainers.

I am already a long-time Zwift user, so I’m pretty familiar with loading and using Zwift.  The Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer connected easily to my tablet and the Zwift platform.  I haven’t experienced any connectivity drop outs while using it.

My testing of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer has been primarily doing my coach’s workouts, usually intervals that sometimes have short bursts of effort.  During my testing, I’ve found that the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is very responsive to changes in power, with no detectable lag.  Note: I am using my Favero Assioma power meter pedals to measure power. My FTP is 210 and my max 10-20 second bursts are rarely over 400 watts.  A potential drawback to the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is that it maxes out at 600 watts, but for most riders, this shouldn’t create an issue or limitation.

The footprint of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is nearly identical to my Kickr Core. The weight of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is nearly half of the Kickr Core (23 lbs vs 40 lbs). And the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is substantially lighter than my OG Kickr, which clocks in at 48 lbs.  When riding the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer, I do notice a little bit of a side-to-side rocking motion.  I think the motion is due to momentum during pedaling.  Since the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is substantially lighter, the trainer “rocks”.  I weigh 145 lbs, I imagine that heavier riders would experience even more rocking motion.  My suggested fix is to secure the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer legs onto a sheet of plywood to give the trainer a larger platform for weight distribution and stability.

After perusing other reviews of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer, common complaints have to do with not having ANT signals for connectivity, not having the ability to measure cadence, and the power and % grade limitations.  I think for the majority of the riders that the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is aimed at, most of these issues are very minor.

Closing Thoughts

As a triathlete and a coach, I think the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is a game changer.  For the price of a wheel-on trainer, someone can buy this direct drive trainer.  Direct drive trainers are generally better quality and better for your bike.

Van Rysel has made the set up of the D100 incredibly simple, especially with the inclusion of the Zwift Cog and Click System.  Even riders who are new to working on their bikes or are less mechanically inclined should have zero issues setting up this trainer. The limitations of the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer are more related to weight and power output of the rider.  If you need to go above 600 watts, this is not the trainer for you.  But for most cyclists, and especially those who are looking to buy their first trainer or upgrade from a wheel-on trainer, the Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer is an excellent option.  I was super impressed and plan on keeping the D100 as my main indoor cycling tool for this winter season.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race