Which indoor trainer to buy??

[rouxtjie]

Thanks, no I have the Ant+ version that I use with the Ant+ adapter on the iPad with the virtual training app.

 

I will take trainerroad for a test drive and see.

oh ok...the ble version works perfect.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I picked up a kickr today. Hooked up my contraband to it and jumped on with zwift.

 

It cost a small fortune but i think it will be a good investment in my fitness.

 

Now just to keep my discipline up.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Joeboy69]

oh ok...the ble version works perfect.

Will give this a try once the annual power beam software license runs out. Roughly same costs?

[raptor-22]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I picked up a kickr today. Hooked up my contraband to it and jumped on with zwift.

It cost a small fortune but i think it will be a good investment in my fitness.

Now just to keep my discipline up.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

Thw safe money is definitely on kickr. Enjoy!

Ive had a n imagic for 15 years now ans love how far smart trainer's and the software has evolved. Will change how you ride.

[King_Crispy]

Yep, unfortunately OP, the requirement of adjusting resistance based on feedback from app(also called ergo mode training) means you are playing in the higher bracket. Its like asking for a low cost lambo. But fear not, its a great investment...dont think of it as money wasted but rather the best money you can spend regarding fitness / health / results returns.

 

If you want new, I would suggest the wahoo kickr, probably the most functional and futureproof of all the current ergo trainers....a secondhand cyclops powerbeam pro will cost you alot less given they just released a new trainer but it only transmits in either BLE or Ant. Not a trainsmash, but not as future proof as the kickr which supports both comms protocols. Then regarding applications....there are lots of free ones with basic functionality that allows you to spin and adjust the power you sitting at, but its a manual exercise whilst riding...not that its bad, sometimes its nice just to sit and spin at a power number you comfortable at looking at the numbers go up or down...like a wattbike at the gym.

 

Then you get advanced apps, seems like this is where you want to play in...here are a couple and their respective use cases:

 

1.Zwift : 3rd person game type feel that really makes IDT a fun thing to do whilst getting fit and strong. Very polished when it comes graphics and interface but not as focused wrt structured training programs. Think playstation for IDT. Loads of fun. Only supports Ant protocols on computer hardware at the moment. You will thus need to buy and additional Ant dongle so that the trainer can communicate with the PC / laptop / macbook. Subscription based payments

2.Virtual training : Slightly more focused with online races...Mixed bag of focus, online racing and virtual training on routes that is already available or that you created yourself using previous ride's GPX files....this will solve the 94.7 simulation you want to do. Some of the routes have video content as well which makes it more stimulating. It also runs on PC, Macbooks, tablets and phones via BLE or Ant Protocols which is very lekkers...All rides are sync'd to a could profile or other third party apps like strava / trainingpeaks / social media. Subscription based payments

3.Trainerroad : Probably the most focused with emphasis on structured workouts around your dicipline of choice, whether its roading riding / XCO / XCM / Enduro / Gravity / Tri's / TT's. It follows set base, build, specialty training phases based on your needs with a online diary of what you have done / your current power numbers / stress scores / FTP numbers. Great variety of workouts and plan and you can even create your own powerbased plan. Supports both BLE and Ant protocols on PC, Macbooks, tablets and smart phones(android or IOS)

 

All three of the above communicate very nicely with your ergo trainer adjusting the brake to simulate an incline on a virtual route or a specific power number you need to maintain in a structured workout allowing you to focus on turning the pedals over and not fiddle with buttons and crap. Wrt the apps, they all fulfill a different need and don't really compete with each other imo....just depends what you want out of your trainer.

 

Last piece of advice...stay away tacx trainers.

Like the OP said,who needs Google?

Flippen good post lad. Well done

[rouxtjie]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I picked up a kickr today. Hooked up my contraband to it and jumped on with zwift.

 

It cost a small fortune but i think it will be a good investment in my fitness.

 

Now just to keep my discipline up.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

nice one wayno...the zwift youtube channel is pretty hepfull so is their helpdesk. I dont think you will run into issues but if you do, they are there to help.

 

Nice thing about ergo trainers like the kickr / powerbeam  is that you can actually train very efficiently with a singlespeed...because the trainers have brakes you only need one gear...the brake will dictate the power number not the gearing.

 

Send some screenshots of your paincave...

 

PS, the new sufferfest IOS app is also quite cool, check it out...You just need to input your FTP and LTHR numbers and it will adjust your trainer automatically in ride for the power you need to sit at....plus well its got cool videos.

 

You can now play around with lots of apps and you are not bound by them since most of them are subscription based, no signing in blood. I like zwift / trainerroad / virtual training, will try sufferfest soon.

[Wayne Potgieter]

 

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[plane^driver]

After having a indoor trainer for a couple of days, I must say I much prefer the Wattbike in the gym and it costs me nothing....

[Rocket-Boy]

 

 

 Zwift is really cool....again think playstation for idt. They dont fully support ble protocol as yet(its in beta...I have hacked it and it works...but was buggy) so with that being said.

 

 

Were you able to get it to automatically adjust resistance?

Did you use your phone for the BLE pairing on the same wifi network as your pc?

[Wayne Potgieter]

My wife stole my trainer.

 

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[Velouria]

If you've got a healthy budget, have a look at a Wattbike. Amazing machines of torture and suffering. Every man pain cave should have one. I have an absolute love hate relationship with mine. I hate every second that I'm on it, but the results are worth it!

[raptor-22]

Hmmmm so to let the kicke work you need software which you have buy annually ( renew subscription)

Or you can drive it from your garmin head unit either via hr zones or via a pm.

 

TTS4 is a once off cost....

 

Makes it interesting cos the costs now all even out after 5 years

[Eon du Plessis]

Hmmmm so to let the kicke work you need software which you have buy annually ( renew subscription)

Or you can drive it from your garmin head unit either via hr zones or via a pm.

 

TTS4 is a once off cost....

 

Makes it interesting cos the costs now all even out after 5 years

Your garmin can drive the Kickr based on routes you've ridden, though the one time I tried this, the resistance it gave me was way more difficult than doing it on the actual Road. Haven't tried sorting that out.

You don't need a power meter as the Kickr has that built in. HR you'll need a monitor for, but if you have a Garmin, you probably already have one of those.

 

You don't strictly need a subscription service. There are free services and apps that can do the same thing.

Currently I'm using Trainer Road for the next couple of months. After that, I'll likely try Golden Cheetah, which is free, to try and do the same/similar as what I'm currently doing on TR.

[Showtime]

works 100%

 

full ergo mode. Think its the latest release. Try it, I really rate trainerroad

 

edit...you have ble powerbeam pro hey?

 

Ok I tested trainerroad with my Ant+ Powerbeam on the iPad last night and it doesn't work. It recognizes the power meter but not as an ergo trainer.

 

So for both the trainerroad app and the sufferfest app the Ant+ powerbeam doesn't work. If they could update the Powerbeam to Ant+ FE-C (even if I had to pay) it would be great but I doubt that will happen.

[Christian van Zyl]

Your garmin can drive the Kickr based on routes you've ridden, though the one time I tried this, the resistance it gave me was way more difficult than doing it on the actual Road. Haven't tried sorting that out.

You don't need a power meter as the Kickr has that built in. HR you'll need a monitor for, but if you have a Garmin, you probably already have one of those.

 

You don't strictly need a subscription service. There are free services and apps that can do the same thing.

Currently I'm using Trainer Road for the next couple of months. After that, I'll likely try Golden Cheetah, which is free, to try and do the same/similar as what I'm currently doing on TR.

I agree...

 

Kinomap is also a nice app that you can kinda use for free. They offer a bunch of free routes and if you upload any route that you have recorded you can ride that map for free too. 

 

Works flawlessly on any iOS device vir Bluetooth 4.0, for those who do not want to use a computer. 

 

If you want to use an Apple TV with the app, the app opens up a different world with different views. 

 

You can also get your mates to join a race or route and compete real time via game centre. 

 

Pretty cool option.