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.
