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Cycle turbo trainer advice

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    #32
    PowerToWait
    Registered Users Posts: 1,775 ✭✭✭PowerToWait


    Someone posted earlier about a smart trainer for €315.

    I know if I was in the market for a new turbo I'd be going down that route, for the motivation and easing of the awful tedium.


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    #33
    Daroxtar
    Registered Users Posts: 4,326 ✭✭✭Daroxtar


    The Elite Qubo Digital b+ Smart trainer is around the €320 on German sites. For the same money you can get a Tacx Vortex Smart which appears to be a bit higher spec but to get automatic resistance control on it you need a software update kit which is another €130 or so, so you're looking at €450.
    Both of them are fully compatible with Zwift and will run 3Rd party RLV films.
    Or for €500 you could get a Bkool which looks a great piece of kit with thousands of videos online. You're also heading into Tacx Bushido price range there.

    I'm currently debating which option would suit me best, or should I buy none and some new wheels and winter bibs instead...
    Head melted


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    #34
    bigeasy
    Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭bigeasy


    Just ordered a elite supercrono elastogel from crc. First TT should do the job .

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/elite-supercrono-power-mag-elastogel-trainer/rp-prod57923


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    #35
    Koobcam
    Registered Users Posts: 828 ✭✭✭Koobcam


    Daroxtar wrote: »
    The Elite Qubo Digital b+ Smart trainer is around the €320 on German sites. For the same money you can get a Tacx Vortex Smart which appears to be a bit higher spec but to get automatic resistance control on it you need a software update kit which is another €130 or so, so you're looking at €450.
    Both of them are fully compatible with Zwift and will run 3Rd party RLV films.
    Or for €500 you could get a Bkool which looks a great piece of kit with thousands of videos online. You're also heading into Tacx Bushido price range there.

    I'm currently debating which option would suit me best, or should I buy a none and some new wheels and winter bibs instead...
    Head melted

    You don't need the smart upgrade for the Tacx, just an ANT+ stick, which you can get for around €30, so the Vortex is not bad value, around €350 or a bit less including the ANT+ kit.


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    #36
    Daroxtar
    Registered Users Posts: 4,326 ✭✭✭Daroxtar


    Koobcam wrote: »
    You don't need the smart upgrade for the Tacx, just an ANT+ stick, which you can get for around €30, so the Vortex is not bad value, around €350 or a bit less including the ANT+ kit.

    Hi Koobcam, I thought you could only control it from tablet or phone without the PC upgrade kit? I'd be inclined to go down the laptop route for now as I'd need a new tablet and Internet is sketchy out here so I'd be buying some DVDs as I don't know if streaming RLVs would work too well and we have a low enough bandwidth cap too.
    I have a garmin ant+ stick, will that do or are there Tacx compatibility issues? I know the Bkool won't work with a garmin ant+ stick.

    Edit: looking again at the Elite I mentioned above, seems that is Tablet control too.


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    #37
    eeeee
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,831 Mod ✭✭✭✭eeeee


    PowerToWait wrote: »
    Someone posted earlier about a smart trainer for €315.

    I know if I was in the market for a new turbo I'd be going down that route, for the motivation and easing of the awful tedium.

    Rollers are far more motivational/entertaining than turbos ;)


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    #38
    Koobcam
    Registered Users Posts: 828 ✭✭✭Koobcam


    Daroxtar wrote: »
    Hi Koobcam, I thought you could only control it from tablet or phone without the PC upgrade kit? I'd be inclined to go down the laptop route for now as I'd need a new tablet and Internet is sketchy out here so I'd be buying some DVDs as I don't know if streaming RLVs would work too well and we have a low enough bandwidth cap too.
    I have a garmin ant+ stick, will that do or are there Tacx compatibility issues? I know the Bkool won't work with a garmin ant+ stick.

    Edit: looking again at the Elite I mentioned above, seems that is Tablet control too.

    fairly sure the upgrade kit isnt needed, though I could be wrong. You might need to update the vortex firmware to make it compatible with third parts apps though.I'm mainly looking to get on Zwift amd also to be able to do some preprogrammed workouts with thw edge 520 controlling resistance, which is possible with the vortex.


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    #39
    Green&Red
    Registered Users Posts: 11,387 ✭✭✭✭Green&Red


    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/?referid=affwin&utm_source=affiliate-window&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=www.boards.ie&utm_term=78888&utm_content=0

    How is the resistance applied on this one?
    (Possibly I'm being a dope)


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    #40
    mossym
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,766 Mod ✭✭✭✭mossym


    Green&Red wrote: »
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/?referid=affwin&utm_source=affiliate-window&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=www.boards.ie&utm_term=78888&utm_content=0

    How is the resistance applied on this one?
    (Possibly I'm being a dope)

    it's a fluid based one, you're turning a rotor submerged in a fluid. harder you push the harder it is to move it. it can make the first few minutes a bit strange as the fluid heats up but once it does it's excellent. i have the elite turbo muin which works on the same principle but is direct drive and i much prefer to the brake style model. you can still use out gears to vary resistance.


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    #41
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    Green&Red wrote: »
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/?referid=affwin&utm_source=affiliate-window&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=www.boards.ie&utm_term=78888&utm_content=0

    How is the resistance applied on this one?
    (Possibly I'm being a dope)

    That is a very good price for that trainer, just checked and I paid 185E for the exact same one in Sep 2013 and I had shopped around a bit when buying


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    #42
    Koobcam
    Registered Users Posts: 828 ✭✭✭Koobcam


    Tried out the Tacx Vortex for the first time last night, well pleased with it, though calibration is a bit fiddly and probably takes a few spins to get right. It's also kind of a cheap way to get a power meter. Personally, I need to have lots of data to stop myself going mad on an indoor spin, so the Vortex is ideal. They are selling for €299 on Bike24.de at the minute, with a free iPad mount thrown in. Also, you definitely do NOT need the Tacx smart upgrade pack, just an ANT+ stick to work with Zwift-one of the cheapo ones will do the job. You don't even need speed or cadence sensors actually, or a Garmin, just your phone.


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