Virtual Smart Trainer Setup
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
Virtual Smart Trainer Setup
I am curious, for those of you who have smart trainers, what apps and electronics are you using with them? I picked up a Wahoo Kickr earlier this year, and while I have played with the Wahoo app a bit, I'd like to get into something like Zwift or similar. Is it worth the $15 a month? Is there a cheaper/free alternative that works well? Any recommendations on which one/how to rig up a tablet to control it and display the app?
#3
Senior Member
I've been using Zwift for 2 years now with my Wahoo smart trainer - I think it is definitely worth the $$.
A competitor to Zwift is Virtugo, currently in beta testing so it is free. It has a few routes and several training plans you can ride. Definitely not even close to Zwift in depth/breadth, but you get a very similar riding experience to Zwift. It won't be free forever.
If you are a racer, there is Sufferfest and TrainerRoad.
Biking to videos never worked for me, YMMV.
A competitor to Zwift is Virtugo, currently in beta testing so it is free. It has a few routes and several training plans you can ride. Definitely not even close to Zwift in depth/breadth, but you get a very similar riding experience to Zwift. It won't be free forever.
If you are a racer, there is Sufferfest and TrainerRoad.
Biking to videos never worked for me, YMMV.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 558
Bikes: HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GTE, 2015 Devinci Silverstone SL4, 2012 Cannondale Road Tandem 2, Circe Morpheus, 2021 Rose Backroad, 2017 Devinci Hatchet
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
12 Posts
Subscribed.
#5
SuperGimp
I've been using Zwift for 2 years now with my Wahoo smart trainer - I think it is definitely worth the $$.
A competitor to Zwift is Virtugo, currently in beta testing so it is free. It has a few routes and several training plans you can ride. Definitely not even close to Zwift in depth/breadth, but you get a very similar riding experience to Zwift. It won't be free forever.
If you are a racer, there is Sufferfest and TrainerRoad.
Biking to videos never worked for me, YMMV.
A competitor to Zwift is Virtugo, currently in beta testing so it is free. It has a few routes and several training plans you can ride. Definitely not even close to Zwift in depth/breadth, but you get a very similar riding experience to Zwift. It won't be free forever.
If you are a racer, there is Sufferfest and TrainerRoad.
Biking to videos never worked for me, YMMV.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 252
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 100 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
Zwift for me. Apple MacBook HDMI to a TV and ANT+ connection. I've been using it since it was in its beta infancy. It is more like an animated game but I like it. Lots of events with other riders, workouts and easy to design your own. I have used RoadGrandTours app which is cool because it is a real road vid game but the vid was kind of jerky and that bothers me. I think Rouvy looks interesting as well, tho I've not tried it.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Boston Roads
Posts: 975
Bikes: 2012 Canondale Synapse 105, 2017 REI Co-Op ADV 3.1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 507 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
133 Posts
I am curious, for those of you who have smart trainers, what apps and electronics are you using with them? I picked up a Wahoo Kickr earlier this year, and while I have played with the Wahoo app a bit, I'd like to get into something like Zwift or similar. Is it worth the $15 a month? Is there a cheaper/free alternative that works well? Any recommendations on which one/how to rig up a tablet to control it and display the app?
As far as Zwift goes, you can try it out for free (they give you a 7 day trial then 25km free monthly, I think) to see if it's for you. I like it but find some of the courses sometimes boring (ahem, London, Central Park). If you just want to ride, I find Zwift to be as entertaining as cycling videos on Youtube (hey, France!)/music videos/TV shows. I use Zwift mostly for the stats, fake GPS track they produce, and the live wattage estimate. Doesn't break the bank for me at $10/mo (for now).
If you want to do structured training/workouts, then you're definitely better off with Zwift or TrainerRoad/Sufferfest/etc.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 558
Bikes: HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GTE, 2015 Devinci Silverstone SL4, 2012 Cannondale Road Tandem 2, Circe Morpheus, 2021 Rose Backroad, 2017 Devinci Hatchet
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
12 Posts
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
Yeah, this is actually going to be stored in the gym at our winter office location, so an "immersive" setup is out of the cards. Gotta drop my iRacing from a large TV three feet in front of me to a laptop screen too
Ah, that is where they are hiding! I looked through Electronics and Training, didn't see anything there.
I figured if I got something with the more interactive features like races and such, I'd be more encouraged to actually use it regularly.
The Road Cycling subforum is the place for you this time of year, e.g. https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ect-zwift.html
...
If you want to do structured training/workouts, then you're definitely better off with Zwift or TrainerRoad/Sufferfest/etc.
...
If you want to do structured training/workouts, then you're definitely better off with Zwift or TrainerRoad/Sufferfest/etc.
I figured if I got something with the more interactive features like races and such, I'd be more encouraged to actually use it regularly.
#10
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
I am curious, for those of you who have smart trainers, what apps and electronics are you using with them? I picked up a Wahoo Kickr earlier this year, and while I have played with the Wahoo app a bit, I'd like to get into something like Zwift or similar. Is it worth the $15 a month? Is there a cheaper/free alternative that works well? Any recommendations on which one/how to rig up a tablet to control it and display the app?
One of my coworkers uses Zwift a lot and has told me quite a bit about it. So in early May, I asked him what I needed to set it up, he told me, I got it, and started riding with Zwift.
It was great! Exactly what I needed.
Then, when Rowan was discharged in early July, I set him up too and he rode Zwift with me as part of his rehab. We can actually ride together on Zwift!
Now that spring is here, we've been riding outside, but we plan to use it again.
Edit: I used to do commercial intervals, which were all right ... but it's fun to ride with people.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery