Smart Trainers, looked at using the Zwift Gear Test protocol
The Kurt Kinetic Roll and Roll Smart Control is quite unique in the world of smart trainers, as the elastomer feet allow you to, well Rock and Roll. But is that extra movement a good thing in a Zwift race, or a hindrance in our favourite e-sport? Sounds like we need a Zwift Gear Test!
The Tacx Neo is not just about training, but also rehabilitation. Two functions, Tacx Isokinetic and Isotonic controls are hidden in the firmware. Let’s see what how we can use them!
At the end of July Wahoo pushed out an update to the Wahoo KICKR SNAP. Certainly not enough to trigger a debate as to whether this should be a version 2.0 update, but something to keep in mind if you are looking to upgrade to a smart trainer in 2017
The Smart Bike Revolution is here, and one of the first to show was Tacx. Here is their Tacx NEO Smart Bike Eurobike offering
The Elite Direto is the latest turbo trainer to come from the Italian cycling company, but the turbo trainer market has changed considerably since their top of the range smart trainer, the Elite Drivo, launched. How will their junior direct drive model fair in 2017? We need a Zwift Gear Test!
Making turbo trainers is one thing, but building accurate and robust trainers is an entirely different matter. Elite recently opened their factory doors to me to see what goes into building an Elite trainer, and to take a look at their latest trainer the Elite Direto
The VeloReality Lynx turbo trainer is an indoor cycling system created by a software company. So we had a device produced from a different mindset than the usual turbo. As a result a very different product! The real question though, is how does the Lynx perform on Zwift? Time for a #ZwiftGearTest!
Power meter vs. Power estimator. Does it matter? Rather than a strain gauge, the Elite Rampa uses a power estimator, Elite have previously championed the optical power meter with the Drivo, so what effect does that bring to the Elite Rampa? We look at power accuracy as we try to answer the common question “How…
Within the cycling world, Tacx is one of THE biggest manufacturer names NOT associated with the production of a bike frame. Tacx is a hardware company making components as “simple” as jockey wheels and drinks bottles, through to state of the art turbo trainers, built using input from global leaders in the field of electromagnetics….
The original Tacx Flux reviewed highlighted a few issues – Not least a bricked trainer. A long phone call to Tacx & HQ visit found the source
Having been using the Cycleops Hammer for a couple of months now after ZwiftCon, I’m in a much better place to give an idea as to how the latest Cycleops unit feels, and more importantly, how it responds to race conditions, in order to be able to class this review as a proper Zwift Gear…
Cycleops has come back to the direct drive turbo market with the Hammer, but in a one, two blow, they have also released a wheel on trainer in the form of the Cycleops Magnus, coming in at under half the price of the bigger Hammer. I’ve been using the Cycleops Hammer and the Magnus now…
Following in the glut of direct mount turbo trainers releases this year, Tacx has launched to Tacx Flux. With very similar internals to that of the TacX Neo but without headline-grabbing features such as road feel and downhill simulation. Instead, we save a considerable chunk of money and gain a smaller package. So have Tacx made the…
For myself, the biggest product announcements of 2016 have been the new direct mount trainers from Tacx, Elite and Cycleops. I have finally managed to get my hands on a Cycleops Hammer – There will be a full review and Zwift Gear Test, shortly, but for now, here is something to consider as an appetiser!
Direct drive turbos are the pinnacle of Smart trainers. But they are also associated with stratospheric prices in many cases. The Wahoo KICKR SNAP is pitched as their low-cost version of the KICKR. The same industrial design philosophy as their bigger KICKR, but with a less wallet damaging entry fee – How is the Zwift…
Another year and another crop of turbo trainers. While we’re still waiting for TacX to release the Flux, Elite got in with an early punch bringing a slew of new turbo trainers to the market. Here is a full blow by blow Zwift Gear Test looking at the new Elite Drivo Turbo from just about every angle
So I’ve been riding a Tacx Neo for about 1 month now – so its time for my Tacx Neo Long Term review update. The following post is a collection of thoughts and musing about using the device and how I think it is positioned in the market. I think its important that I point out,…
The Wahoo KICKR basically rules the smart turbo trainer roost. There is occasionally some debate, but there have been no challengers which have really been able to come close to dqualling the KICKR in all of the areas it excels at, namely : Reliability, stability, design, and quality. TacX have recently launched the Neo, their latest smart trainer,…
For myself, one of the biggest product announcements of 2015 has been the TacX Neo. Many people have championed the devices 6dB noise level. On my first encounter with the device, during my TacX Neo preview, I think I’ve found a MUCH more important feature… and its amazing!
The Wahoo KICKR review can best be summed in the words of the classic Carlsberg advert says “If Carlsberg made product turbo trainer, it would probably be the best product turbo trainer in the WORLD!” But if Carlsberg did try to make a turbo trainer… I don’t think they could make one better than the Wahoo KICKR!
James Gill