Hardware Guide
Last updated: 2026-05-15
Your Trainer is a multi-rider indoor cycling app for Android tablets. Smart-trainer control with local data + local control. One-time purchase.
What works with Your Trainer. This page grows as rider reports come in. If you've ridden with hardware that isn't listed, drop us a note at [email protected].
Smart trainers
The hard requirement is FTMS over Bluetooth — the standard profile for controllable smart trainers. Trainers without FTMS connect as a cadence/speed sensor only and the app can't control resistance.
Confirmed working
- Wahoo KICKR (V5 / V6) — ERG, SIM, and Resistance modes all work; cadence is reported by the trainer itself.
- Elite Direto — connects over FTMS; ERG, SIM, and Resistance modes all work; cadence reported by the trainer.
Expected to work (FTMS-compliant by spec)
Direct-drive trainers from the last few years that advertise FTMS support should work. Examples that fit the specification but haven't been personally tested:
- Wahoo KICKR Bike
- Wahoo KICKR Core
- Tacx Neo / Neo 2T / Neo 3M
- Tacx Flux / Flux 2 / Flux S
- Saris H3 / H4
- Elite Direto XR / Suito
- JetBlack VOLT
- Zwift Hub / Zwift Ride
- Magene T100 / T300
If you ride one of these, the in-app compatibility check at the bottom of this page is the direct path to confirming and formally verifying yours.
Known not to work (CSC-only)
Older wheel-on trainers that only advertise the Cycling Speed and Cadence profile connect fine but report only speed and cadence — no resistance control. The trainer's flywheel inertia provides whatever resistance it provides; the app can't adjust it.
Heart-rate monitors
Any Bluetooth Low Energy heart-rate monitor that advertises the standard Heart Rate profile works. ANT+-only monitors don't connect — Bluetooth is the only protocol the app speaks.
Common compatible options
- Chest straps: Polar H9 / H10, Wahoo TICKR / TICKR X, Garmin HRM-Dual / HRM-Pro Plus.
- Arm bands: Polar Verity Sense, Wahoo TICKR FIT, Coospo HW9.
- Watches and rings that advertise as a Bluetooth HRM: most Wahoo, Polar, and Garmin watches; Whoop straps.
Practical tips
- Chest-strap CR2032s last about 18 months but lose connection reliability before they die. Replace at the first sign of dropouts.
- Damp the chest-strap contact pads before connecting; sweat conducts, dry contacts often fail to wake the strap.
- Arm bands use optical sensors and don't need contact-pad prep. They run smaller batteries; charge before long rides.
Tablets and phones
Your Trainer runs on Android 10 or newer. Tablets are the most comfortable choice — a 10-inch or larger screen reads cleanly from your trainer position. Phones work too: the dashboard reflows for smaller screens, and a phone is a perfectly reasonable everyday device. The app is built to be light on resources and runs smoothly on modest hardware; you don't need a top-spec device.
Recommendation summary
| Want | Aim for |
|---|---|
| Comfortable dashboard reading from 1m away | 10-inch screen or larger |
| Split-screen with video alongside the dashboard | Android 10+ device (most tablets and many larger phones support split-screen) |
Permission caveats
- Android 12+ — the app uses the Nearby devices permission for Bluetooth. Granted on first run.
- Android 10 / 11 — the system requires Location permission for Bluetooth scanning. The app never reads your location; the permission is a side-effect of how older Androids gate Bluetooth.
- Android 13+ — Notifications permission is asked on first run. Used for ride-state notifications and Strava-upload status. Optional.
Battery-saver caveat
Some manufacturers (Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus) ship aggressive battery savers that can suspend background work mid-ride. If the screen turns off or the workout pauses unexpectedly, set Settings → Apps → Your Trainer → Battery → Don't optimize.
Mounting
The tablet or phone sits somewhere visible during the ride. Common options, ordered by ease:
- Music stand or laptop stand on a desk in front of the trainer. Simplest; no kit beyond what you already have. Works for both tablets and phones.
- Floor stand for tablets, gooseneck stand for phones. Adjustable height, foldable. Costs $20–80; sturdy.
- Handlebar mount. Holds the device on the bike's bars. Convenient for stationary use; not designed for outdoor riding. Mounts come in tablet and phone sizes.
Sweat protection: even with a fan, the device picks up some humidity over a long session. A clear film screen-protector and a couple of cheap silicone covers around the corners cost very little and pay off.
Check compatibility
→ See the full verified-trainer compatibility list.
Settings → Hardware → Check compatibility looks up the connected trainer against the current list and shows its status:
- Verified — tested and confirmed working in ERG, SIM, and Resistance modes.
- Expected to work — FTMS-compliant by specification, not yet formally tested.
- Not listed — not on the list yet; the compatibility test can establish a result.
- Known not to work — connects as a speed/cadence sensor only; resistance control not supported.
From a Verified, Expected to work, or Not listed result: Run compatibility test works through ERG, SIM, and Resistance modes and produces a per-mode pass/fail scorecard.
- Free tier: a passing scorecard for a trainer that isn't yet verified may qualify for a one-time complementary Pro upgrade, subject to review.
- Pro or Family tier: the scorecard contributes to the shared compatibility list.
A one-line email to [email protected] is also welcome:
- Trainer model + firmware version (visible in the trainer's manufacturer app).
- HRM model.
- Device model (tablet or phone) + Android version.
- Whether everything worked, or what specifically didn't.
Both paths feed the same list, viewable at compatibility.html. The raw data is also published as compatibility.json — the file the app reads when checking trainer status.