Smart Trainer - what do I need / will this work !
Discussion
Thinking of buying Tacx Flux as can get it relatively cheap, but struggling with what else do I need to run zwift / TrainerRoad. I think I have an idea but can't seem to find a simple summary so hoping someone here can set me straight ...
I have the following thoughts / questions..
1) Buy Tacx Flux (Halfords seems cheapest at £450, but with some discounts I end up at around £360)
2) I need to buy a cassette - do I need to match the existing cassette ( e.g 11 speed) even though I don't expect to change gear ?
3) I want to connect Zwift etc to an old TV. I have a MacBook/ iPhone / iPad and an apple TV. Do I need to buy an ANT dongle for the MacBook /iphone etc ? and then just output to the TV via the apple TV ?
4) How do I then store workouts to Strava ?
5) Does my garmin heart rate monitor work with the ANT dongle I buy for the laptop / iphone etc ?
6) Do I ignore my garmin 500 and not use it at all?
Thanks in advance !
I have the following thoughts / questions..
1) Buy Tacx Flux (Halfords seems cheapest at £450, but with some discounts I end up at around £360)
2) I need to buy a cassette - do I need to match the existing cassette ( e.g 11 speed) even though I don't expect to change gear ?
3) I want to connect Zwift etc to an old TV. I have a MacBook/ iPhone / iPad and an apple TV. Do I need to buy an ANT dongle for the MacBook /iphone etc ? and then just output to the TV via the apple TV ?
4) How do I then store workouts to Strava ?
5) Does my garmin heart rate monitor work with the ANT dongle I buy for the laptop / iphone etc ?
6) Do I ignore my garmin 500 and not use it at all?
Thanks in advance !
Converse2020 said:
Thinking of buying Tacx Flux as can get it relatively cheap, but struggling with what else do I need to run zwift / TrainerRoad. I think I have an idea but can't seem to find a simple summary so hoping someone here can set me straight ...
I have the following thoughts / questions..
1) Buy Tacx Flux (Halfords seems cheapest at £450, but with some discounts I end up at around £360)
2) I need to buy a cassette - do I need to match the existing cassette ( e.g 11 speed) even though I don't expect to change gear ?
I think it's worth buying a matching one (I did with my Kickr)....sometimes you'll want to switch from ERG mode to either go harder or, more likely as in my case, occasionally bail out!
3) I want to connect Zwift etc to an old TV. I have a MacBook/ iPhone / iPad and an apple TV. Do I need to buy an ANT dongle for the MacBook /iphone etc ? and then just output to the TV via the apple TV ?
Already been answered above I think but I'm not too sure on this
4) How do I then store workouts to Strava ?
If you mean sessions you've completed, you can either get the software to sync to your Strava account, or just use your Garmin, which is what I do
5) Does my garmin heart rate monitor work with the ANT dongle I buy for the laptop / iphone etc ?
yes
6) Do I ignore my garmin 500 and not use it at all?
I still use a garmin, it's nice to see other metrics right in front of you which may not be on the screen (eg current IF, TSS, calories or whatever)
Thanks in advance !
It's also worth making sure you have your device (in my case a laptop....but I use a wireless keyboard nearby) so you can easily change the settings of the trainer if you need to without jumping off of the bikeI have the following thoughts / questions..
1) Buy Tacx Flux (Halfords seems cheapest at £450, but with some discounts I end up at around £360)
2) I need to buy a cassette - do I need to match the existing cassette ( e.g 11 speed) even though I don't expect to change gear ?
I think it's worth buying a matching one (I did with my Kickr)....sometimes you'll want to switch from ERG mode to either go harder or, more likely as in my case, occasionally bail out!
3) I want to connect Zwift etc to an old TV. I have a MacBook/ iPhone / iPad and an apple TV. Do I need to buy an ANT dongle for the MacBook /iphone etc ? and then just output to the TV via the apple TV ?
Already been answered above I think but I'm not too sure on this
4) How do I then store workouts to Strava ?
If you mean sessions you've completed, you can either get the software to sync to your Strava account, or just use your Garmin, which is what I do
5) Does my garmin heart rate monitor work with the ANT dongle I buy for the laptop / iphone etc ?
yes
6) Do I ignore my garmin 500 and not use it at all?
I still use a garmin, it's nice to see other metrics right in front of you which may not be on the screen (eg current IF, TSS, calories or whatever)
Thanks in advance !
The Flux is a good smart trainer and you will enjoy it, at that price its a bargain. I'm not sure why you don't think you wont change gear though? there are hills in zwift, bloody steep ones!! I use an ipad with zwift as its more convenient, I've only done races so far though rather than the workouts as I tend to use the rollers for interval sessions and things like that. You will need a fan too if you don't already have one, even in a garage in the winter you work up a sweat on an indoor trainer
Thanks everyone. All useful info so far and will wait to hear how @MOBB gets on.
For the other replies,
@E65Ross - I was not sure but imagjned I’d also want an emergency gear or two bail out on to, but didn’t know if that meant I could get any compatible cassette (actually no idea if I can run anything else with SRAM rival 11) rather than a direct match (on basis I might only need a few gears rather than 11).
@pablo- good tip re fan. I’m used to riding in the garage on old school turbo so know how hot it gets I was hoping not to need laptop / iPad directly in front of me for fear of drowning it !) but unfortunately my Apple TV is not 4th gen (thanks for link anyway @JPJPJP).
Re using Garmin alongside. Does that mean the Garmin will get speed or something equivalent to it from the Tacx ? And does Ant communicate to multiple devices at same time ( eg laptop for swift and Garmin for visuals / strava ?).
Thanks again.
For the other replies,
@E65Ross - I was not sure but imagjned I’d also want an emergency gear or two bail out on to, but didn’t know if that meant I could get any compatible cassette (actually no idea if I can run anything else with SRAM rival 11) rather than a direct match (on basis I might only need a few gears rather than 11).
@pablo- good tip re fan. I’m used to riding in the garage on old school turbo so know how hot it gets I was hoping not to need laptop / iPad directly in front of me for fear of drowning it !) but unfortunately my Apple TV is not 4th gen (thanks for link anyway @JPJPJP).
Re using Garmin alongside. Does that mean the Garmin will get speed or something equivalent to it from the Tacx ? And does Ant communicate to multiple devices at same time ( eg laptop for swift and Garmin for visuals / strava ?).
Thanks again.
Yes ant+ will communicate to the trainer and your Garmin.
Not sure with speed. I never bother with speed for indoor training as, in my opinion, it's totally irrelevant. It's all about the WATTS
For example..... Doing an interval session of, say, 1min easy and 1min hard, repeated will give a slower average speed than just steady state riding, but the workout is more productive. Speed can vary according to terrain, road quality etc which a turbo trainer can't estimate. Just learn about power, normalised power etc.... Far better metrics for indoor riding (and outdoor too, in my opinion,for most rides).
Not sure about the Apple stuff, I already had a laptop so I've just used cycling software using that,so afraid I can't help more there.
RE the cassette.... As long as a few gears match up it should be alright, although you will likely want those your harder gears. For the sale of it, I'd buy another cassette though.... Not too expensive in the scheme of things. It'll last you years and means you'll have a fully functioning turbo rather than one that's not quite as it should be.
Not sure with speed. I never bother with speed for indoor training as, in my opinion, it's totally irrelevant. It's all about the WATTS
For example..... Doing an interval session of, say, 1min easy and 1min hard, repeated will give a slower average speed than just steady state riding, but the workout is more productive. Speed can vary according to terrain, road quality etc which a turbo trainer can't estimate. Just learn about power, normalised power etc.... Far better metrics for indoor riding (and outdoor too, in my opinion,for most rides).
Not sure about the Apple stuff, I already had a laptop so I've just used cycling software using that,so afraid I can't help more there.
RE the cassette.... As long as a few gears match up it should be alright, although you will likely want those your harder gears. For the sale of it, I'd buy another cassette though.... Not too expensive in the scheme of things. It'll last you years and means you'll have a fully functioning turbo rather than one that's not quite as it should be.
dead easy to set up with an ipad, just bluetooth to your trainer and other sensors
only downside is that it consumes ipad battery fairly quickly - an hour on zwift is upwards of 20% battery gone
be sure to check that sensors / trainer are all running up to date firmware (do that through the app for each sensor and the trainer's own app)
there is plenty of info on the zwift screen and, if you need more, on the companion app - imo there isn't much need for Garmin
sync with strava etc. from zwift
definitely get a fan
only downside is that it consumes ipad battery fairly quickly - an hour on zwift is upwards of 20% battery gone
be sure to check that sensors / trainer are all running up to date firmware (do that through the app for each sensor and the trainer's own app)
there is plenty of info on the zwift screen and, if you need more, on the companion app - imo there isn't much need for Garmin
sync with strava etc. from zwift
definitely get a fan
Clearly had a bike and I had the TV so what I bought was:
- TV wall bracket
- Apple 4k TV (renders Zwift better)
- HDMI cable
- Cassette
- Front wheel rest (you don't really need this)
- Sweat catcher with phone holder ( sweat thing but rubbish but having my phone close to hand is better than interacting through Apple TV controller
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