Smart Trainer Advice? (Wahoo?)

[Thaleia]

Thanks beater. After reading reviews of the older ones I found a deal on one new saw just grabbed it. I appreciate the info all the same. Deleted my post above.

[singlesline]

I have a Kickr (which I really like...I refer to it as "the best cycling purchase I've ever made...not favorite, but: best)...but it was also $$$$$.

If I was looking now, I'd seriously consider:

https://bikecloset.com/product/elite...with-cassette/

This is a real good deal for being "peak trainer season"

There were some ebay/amazon sellers for a little bit less in the summer, but $400 is pretty good for what is supposed to be a higher end model. I'm happy with mine so for.

My biggest complaint is honestly that I wish the handle were higher up--where it is located now makes it a little awkward to pick up and move with the bike attached. Everything else seems to work fine, but it is my first smart trainer so I don't have much to compare to.

These things do appear to be improving over time. My uneducated guess is that newer trainers will have more consistent erg-modes than older trainers. Erg mode matters for training plans with target wattage, doesn't matter for things like Zwift racing or just riding a virtual environment where resistance changes with hills.

Other upgrades are things like higher max wattage and quieter operation--both of which might not matter too much to different users.

Incline adjustment might be fun? If I could get a Kickr Climb or Elite Rizer for like $200 I would do it. Might help with long-term comfort by varying the seating position, but otherwise isn't really essential for training.

[Thaleia]

OK I can see why everyone uses mats and big ass fans. MG what a sweaty mess I was.

[beaterdit]

OK I can see why everyone uses mats and big ass fans. MG what a sweaty mess I was.

Yeah I used to have mine in my unheated detached garage but my fingers and toes would get real cold below about 40 degrees, I'd be shirtless. Plus it's totally infiltrated by our bad inversions. Now I'm inside in a spare room. Got a massive drop cloth folded up, a towel on the bike, and a big ass filtered fan I can put in the window pointed right at me.

Not having wind resistance on the road bike makes a hudge difference!

[schuss]

I have the TacX neobike and it's great. Direto was also fine, but not having to fiddle with/wear out drivetrain is great. Also a lot quieter than a bike on a direct drive IMO.

[singlesline]

As I've been getting more time on the trainer...man erg mode is brutal.

It is just relentless at holding you accountable to your workout. There's no ability to "sit up" and pedal less hard. If you pedal slower or shift gears, it just makes it that much harder to pedal. I know that's the *point* of erg mode, but it burns.

On a similar note, in Zwift, you get the virtual "gates" up ahead to tell you when an interval is going to be over, but in erg mode there's no way to "power through" and pedal hard to get to the end and make the suffering the way you can if you are doing laps outside or sprinting to a known landmark. If you start to pedal harder, the gate just drifts further away like it is taunting you.

[VTskibum]

OK I can see why everyone uses mats and big ass fans. MG what a sweaty mess I was.

Fans w a remote are the best. Also have a cheap box fan setup on a remote power switch when it really gets going. I start w a shirt and ramp up fans progressively till it’s go time w the box fan on max. Only way I can make it bearable. If I’m just riding mostly Z2 don’t need to much


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[Thaleia]

Yeah about that. Have a laugh on me.

My fan came with a remote. Couldn't understand why it was necessary so after a few months of not touching it I tossed it. Same as a remote for a space heater before that. I recall a car stereo remote maybe starting this trend.

Now here I am questioning why I don't have a remote for my damn fan.

[schuss]

Fans w a remote are the best. Also have a cheap box fan setup on a remote power switch when it really gets going. I start w a shirt and ramp up fans progressively till it’s go time w the box fan on max. Only way I can make it bearable. If I’m just riding mostly Z2 don’t need to much


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This is what I like about the smart bike too, it has two fans that ramp up automatically with effort/wattage. Definitely better than the box fan.

[EWG]

As I've been getting more time on the trainer...man erg mode is brutal.

It is just relentless at holding you accountable to your workout. There's no ability to "sit up" and pedal less hard. If you pedal slower or shift gears, it just makes it that much harder to pedal. I know that's the *point* of erg mode, but it burns.

On a similar note, in Zwift, you get the virtual "gates" up ahead to tell you when an interval is going to be over, but in erg mode there's no way to "power through" and pedal hard to get to the end and make the suffering the way you can if you are doing laps outside or sprinting to a known landmark. If you start to pedal harder, the gate just drifts further away like it is taunting you.

After twenty or more years of riding training days slave to heart rate monitor intervals, power measurements, erg modes etc, it is wild to read this from someone new to it. Good reminder of just how numb I've become to suffering.

Anyway, I'd like to tell you it becomes better but it doesn't. You just get used to the hell.

[Thaleia]

Well this newb is loving my Core. Three days on in a row since I got it.

Couple things I can't figure out. Wheelies - they're damn near impossible on this set up. And when the hill is just too weak when I get off to push my bike up Zwift doesn't seem to track that.

[schuss]

Well this newb is loving my Core. Three days on in a row since I got it.

Couple things I can't figure out. Wheelies - they're damn near impossible on this set up. And when the hill is just too weak when I get off to push my bike up Zwift doesn't seem to track that.

I'll agree with you there - Zwift isn't ready for progressive style. Just the other day I did a no-hander up a hill and didn't even get bonus points. WTF.

[schuss]

Oh, and this is a pretty solid deal on a direto

https://www.universalcycles.com/shop....php?id=108162

[dan_pdx]

Anyway, I'd like to tell you it becomes better but it doesn't. You just get used to the hell.

"It never gets easier, you just get faster"

Can confirm the first part, the jury is out on the second part

[Thaleia]

Honestly can't believe how much I've been enjoying Zwift on the Kickr Core.

Never been a gym guy, have never trained or anything.

Been mtb'ing forever for fun. Always respected road bikers speed, distance, dedication etc but never thought it was for me. During the pandemic lock downs I wanted to try a gravel bike for something different. Due to supply issues I compromised and got an entry level road bike and put wider tires on it.

Fell in love with long easy rides, and started doing hillier stuff. Immediately noticed the fitness aspect of it. Lost a decent amount of weight. (always been a bigger guy, at one point I was 260 lbs)

Got this set up right before Christmas and haven't looked back.

If you're on the fence give it a try. I sure wish I did sooner.