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Post by r0b1et on Oct 20, 2016 16:20:38 GMT
Yep, once I join the gym, I'll be needing to try TrainerRoad now there's and android app
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Post by RobP on Oct 20, 2016 20:35:33 GMT
Not tried Trainer Road but know lots really rate it. I have been using Zwift for a year now and think it suits what I want from a program and encouraged me to spend longer on a turbo than I ever thought i would I currently have a Tacx Genius smart trainer. I say currently as this is now the third Tacx unit I have had. Started with the Tacx Bushido (self powered version of Vortex) and this suffered the main roller bearing noise which was a known issue with batch of Tacx units Warranty repair left me with quiet unit that wouldn't calibrate after the repair, replaced under warranty by Tacx with Genius unit (next one up from Bushido) but that was dead on arrival so replace by another Genius that works great bu have noticed bearing noise on cool down 50-60rpm at the end of a session. So if starting over again I would avoid the Tacx units Good info by DC Rainmaker in his annual trainer group test / review HERE
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Post by ChrisD on Oct 20, 2016 21:08:33 GMT
Not tried Trainer Road but know lots really rate it. I have been using Zwift for a year now and think it suits what I want from a program and encouraged me to spend longer on a turbo than I ever thought i would I currently have a Tacx Genius smart trainer. I say currently as this is now the third Tacx unit I have had. Started with the Tacx Bushido (self powered version of Vortex) and this suffered the main roller bearing noise which was a known issue with batch of Tacx units Warranty repair left me with quiet unit that wouldn't calibrate after the repair, replaced under warranty by Tacx with Genius unit (next one up from Bushido) but that was dead on arrival so replace by another Genius that works great bu have noticed bearing noise on cool down 50-60rpm at the end of a session. So if starting over again I would avoid the Tacx units Good info by DC Rainmaker in his annual trainer group test / review HEREWhat's the noise like RobP? My Tacx Flow Smart makes a clicking sound at 60rpm or below. It's probabaly still making the same sound at higher rpm but the higher frequency turns it into a buzz rather than a click.
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Post by RobP on Oct 20, 2016 21:16:29 GMT
What's the noise like RobP ? My Tacx Flow Smart makes a clicking sound at 60rpm or below. It's probabaly still making the same sound at higher rpm but the higher frequency turns it into a buzz rather than a click. ChrisD THIS is a link to the noise I got on the Bushido (its actually what I submitted with my support ticket to Tacx) The noise I have on the Genius is similar but not as bad (yet)
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Post by Paulinblack on Oct 20, 2016 21:26:40 GMT
Read the DCRainmaker thing - Thanks RobPFancy the Smart Trainer thing. Not sure I want to pay Β£400+ though! Worried about going for the Tacx if they are unreliable. Having number 3 son look to see if he can load Zwift onto a Raspberry Pi. I think my father has an old TV that I can wall mount. The laptops we have in the house are old. Also I only have an old ipad and the contract I have on my phone has v little internet. Will I also be limited by having a Garmin 500 or won't Zwift or Trainer Road interface with it anyway?
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fophop
Peloton Rider
Posts: 22
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Post by fophop on Oct 20, 2016 21:29:43 GMT
I've been on Zwift for the past year using a Wahoo Kickr and I absolutely love it.
Prior to that I had a magnetic trainer but found it too boring and lacked the motivation to push myself, at the time I bought the Kickr I was also lacking the motivation to get out on the bike, it always felt like never enough time etc etc (i.e. lots of excuses!).
Since buying the Kickr and using Zwift I've generally averaged 2-3 sessions a week (virtual or real world), in fact I actually look forward to my trainer rides now. During the TdF for instance I was getting up at 5.30 in the morning to do the Zwift organised "Coffee" rides, where you'd ride in a group while Zwift played a podcast of an interview with someone from one of the teams usually on the previous days racing, which was a great way to start the day.
As many have said already, it's the social side of Zwift that makes it so good, the fact you're not riding on your own, there's always someone to compete with and try to beat, there's lots of organised group rides (not just races), which I've found to be a great way to push yourself by riding in stronger groups each time and there's lots of structured workouts.
You can probably tell I'm a bit of a fan! :-)
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Post by ChrisD on Oct 20, 2016 22:05:54 GMT
Interesting responses thus far guys - keep it up! Interested to hear what ChrisD got? The idea of Zwift interests me, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have two different types of Garmin speed and cadence sensors on my bikes. So, I assume that means I could go for the fluid trainer? I'm intrigued about the smart trainer though as I think its harder to cheat is the thing makes it more difficult for you rather than telling you to make it more difficult! I intend to run it in the garage. I would like it to be quiet, as the last one I used was a little on the loud side! I've also got to think about a pretty solid one as I'm a big chap. The Tacx ones I've seen pictures of look a little bit flimsy. As for buying a spin bike - I know I said that I had no specific budget, but a Wattbike, althoug really nice, is way outta my league! My set up is... Bike - Mach is on the turbo, currently with snapped cable to rear mech so only two gears available via shifting chainrings. Turbo trainer - Tacx Flow Smart. Was available from Deca but currently Β£199 from Halfords before Brisitsh Cycling discount. Has built in sensors (this is why Tacx call it "smart") so it gives speed, cadence and power via Bluetooth smart. The trainer's sensors are calibrated using a Tacx app picking up the Bluetooth output. The Flow smart can also have its electric brake's resistance controlled via ANT+, either in manual steps or automatically by an app or device, which means it should respond to elevation data from a Garmin if trying to reproduce a previous ride or segment, and also have resistance controlled by Trainer Road or Zwift and the like so that you don't have to change gear or a resistance switch. Adjust your cadence and the resistance changes accordingly. Power readings - rear wheel has a recently serviced and calibrated PowerTap hub (yes, Paul us big blokes can have a power meter). I've had this for a while as a local guy in the cycle club I joined to ride TTs was selling his TT gear after getting a health scare and I picked up a wheelset with the PowerTap hub for a reasonable price. The PowerTap gives speed, cadence and power data via ANT+. HR - picked up by a Garmin HR sensor via ANT+. App - TrainerRoad via iOS and Android. Both can work with the trainer via BT Smart without any extra hardware other than the mobile device running the app as the Tacx gives out power, speed and cadence readings from its internal sensors. If you want to make use of the facility for the app to control the resistance of the trainer and/or to pick up ANT+ sensors then you need the device to be able to receive and send ANT+ which for iOS requires a Wahoo dongle and lightning to 30pin adapter, and for Android (if the device doesn't have ANT+ reception built in) requires a USB OTG cable and ANT USB stick. I have these from years of picking up HR data from spin classes at the gym and also, more recently, from Wattbikes before I quit the gym when the membership fees leapt up last Easter. I really like TrainerRoad. Watching the power trace against the planned workout profile is really motivating to me for some strange reason, so I'm happy watching the screen. I like the notes that come up during many of the workouts, even if I've done them a few times before. Haven't tried Zwift at all. When everything is working hunky dory the Tacx calibrates easily in Trainer Road and then holds its calibration during the workout. This means erg mode is working on the Tacx so there's no need to change gear. The resistance adjusts according to the power target for the intervals in Trainer Road and adjusts as I alter my cadnece. That would mean I could watch a film or a workout video (eg Sufferfest) matched to the TrainerRoad workout without worrying about slipping from the power targets. The trainer road app uses the power reading from the power meter using its "power match" function to control the trainer's resistance. The reality is that the iOS app for some reason seems to lose the calibration data from the Tacx, possibly whenever it has a signal drop and then erg mode stops working so I have to regulate power using two gears and cadence changes. Not sure why this happens. The Android app is much better at retaining the calibration data for the Tacx, even if the app is shut down and restarted, but I still haven't got it to control the Tacx via erg mode, even though I can use the TR Android app to control the resistance in the Tacx manually so there must be ANT plus communication from app to Tacx. I think erg mode works better if I let the sensors in the Tacx provide the power readings (this also give a silky smooth power trace due to 3 sec smoothing, not my silky pedalling style) but I find there is a 10-20W discrepancy between the readings from the PowerTap and from the Tacx sensors, with the Tacx coming in low. Having recently had the PowerTap calibrated I'm trusting that, not just because it's higher! If I work on measuring the discrepancy more carefully I could set a manual offset and have more confidence in the Tacx sensors.
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Post by ChrisD on Oct 20, 2016 22:17:36 GMT
What's the noise like RobP ? My Tacx Flow Smart makes a clicking sound at 60rpm or below. It's probabaly still making the same sound at higher rpm but the higher frequency turns it into a buzz rather than a click. ChrisD THIS is a link to the noise I got on the Bushido (its actually what I submitted with my support ticket to Tacx) The noise I have on the Genius is similar but not as bad (yet) Thanks Rob. That's similar, but not quite the same as the noise I get. Mine sounds more like a squeaky click than on your Bushido, though I'm pretty sure it's not the tyre slipping.
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Post by Paulinblack on Oct 21, 2016 23:25:43 GMT
I'm leaning toward the Wahoo KICKR SNAP based upon DC Rainmaker saying its the most robust - I would have gone for the Tacx, but if two of you are having problems with them then maybe that tells me something. I might broach this with SWMBO and see what she says, but am worried about the cost.
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Post by chas on Oct 22, 2016 8:14:04 GMT
There's always the 2 years warranty if you get the Tacx from Decathlon...
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Post by RobP on Oct 23, 2016 20:42:25 GMT
Elite Rampa got really positive comments on this weeks Zwift podcast as a kickr killer so may be worth a look too. In defence of Tacx their support has been great with rectifying my problems. The replacement Genius unit that they gave me would have cost Β£200 more than my original Bushido one
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Post by goffski on Oct 24, 2016 10:47:38 GMT
I'm using my N2a on the turbo, i just need to get a cheap back wheel and stick the turbo tyre on that rather than using my decent summer wheels. As for the trainer i picked up a Tacx Vortex on offer earlier on in the year not long after i started using Zwift. I find the smart trainer makes for a much better experience on Zwift, i mainly use ERG and training plans rather than just ride around the Zwift course.
Started the 12 week FTP builder in Jan and did a good few weeks on it and must say it really did work. Seemed too easy to start with but it built up to the point you really did get a good work out from it and my FTP increased a decent amount.
At the min i'm just picking random work outs but i think i'm going to start the FTP builder again, i'll probably start from about week 5 or higher (recommended if you have a decent level of fitness). Should be a little harder this time around as i'll leave my FTP set at what it was last time i tested which was much earlier on in the year (not done much on the bike for weeks).
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Post by robertsims on Oct 25, 2016 12:54:38 GMT
I've got Kinetic inRide on my turbo trainer which basically does virtual power based on roller speed but allows for calibration either via app or TrainerRoad. Anyone know if Zwift allows calibration on this?
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Post by denkfaul on Oct 25, 2016 14:33:18 GMT
I haven't seen a way to calibrate my power meter with Zwift, I do either it via the app or my Garmin each time. I'm guessing trainer calibration works the same way.
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Post by robertsims on Oct 25, 2016 14:37:43 GMT
I haven't seen a way to calibrate my power meter with Zwift, I do either it via the app or my Garmin each time. I'm guessing trainer calibration works the same way. Cheers, might try the Zwift 'free trial' when get time. Very happy with TrainerRoad but change might be nice. Does anyone have a code or referal I could use - I know sometimes they give the referrer a free month or something
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