Trainerroad/Zwift with Computrainer - Help!

Joe Rubino

Hi Team - I've got an old Computrainer that I've been using only in ergo mode forever just to avoid messing anything up.  I change the wattage manually on the head unit and it uploads to training peaks upon workout completion, simple as that.  Now I'd like to give Trainerroad and Zwift a try, but literally have no idea where to start.  Is it best to use my CT as a dumb trainer, then connect with these apps via my Quarq?  Or attempt to integrate this old CT software with these apps via a dongle or ANT+ connector?  Or somehow use the bluetooth or ANT+ of my Garmin 935 or 820 as a connection point/data recorder, if possible?  Thanks for any help and/or recommendations for the best setup!

Robert Sabo

Last year I used the dongle thing to let trainer road control my Computrainer because it changes the wattages fast for 1/1 or 30/30s and it worked fine. I used my old power tap wheel though and recorded the wko on my garmin and downloaded it from there.  I am thinking about signing up for zwift but don't yet have a plan.  The dongle is either in the trainer road thread on EN or at Trainer road site with their requirements.

Rich Stanbaugh

I use TR with my Computrainer. I run TR on a laptop and the CT load control plugs in to a USB port on the laptop. Works fine. The power numbers are slightly different from what I get with my bike power meter, but I'm not really bothered about that since I use 'indoor' numbers on the trainer rides anyway. Haven't integrated it with Zwift yet, but will be trying it soon.

Here is a link for pairing TR to the CT hardware:  https://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/201376994-Computrainer

I don't use any of the CT software - so not sure what you need to integrate... I use the TR app

Brian Hagan

@Joe Rubino - I used to use TrainerRoad with my computrainer with no issues.  I originally had it set to use the power on my computrainer to set the resistance in erg mode.  Almost all of the EN workouts are in there or you can use theirs or write your own.  Later, I changed to have it use my Quarq to control the resistance on my Computrainer in erg mode.

Over the last 18 months to 2 years, I have moved over to Zwift.  I can do all the things TrainerRoad could do with their workout mode, but I can also climb the mountains to do hill repeats, do group rides and do races.  Most of all, Endurance Nation has a group ride on Sunday mornings.  That is pretty much my favorite (and sometimes hardest) workout of the week.

I recently cancelled my TrainerRoad subscription, because I was never using it.

Darren Freeman

Zwift all the way.. Super easy to setup with a Computrainer.
1) Make sure Garmin Connect is closed and not running in background.
2) Plug CT USB dongle attached to CT cable into your computer
3) Plug ANT+ dongle into computer (used for Heart Rate, power meter and or speed/cadence sensors)
4) Warm up and calibrate CT before you launch Zwift
5) While still spinning on your bike, launch Zwift  (if Garmin Connect is still running Zwift will ask if it can close it)
6) After Zwift launches it will take you to the device setup screen.  Select the devices Zwift will pull data from.  Power from CT or Power meter, Heart Rate Monitor, Cadence,etc).  
7) Once all your devices are paired, click ok and you are off

As long as the CT is plugged into your laptop with the USB dongle and paired, Zwift will control the resistance on the CT no matter if you pull power data from the CT or a power meter.  Just make sure you are correctly calibrated before you launch Zwift, or else you might need to exit Zwift and re-calibrate.   Currently you cannot re-calibrate the CT inside Zwift.

Joe Rubino

Huge help - thanks guys!