Newbie Q on trainer & Zwift
06-15-17, 06:23 AM
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Newbie Q on trainer & Zwift
Thinking of buying one still but just wanna ask a question about Smart vs Classic trainer and Zwift.
For the Smart trainer, get to a hill on Zwift, the resistance automatically gets increased by the software.
Now for classic trainer, how do you increase the resistance accordingly?
I was reading the Zwift forums are someone also posted something...
https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/c...y-satori-smart
Anyone use a Tacx Satori Smart or Cycleops Fluid 2?
How do you know what resistance to use for a Zwift hill/incline to simulate it so that you can select the right gears and speed?
thanks
For the Smart trainer, get to a hill on Zwift, the resistance automatically gets increased by the software.
Now for classic trainer, how do you increase the resistance accordingly?
I was reading the Zwift forums are someone also posted something...
https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/c...y-satori-smart
Anyone use a Tacx Satori Smart or Cycleops Fluid 2?
How do you know what resistance to use for a Zwift hill/incline to simulate it so that you can select the right gears and speed?
thanks
06-15-17, 06:43 AM
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I've used a Kurt Kinetic trainer and a Kickr Snap, both with a powertap wheel.
If you don't have a smart trainer, it doesn't vary the resistance, so you don't feel the hills. You would shift into a harder gear on a hill to make the resistance harder and output more watts to try to maintain a faster speed in the game. It takes a few minutes to get used to up-shifting on a hill, but once you are used to it, it's fairly good game experience.
If you have a smart trainer, it will increase resistance for you, so you tend to find yourself shifting into a lower gear. It's a more realistic game experience.
If you can afford a smart trainer, it's a much more immersive experience, and you can use the intervals in ERG mode. If you already have a power meter, the payback is a bit less to use a smart trainer, but still was worth it for me. If you do already have a power meter, and are still looking at smart trainers, make sure if you have powertap wheel you get a wheel-on trainer, so you don't lose your actual power readings. My Snap power readings are wildly inaccurate vs my powertap, even though they claim good accuracy.
If you can't afford it, just buy a quality trainer that zwift has a power curve for. But it's worth it to buy a smart trainer if it's not going to break the bank.
If you don't have a smart trainer, it doesn't vary the resistance, so you don't feel the hills. You would shift into a harder gear on a hill to make the resistance harder and output more watts to try to maintain a faster speed in the game. It takes a few minutes to get used to up-shifting on a hill, but once you are used to it, it's fairly good game experience.
If you have a smart trainer, it will increase resistance for you, so you tend to find yourself shifting into a lower gear. It's a more realistic game experience.
If you can afford a smart trainer, it's a much more immersive experience, and you can use the intervals in ERG mode. If you already have a power meter, the payback is a bit less to use a smart trainer, but still was worth it for me. If you do already have a power meter, and are still looking at smart trainers, make sure if you have powertap wheel you get a wheel-on trainer, so you don't lose your actual power readings. My Snap power readings are wildly inaccurate vs my powertap, even though they claim good accuracy.
If you can't afford it, just buy a quality trainer that zwift has a power curve for. But it's worth it to buy a smart trainer if it's not going to break the bank.
06-15-17, 07:19 AM
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I've used a Kurt Kinetic trainer and a Kickr Snap, both with a powertap wheel.
If you don't have a smart trainer, it doesn't vary the resistance, so you don't feel the hills. You would shift into a harder gear on a hill to make the resistance harder and output more watts to try to maintain a faster speed in the game. It takes a few minutes to get used to up-shifting on a hill, but once you are used to it, it's fairly good game experience.
If you have a smart trainer, it will increase resistance for you, so you tend to find yourself shifting into a lower gear. It's a more realistic game experience.
If you can afford a smart trainer, it's a much more immersive experience, and you can use the intervals in ERG mode. If you already have a power meter, the payback is a bit less to use a smart trainer, but still was worth it for me. If you do already have a power meter, and are still looking at smart trainers, make sure if you have powertap wheel you get a wheel-on trainer, so you don't lose your actual power readings. My Snap power readings are wildly inaccurate vs my powertap, even though they claim good accuracy.
If you can't afford it, just buy a quality trainer that zwift has a power curve for. But it's worth it to buy a smart trainer if it's not going to break the bank.
If you don't have a smart trainer, it doesn't vary the resistance, so you don't feel the hills. You would shift into a harder gear on a hill to make the resistance harder and output more watts to try to maintain a faster speed in the game. It takes a few minutes to get used to up-shifting on a hill, but once you are used to it, it's fairly good game experience.
If you have a smart trainer, it will increase resistance for you, so you tend to find yourself shifting into a lower gear. It's a more realistic game experience.
If you can afford a smart trainer, it's a much more immersive experience, and you can use the intervals in ERG mode. If you already have a power meter, the payback is a bit less to use a smart trainer, but still was worth it for me. If you do already have a power meter, and are still looking at smart trainers, make sure if you have powertap wheel you get a wheel-on trainer, so you don't lose your actual power readings. My Snap power readings are wildly inaccurate vs my powertap, even though they claim good accuracy.
If you can't afford it, just buy a quality trainer that zwift has a power curve for. But it's worth it to buy a smart trainer if it's not going to break the bank.
My list so far are:
Go cheap and get 2nd hand Cycleops Fluid 2 for around US$80
Buy new:
Tacx Satori Smart (semi smart, resistance is still manually set)
Tacx Vortex Smart (but apparently theres no flywheel on it)
Elite Digital Smart B+ (have to wait till August)
Elite Rampa (most expensive for my budget)
06-15-17, 09:48 AM
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I'm on Zwift for about half of my cycling hours. We use a Wahoo Kickr. PC software and the smart trainer have made indoor cycling much more attractive than it was a few years ago with a fluid trainer and looking at a garage wall.
With that said, getting started with a Fluid 2 at $80 sounds appealing. Not everyone enjoys Zwift. Maybe try it out for a while, and see if you get the Zwift bug, and if you think a smart trainer would make a big difference.
With that said, getting started with a Fluid 2 at $80 sounds appealing. Not everyone enjoys Zwift. Maybe try it out for a while, and see if you get the Zwift bug, and if you think a smart trainer would make a big difference.
06-15-17, 09:57 AM
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The power meter function that a smart trainer will give you is going to make a huge difference in your Zwift experience.
06-18-17, 06:40 PM
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I've used a Kurt Kinetic trainer and a Kickr Snap, both with a powertap wheel.
If you don't have a smart trainer, it doesn't vary the resistance, so you don't feel the hills. You would shift into a harder gear on a hill to make the resistance harder and output more watts to try to maintain a faster speed in the game. It takes a few minutes to get used to up-shifting on a hill, but once you are used to it, it's fairly good game experience.
If you have a smart trainer, it will increase resistance for you, so you tend to find yourself shifting into a lower gear. It's a more realistic game experience.
If you can afford a smart trainer, it's a much more immersive experience, and you can use the intervals in ERG mode. If you already have a power meter, the payback is a bit less to use a smart trainer, but still was worth it for me. If you do already have a power meter, and are still looking at smart trainers, make sure if you have powertap wheel you get a wheel-on trainer, so you don't lose your actual power readings. My Snap power readings are wildly inaccurate vs my powertap, even though they claim good accuracy.
If you can't afford it, just buy a quality trainer that zwift has a power curve for. But it's worth it to buy a smart trainer if it's not going to break the bank.
If you don't have a smart trainer, it doesn't vary the resistance, so you don't feel the hills. You would shift into a harder gear on a hill to make the resistance harder and output more watts to try to maintain a faster speed in the game. It takes a few minutes to get used to up-shifting on a hill, but once you are used to it, it's fairly good game experience.
If you have a smart trainer, it will increase resistance for you, so you tend to find yourself shifting into a lower gear. It's a more realistic game experience.
If you can afford a smart trainer, it's a much more immersive experience, and you can use the intervals in ERG mode. If you already have a power meter, the payback is a bit less to use a smart trainer, but still was worth it for me. If you do already have a power meter, and are still looking at smart trainers, make sure if you have powertap wheel you get a wheel-on trainer, so you don't lose your actual power readings. My Snap power readings are wildly inaccurate vs my powertap, even though they claim good accuracy.
If you can't afford it, just buy a quality trainer that zwift has a power curve for. But it's worth it to buy a smart trainer if it's not going to break the bank.
06-18-17, 08:19 PM
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Good move getting the used fluid2 to start. Im using a kinetic and im going to patiently watch the smart technology evolve over the next year before i make a move on one. Seems smart trainer options and specs are getting better quickly.
06-19-17, 10:43 PM
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The Smart trainer technology is well evolved now mate - Kickr was available to the masses around 2013-2014, but there was no software to support its capabilities then.
What has evolved, is the availability of numerous models of smart trainer now, as manufacturers cater to the full spectrum of user budget levels.
My advice would be that if you can get onto a smart trainer, then now is as good a time as any to enjoy the benefits they provide.
cheers
06-20-17, 07:28 PM
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Just did the Zwift FTP and it provide way more resistance than I could even use. Resistance levels isn't an issue.
06-20-17, 07:31 PM
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The Smart trainer technology is well evolved now mate - Kickr was available to the masses around 2013-2014, but there was no software to support its capabilities then.
What has evolved, is the availability of numerous models of smart trainer now, as manufacturers cater to the full spectrum of user budget levels.
My advice would be that if you can get onto a smart trainer, then now is as good a time as any to enjoy the benefits they provide.
cheers
What has evolved, is the availability of numerous models of smart trainer now, as manufacturers cater to the full spectrum of user budget levels.
My advice would be that if you can get onto a smart trainer, then now is as good a time as any to enjoy the benefits they provide.
cheers
whole list of them available now.
Tacx Flux (but looks like this model has problems)
Wahoo Kickr Snap
Elite Qubo Digital smart B+ (cheapest of the bunch)
Cycleops Magnus
Kinetic road machine smart
06-20-17, 09:48 PM
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I would recommend not buying a smart trainer. Last Christmas I treated myself to a Tacx Neo, on sale. I've ridden outside once since then. In between Zwift, and Fulgaz ( only on ipad for now), I can't find a good reason to go outside when I can ride realistically anywhere in the world now. Realistic except for the heat, the cold, and the wind.
