Your recommendations on a smart trainer.

[Chicken Chaser]

I've been considering a smart trainer now for a few weeks, largely due to it being v. cold and dark on an evening, and on several occasions, too icy during the day to risk offs, injury and damaged kit.

I'm a fully paid up member of Zwift, had it since it was in Beta and have been using a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine with it using ZPower.

The KK has been a brilliant turbo, particularly with the pro-flywheel fitted which gives it a realistic feel when it comes to pedalling. It is however, a bit battered and bruised and has an ever so slight wobble which creates a little vibration when cranking up the watts.

I really like Zwift, and its made the turbo fun. I used to dread going into the garage to sit in the dark with some music on but it genuinely seems to keep my attention for the duration of the workout.

So i've been looking at smart trainers and i'm looking for one which isnt over £1k, has a realistic feel as good as, if not better than the Kinetic, and can work with ANT+. I did consider the KK bolt on upgrade but it seems to get pretty poor reviews.

What are people using and what is best recommended? The Elite Direto at £749 seems to be well regarded at that price point

[G321]

I've done quite a bit of research recently on smart trainers and the Direto looked the best direct drive trainer for the money. The athlete shop seems to be the best price if they have any in stock. Saying that I ended up with a basic tacx flow smart turbo set up which seems pretty good so far although can't replicate the gradients and high level of power that the more expensive trainers can. Probably enough for me though

[anonymous-user]

DC Rainmaker does a fair few reviews

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/10/annual-trainer...

I have a Wahoo KICKR snap. It is wheel on, not direct drive. It was £400 as a recon direct from wahoo

I like it and it does what I wanted it for zwift via iOS in an iPad

[Jasper3.0]

I have a Tacx Vortex, has been fine for what I paid for it. Will not go beyond 7% slope, but is fine for me.

Hills are not the problem, it's the bulk!

[Dannbodge]

If you are after a direct drive smart turbo, I'd got for the Elite Direto.
The other cheaper option is the Tacx Flux, but the reliability of those is somewhat questionable. However they can be had brand new for <£600.

If you want reliability, get a direto. If you want a good, cheaper trainer that might break and have to be exchanged, get the flux.

[ED209]

I know you are looking at under £1000, so was I but last year when the tacx flux was delayed I thought sod it and bought a tacx neo. I blew the budget but to be honest its probably the best purchase I have ever made.

I would wait until January when you are likely to get a bit of discount and get one bought. You will not regret it.

[Usget]

I've just bought one of these and on my recommendation Eddh has bought one too:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/tra...

£400 with a BC discount and voucher trick and I cannot see a single area where it gives anything away to a Wahoo Kickr. Controllable, direct-drive, ANT+ or BLE, and a proper heavy flywheel. I've been seriously impressed with it so far. It's leaps and bounds ahead of my old roller turbo.

[ED209]

Usget said:

I've just bought one of these and on my recommendation Eddh has bought one too:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/tra...

£400 with a BC discount and voucher trick and I cannot see a single area where it gives anything away to a Wahoo Kickr. Controllable, direct-drive, ANT+ or BLE, and a proper heavy flywheel. I've been seriously impressed with it so far. It's leaps and bounds ahead of my old roller turbo.

Similar price here
https://www.cyclerepublic.com/elite-real-turbo-mui...

[option click]

I was looking at these this morning.
I'm aware of the BC discount, but what's the 'voucher trick'?

[Usget]

Less easy than it used to be, but there are ways to get reloadable Halfords voucher cards at a 10% discount. Personally I get mine through my work rewards scheme.

Alternatively you can buy them from Zeek - 7% off £500 here at present https://www.zeek.me/gb/buy-gift-vouchers/halfords

So you'd do a click and collect at web price. Apply BC discount in store (£450) then pay with a reloadable voucher card which had only cost you 90%-93% of its face value.

[Get Karter]

Interesting stuff. I am also thinking of upgrading from a dumb trainer.

Can someone explain what the differences are between: Elite Muin Fully Smart and the Elite Direto?

In particular, do they both automatically alter the resistance through Zwift (depending on terrain/drafting), or do you need to do it manually with the Muin by changing gear?

Do either of them work without being linked to Zwift/Trainerroad/etc, should you just want to jump on and ride like a dumb trainer?


Thanks!

[murray]

Tacx Neo for £950 http://www.runandride.co.uk/3057/products/tacx-neo...

[option click]

Get Karter said:

Interesting stuff. I am also thinking of upgrading from a dumb trainer.

Can someone explain what the differences are between: Elite Muin Fully Smart and the Elite Direto?

In particular, do they both automatically alter the resistance through Zwift (depending on terrain/drafting), or do you need to do it manually with the Muin by changing gear?

Do either of them work without being linked to Zwift/Trainerroad/etc, should you just want to jump on and ride like a dumb trainer?


Thanks!

The Elite naming is a bit misleading.

As far as I'm aware, the 'Smart' refers to the fact that Ant+, BT and power are all built in so it's nice and easy to transmit data into Zwift etc.
BUT this means that they won't automatically change resistance.

For that, you'll need the 'Real, fully smart' version of the Muin as mentioned above (confused yet?)

The Direto is fully compatible with Zwift though and will automatically change the resistance.

Edited by option click on Wednesday 20th December 08:53

[ED209]

murray said:

Tacx Neo for £950 http://www.runandride.co.uk/3057/products/tacx-neo...

Best price I have seen on one for ages! buy,buy,buy!

[rastapasta]

swerni said:

I’ve done a couple of thousand miles on my Tacx Bushido and can highly recommend it.

Ive cooked one Vortex and now I have commandeered my wifes as shes pregnant. Tacx are ok. The connectivity is quite good but the software can be very glitchy. I guess if you use it for Zwift its a different story.

[Usget]

option click said:

The Elite naming is a bit misleading.

As far as I'm aware, the 'Smart' refers to the fact that Ant+, BT and power are all built in so it's nice and easy to transmit data into Zwift etc.
BUT this means that they won't automatically change resistance.

For that, you'll need the 'Real, fully smart' version of the Muin as mentioned above (confused yet?)

The Direto is fully compatible with Zwift though and will automatically change the resistance.

Edited by option click on Wednesday 20th December 08:53

Correct. There are four versions:

Turbo Muin
Turbo Muin Fully Smart
Real Turbo Muin
Real Turbo Muin B+.

Only the latter two have variable resistance
Only the last one has variable resistance and Bluetooth (BLE) connectivity, and I'm not even sure that the Real Turbo Muin is enabled for ANT+ FE-C (the open protocol which allows data transmission to/from third party apps like Zwift rather than just proprietary software like Elite's RealVideo) without a firmware update.

The one I bought (as above) was listed as a Real Turbo Muin but the pics show it to be a Real Turbo Muin B+, meaning it is fully controllable over either ANT+ or Bluetooth.

The Direto is, I think, the replacement for the Real Turbo Muin B+. It looks much more modern but has lower spec, competes with the Tacx Flux, whereas the RTMB+ has specs more in line with the Tacx Neo.

[simonpieman]

hi, with a direct mount trainer, how easy is it to swap cassettes? My turbo bike is 9 speed but the boys have 11 speed cassettes.

[frisbee]

simonpieman said:

hi, with a direct mount trainer, how easy is it to swap cassettes? My turbo bike is 9 speed but the boys have 11 speed cassettes.

About the same as a wheel, you aren't trying to support the wheel as well so it is a little easier. Not sure I would want to do it too often for fear of ruining the threads in the hub. Maybe investigate if there are any which have an easily removable free hub body and get a second one?

[Daveyraveygravey]

Um, why? Why not spend the money on a second hand winter bike, and just go outdoors? You probably already have most of the clothing you need, and the weather here isn't so bad you can't get out for days on end. And I know Zwift can be as hard as you want, but it still isn't the same as out side

[Chicken Chaser]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Um, why? Why not spend the money on a second hand winter bike, and just go outdoors? You probably already have most of the clothing you need, and the weather here isn't so bad you can't get out for days on end. And I know Zwift can be as hard as you want, but it still isn't the same as out side

But its probably more measurable in terms of progress (unless having a power meter outdoors). I find it a great motivator to 'ride with others' as I spend a lot of my time riding solo due to shift work. I cant get out regularly on a weekend so there's not many around on a weekday morning to get the miles in.

No idea where you're at DRG, but NE England has had a sodden, cold winter so far. I've often done winter miles outside but this year, its been soaking wet and added to that, freezing. I'd rather pedal on a trainer than spend a couple of weeks off nursing injuries from stacking it on black ice.