Power Beam Pro vs Tacx Trainer

[Madone69]

decision must be made between the two. any hubbers have experience with either and why the move from one to the other.

pros and cons of each will be appreciated.

 

NB. from a users experience not sales pitch

[Showtime]

I moved from a tacx to a powerbeam pro / iPad combo because the tacx software was just to much of a mission. The powerbeam ride feel is better for me but I only had the I Magic tacx.

[Madlight]

I have the Tacx flow with the upgraded head unit that links to my PC and I love it - using the real life video and google earth interface is the only way to keep me on an indoor trainer for more than an hour. Without that and the possibility of racing other people I wouldn't ride regularly on the trainer. So I'd say def TACX

[DIPSLICK]

MINES NOT A SALES PITCH BUT I AM READY TO GIVE MINE AWAY AT HALF THE COST WITH A NEW COMPUTER BECAUSE OF THE SOFTWARE ON THE TACX BASHIDO :cursing: read up on the net about all the software glitches on tacx, there are forums about it,,,,,i only know this cause i have spent 2 weekends trying to sort out mine

[Madone69]

I moved from a tacx to a powerbeam pro / iPad combo because the tacx software was just to much of a mission. The powerbeam ride feel is better for me but I only had the I Magic tacx.

What software are you using. Any thoughts on the cycleops virtual reality software. A concern I have is the data usage.(3G is virtually non existing at home so adsl line would thus be my only option -additional costs for me)

[DIPSLICK]

 

What software are you using. Any thoughts on the cycleops virtual reality software. A concern I have is the data usage.(3G is virtually non existing at home so adsl line would thus be my only option -additional costs for me)

Windows 8 3G STRUGGLES ON MINE I HAVE ORDERED ADSL ,,,I hope it will help with bugs

[Showtime]

 

What software are you using. Any thoughts on the cycleops virtual reality software. A concern I have is the data usage.(3G is virtually non existing at home so adsl line would thus be my only option -additional costs for me)

 

I use the iPad app. The workout portion is very elegant and the most used feature.

 

I also ride some of my garmin files but without video. The nice thing is after any ride it will show your 3min, 30min etc max power for that session so every session is a fitness test of sorts.

 

I tried a user course with video. There are many courses but the tacx videos are more polished than the user created cycleops ones. You can stream any video or download it to the iPad. So if you have internet at work you can do that.

 

In the end like all things iPad it just works. I haven't tried the PC version.

[Showtime]

MINES NOT A SALES PITCH BUT I AM READY TO GIVE MINE AWAY AT HALF THE COST WITH A NEW COMPUTER BECAUSE OF THE SOFTWARE ON THE TACX BASHIDO :cursing: read up on the net about all the software glitches on tacx, there are forums about it,,,,,i only know this cause i have spent 2 weekends trying to sort out mine

 

Just use the tacx iPad app?

[DIPSLICK]

 

 

Just use the tacx iPad app?

Thanks I'm going to get the dongle and try, when you use your garmin files are you running them through a filter first, because when I run a simple file and I know the segment to be flat it becomes very erratic it will jump from say 15km/h to 50 then the gradient will also go fro zero to 5 and I know it's flat, So another HUBBER gave me a web site that actually first "filters and cleans" the file to compensate for elevation apparently that makes the file rideable ,

[Showtime]

Thanks I'm going to get the dongle and try, when you use your garmin files are you running them through a filter first, because when I run a simple file and I know the segment to be flat it becomes very erratic it will jump from say 15km/h to 50 then the gradient will also go fro zero to 5 and I know it's flat, So another HUBBER gave me a web site that actually first "filters and cleans" the file to compensate for elevation apparently that makes the file rideable ,

 

Yes the cycleops PC app that uploads the garmin file to the 'cloud' has all the smoothing options. It's definitely needed.

[Madone69]

Yes the cycleops PC app that uploads the garmin file to the 'cloud' has all the smoothing options. It's definitely needed.

does the garmin800 also control resistance? read somewhere it doesn't.

any comments?

[Showtime]

does the garmin800 also control resistance? read somewhere it doesn't.

any comments?

 

I don't believe it does. There isn't a standard for trainer resistance control yet. It would be very difficult to update the existing powerbeam pros to support the standard when it is launched. They will be quick to support the standard in new models though.

 

Cycleops are very good in giving access to their proprietary controls if apps want to support it but I don't think garmin will support it in the edge series.