MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Right, I was just about to buy a Kickr Core and realised that I was being an idiot! I will probably never use it.
So now common sense has kicked in, what budget smart trainer should I get?
Just go on Facebook marketplace.
Its full of them after people have done just what you were about to do 😉
What Binners says really, but if you want a new one I got the Elite Zumo from Halfords £450. I haven't used it much as I've been doing loads of work on the house so don't have anywhere to set it up but it worked well when I was using it back end of last year. Need to get the garage sorted so I can get it set up again. Good bit of kit, and gets decent reviews from the likes of DCRainmaker.
Tacx Flow is just about the cheapest smart trainer of decent quality you can get. I paid £180 in spring 2020, but they're probably a bit more expensive now.
It's a wheel-on type, but that's only to be expected, at that price
Xplova noza s.
When I get around to taking photos, I’ve got a 10 month old Kickr Snap I’m selling. Looking for around £250 for if that’s of any interest?
I ran a Tacx Vortex Smart for about 2 years, other than being very noisy it worked fine and is jsut about the cheapest around that does full ERG mode which you'll want for zwift etc. Jsut sold it for £100, there's usually a few about.
You'll need a trainer tyre.
A clothes horse from Argos, a Tacx 2240, or a Direto.
Got a Tacx 2240 for Christmas 2016 - Nearly 11,000km later it's still trucking. Nothing has gone wrong with it.
Tacx Flow here. Paid about £170. No idea what the cost is now but it's done maybe a couple of thousand reliable miles. Gets noisy after a while - there's some DIY fixes... It worked really well to be honest. I think the main downside is some slippage with higher power output. Direct drive would be nice but only if you're serious about racing.
Right, after doing intervals in the rain, last night, i'm going to press the button.
I'm going for a Kickr Core. I reckon I need direct drive for interval training. Right decision?
I also need an SRAM 11-42 11 speed cassette. Anyone seen any anywhere?
Mick
Does the trainer specify a cassette maximum tooth size? No point in putting on a 42t if when you pedal it can't counter the force you put through the pedals?
I find I'm running a 50t chain ring up front then only using a handful of cogs at the rear for racing on zwift.
I also need an SRAM 11-42 11 speed cassette. Anyone seen any anywhere
You don't. A cheap steel 11 speed road cassette will do the job perfectly well. Just using ERG mode there's no need to change gear and for racing top end power is much more awkward than climbing as you can just adjust the virtual steepness.
Right, after doing intervals in the rain, last night, i’m going to press the button.
I’m going for a Kickr Core. I reckon I need direct drive for interval training. Right decision?
Mondays lunchtime rain saw me annoyed and rage purchase the Elite Direto X from CRC, will chuck the road bike in it and take great comfort in being able to spin the legs at home and inside!
So my LBS says (regarding SRAM and Shimano compatibility):
"Yes, if you were putting the cassette on your bike you would have to use a Sram cassette but as it will be on the turbo trainer you can use either."
Would someone please explain?
A quick Google suggests that Shimano/SRAM chains/cassettes are interchangeable?
The Kickr core has a standard Shimano freehub on it as standard. So I bought a Shimano 105 level 11-32 cassette. I keep one chain for use with the bike on the turbo and another for use with the bike on the back wheel that has a nice new shiny Ultegra 11-32 cassette on it. I use gold KMC 11 speed quick links as they’re meant to be reusable.
Why do you specifically think you need a Sram cassette and why so high range? I use my Kickr core in erg mode so I just leave it on the small front chainring and about the 3rd from lowest gear and the trainer sets the resistance. Really good for interval training as the changes are near instant.
Ahh ok I just thought I needed the same as my bike.
What range should I get then?
And yeah just reading about erg mode. I see now, it doesn't really matter what range.
Whatever matches your shifter, chain length 🤔, 11 - 28 or whatever is available and cheap. You are only going to climb virtual hills so I don't think the weight matters much 🤣.
You can/should be able to adjust resistance level within the virtual world anyway so a big long mountain climb you could reduce resistance on the trainer which would make it easier to pedal using lower gears and the speed would be slower on screen 🤔
Something like that anyway.
I'm 1x will that make any difference?
You will just adjust the trainer to more resistance.
I'll guess you will ride in a high gear for a lot of the time?
Smart trainers prefer you to be in a low gear because it keeps the flywheel speed ( inertia) down and allows more precise control of the resistance.
Tacx T2240 here too, 5 years on !
To counter the love for the T2240, mine second one has died after 3 years first one was replaced afterabout a year under warranty. totally dead will not power on at all. Ive googled it and I'm not the only one, it has had a fair amount of use, but only zwift training/riding around no racing. Fancy going up to a direct drive this time, but had planned to sell this one on to part fund, its value has significantly decreased though. I think it really just needs some cheap compoenents replacing or even a circuit board, but they dont seem to be available as spares. 2 weeks ago I'd have agreed good value starter smart trainer.