The one I have is your basic, no electronics. I have a Garmin Edge 305 to tell me distance and cadence and such. If you are just using it to learn your bike, I dont think you need a top of the line trainer, but if you plan to train in the rainy season and you don't have a bike computer that reads from the back wheel, you might want one that has all the bells and whistles. Also, if you are willing to spend the big bucks and you have room, look into a bike roller, very nice.