Education time once again chaps.
Im a runner no cyclist but after buying a Propel in the summer I am really enjoying the cycling thing and thinking now its time to get set up for the winter.
So Zwift, where do I start and some turbo recommendations please.
Cheers
Pitch
Ive just bought a Tacx Flux s - havent had a chance to set it up as have been busy with work.
Will set up early next week and report back.
Just go outside and cycle on a road, it's fine. Wrap up warm!
Make sure it is a smart trainer that will control the resistance so it changes when you go up hill. The cheaper one that means you keep your rear wheel in are fine but a bit noisy, direct drive models are better and quieter.
Oh, must state it is extremely boring! I still do it when the weather is crap....
I went with an Elite Direto a few years ago. Excellent direct drive smart trainer that was very accurate with the built in power meter when compared to my crank power meter. Relatively quiet and had ERG mode etc. Quick set up, really was just plug and play. Registered a Zwift account and the sync was again a painless process.
Ran Zwift via my IPad then used a lightning cable to the tv for a more immersive experience. Was happy to pay the original 9.99 subscription charge but when Zwift increased the price to 15.00 per month I realised I was still going out and getting in the winter miles vs probably an hour or so a week on Zwift and the outlay of the equipment wasnt worth it. Anything over an hour was torture for the mind for me but some can happily spin away for hours on end.
Sold the trainer last last year with the wheel riser and spare cassette for about 400 from memory. Plenty of second hand units at decent prices as people like me find it hard to commit to the indoor experience.
Originally Posted by monogroover
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Ive got a Tacx Neo and have covered over 5000 miles on Zwift. If you join group rides or races then that helps reduce the boredom!
Cheers
Rory
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You need to tell us your budget, as that makes a world of difference.
You can ride on Zwift with a 100 basic trainer if you want albeit you'll need cadence and speed sensor to get anything meaningful out of it (bluetooth ones if you want to use an iPad or similar, otherwise you can use Ant+ on a PC/Mac with a dongle).
That's how I started and it was ok, but not great.
Beyond that you get into the world of smart trainers, of which there are plenty, and various types (wheel on, wheel off using your own bike, or smart trainers like my Wattbike Atom)
I went the whole hog and got a kickr bike as I can share it with my wife. Liking Zwift so far. If I wasn't sharing the trainer or had more space I would have got a kickr trainer and used my existing bike or bought a new bike with it.
You'll need something to Zwift on. You can use your phone if you're in a pinch but most people use an iPad or laptop. I think you might be able to use it direct on your TV with one of the newer Apple TV boxes but the graphics aren't as good.
DC Rainmaker is a good channel on YouTube
Interesting thread, Im slowly moving from the treadmill running to using a Wattbike Atom at work, enjoyed it so much so that Im now thinking about getting a Wattbike for home, problem is the 15-17 week delivery time and the fact that used ones are still going for eye watering prices on eBay...
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I put in an order for one last month with a January delivery and they took the entire amount up front. Cancelled my order immediately and went with Wahoo. Took about two weeks and constant chasing to get my money back from Wattbike.
Thats good to know, and a very poor business plan, take the money then expect the customer to wait 4 months???
I do like the Wattbike and the time flies when I use it at work, not as much strain on my knees as pounding the treadmill which is a bonus...
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I use a Wahoo Kickr Core which has been perfect on Zwift. I also use Garmin vector pedals (power meter) and I can control the Kickr using the power reading from them rather than the Kickr itself, this means that when I cycle outside the power is reflective of the effort on the turbo - although I think the turbo is pretty good and dont have much variation to the pedals.
To make Zwift more interesting get involved in some of the racing, at start of lockdown I was racing twice a week in a league and it was the highlight of the start of lockdown. Nearly broke me a few times though!
Great for winter training, long rides can be dull, but at least youre not putting your self at risk of falling off and ending up in hospital!
Tacx flux s. Works fine. But I prefer the road still although any risk of ice and I’m on the turbo.
Ive used Zwift with an Elite Qubo for 3 years, and it worked well with an ANT collection to a laptop. That kind of smart trainer can only simulate a hill up to about 6%
Ive just, as in this week, switched to an Elite Suito direct drive. It works very nicely, and as it comes with an 11 speed cassette I can just attach my summer road bike to it. It works well with both a laptop (ANT), and iPad (Bluetooth). It can simulate a 15% hill, which is enough for me!
Dave
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Last edited by helidoc; 17th October 2020 at 00:08.
Just been reading up on a Wahoo Kickr Snap Trainer, I currently do have a Turbo Trainer but do want to use Zwift, also a quarter of the price of the WattBike Atom (if they had them in stock).
Anyone got or used a Wahoo Kickr Snap Trainer, sounds and looks ideal for my use at home...
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My current smart trainer is the Elite Suito. Its a direct drive until and comes ready to go with a Shimano 11 speed cassette.
Its controlled via Bluetooth and connects to my Apple TV, or via the companion app on my iPhone if Im using 3 or more Bluetooth devices.
Another question someone on here maybe can answer, if i had the Wahoo Core Trainer, do you need to purchase a gearing cassette for it?
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I believe so yes
Thanks
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Personally I would spend the money on the smart Over the core and dont bother with the silly incline device or fan.
Get yourself a Motherwell or amazon 20 fan and if you’re a fun / keen amateur then subscription to Zwift, partake in general riding for a few miles say to level 7/8 then look at joining Zwift academy and also entering races for fun!
Mix your week up with a few 1 hour rides, 1 academy session and maybe 1 race/group ride
Dont chase the numbers and wherever possible go outdoors, my general rule is I indoor when its cold and wet and dark, if its just wet or just cold or just dark then a trip outdoors is a winner but a sturdy trainer with a decent flywheel and some motivational software is all you need.
I run mine on the iPad and generally dont bother watching it for most rides as I’m watching Netflix, for races or academy sessions I watch and sometimes go 60” big screen with a iPad to HDMI lead
If a few of us get into it then we can add to the TZ Cycling club and have a few online socials and maybe a monthly race for fun.
In fact just got a reminder I’m on the Volcano Lap at 1130hrs today, deep hill joy!!!
Last edited by 100thmonkey; 17th October 2020 at 11:03.
RIAC
Whats the reasoning to go extra over the Core then please?
Problem with the top of the range smart is the price lol, seriously if Im looking at that Id rather just see if i can score a WattBike Atom off eBay for a few hundred more and then just have the road bike for outdoors stuff...
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This is part of the reason I got the entire bike. I have a 1x11 gravel bike so if I was using just the trainer my wife would have needed a bike with similar gearing or I would have got a different road bike and I'd already used my cycle to work voucher on the 1x11 gravel bike.
Cheers all and very useful.
I had been recommended this as a good starter bit of kit.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/tur...er-461874.html
Thoughts??
Ta
Pitch
https://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/...p-bike-trainer
For the same money I would probably go with Wahoo or one of the other main brands.
I have an Elite roller turbo trainer and I have to say the noise level isnt the best, hence one of the reasons looking at a direct drive or the Wattbike tbh...
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I do a bit of racing on Zwift, you have to pair your account with Zwiftpower.com which is a bit of a faff but once done analyses your races to keep you in the correct group.
The races start mentally hard and you have to make a max effort to make the selection in the front group. Im in the B category and can generally hold the front group but always end up getting shelled out on a hill with about 70% done and roll in in a chasing group.
Makes turbo time considerably more entertaining.
Morning, went with a refurbished Wahoo Kickr Smart from Wahoo as recommended by Badger.
Home gym now finished (daughters play room was traded up haha).
Just completed a 32 min ride on Zwift to get the knees going, I will instantly say thats its great being able to watch yourself on the screen against others, just need to work out how to get cadence set up and linked and Im away...
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No problem at all, glad I could help! A lovely setup youve got there.
You probably (no definitely) need a fan or two, its hot work!
Get the companion app
And add each other if you want.
Ill be creating a Tz group ride when we have enough of us on zwift.
RIAC
Count me in please
Yeah I'd be up for that if around
Nice set up. How do you select the rewards on the top left next to your stats? Looks like you have a feather there. In the iPad I tap it. I have an Apple TV but it's too old for Zwift.
Thanks Pete, Ill have a think, may put one on a wall...
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Not sure its the first time I used it this morning mate, forgot to set the kickr up properly on the Wahoo app as well, so Ive now sorted that and it has updated to the latest version, got the cadence working and also completed the spin down.
Still playing around with the Zwift app on the TV and you can count me in for the Zwift TZ group as well when you get it going...
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Last edited by Martylaa; 25th October 2020 at 12:58.
Ive had a Tacx Flux for a few years now, only used it intermittently until lockdown started an I couldnt ride outside. In March I subscribed to Zwift and bought an AppleTV and a cheap 40 TV for the garage. I really like Zwift! Ive done the 12 week FTP builder training programme and now Im doing Zwift Academy. I do about 6 hours a week on it and its significantly improved my fitness. Ive also lost 9kg over 7 months which Im pretty happy about as its got my weight down lower than anything else Ive done before.
For anyone new to Zwift its worth having a good read of the Zwift Insider website, lots of useful info thats otherwise hard to find.
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My home setup has evolved over the year, especially after cancelling my gym membership.
Its now an Elite Suito direct drive trainer linked to Zwift via an Apple TV 4k and output, via a projector, to a 100 screen to give that immersive feeling.
As others say, get a fan.... or two!
Apple TV itself is just a player so the only monthly subscription will be zwift itself .
I had my set up completed with a Wahoo Kickr and bike but I couldnt help myself so changed the smart turbo trainer for a Wattbike, running with the Zwift App via the Apple TV i think its a great setup and only 12.99 per month for the Zwift membership...
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Anyone doing Tour De Zwift 2021?
Hill stage started yesterday, La Reine was lovely followed by Alpe Du Zwift today
RIAC
I was almost late to the party, only just figured out stage one with a couple of hours to go, did Alpe du Zwift today - the extra lockdown weight has certainly slowed me down up the Alpe!
I just upgraded to Apple TV in the garage for Zwift, seems much more stable. A bit of a luxury, but while the swim membership is on hold, it can pay for itself!
Great advice from starting the thread and the set up in the garage is being used for cross training, low aerobic for my running.
Cheers
Pitch
I have just subscribed to Zwift and got back on my trainer after longer than planned away from it. Previously I had used TrainerRoad, but I think Zwift will be far more social. Is there a TZ-UK group?
This is my setup using a Tacx Vortex Smart. Already had a spare wheel and cassette so just needed a trainer tyre, a subscription to Zwift and most importantly a fan🥵 Enjoying it so far, if it's still in regular use I'll probably upgrade to a direct drive trainer later on in the year. Using an iPad at the moment but just ordered an Ant+ dongle for my laptop which has a 17" screen so should make it a bit better.
Wish I had enough rooms to have a set up like that always available. Even my kettlebell goes away & isnt conducive to using.I had my set up completed with a Wahoo Kickr and bike but I couldnt help myself so changed the smart turbo trainer for a Wattbike, running with the Zwift App via the Apple TV i think its a great setup and only 12.99 per month for the Zwift membership...
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Agree, very envious and with natural light too, quite a luxury. The house we're buying has a loft ext and we absolutely hate them and didn't want a house with one. It's split into two rooms with a bathroom in the middle and now we can't wait as one room will be my wife's WFH space and the other will have the cycle trainer in it with some other stuff too. Unsure about a treadmill in a loft, though, seems like asking for trouble. Still don't like loft extensions though!
Since Christmas Ive moved my setup to an are of the upstairs landing where I can project the output of my Apple TV onto the opposite wall.
A quick test worked well.
Ive since optimised the position to fill the width of the wall and give an 86 image for that more immersive feel.
Got an Apple TV coming today so I can use Zwift on the TV rather than the iPad. Plan to use the iPad to watch TV while cycling instead - can't connect headphones to the TV and the trainer is very loud. Hopefully I can still see the key info on the TV without my glasses!
Haha, I have the same issue with glasses... Ive got my Apple TV running on a 40inch TV, and although it is just in front of my front wheel, I can only just see enough to use it! It is better than my laptop screen, but it is not 100% clear which was the idea when I set it all up! Ive found that a pair of over the ear headphones do tend to keep my glasses on better even though they do get a bit sweat-splattered during the ride!
Tbf it cost me a divorce to be able to get a house I actually felt was mine and not filled up with crap ornaments, cushions and throws in every room, hence having a gym now. It used to be my daughters play room but I bribed her with a new bedroom
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