I have just gotten myself a turbo trainer – purchased the Elite Volare Elastogel rom Halfords and it seems great. I am now thinking of linking it up to Trainer Road which obviously involves an internet connection.

I don’t have an iPhone and the app for android isn’t yet available so I’m going to have to connect via my PC.

For my outdoor biking I use a Garmin Edge 800 although as I understand it, I don’t really need this top unit for the Trainer Road system.

I already have a Garmin Heart rate Monitor and I’m looking to buy the Garmin Speed / cadence sensor (GSC 10). So that’s the hardware – I just need to sort out connectivity.

I was thinking of buying an ANT+ USB stick to insert in the PC but I’m not that clear on this technology. My direct question I suppose is how do I know which ANT+ USB stick will be compatible? Are my other thoughts broadly correct for setting up on Trainer Road or is there something else that I should be considering?

Many thanks WW

I was thinking of buying an ANT+ USB stick to insert in the PC but I’m not that clear on this technology. My direct question I suppose is how do I know which ANT+ USB stick will be compatible? Are my other thoughts broadly correct for setting up on Trainer Road or is there something else that I should be considering?

They’re all compatible – that’s the point. Your other thoughts are good, you don’t need the Edge, you will need the ANT+ dongle, but then all the data will be on your computer in front of you. You don’t actually need an active internet connection for TR to work – you can set the workout up in the house (say) and then take your laptop to the garage without, it doesn’t need it to work.

There’s a page on the TrainerRoad site that lists what you need – http://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/201618914-ANT-Connectivity .

A njee says you don’t need the internet connection at the point you are doing the session, I think it just needs to connect once a month to verify the account. Obviously you do need a connection to download the workouts and upload your sessions but you can do that at any time.

Have a look here. I’d get one of the recommended ones. I’ve been fine with both the old and new style Garmin ANT+ sticks.

Thanks for the replies.

So the cadence sensor that i’m looking at is around £35 and the ANT+ stick is a similar price – so £70 in total. If thats what it costs then so be it but are there cheaper options that im not aware of?

Ta

Speed and cadence sensor, ANT+ dongle.

Njee’s link is a very good cheap way to do it !

Of course make sure your Turbo is supported by TR before you buy anything.

Make sure you have a large fan too, its impossble to do the sessions properly without IMO