Smart indoor trainer - which one?

[Be4dawn]

Hey guys between these two trainers which one would you recomend I get, Im gonna train on a 29 MTB for now but with trainer tyre. Wil definately use zwift aswell

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/tacx-t2240-trainer-flow-smart

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/tacx-trainer-vortex-smart-t2180

[HdB]

Hey guys between these two trainers which one would you recomend I get, Im gonna train on a 29 MTB for now but with trainer tyre. Wil definately use zwift aswell

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/tacx-t2240-trainer-flow-smart

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/tacx-trainer-vortex-smart-t2180

 

I've got the Vortex, and it is not bad. The Flow appears to be newer, but with a very slightly less powerful brake unit.

While it is on special today, this BKOOL one looks interesting too:

http://asgthestore.com/promotions/bkool-smart-go-pre-order

(I have not checked any reviews on this one, mind you)

[Zorro5614]

Bought that Vortex Smart from CWC a month.  Never had an indoor trainer before, but this one feels pretty good to me.

 

The braking feel when using Zwift is not quite as natural feeling as going a uphill, but does make the workout quite a bit harder.  

 

My legs also feel tired quicker on the trainer than riding my bike outside

[Be4dawn]

I see they say to connect the vortex smart to a computer the upgrade kit is needed.

Do I have to buy the whole kit or can I just buy the ant+?

 

This will also be my 1st trainer want to try buy the right one and not waste money.

 

@Zorrow

 

Do you use it with a road or MTB

[HdB]

I see they say to connect the vortex smart to a computer the upgrade kit is needed.

Do I have to buy the whole kit or can I just buy the ant+?

 

This will also be my 1st trainer want to try buy the right one and not waste money.

 

@Zorrow

 

Do you use it with a road or MTB

Nah, just buy any ANT+ dongle thingy. I use my wife's old Garmin one, and works very well on both Android tablet and PC (with an OTG adapter on the tablet).

[Zorro5614]

I am using mine with a road bike.  I use the Vortex Smart for speed and power and my Garmin cadence sensor for cadence.  I bought a TACX Ant+ dongle separately for my laptop

[Cappi]

FYI

 

i see oneday only has the bkool trainers on special pro for 6500

 

there is a review on the hub in the new gear section

[lechatnoir]

My legs also feel tired quicker on the trainer than riding my bike outside

 

No free miles on an IDT... peddle peddle peddle!!

[s14phoenix]

No free miles on an IDT... peddle peddle peddle!!

 

Definitely!

 

 

I am using mine with a road bike.  I use the Vortex Smart for speed and power and my Garmin cadence sensor for cadence.  I bought a TACX Ant+ dongle separately for my laptop

 

I've got the Vortex, and it is not bad. The Flow appears to be newer, but with a very slightly less powerful brake unit.

While it is on special today, this BKOOL one looks interesting too:

http://asgthestore.com/promotions/bkool-smart-go-pre-order

(I have not checked any reviews on this one, mind you)

 

I have Vortex Smart with ANT+ dongle and Giant Ridesense sensor for cadence - also works great. The only issue is that the vortex tops out around 950w in a burst typically on Zwift with 53/11 and 120rpm cadence - Have not been able to get more out of it.

 

 

Bought that Vortex Smart from CWC a month.  Never had an indoor trainer before, but this one feels pretty good to me.

 

The braking feel when using Zwift is not quite as natural feeling as going a uphill, but does make the workout quite a bit harder.  

 

My legs also feel tired quicker on the trainer than riding my bike outside

 

Did a mission on Zwift for Diamondback where you got to ride 180.3km  that's a lot of pedalling!

[Be4dawn]

thanks for the advice and replies thus far guys. Think im gonna go for the vortex then cant realy strecth my budget. The 8% max gradient on the vottex would that be an issue ? not sure at what eattage i can pedal but 950 seems high enough for me.

 

just another question training on a trainer is it simular to a workout on a gym bike or would it give me a better workout via zwift?

[HdB]

If the virtual route you are riding has parts of steeper than the 7% or 8% max of the trainer, you just don't feel any more resistance being added, and your virtual speed gets adjusted downwards.

I don't think it is a major issue, as you will still get a good workout - only if you want to use the trainer to prepare for an upcoming European climbs cycling holiday, it might not be good enough

 

As for the max wattage, most of the time on workouts you'll ride according to FTP (what you could, in theory, maintain for an hour). In my case that is not even 300W, so I'm faaaaaar from burning out my trainer

[s14phoenix]

thanks for the advice and replies thus far guys. Think im gonna go for the vortex then cant realy strecth my budget. The 8% max gradient on the vottex would that be an issue ? not sure at what eattage i can pedal but 950 seems high enough for me.

 

just another question training on a trainer is it simular to a workout on a gym bike or would it give me a better workout via zwift?

 

If the virtual route you are riding has parts of steeper than the 7% or 8% max of the trainer, you just don't feel any more resistance being added, and your virtual speed gets adjusted downwards.

I don't think it is a major issue, as you will still get a good workout - only if you want to use the trainer to prepare for an upcoming European climbs cycling holiday, it might not be good enough

 

As for the max wattage, most of the time on workouts you'll ride according to FTP (what you could, in theory, maintain for an hour). In my case that is not even 300W, so I'm faaaaaar from burning out my trainer

 

Exactly. Vortex is plenty - you really only max out the trainer in sprint efforts depending what you can output.

 

The great thing with all the virtual software is the structured workouts and interval training you can do.

 

You could focus on the areas you need to work on or have a chilled ride with friends along the scenic 3D world.

 

Group rides, Group workouts, Structured and focussed training, Fun races which can be the most you have ever suffered or more chilled - There is a grading system by which you ride and depends on the category you compete or ride or race in .

 

Its all in the name of making tedious training fun and when you have no time to ride outside or there is bad weather you can still ride.

[Be4dawn]

Sounds like alot of fun and i dont have time to ride outside atm only on weekends. Dont realy fancy riding long distance alone aswell just incase something happens.

 

do i have to buy a separate skewer to mount a MTB wheel on the vortex or doesnit come with a mounting meganism that supports MTB

[Be4dawn]

So i bought the vortex smart and it arrived today . Now im still waiting for my road rim and tyre t arrive. My question is can i ride on the trainer with nobbie tyres to try it out or will it damage tyres or trainer ?

[HdB]

I don't THINK it should damage the trainer, but it will definitely have an impact on the tyre.

Even with a normal road tyre I've found some black 'dust' on the tiles after a ride.

 

If it were me though, I'd be too careful to risk the nearly R6k trainer.

[Be4dawn]

Yeah I decided to stay off it untill I receive my spare wheel with road tyre...will get trainer tyre later on.

But dam im like a little boy with it just want to try it out hehe