Forum menu
that doesn't cost the earth but will still be good to use (for hills etc)?
i need to start riding my bike regularly and i just don't go out in the bad weather so would love to be able to try zwift and train indoors.
are there any good ones at reasonable prices that can still replicate hills etc (as it seems the more you pay the steeper the hill gradient it can replicate but may be wrong?)
thanks 🙂
Don’t know what price range you are looking at but I’ve had a Wahoo kickr core for two years now and it’s never missed a beat.
The Zwift one is way better than you'd think/expect for the money
Kickr core here as well - very reliable. Done 10K with zero faff.
The zwift-badged one is meant to be solid and I think a good price?
Kickr Core here too.
Keep an eye on their returns/refurbished section.
another kickr core here. Used a lot by both me and wife, no issues.
Actually I lie... one problem, the power cable block thing stopped working, but they sent us a fresh one within a couple of days
I don't think any of them are terrible; just beware that the max simulated gradient is usually based on a particular weight; so if you are over that you might find it can't quite simulate what you'd expect. Equally; if you weigh the same as a feather it can simulate tougher grades than it claims.
For me; I went with a DiretoX; it's been great !
First smart trainer I had was an Xplova Noza S £349, solid build, Zwift compatible out of the box, decent sized flywheel. Sadly its wasn't compatible with Wahoo Systm to I sent it back and got a flywheel than the Jetblack Volt£419. instead. The Volt is great, Erg mode is super responsive, its just that the smaller flywheel means it doesn't have quite the same "road feel".
The Zwift Hub £449 is just a rebadged Volt running Zwift firmware.
You can now pick up a brand new Kickr Core for just £549 if I'd had the budget last year, that's what I would have gone for because Wahoo's customer service is awesome.
Depending what motivates you to ride/train I'd definitely look at Wahoo Systm, I've increased my FTP by 10% this year following their plans.
I'll chip in with my usual comment:
Before you buy a new one, get on Facebook Marketplace and put 'Smart Turbo Trainer' in and there'll be absolutely loads of virtually new ones on there, cheap as chips. Take your pick!
Loads of gym bunnies bought them during lockdown when the gyms were shut. I think pretty much every one of them is now for sale on Facebook Marketplace, having been used twice 😂
Elite Direto X has been great for me for 3 years, no issues at all, plenty of use. I don't think max simulated gradient makes any difference. You pedal as hard as you want to pedal, and your avatar moves according to how much power you produce. The only difference simulated gradient/resistance makes is what gear you end up in. Max resistance in terms of power won't affect you unless you are a hybrid clone of Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny and you're doing 5s max intervals.
Get on Facebook marketplace and put ‘Smart Turbo Trainer’ in and there’ll be absolutely loads of virtually new ones on there, cheap as chips.
Absolutely this, but do it now in the summer before everyone decides they're going to 'get fit over the winter' lol.
Also find a team and race, because it's boring as **** otherwise, and there's a strong chance you will get bored without the 'not letting the team down' aspect of it. If you can't find a team then pick regular weekly races and keep an eye on the 'victims/nemesis' section of the race report. That way, you know who's close to you and you can chase them down next time. Definitely the only enjoyable thing about it.
I have a Kickr Snap which has been ok for the price and served me very well, but my next one will def not be a wheel-on trainer and will most probably be the Zwift Hub.
You definitely want a direct drive turbo, no wheel, it gives the best feedback and responses. I had an Elite Direto until recently when I swapped for the Zwift Hub, the Hub is better in pick up and feels nicer than the Elite, it's a good package for the price.
I hammered a Direto for ~4 years and CRC now have them at ~£350, I think the Saris H3 bargains from last year have dried up now.
Saris H3 and I don't recommend Zwift. Wahoo system for me.
Wahoo Kickr and SYSTM for me also, i really like it, i didn't get on with Zwift, felt like being in a cycling version of Tron, really like SYSTM though, especially Sufferfest
Kickr Core here too, I bought a refurb and the first was wonky but quickly replaced with another which has been perfect. If you don't need to fold/carry it about then you're not really missing much over the regular Kickr.
Wahoo often have a big sale across everything for a couple of days after the Tour de France ends. Although the Core has more than 20% off at Wiggle already right now.
Before you buy a new one, get on Facebook Marketplace and put ‘Smart Turbo Trainer’ in and there’ll be absolutely loads of virtually new ones on there, cheap as chips. Take your pick!
This
You definitely want a direct drive turbo, no wheel, it gives the best feedback and responses.
and this.
However, unless you're going to be spending hours on it, or racing, don't worry about it too much, just get something from a recognised brand.
I’d suggest a direct drive trainer too - feels so much nicer than the wheel on trainers I’ve used.
I’m on a Kickr Core (although I really fancy a Kicker Bike at some point so I don’t need to put my nice bike on the turbo) and so far it’s been decent. Think it’s just over 2 years that I’ve had it for so far.
The quick release skewer disintegrated after a year and a half and wahoo sent me a new one out the same day that I contacted them about it. The new one is a much better design and seems more solid.
Equally that new Zwift branded trainer seems to be getting good feedback.
In terms of which online platform you use everyone has something that suits them - Zwift for the racing and social aspect / Trainer Road for the structured training plans and graphs etc / Rouvy etc for more beautiful graphics and road courses.
my sairis H3 can do up to 20% incline and it very quiet. I use it when the family are in bed sometimes. For training I use garmin connect and I also upload to intervals.icu.
The wahoo magic roads is a pretty cool features. You can also have a 2 week trial without having to put in card details. Wahoo also have a load of free stuff you can use including the 2 fitness tests.
I'm on my 2nd wahoo kickr, the 1st was brilliant I only sold it because it was getting old and the new version (2020) is auto calibrated...it works on every app except zwift...its reverse so its easier going up hills and harder going down.....every update I keep hoping it'll be fixed but its not...so because of this I wouldn't recommend a wahoo for zwift unless it's a older version
Another vote for the Saris H3.
They were also very good when mine had the squeeky belt/pulley problem after a few months - no fuss from customer services, new bits turned up in IIRC just 3 days from the USA. It's 3 years old now (covid lockdown and my old trainer dying were just co-incidental... but it made getting a new one hard work at the time...) and no other trouble since.
It syncs up, in terms of the effort changing with the on-screen ups and down, noticeably better with Zwift via Bluetooth - ANT+ it was always a second or two behind - you were still pedalling uphill when your avatar had started going down again.
I have a Kickr Core, but if I was buying now at entry level, then the Zwift Hub is a no-brainer for its price and feature set of you want to buy new.
It gets the DCR seal of approval, and that’s really all that counts in the cycle tech space
The kickr core that I haven't used since 2020 lockdown spring
@cheekyget that is not normal. Pretty much my entire team is using the 2020 v5 kickr and they work correctly in zwift. You need to get into one or other support lines to fix that. Have you tried running zwift from an alternative device (e.g. phone) to see if it behaves then (i.e. isolate if the trainer or zwift installation is the issue).
So far I've only tried it on my Samsung tab ( using the Bluetooth and ant+ dongle ) and ipad via Bluetooth....same on both.
Tried again last night because there was a update for the zwift app.....still the same.
So i changed to RGT app and it worked perfectly as it should....just makes me think its a zwift problem
I use a tax flux s I think it's called, had it about 3.5 years no issues, no idea how it compares to others but it only goes up to 10% simulation I think, never found it an issue tbh.