schwim

Hello there, everyone!

I'm struggling to dig my way out of a poor physical condition and would like to ride more than I can right now. I've always hated just sitting on a stationary bike and staring into space for an hour or so and my brother is using something that I thought was pretty cool-Zwift. The issue I have is that I need to get into it as inexpensively as possible. I'd like a wheel on trainer due to it's simplicity and being able to just mount whatever bike is handy to use.

What I can't seem to figure out is if there's a wheel-on trainer that supports the ability to change resistance as you're riding. I'm reading Amazon reviews and specifications and it keeps mentioning that a model can "with a speed sensor" which is where I get stuck.

Can anyone tell me the least expensive method of getting into a Zwift-compatible trainer that can handle changing the resistance based on the Zwift ride?

Thanks for your time!

Mad Honk 

Easiest and cheapest is to find a wind trainer and use the different gears on the bike to increase or decrease resistance. Smiles, MH

philbob57

Kurt Kinetics' Road Machine Control will do that; it's on sale for $349. It looks like they're closing them out in favor of their wheel-off trainer that starts at $349.

tempocyclist

Wahoo KICKR Snap. Not the cheapest, but it's well built, very reliable and accurate. Gives a great "road feel" with automatic resistance control. It's one of the best wheel-on smart trainers you can buy.

If that's in your price range then you will not be disappointed.

Viich

There are a few very good wheel-on trainers that do have controllable resistance. I used a Kickr Snap for several years. I'm not sure it's the absolute cheapest, but it's less expensive than direct-drive options and is very solidly built.

I will say though - I know it seems now like a wheel-on trainer is easier - it's actually as easy and faster to install a bike on a direct-drive trainer than a wheel on.

genejockey 

Totally agree. If you don't want to/can't afford to buy one new, you might find one on Craigs List or FB Marketplace for a lot less. I've had one for a year and some, and it's great! When I used to try to keep fit through the winter with a stationary trainer, I had a hell of a time riding more than about 40 minutes at a time and I ended up so dreading the sessions that after a few weeks I'd give up altogether. With Zwift, I'll do 3-4 sessions of an hour plus through the winter, plus a long ride on Sundays if weather allows, so I don't start in Spring with no fitness.

I have used a "dumb trainer" on Zwift, with 'Zpower', which is Zwift's way of calculating power output, using the resistance profile of a number of models they've tested, plus your cadence, and the input from a speed sensor on your rear wheel. Resistance doesn't change, so you have to change gears to make it harder or easier with terrain. And of course you're changing gears the opposite to how you do it on the road - going to a smaller cogs when you reach a hill, instead of larger, for example. And it's pretty optimistic, which is why they don't let riders using zPower to win races.

RChung

This is good advice.

If your budget is really limited and you're unsure if you really want to get into it, you can often find a dumb wheel-on trainer on Craigslist or Ebay for under $50 (or better yet, perhaps you can borrow one from a friend for a couple of weeks), then get a Bluetooth speed sensor for your rear wheel for $20. Then sign up for Zwift's free 30-day trial. It's not as nice as something like the Wahoo Kickr Snap because you have to shift gears to change the resistance but it will give you an idea of whether you'd like it. You'll probably also want a big ass box fan.