New to the indoor smart trainer market today, launching in mid-December, the Oreka O7 sits below other Oreka trainer options, offering a lower price point - £970 to be exact - and continuing to offer unique features.

If the name Oreka doesn't immediately ring a bell, that's because it's a relatively new brand limited to Europe; in early 2020, Oreka brought to market the Oreka O2, a product that looks like a combination bicycle and treadmill. This product offered the freedom of riding, both on wheels and in natural motion, at the lowest price point of its kind. That same year, the Oreka Training O5 was introduced, which took the innovation a step further, but looked similar to other turbo trainers on the market. The Oreka O7 was again based on the earlier product, this time bringing a compact size.

Many of the features established in the O5 reappeared in the O7. That mainly means the same resistance system: Oreka requires no mains power at all, neither in O5 nor O7. The rider supplies power to the unit while pedaling, and the resistance is obtained by increasing or decreasing the power through a series of electromagnets. The resistance is a fixed coefficient of the current supplied and requires no calibration. Just get in and run, no need to worry about calibration or power supply.

The freedom to place the trainer anywhere makes the trainer portable and highlights the O7 as a compact entry in the Oreka lineup. Compared to the Oreka O5, it takes up less space when in use (60 cm long x 80 cm wide) and folds down to 60 x 22 cm. It also weighs 7 kg less, bringing the total system weight to 23 kg. As a rough comparison with competing products, the Wahoo Kickr measures 51 cm x 71 cm when in use, while the Tacx Neo 2T measures 57.5 cm x 75 cm.

As expected at this point in smart trainer development, the O7 brings the same ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth Smart connectivity found in other Turbo Trainer options. It can be connected to major training software solutions using a cell phone, computer, Apple TV, or tablet. In particular, the Oreka app can control the trainer and record workouts without an Internet connection.

Connection to the bike is standard, as is connection to the software; adapters for 130mm, 135mm, 142 x 12mm, and 148 x 12mm axles are all included. Cassette compatibility is a bit more limited, but no 12-speed options are listed. Campagnolo is also missing, but as long as everything is 11-speed, a Shimano compatible cassette will fill the need.

On the ride, the specs are impressive. Maximum power output is 2,500 watts (at 40 km/h), with a gradient simulation of 25%. Both are clearly higher than competitors in the same price range.