Indoor trainers

My old Elite fluid trainer has died. It no longer provides a power output so wont work with any apps.

The iPad I use it with has also died of old age so need a new trainer and device to use it with. Only have an old iMac thats too old to work with anything.

Any recommendations for a trainer and device?

Just want to use it with Zwift so doesnt need to be high spec, though I’d like something that will last. Also nothing that requires yet another subscription.

Was looking at Wahoo but it looks like they require an anual subscription?

Zwift works well with my Wahoo Kickr Core. It’s very smooth at changing resistance for erg workouts and is fine racing / riding.

I use Zwift with an Apple TV 4K for racing and riding – then when I’m doing a workout (which is boring) I run Zwift off my iPhone and use the Apple TV to watch Amazon prime or Disney.

I’ve been really impressed with the Apple TV – it’s a really decent bit of kit.

Wahoo stuff so far has been good too – got the Kickr and a Tickr heart rate strap. I had a couple of Garmin dual hr straps stop transmitting hr via Bluetooth – seems to be a problem they have as it comes up regaulrly on forums. I’ve absolutely caned the wahoo strap for maybe a few years now – the strap itself might be losing s bit of elastic mojo now so may need to pickup a replacement soon.

I thought Apple TV was obselete now? Does it not require a subscription to work?

The other route Im tempted to go down is an all in one smae bike trainer. As long as I can use Zwift or an equivalent. That way I wont need go buy a laptop that I wont use for anything else.

Apple TV is still on sale and still on Zwift. Not heard anything about it becoming obsolete. Meant to be a new version of the 4k box coming out this year.

None of the smart trainers come with the ability to run Zwift without some kind of device as far as I’m aware. The Wattbike Atom Pro has a screen but it won’t run Zwift etc.

Apple tv requires a subscription so im not interested in that.

Does anyone have a Wattbike or the Zwift bike?

Do they have a built in screen or do you still need a device? Just saw you wrote the wattbike wont work with zwift but I just read it can so need to know from someone who has used one.

I do like the idea of an all in one thing that works rathwr than having to pair things. I likeed my old settup untill it would randomly disconnect at the end of a ride and delete the ride. Or I’ll be 90 mins into a group ride and it’ll loose signal and stip sending power data to zwift so I fall off the back of the group.

Have a Wattbike. Bought used on eBay (they report the number of hours use so you can get a good idea of condition). Personally I think way better than a bike on a trainer – smaller, clean, stable, can easily be adjusted for use by more than one person and your bike is still ready to ride outside if the weather is good.

it needs a device as well. Phone works but is a too small. I use an iPad Air which has the same processor the base level £350 iPad now has. That gives good graphics and the screen is big enough to be engaging/read/interact with.

the new zwift bike looks very interesting- half the rrp of Wattbike plus has “game” controls. However, does (currently- they’ve said they will make it neutral I think) only work with zwift (I prefer ROUVY)

Apple tv requires a subscription so im not interested in that.

Only if you want to watch the actual Apple TV streaming service, otherwise it just works like a phone or tablet with compatible apps as I understand it. The most cost-effective way – £150 – of using Zwift if you don’t have a suitable device already. That said, my ageing, 2012 MacBook Pro is still running Zwift (mostly) just fine. It’s confusing that apple has called the streaming service and the hardware by the same name, but they are actually different things.

DC Rainmaker is probably your best resource for trainer reviews. He’s just done the new JetBlack Victory Smart Trainer which looks like a pretty good, well-priced option once fully available for example:

Apple tv requires a subscription so im not interested in that.

Not true. AppleTV box itself does not require any subscription.
AppleTV+ the streaming service does require subscription but you get year or 6mos when buying a new device.
I have Wattbike and run either Wattbike hub app or Wahoo Systm app on phone for workouts and watch TV for entertainment during easy workouts. During heavy workouts I can’t see anything so only music is needed.

@mjsmke

* You don’t need an apple subscription for the Apple TV box – you only need it if you want to watch Apple TV streaming itself. I bought the box and have Zwift / Disney+ / Amazon Prime on it but don’t watch / subscribe to Apple TV.

* Wattbike is obviously compatible with Zwift but the inbuilt tablet / screen on the Wattbike pro won’t run Zwift – you still need an external device.

* I looked at the Wattbike and was quite close to buying one but then found a road bike in a cheap sale (Vitus road bike with bolt through axles) and have it just for Zwift and sat on a rocker plate. I find it more comfy than a completely static bike on the turbo. Also ended up a lot cheaper.

Ah ok so thats Wattbike out then. It looked like ot had a built in screen which would have been a game changer. The issue I have with buying a tablet is knowing it’ll be useless in a few years time.

I’ll have another look at Apple TV then.

Unless theres something similar to Wattbike, but with a screen? That would be amazing. Doesn’t have to be Zwift. Just need some.kind of visjal reference for the ride and be able to upload to Strava.

Ah ok so thats Wattbike out then. It looked like ot had a built in screen which would have been a game changer. The issue I have with buying a tablet is knowing it’ll be useless in a few years time.

Potentially the issue you have with an all-in-one indoor bike with integrated screen is that the whole screen / monitor / OS thing becomes obsolete in a few years because, technology…

I get that it’s appealing to have an integrated solution, but it’s arguably more future resistant to have a simple smart trainer outputting power data by bluetooth and ANT+ to whatever affordable device works right now. When I looked into possibly replacing my ancient MBP a few months back, that was very much an Apple TV with an external monitor or TV – £150 from apple. Stick that on a budget Lifeline-type trainer desk and you’re good to go.

If you don’t want a big screen and fancy graphics, just an app that’ll control resistance/record power etc, then a smartphone with an app of your choice seems an obvious call. The only real point of a big screen is if you want to run some sort of ‘immersive’ thing like Zwift or similar.

I have a Kickr, a 2018 one, which has been absolutely hammered and is still going strong with two belt changes. I’d buy another one or a Kickr Core quite happily, or check out there review on DCRainmaker.

Apple TV is a really confusing name for a box. It’s not a TV, or a service, which took me a while to work out too!

I got one new sealed off eBay and it’s great for Zwift, Rouvy and streaming media.  I got the 4k as it’s more powerful than the older ones.

I coupled it with the cheapest ex display TV and that’s perfect for the garage setup.

I doubt think it’s available yet but the jetblack trainer does look good for Zwift

 I got the 4k as it’s more powerful than the older ones.

The earlier ones, I can’t remember where the cut-off is, don’t work with Zwift anyway fwiw. Ideally you want the latest version.

I’ve got the zwift trainer which came with a years subscription and then use an old iphone and hdmi lead into a tv.

A question for the Apple tv users: when Zwift requires an update, is it easy to do? I use to be an avid Apple user when i was a Mac tech in a college but quickly moved to Android when Apple become more controlling and asking for an Apple ID for everything so im quite out of touch with their products now.

I used an old work Macbook pro for zwift for a couple of years which was great but cant justify buying one just for Zwift.

@mjsmke – takes less than a minute. It comes up and says you need to go to the store to update – flips straight into it and goes. Then it changes to an open button and Zwift opens all shiny and updated. Couldn’t be easier.

There is one bike that might do all you need called the Technobike Ride but it’s flipping expensive and is really aimed at commercial gyms. At the post  Dc rainmaker reviewed it (2022) it didn’t work properly with Zwift – but it did work with Rouvy / Bkool. Sounds like it was clunky though – and feels prime to go obsolete in a few years.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/08/technogym-ride-smart-indoor-bike-in-depth-review.html

Thats good to know. When i had to do an update on an ipad yesterday it took 20 mins and cut into my time on the bike.

I reckon the update today took the longest it ever has – maybe 1 minute. Usually it’s 30 seconds at most.

This is my Zwift setup. Think it owes me maybe £1k ish all in. There’s an old 32” tv on a wall bracket that sits in front of a lifeline (secondhand) turbo table. There’s a fan sitting under it aimed up at my upper body. Vitus Razor on a lifeline turbo rocker. Apple 4k tv box is Bluetooth linked to the Kickr Core and a wahoo Tickr hr strap.

I did upgrade the gears on the Razor from the budget Microshift it had to a mixture of sram rival/ force / Shimano 105 as for Zwift racing I fancied some slicker feeling gears.