What affordable indoor bike/set up for Zswift?

What affordable indoor bike/set up for Zswift?

Author
Discussion

Speed.deman

Original Poster:

214 posts

199 months

Saturday 28th March 2020
quotequote all
Hi all

I used to be an "athlete" and now with this lockdown, it's tough to exercice. Thinking of getting an exercise bike and like the concept of using Zswift where there is some competition (otherwise I won't do anything!).

It looks like your stereotypical Zswift ready bikes like the Wattbike Arom are easily £1,500 and upwards! Is there a way to get to do this for less?

I don't own a bicycle, so getting a bike and a turbo trainer ins't really an option. I would like an indoor exercise bike that is Zswift ready or can be made compatible for not much.


Edited by Speed.deman on Saturday 28th March 14:31

anonymous-user

60 months

Saturday 28th March 2020
quotequote all
https://support.zwift.com/en_us/indoor-bikes-rkRxp...

That’s the list of indoor zwift-compatible bikes, I’ve no idea which are good or bad but given only the Tacx, Wahoo and Wattbike control resistance, the others aren’t going to be worth buying. Wattbike Atom is cheapest and widely used but a decent direct drive smart trainer, iPad and zwift subscription, and good road bike would be about the same...

stuarthat

1,078 posts

224 months

Saturday 28th March 2020
quotequote all
You can run almost any bike as long as the gearing is right ,so £120 carrera of ebay vortex around A£150 sh ,or flux s around £420 and you are good to go on zwift , and the competition is fierce , or just cruise ,very addictive.

Piginapoke

4,955 posts

191 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Why is it tough to exercise in the lockdown?

lampchair

5,060 posts

192 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Can’t you just use a dumb trainer (£100 IF you can find one in stock!) and a pair of speed / cadence sensors, plus an iPad / phone, any old bike.

No need for an ANT dongle I think??

Could be wrong.

Speed.deman

Original Poster:

214 posts

199 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Piginapoke said:
Why is it tough to exercise in the lockdown?
Mate, if you can't work that out you're probably not doing the lockdown right.

Speed.deman

Original Poster:

214 posts

199 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Thank you all for the helpful replies. I've been through the compatible devices list but I think this all probably too expensive! I think I'll just have to forgeo Zwift and just try to be disciplined and do some training "on my own"!

z4RRSchris

11,476 posts

185 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
you can use any old trainer and it will calculate "zpower",

not accurate in any way, but gets you on the game and better than nothing

frisbee

5,121 posts

116 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Speed.deman said:
Thank you all for the helpful replies. I've been through the compatible devices list but I think this all probably too expensive! I think I'll just have to forgeo Zwift and just try to be disciplined and do some training "on my own"!
All in one trainers are ludicrously expensive.

A wheel on trainer like a Tacx Flow is only £200. A few hundred quid for a bike, £30 for a fan and run it on an ipad, apple tv, pc or phone.

The challenge will be finding one in stock.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

227 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Yep everyone has had the same idea and with businesses working at reduced capacity this will all be over by the time people start having their trainers delivered!

ArnageWRC

2,151 posts

165 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
ukaskew said:
Yep everyone has had the same idea and with businesses working at reduced capacity this will all be over by the time people start having their trainers delivered!
Yes, can't find a decent smart trainer anywhere at the moment - fortunately I've got a 7-8 year old 'dumb' trainer, which will have to do.

kingston12

5,547 posts

163 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
ukaskew said:
Yep everyone has had the same idea and with businesses working at reduced capacity this will all be over by the time people start having their trainers delivered!
It certainly seems that way.

Quite a few suppliers are claiming that they’ll have Wahoo stock by April though, it is the cheaper ones that will probably be out for longer.

I’ve got mine, but am struggling to get a new bike delivered to use with it, currently 10 days+ lead time due to reduced workforce to send them out.

Edited by kingston12 on Sunday 29th March 14:17

ukaskew

10,642 posts

227 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
I have an elliptical trainer but if I'm going to use it that much I'd love to game-ify it like Zwift for running or cycling, unfortunately I don't think such a thing exists.

stuarthat

1,078 posts

224 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
Lots of smart trainers for sale on Facebook marketplace .

ukbabz

1,589 posts

132 months

Monday 30th March 2020
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I've had this one for about a year - https://www.halfords.com/cycling/turbo-trainers/st... -

I'm not 100% sure on its power accuracy, the smart part is meant to be the same as the Qobo which DC rainmaker gave a passing review on. For me it reads higher than my single sided power meter on my other bike - however I have an imbalance in legs with my weaker leg being on the power meter side. As long as it is consistent with itself then can track progress.

SixtySpeedTwin

320 posts

158 months

Monday 30th March 2020
quotequote all
Ive got the same Elite Novo Smart Turbo Trainer as the guy abouve and its great especially for the money and the polymer roller means you dont need to fit a turbo specific rear tyre, works a treat with Zwift. Never go near my rollers now...

dogbucket

1,216 posts

207 months

Monday 30th March 2020
quotequote all
I have noticed that smart trainers are out of stock almost everywhere and in fact my Tacx Vortex which was selling secondhand for around £120 at the beginning of March are now going for £350-£450 now which is nuts. I would be tempted to sell now and buy an upgrade later in the year if I wasn't in the same boat as everyone else and needing to use it.

R1gtr

3,432 posts

160 months

Monday 30th March 2020
quotequote all
I decided I was going to get an Elite Direto II the other day when I noticed Halfords had it for 699 which is a great price. I ended up doing a few chores and went back online to buy it and it had sold out.

Richyboy

3,741 posts

223 months

Monday 30th March 2020
quotequote all
Speed.deman said:
Hi all

I used to be an "athlete" and now with this lockdown, it's tough to exercice. Thinking of getting an exercise bike and like the concept of using Zswift where there is some competition (otherwise I won't do anything!).

It looks like your stereotypical Zswift ready bikes like the Wattbike Arom are easily £1,500 and upwards! Is there a way to get to do this for less?

I don't own a bicycle, so getting a bike and a turbo trainer ins't really an option. I would like an indoor exercise bike that is Zswift ready or can be made compatible for not much.


Edited by Speed.deman on Saturday 28th March 14:31
There’s an 8 week wait for the atom, still waiting for mine. If I had a road bike I’d probably go the cheaper option.

keith2.2

1,100 posts

201 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
There are plenty of cheap options for entry to Zwifting without stumping for a Wattbike Atom or Tacx Neo.

My sister bought a Tacx smart trainer form Halfords for about 120 quid. If thats too much still, my friend bought a refurb smart trainer from Tacx ebay store (I think) for FORTY FIVE QUID.

Both on Zwift and both having a great time.