Are all indo trainers virtual power
11-07-18, 03:35 AM
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Are all indo trainers virtual power
I was wondering , if you use the best indo or the most basic , if the power function is not based on the flex-o-meter or similar tradional on bike pro level kit power meters , are you just running virtual power ?
Im kinda frustrated with tacx , there basic trainers seem to be waste of time and money , at this point im seeing the most cost effective option for non tradtion power data , or virtual based data is a speed / cadence sensor and any trainer you want. At least for me i cant seem to get my tacx to give any sort or accurate reading , but i know the wahoo sensors work and can do the exact same thing as my basic smart trainer . right ? Or no ?
Im kinda frustrated with tacx , there basic trainers seem to be waste of time and money , at this point im seeing the most cost effective option for non tradtion power data , or virtual based data is a speed / cadence sensor and any trainer you want. At least for me i cant seem to get my tacx to give any sort or accurate reading , but i know the wahoo sensors work and can do the exact same thing as my basic smart trainer . right ? Or no ?
11-07-18, 04:15 AM
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indo?
11-07-18, 08:11 AM
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11-07-18, 10:37 AM
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I was wondering , if you use the best indo or the most basic , if the power function is not based on the flex-o-meter or similar tradional on bike pro level kit power meters , are you just running virtual power ?
Im kinda frustrated with tacx , there basic trainers seem to be waste of time and money , at this point im seeing the most cost effective option for non tradtion power data , or virtual based data is a speed / cadence sensor and any trainer you want. At least for me i cant seem to get my tacx to give any sort or accurate reading , but i know the wahoo sensors work and can do the exact same thing as my basic smart trainer . right ? Or no ?
Im kinda frustrated with tacx , there basic trainers seem to be waste of time and money , at this point im seeing the most cost effective option for non tradtion power data , or virtual based data is a speed / cadence sensor and any trainer you want. At least for me i cant seem to get my tacx to give any sort or accurate reading , but i know the wahoo sensors work and can do the exact same thing as my basic smart trainer . right ? Or no ?
11-07-18, 11:02 AM
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I used to train on indo, but the munchies made it counterproductive.
11-07-18, 12:49 PM
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Allowing the software/app (Tacx, Kinetic, Zwift, etc..) to calculate a virtual power based on trainer-resist/cadence/wheel-RPM isn't going to be as accurate as using an actual power meter that's known to provide accurate data. How accurate do you want to be? Search YT for shane miller's reviews on power meters and you'll get all the info you'll ever need regarding power meters and accuracy.
11-07-18, 12:59 PM
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I was wondering , if you use the best indo or the most basic , if the power function is not based on the flex-o-meter or similar tradional on bike pro level kit power meters , are you just running virtual power ?
Im kinda frustrated with tacx , there basic trainers seem to be waste of time and money , at this point im seeing the most cost effective option for non tradtion power data , or virtual based data is a speed / cadence sensor and any trainer you want. At least for me i cant seem to get my tacx to give any sort or accurate reading , but i know the wahoo sensors work and can do the exact same thing as my basic smart trainer . right ? Or no ?
Im kinda frustrated with tacx , there basic trainers seem to be waste of time and money , at this point im seeing the most cost effective option for non tradtion power data , or virtual based data is a speed / cadence sensor and any trainer you want. At least for me i cant seem to get my tacx to give any sort or accurate reading , but i know the wahoo sensors work and can do the exact same thing as my basic smart trainer . right ? Or no ?
On the other hand, one of my friends who rides on TrainerRoad a lot and has a smart wheel-off trainer produces strange graphs. They show that given a constant cadence, he maintains the same speed even during intervals where his power output is halved. Not sure why that is.
11-07-18, 02:51 PM
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No, not all indoor trainers use computed virtual power. The Tacx Neo 2 Smart is one such example. You'll see on the Tacx website that it is listed as accurate to less than 1% error. I'm pretty sure that you can only get that level of accuracy with real strain gauges measuring torque.
You don't say what model of Tacx trainer you have. Knowing that would let us help you better. You also don't describe your problem in any detail or why you think your power readings are inaccurate. More info is needed to be able to help you.
Mark
You don't say what model of Tacx trainer you have. Knowing that would let us help you better. You also don't describe your problem in any detail or why you think your power readings are inaccurate. More info is needed to be able to help you.
Mark
11-07-18, 03:28 PM
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Can OP shop for a stick of gum without starting a thread?
11-07-18, 07:43 PM
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I have the basic smart trainer , im just wondering of a speed cadence sensor would be better , i was thinking wahoo.
the issues i have are hard to explain. So sometimes all the numbers seems acurate sometimes its up a few mph or off a few rpms , but its far from real time . the tacx apo i use is mo
the issues i have are hard to explain. So sometimes all the numbers seems acurate sometimes its up a few mph or off a few rpms , but its far from real time . the tacx apo i use is mo
11-07-18, 07:54 PM
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The tacx app i use is more accurate with the trainer i have ( tacx satori ) but the wahoo app saves better and can upload to strava once internet is connected and never looses my activity
.
I only have a mobile hotspot but even when connected the tacx app glitches and doesnt upload or takes a day or two or a phone restart.
Its really messing up my winter training . i dont want to have to spend another 500 to 1000 just for a trainer . so i figure investing in a wahoo sesnor kit at 40 to 100 usd is the best option . im not sure if it does v power or if the app could do v power . maybe there is a" best way" to get the most data saved and exported to strava so i can have a record of my efforts .
right now both apps seem to only export speed and distance .
i tried a virtual live session in the tacx app but i think its more for the neo or very smart trainers with sim modes but it did post to strava with a route and koms which is cool.
.
I only have a mobile hotspot but even when connected the tacx app glitches and doesnt upload or takes a day or two or a phone restart.
Its really messing up my winter training . i dont want to have to spend another 500 to 1000 just for a trainer . so i figure investing in a wahoo sesnor kit at 40 to 100 usd is the best option . im not sure if it does v power or if the app could do v power . maybe there is a" best way" to get the most data saved and exported to strava so i can have a record of my efforts .
right now both apps seem to only export speed and distance .
i tried a virtual live session in the tacx app but i think its more for the neo or very smart trainers with sim modes but it did post to strava with a route and koms which is cool.
11-07-18, 09:18 PM
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I switched from a Travel Trac Fluid Comp (dumb trainer) to this one: https://www.kurtkinetic.com/products...rt-refurbished
I have no experience with smart trainers that adjust resistance automatically, so my comparison will be limited. There is night and day difference between a cheap fluid trainer and the road feel you get from Kurt Kinetic. Best part is the InRide sensor, which gives you power output rather accurately (see: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/12/...th-review.html) after a spindown calibration. It is hands down the cheapest way you can get power numbers that are consistent between rides and are within +-5% of power meters.
I have no experience with smart trainers that adjust resistance automatically, so my comparison will be limited. There is night and day difference between a cheap fluid trainer and the road feel you get from Kurt Kinetic. Best part is the InRide sensor, which gives you power output rather accurately (see: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/12/...th-review.html) after a spindown calibration. It is hands down the cheapest way you can get power numbers that are consistent between rides and are within +-5% of power meters.
11-08-18, 09:13 AM
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11-08-18, 10:25 AM
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I switched from a Travel Trac Fluid Comp (dumb trainer) to this one: https://www.kurtkinetic.com/products...rt-refurbished
I have no experience with smart trainers that adjust resistance automatically, so my comparison will be limited. There is night and day difference between a cheap fluid trainer and the road feel you get from Kurt Kinetic. Best part is the InRide sensor, which gives you power output rather accurately (see: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/12/...th-review.html) after a spindown calibration. It is hands down the cheapest way you can get power numbers that are consistent between rides and are within +-5% of power meters.
I have no experience with smart trainers that adjust resistance automatically, so my comparison will be limited. There is night and day difference between a cheap fluid trainer and the road feel you get from Kurt Kinetic. Best part is the InRide sensor, which gives you power output rather accurately (see: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/12/...th-review.html) after a spindown calibration. It is hands down the cheapest way you can get power numbers that are consistent between rides and are within +-5% of power meters.
11-08-18, 10:28 AM
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Mine is the black sensor with Bluetooth Smart only and it just works. I use the companion app to connect my sensors anyways, don't really need ANT+.
11-08-18, 10:48 AM
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I'm bluetooth only too. That probably is all you really need, but ant+ can be nice in that you could connect directly to a bike computer (or your computer with an ant+ dongle) and not need to use the companion app.
11-08-18, 10:54 AM
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But yeah, if you want to connect the inRide sensor to head units without BLE (Hello Garmin!), then you need that ANT+ compatibility.
11-08-18, 11:50 AM
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I’ve chosen to use a single sided crack arm based power meter from 4iii for my bike. Its accurate to plus/minus 1%. Prices have come down to the point its worth it to me. I get the same exact power reading now for riding outdoors and well as indoors on a dumb trainer. Its worked well for me with my Garmin head unit which interfaces very well to Strava and other similar sites. Have never lost any data or seen any glitches. This avoids all the inaccuracies that occur with virtual power. You might want to consider a similar setup if you’re seriously into power training.
Mark
Mark
11-09-18, 01:13 AM
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I guess mine would be considered a " with sensors " built into the unit .
It gives me numbers, im not super onto power training its just nice to know what im doing . i can see my growth and progress and it makes me happy which gives me the mental boost to keep doing good and just snow ball the energy into progress .
The numbers are innaurate mostly due to tire pressure . i definatey need some on bike sensors . there are so many options .
I like the tacx app set up but the uploads are killing me its so glitched for me i cant tell when it will upload .
I was looking at the iq2 power meters but i dunno if they are any good . ?
But i do think it would be more cost effective to train heart rate first from a pure numbers point .?
It gives me numbers, im not super onto power training its just nice to know what im doing . i can see my growth and progress and it makes me happy which gives me the mental boost to keep doing good and just snow ball the energy into progress .
The numbers are innaurate mostly due to tire pressure . i definatey need some on bike sensors . there are so many options .
I like the tacx app set up but the uploads are killing me its so glitched for me i cant tell when it will upload .
I was looking at the iq2 power meters but i dunno if they are any good . ?
But i do think it would be more cost effective to train heart rate first from a pure numbers point .?
11-09-18, 07:44 AM
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B
Unless you are going to train outdoors or race, on-the-bike power meters won’t serve you much. You can get pretty consistent power readings from an indoor trainer that’s well calibrated if your only training is indoors. Spending $500+ for a strain gauge power meter just to “see how you are doing” is IMHO a waste of money. I am not here to judge your decisions, but you are saying that you “need” a strain gauge power meter. What you are actually meaning is that you “want” one. Completely different things.
I guess mine would be considered a " with sensors " built into the unit .
It gives me numbers, im not super onto power training its just nice to know what im doing . i can see my growth and progress and it makes me happy which gives me the mental boost to keep doing good and just snow ball the energy into progress .
The numbers are innaurate mostly due to tire pressure . i definatey need some on bike sensors . there are so many options .
I like the tacx app set up but the uploads are killing me its so glitched for me i cant tell when it will upload .
I was looking at the iq2 power meters but i dunno if they are any good . ?
But i do think it would be more cost effective to train heart rate first from a pure numbers point .?
It gives me numbers, im not super onto power training its just nice to know what im doing . i can see my growth and progress and it makes me happy which gives me the mental boost to keep doing good and just snow ball the energy into progress .
The numbers are innaurate mostly due to tire pressure . i definatey need some on bike sensors . there are so many options .
I like the tacx app set up but the uploads are killing me its so glitched for me i cant tell when it will upload .
I was looking at the iq2 power meters but i dunno if they are any good . ?
But i do think it would be more cost effective to train heart rate first from a pure numbers point .?
Last edited by Brofessor; 11-09-18 at 12:30 PM.
11-09-18, 12:50 PM
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Back when I cared about power, I bought a cheapo "dumb" trainer ($89~), and a used Powertap wheel & bits for about $150.
Benefit is I could also use the Powertap outside.
Benefit is I could also use the Powertap outside.
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