Originally Posted by
caloso
These "smart" trainers sure seem to need a lot of tweaking. I'm not sure I'm smart enough to ride a smart trainer, so maybe I'll just keep my PM+fluid trainer and turn the pedals over harder when I want to go faster on screen.
I did that earlier this year, using a video someone recorded of climbing Old La Honda Rd in Woodside, and using my memory of it to adjust the gearing to how it feels at certain points - like the 20% grade on the inside line on that one hairpin - and it works, but it feels strange to shift to a bigger gear when the grade increases.
The thing I like about the smart trainer is that I can just shift like I normally would when the road kicks up, because it gets harder to pedal. Feels more like riding on the road, to me, which I need to stay engaged, if I'm not on the actual road. But you're right, you don't actually NEED a smart trainer.
Then again, I don't really NEED 4 bikes, either..........