I also believe I would be able to pre-ride a course if I load the GPX file into Zwfit. E) I validate that the trainer shows up on a Garmin Edge device via ANT+ FE-C (sometimes I’ll use a Wahoo ELEMNT too). My answer was in the context of the smart trainer article, and in that regard I don’t see any positives at all apart from the jump on and go aspect and a screen, that’s all. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. I don’t seeing it changing the market, but, I think it does serve as a good reminder to the established players that others can do this trainer thing functionally just fine as well. Wahoo for example will want you to complete a weekly spin-down test to ensure correct calibration. There are of course probably other features that others do – like the Tacx Isokinetic modes for example, but I think the above lists are really the bigger differentiators right now. Other competitors like the CycleOps Hammer are better in this regard and so is the Wahoo Kickr, which is much easier to manoeuvre. Elite SRL. B) Find a way to get into the continental Europe and US markets. It came with ‘the best turbo trainer money can buy’ price tag too. When speaking of trainers and accuracy one is usually only adressing the comparison of the power reported from the trainer to the power reported from a power meter (pedal, crank, etc). Here’s what I’m expecting in trainers today: Accuracy Baselines: Accordingly, I continue to wait until the Atom Wattbike ships in Continental Europe! Let’s hope for a re-think of the firmware soon from TechnoGym. I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). Tacx NEO +-1%: 2200 W: 25% Tacx NEO 2 +-1%: 2200 W: 25% Tacx NEO 2T +-1%: 2200 W: 25% Tacx NEO Bike +-1%: 2200 W: 25% Tacx Satori Smart +-10%: 950 W Tacx Vortex Smart +-10%: 950 W: 7% Technogym MyCycling +-1%: 2100 W: 20% Thinkrider Power +-3%: 1500 W Thinkrider X3-Pro +-5%: 1000 W: 10% Thinkrider X5 +-2%: 2500 W: 20% Thinkrider X7 Pro (Gen 3) +-2%: 2500 W: 20% TrueKinetix … See, that’s not the real strength of why Peloton has been so successful. If a given trainer is really $60 or $100 or $___ more for me to use than I might not really want to get that model. Accuracy is good: compared with on-bike power meters, readings remained constant. Tacx Updates NEO 2 With ANT+ Right/Left Power Data | SMART … There really is nothing to recommend the Peloton bike as a smart cycling trainer to be used with other software, that I can think of, and plenty of things against it. C) Rock back and forth: As Kinetic does with their Rock & Roll base, which works with a few of their trainers You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Same question here. Even my wife want’s one, and since she spends half of the year abroad – that’s two lost sales for Wattbike. I didn’t exclude Peloton here, but rather, all bikes of all sorts. But as far as I know the software hasn’t this function (called powermatch in other softwares). Do you think that there has been sufficient time for FTMS to be adopted? Though, as we know, nobody has implemented everything yet in a single unit. You are correct Ray. The thing I loved about the Wattbike when I had it was just the whole ‘jump on and go’ concept. I could have ultimately written a review in under a paragraph, whereas Shane has far more patience than I. Gradually support for this is working its way into third party apps. link to smartbiketrainers.com. Tacx NEO Bike Smart is a revolutionary smart bike designed to create a one-of-a-kind experience. Building Custom Workouts. Still, there are some core things I like to see in any trainer above $300 from a hardware standpoint: Important/Useful Baseline Features: The Wahoo Kickr can also perform this ergo function too. Free, open source bike analysis tool-set that also offers free indoor trainer riding capability: As of USB/Wired connection. That’s because while I’d like it to be via FTMS, if it shows up in TrainerRoad and Zwift and works via Bluetooth Smart (such as Wahoo or CycleOps), I’m not going to get too fussed up as to how it did that at the moment. See, as far as I’m concerned, once you cross the $300 threshold into a ‘Smart Trainer’ category, your trainer, without question, must have the following: Control: ANT+ FE-C (Fitness Equipment Control) And as always, expect my full 2018 trainer buyers guide in the fall, unless I’m highly confident everything has been announced by August, in which case you might see it then. Next, you can even double-down one step further, as Tacx does. Be it hardware or software, this post is what happens when I get on a bit of a rant and have 2 hours on an airplane without internet access. While TechnoGym has success in other product segments and markets, they of course completely missed the mark here. Wattbike should get in bed with Ikea before Ikea comes out with their own unit. First we will focus on our own trainers, and then implement it in the applications, starting with the Tacx Training app. C) If a wheel-on trainer: Must have a calibration/roll-down procedure The most powerful and silent Smart trainer. These days they’re down to $899 (Elite Direto and Tacx Flux), and I suspect we’ll continue to see downwards shifting here in pricing and options. Control: Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service) Hi Aar. Check our statement … E) Requires no power plug: Self-generating power, though, I prefer both a plug if you want it as well as self-generating when you need it. This means that you don’t have to perform a zero offset like you do with many power meters and turbo trainers. Does it makes sense to hold on tight for another 3-6 months in anticipation of the new model range? For example, the JetBlack unit I tried a month or two ago had standards issues, as did the far more expensive TechnoGym unit that Shane tested that I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Does seem like the high end trainers are pretty stable without anything major coming. A suggestion for this year’s review, add a “Campy compatible” row for the wheel-off trainers & include the cost for any accessory/adapter necessary to be able to use a Campy cassette. Thanks ray to keep this industry honest!!! Easy, accessible and quiet. Of course, each feature in the above list has its pros and cons. Ultimately, the Tacx Neo was once was the market leader, but the likes of Elite, CycleOps and Wahoo have now come to the fore and provide equal performance with better compatibility at a cheaper price too. Tacx NEO 2T Smart € 1299. First of all thank you for your in depth reviews. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! Above $1,000USD: +/- 2%. Mainly because of the Tacx’s ‘road surface simulation’, which replicates cobbles or wooden slats that you come across on the Zwift platform. 4. Or a variant of that whereby they’re using cheaper materials which can’t support the weight in one configuration, but can in another – again, requiring different setups. ANT+ FE-C simulation and workout is supported. Accuracy is listed as better on Direto (2.5% vs 3%). I have a question. I) Trainer legs should lock in place, or otherwise be stiff enough to not snap your fingers off if you pick up the trainer by the legs I am interested in a Kickr or a Direto. Thanks!! I have a replaced knee and need to look after the health of both knees. DC Rainmaker 2019 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? Then I would be able to put my carbon road bike and do it without another wheel. Thanks for that link to titaniumgeek about the Neo iso* modes…that article finally explained them in a way that makes me understand them finally. Just stay with your tested and proven Kickr 1. For those not familiar (which is almost all of you), TechnoGym makes a direct drive trainer, sorta like the Wahoo KICKR, except missing all the stuff that ... Like the Tacx Neo does (as explained here) C) Rock back and forth: As Kinetic does with their Rock & Roll base, which works with a few of their trainers In the event you have a non-controllable trainer, then the trainer should at least do the broadcast portions above. It is capturing a wide and enthusiastic following of bicyclist. It becomes a tug-o-war. Yeah, that Gravat2 thing might completely change the whole trainer market. Dieser Smart-Trainer berechnet Ihre Leistung mit einer Genauigkeit von 1 %. Is any of these better than the others in regards to the situation I described above? I’m just amazed that the market is big enough for all these expensive trainer. Smarte Indoortrainer im Test: Technogym MyCycling Smarte Indoortrainer im Test: Wahoo Kickr Core Smarte Indoortrainer im Test: Wahoo Kickr 2017 Saris Fluid 2 Smart: Leichter Wheel-On-Trainer für Einsteiger ... Tacx Neo Smart 2 und Neo 2T Smart Indoortraining-Zubehör im Test: Wahoo Kickr Headwind Smarte Indoortrainer im Test: Technogym MyCycling Smarte Indoortrainer im Test: Wahoo … Will you test our product before release? We could call them wannabe-smart trainers (examples are the Kinetic inRide-equipped trainers, the Lemond Revolution with PowerPilot, and some Elite units with Misura accessories). Broadcast: Bluetooth Smart Speed & Cadence sensor. And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Reading your blog for several years, I do recall that the girl had the same question a while ago. Unfortunately the SPRINGVIP 20% off is not working for the Direto even after adding the VIP subscription. However, some smart trainers go beyond that with a few optional tidbits: Broadcast: ANT+ Cadence (either within the power channel or separately) But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. Gradient simulation: -5% to +25% Oh, I thought it was closer to 500-600 USD. D) Simulate climbing/descending: As the Wahoo CLIMB accessory does with Wahoo’s trainers Even more so since Eurobike is a month and a half earlier this year than in years past (now early July vs late August). If I were in their shoes I’d hope that they: A) Find a way to address some of the issues I raised specifically around hardware shifters (they’ve done a lot in software since then). The release clips are at the bottom and if you release one side the Tacx Neo has a habit of falling to one side or release both and you’ve got a huge weight to bear until you try and softly place it down. I contacted Rouvy directly regarding this issue and unfortunately the information in this blog is wrong. From a hardware baseline standpoint, I actually don’t have any hard and fast requirements. I think you answered your own question. A nice feature of the Tacx Neo is you can use it when it’s not plugged in. Their business model is for the consumer to pay $40/mth for the spin classes. For its worth, I am enjoying Zwift a lot through this trainer. You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. These bands shift downwards each year, on average by about $100 per year once above about $700-$800. Being based on mainland Europe, they don’t ‘do’ here. . Meaning that it can specify a wattage (i.e., 250w) or gradient (i.e., 5%) to simulate varying conditions and workouts. 4 min. Here’s the current list of approved trainers: TechnoGym: MyCycling ; Tacx: NEO, NEO 2T, NEO Bike, Flux, Flux 2, Flux S So MTB only. I haven’t used Rouvy in a while, except at some events where the focus was on other aspects of the program. Links: TechnoGym MyCycling Smart Trainer: Unboxing, Build, Ride Details ... Tacx Neo 1/2 (It doesn’t need power, and it folds up pretty nicely) Disclaimer: Why and what you choose to buy is entirely up to you. 2 min. Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago? Contact: www.zyrofisher.co.uk, The Tacx Neo Smart direct drive trainer is one of most sophisticated available, though it is one of the most expensive and has a very large footprint, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Accurately simulates descents and ascents, Possible to trap fingers when unfolding and awkward to carry.