Best smart trainer out there?
Looking to upgrade my bike trainer. I currently have a cycleops and has done well for several years but time for an upgrade.
Any opinions out there on good / bad smart trainers?
I lean towards one that I can keep back wheel on. With both myself and husband training, we are constantly switching bikes in and out...and between inside and outside rides.
I have a power meter on my bike so not critical for trainer to have it. If it does, could be bonus if riding on our other bikes that don't have PM.
Thinking about having a play around on zwift...see many on the team do so and rave about it. Think most of today's trainers link with it however.
Thanks for thoughts!
Any opinions out there on good / bad smart trainers?
I lean towards one that I can keep back wheel on. With both myself and husband training, we are constantly switching bikes in and out...and between inside and outside rides.
I have a power meter on my bike so not critical for trainer to have it. If it does, could be bonus if riding on our other bikes that don't have PM.
Thinking about having a play around on zwift...see many on the team do so and rave about it. Think most of today's trainers link with it however.
Thanks for thoughts!
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Comments
If you are wiling to wait a bit Cycleops just announced the "Hammer" which will also play in this space. Appears to be on par with the Kickr, with a notable improvement being the it's more portable based on how the handle and legs are designed. This isn't a big deal for me as I have a 'permanent' setup but for an area that you will use for multiple purposes it's a consideration as these things aren't light at ~50lbs.
Dawn, I second what Jeremy said. I have a Computrainer, but I do not like having to calibrate before every ride. Also, I have a separate wheel with a trainer tire, so I switch out anyway when I go from outside to inside. With the Kickr, you only need to take the wheel off and put it on the fly wheel and go. It looks like price wars are starting to bring things down as well. I got an email from RacerMate (Computrainer) stating they have lowered there price to $1050. I think TACX and Kickr have created solid competition.
Or, is it real close?
Or, does it not matter?
There is no way to test a Powertap Hub and a KICKR simultaneously for obvious reasons.
I tested my KICKR with both a Quarq and P1 pedals and the results were basically identical so I have no concerns.
That said, you own't do all of your training on the KICKR, so I'd use your outdoor training rides with the PT wheel to calibrate subjectively.
I have a power discrepancy issue with my Kickr and Power2Max PM. I tested them simultaneously and the Kickr read out is 20-30 watts higher than my P2M reading. Not really sure which is incorrect and since I can't get Trainer Road and my PM to communicate (need ANT+ adapter), I have different power targets in mind depending on indoor vs. outdoor training. Love the Kickr otherwise!
@Don - I have Kickr that I do all my indoor training on, and I ride outdoors with a Quarq. Despite Jeremy's equal power numbers, I have had no such luck. My Kickr FTP is 15-20 watts higher than my Quarq. How do I know this? Because I've ridden the bike with the Quarq on the Kickr and used 2 bike computers: one to pick up Kickr's power meter and the other to pick up Quarq's power meter. I've done this simultaneously on the same training ride. This way I could accurately figure out the difference. As Jeremy also mentions, many people's outdoor FTP differ from indoor....so that's a whole different conversation.
All this being said....I love the Kickr. I like the fact that the rear wheel is off the bike, the ease of use, the customer service, and it seems to just plain work well...especially with trainer road.
I think the most practical approach is to pick your poison, test and document a baseline then stick with that baseline for training purposes. That should really be the focus to driving your fitness north. Easy to get all caught up in comparing different tools to each other but that is not going to get the work done that it takes to move up in your AG come pay day.
Over the winter months I will test and ride on the indoor trainer. As I approach the longer outdoor training sessions, I will test and ride accordingly outdoors.
Concerning the smart trainer question that started this thread, I am going to wait and see what the Cycleops Hammer offers and choose either the Hammer or the Neo.....
SS
Jeremy - we actually have a 10 and 11 speed between us so drive train is going to be an issue. (Agree?) Lean towards wheel based as a result unless there is an easy way to swap. Will look into the Tacx Neo as you mention...and have actually heard about the new cyclops and considering it's not urgent may have a look.
In reality I thought our current trainer was "good enough" until I went to the LBS for a new fit and was amazed at how quiet and better theirs was...now in the market for a new one!!
Brian - thanks, and first off many congrats on Texas...great to meet you! I think I would side with you about the calibration unless it's easy to do (like with the 510 garmin unit).
Chris/Francis - thanks...seems kickr the favorite!
On power, for all...I would agree that you take one and measure against...but not across. I do the same with running. Testing on the TM I get X and measure improvement vs that in the winter. This may or may not be the same as open road in the summer. In the end, doesn't specifically matter as long as you are seeing improvement. As you get close to race day you ensure you are dialed into the "real" outdoor measures and thinks work out.
In the end, seems Neo or kickr win this debate...with holding out on the hammer.....thanks...plenty to think about!
Dawn
Good call, John! That's a very solid price on the KickR thru REI!
I went from a wheeled smart trainer (CompuTrainer) to wheelless (KICKR). On the CT, my issues included getting the tension just right, calibrating, maybe sometimes slipping on the rotor if the tire had a spot of grease, "flattening" the tire (I used the same one for riding and on the CT), and also drift in the tension on the wheel, upsetting the calibration. On the KICKR, it's easier to simply leave a bike on the trainer - no worries about forgetting to release the tension and putting a crimp in the wheel/tire. It's actually no more time consuming using the wheel off than the wheel on for me.
Since you can always use of spare wheel or tire on a trainer, your choice should not be dictated by wheel on or off, but by the features you want from a trainer, IMO.
One positive to the wheel-off variety I see is that it seems to me that it would take up a little less space since you don't have the trainer sticking out behind the back of the wheel. Instead it only sticks out probably a far as the wheel would. So if space is a limitation- perhaps that's another thing to consider.
When it comes time to renew, if ever, I will be looking for something that is 1) easy to use and set-up, 2) wireless, 3) simple to operate, 4) easy to use, 5) simple to operate, etc. Wait a minute...that sounds like my Powerbeam!! I would try Zwift or some other gimmicky ride concept, but it hasn't yet passed MY personal easy to use/simple to operate threshold.