Tacx Flux Smart Trainer

[g7jhp]

I'm considering getting the Taxc Flux Smart Trainer from Halfords which is currently £399.

I'll then pair it with Zwift for winter use, mainly weekday evenings.

I had an old Cyclops turbo trainer but it's not a smart trainer so Tacx seems the next step on.

Any thoughts on this model and if it's all you need to get a good Zwift experience?

[Gareth79]

I had a Flux, it worked very well (I only ever used it with Zwift). I read all the reports about them going wrong and... mine started squeaking after about 300km (also a knocking on overrun if I pushed it really hard).

I bought it from Halfords and they refunded it without question (literally without question, before I said it was faulty!).

Despite that experience, I read around and bought a Tacx Neo, I've only used it for a day but it's a very impressive bit of kit, just obviously it's twice the price of the Flux. Because it's true direct drive (you are literally spinning the motor shaft) the resistance/weighting is different to one with a large flywheel and belt, but overall it feels fine. The road surface simulation (where it presumably brakes the motor momentarily) is really impressive!

[wemorgan]

That's a great price as it's not much more than many on-wheel trainers.

Don't forget to buy a cassette too.

For my trainer I also needed a 2m USB extension cable for the ANT+ sensor.

[WestyCarl]

Check the fit, I believe the Tacx Flux can't accept long cage derailleurs.

For £100 I ended up getting an Elite Direto as I wasn't sure if my derailluer was "long"

[andySC]

At £399 that’s great value. I’ve had 2. The first had slipping belt and was replaced. The one I have now has 1500+ miles on it & has been perfect. I calibrate it & update the software via the Tacx app & thats it. Works great with zwift too.

[Mark83]

First Flux stopped registering power. Tacx replaced under warranty.

Second Flux stopped registering power. Out of warranty.

I'm still using it with my power meter on my bike for Zwift. I wouldn't recommend one.

[Converse2020]

I’m also thinking of one , but I’ve got 10% store discount then work vouchers to take another 10% off. That means £325~ price. ...but still the doubt about a failing device means I’m not sure.

[g7jhp]

Converse2020 said:

I’m also thinking of one , but I’ve got 10% store discount then work vouchers to take another 10% off. That means £325~ price. ...but still the doubt about a failing device means I’m not sure.

Yeah, not sure if better to go for the newer Flux S instead.

[askew]

FWIW, the Flux S (revised model) is available on Amazon for the same price as Halford's bog standard Flux. Now admittedly, the Prime seller is currently out of stock, and you have your vouchers, but the option's there. I was all set to order last Friday – had listed my Snap on Gumtree – and then, yeah, out of stock :/

[Converse2020]

Decided to buy it - worked out £323 in the end plus Halfords gave me a £10 gift card.

[Gareth79]

Definitely try and ride it as much as you can in the first month. It seems most problems crop up in the first 300km or so. Listen for a squeak from the belt, especially as it spins down. The other noise is a rattling on overrun, especially from a higher speed.

[Converse2020]

Thanks - will definitely do that and having listened to lots of videos on the facebook group have got a good idea of the different types of noise.

[-Ad-]

Could pickup the Flux S from wiggle for not much over £400 if you have the 20% platinum account thing active currently.

[g7jhp]

-Ad- said:

Could pickup the Flux S from wiggle for not much over £400 if you have the 20% platinum account thing active currently.

I was going to buy the Flux S but now sold out. Guess I'll wait...

[scrw.]

Think I have just bought a duff one, v noisey, ticking coming from somewhere, and random (3 times in first hours use) getting very hard to pedal, smells a bit hot too. Duff bearings? Back to the shop with it I think

[scrw.]

Just checked the serial number, seems mine is an early one that had all the issues with an idler wheel pushing the belt onto the frame, refund time I think.

[g7jhp]

The Tacx Flux S is £549 in most places, £483.12 with Premium discount at Wiggle.

Think I might as well wait to see that the Jan sale price is...

[askew]

Aye, bought one last weekend: definitely an improvement over my Kickr Snap

[askew]

A question for anybody else with a Flux: how's your ERG mode?

I ask because I find I'm needing to actually shift gears to hit power/cadence targets in TrainerRoad, which seems to go against how I understood ERG worked. Certainly on my old Snap I could just leave it in a single gear and go with the flow…

Firmware is current; trainer calibrated before a ride; even tried toggling the resistance modes within TR in case the switch triggered something.

[upsidedownmark]

Google for resistance floor and have a read.

Short version is that it has some residual resistance even when the brake is backed right off. If you're in too big a gear that will drive your power up above what erg is asking for. Likewise, if you're in a very small gear you could be overpowering the brake. You'll note that the max watts are specified at some (usually fairly high) wheel speed.

TADTS (They all do that sir) - Honestly. The flux is no different to anything else around that price point. If you've got a sensible gear in the middle, you ought to be able to get through TR workouts without changing - i.e. without going outside what the brake unit can compensate for.

ETA noted your comment on the Snap. If this is much worse, then there may be something wrong.. but there's certainly a valid scenario where ERG/the brake can't get around your choice of gearing.