Smart trainer without subscription?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Smart trainer without subscription?
I'm looking into wahoo kickr or tacx neo2. I don't mind paying upfront for the hardware but I don't like the idea of monthly subscriptions. Does anyone use either of these without a subscription and is happy with it?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: yes, i have one
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1138 Post(s)
Liked 1,182 Times
in
687 Posts
not to toot my own horn but see this post...
https://www.bikeforums.net/indoor-st...plication.html
this is something i began working on shortly after i got my kicker. requires a PC.
https://www.bikeforums.net/indoor-st...plication.html
this is something i began working on shortly after i got my kicker. requires a PC.
#3
Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 25
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Look at Golden Cheetah. Does exactly what you want for free and it's well-developed.You can recreate workouts (TARWAPM, 80/20 tri, TR, Computrainer PIG, Sufferfest, Zwift, etc) in the workout builder and ride virtual courses. You'll need a PC and a cheap $15USB Ant+ USB stick. I prefer to use a laptop over a phone to control my trainer, but that's just me.
PerfPro is another good solution and has access to public training plans and a workout library for $99(one-time). Also needs a PC and USB Ant+
PerfPro is another good solution and has access to public training plans and a workout library for $99(one-time). Also needs a PC and USB Ant+
#4
Full Member
I used the Tacx desktop app (Windows) during the nice months this year when I wasn't riding inside much to do basic workouts in ERG mode, and it works fine for the most part. It lacks some of the features (for ERG mode) of the paid apps like being able to adjust the power levels up / down depending on how you're feeling, or to skip an interval if you can't complete it. It's also pretty annoying to get ERG re-started after stopping since it doesn't add resistance and you have to spin like crazy to get the power up to the target before it re-engages.
I might also look into Golden Cheetah for next year when it's time to pause Zwift again. It seemed pretty hard to use the first time I tried it.
RGT Cycling is another free app that offers free ride mode, but no workouts in the free mode. I suspect like most free apps they will probably have to drop that eventually to be profitable.
I might also look into Golden Cheetah for next year when it's time to pause Zwift again. It seemed pretty hard to use the first time I tried it.
RGT Cycling is another free app that offers free ride mode, but no workouts in the free mode. I suspect like most free apps they will probably have to drop that eventually to be profitable.
#5
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Honestly....you can pick up a very good old 'dumb trainer' now for a song; and the only difference for your proposed use case is having a built-in power/cadence readout. Honestly, my Fuild2TT I never worked as hard as the Kickr gets me to; and for my pedestrian amateur wattage range it could do the job in terms of resistance fine.
#6
Jedi Master
I just use a bike with a power meter on rollers with golden cheetah. It's fine for me. Honestly just the rollers were fine for years before I got the power meter. My main goal over the winter is to not get too fat and maintain some fitness so it's a little easier to ramp things up in the spring. Maybe some of the subscription services are a little less boring but they wouldn't help me achieve my indoor fitness goals any better.
Likes For kingston:
#8
LR÷P=HR
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 2,180
Bikes: 1981 Holdsworth Special, 1993 C-dale MT3000 & 1996 F700CAD3, 2018 Cervelo R3 & 2022 R5, JustGo Runt, Ridley Oval, Kickr Bike 8-)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 867 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
694 Posts
I just got a Kickr after years of resisting the smart trainer bug...honestly, the extra bit per month makes indoor training far more interesting/fun versus what is for intents and purposes a 'dumb trainer'. These devices have matured to the point of mostly just working finally.
Honestly....you can pick up a very good old 'dumb trainer' now for a song; and the only difference for your proposed use case is having a built-in power/cadence readout. Honestly, my Fuild2TT I never worked as hard as the Kickr gets me to; and for my pedestrian amateur wattage range it could do the job in terms of resistance fine.
Honestly....you can pick up a very good old 'dumb trainer' now for a song; and the only difference for your proposed use case is having a built-in power/cadence readout. Honestly, my Fuild2TT I never worked as hard as the Kickr gets me to; and for my pedestrian amateur wattage range it could do the job in terms of resistance fine.
+1
The appeal of the Smart Trainer is having somethin'' to "do" while riding.
Personally I like FulGaz... Full motion 4K video filmed from actual bike rides and beautiful places.
I get so immersed riding and watching on the big screen TV, I tend to lean around corners. 8-)
Barry
#9
Senior Member
https://trainerday.com/ has a catalogue of workouts and you can download them to a wahoo bolt and use that to control the kickr. I did it a few times in the summer when I didn't want to ride in the rain or wanted to do an actual recovery ride without distractions. Dunno if other head units can control other trainers, but that trainer day has an app now too if you don't have a head unit.
#10
Full Member
Try RGT Cycling. You can join posted group rides and workout using the free version but just not create them. There are also free courses (think they change monthly). For ten bucks US you can create your own routes (100km limit, 3 hour ride time limit), upload your own workouts, and schedule group rides/workouts. The application physics, ride feel, is a lot more realistic than Zwift and no stupid dinosaurs to remind you that you're in a game.
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 24
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I currently use Onelap (free), Perfpro (one time payment), occasionally i sign up for Zwift too. Most of the paid subscriptions services have a free trial of at least a week, so you could do around 2 months of free workouts over the winter if you try them all out - Trainerroad, Rouvy, Zwift, Sufferfest, Tacx training, Bkool, etc.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: yes, i have one
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1138 Post(s)
Liked 1,182 Times
in
687 Posts
Try RGT Cycling. You can join posted group rides and workout using the free version but just not create them. There are also free courses (think they change monthly). For ten bucks US you can create your own routes (100km limit, 3 hour ride time limit), upload your own workouts, and schedule group rides/workouts. The application physics, ride feel, is a lot more realistic than Zwift and no stupid dinosaurs to remind you that you're in a game.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I like the dinosaurs too.