Help: Tacx Neo or Wattbike Atom
Discussion
I'm thinking of buying one of these trainers and it will probably also be used by my wife and 11yr daughter. We all enjoy mtb riding, currently up around Glentress, but I need to loose weight and get my fitness back. Im not getting out on my bike as much as id like and the cold wet weather wont help. I want a 'smart' bike that will interact with software to make it less mind numbing, pedalling away staring at a wall. Both these bikes seem to fit that requirement. Im not interested in a Peleton.
The thing stopping me is the rider size capability of the trainers. Im 6ft2 so will fit both bikes easily, whereas my wife is vertically challenged at 5ft1'ish. My daughter is only 11 and is a little taller than the wife. My concern is the crossbar on the Atom may make it difficult for my wife to get on, whereas the Neo is probably easier. Rider height for the Atom is a claimed 5'-6'5". Alas i cant find the info for the Neo.
The crossbar issue should put the ball firmly in the Neo court, but then i start reading reviews and note that no bike seems perfect and some have issues that cant be overcome in software.
We can get the Neo at a very good price which is (much) less than the Atom, which has just increased.
Does anybody have either of these trainers and care to pass comment , good or bad.
The thing stopping me is the rider size capability of the trainers. Im 6ft2 so will fit both bikes easily, whereas my wife is vertically challenged at 5ft1'ish. My daughter is only 11 and is a little taller than the wife. My concern is the crossbar on the Atom may make it difficult for my wife to get on, whereas the Neo is probably easier. Rider height for the Atom is a claimed 5'-6'5". Alas i cant find the info for the Neo.
The crossbar issue should put the ball firmly in the Neo court, but then i start reading reviews and note that no bike seems perfect and some have issues that cant be overcome in software.
We can get the Neo at a very good price which is (much) less than the Atom, which has just increased.
Does anybody have either of these trainers and care to pass comment , good or bad.
I have an Atom which i use 5th 10 and the Mrs 5 ft 6 no issues at all, takes seconds to adjust which is why I went for an Atom over a Neo/Kickr etc as I couldn't be arsed changing bikes over each time.
It's a great bit of kit and can be used with all the usual apps such as Trainerroad, Zwift, Sufferfest etc. The Wattbike hub app is free to use and has plenty of workouts to do
It's a great bit of kit and can be used with all the usual apps such as Trainerroad, Zwift, Sufferfest etc. The Wattbike hub app is free to use and has plenty of workouts to do
I’ve had a Tacx Neo bike for 18months.
It’s great for Zwift and similar other apps.
It’ll go small enough for your wife and daughter.
Adjusting seats and handlebars is fairly quick, the points are all numbered so just keep a note of your size.
I’ve heard from friends with Atoms that they’re not as great on Zwift, the gearing particularly not being adjustable to match your on road set up.
It’s great for Zwift and similar other apps.
It’ll go small enough for your wife and daughter.
Adjusting seats and handlebars is fairly quick, the points are all numbered so just keep a note of your size.
I’ve heard from friends with Atoms that they’re not as great on Zwift, the gearing particularly not being adjustable to match your on road set up.
lauda said:
andy-ski said:
I’ve heard from friends with Atoms that they’re not as great on Zwift, the gearing particularly not being adjustable to match your on road set up.
There are now several gearing options in the Wattbike app to choose from which are then applied in other apps, like Zwift. Being at the height limit of the Atom, I ended buying the Stages SB20 which allows heights from 4ft 10" to 6ft 10", we've had it for about 12 months and so far its been faultless.
Solid piece of kit, its so much quieter than my smart trainer and no need to swap over bikes anymore. Some nice touches like dual USB for charging phone & tablet.
Solid piece of kit, its so much quieter than my smart trainer and no need to swap over bikes anymore. Some nice touches like dual USB for charging phone & tablet.
I have the Atom, and love it, wouldn't go back to a turbo.
Used with fulgaz it gives me virtual rides all over the world and on a rocker plate it feels much better than being locked in place.
Lots of gearing options, but after trying them all I went back to linear gears as I didn't see much advantage in making it like my road bike set up and it was one less thing to have to tweak.
Tried it also using my power meter pedals alongside the wattbike power meter, and the power readings were the same as near as could be measured.
I only use the wattbike hub to do firmware updates as I'm not one for old fashioned training programmes, tried zwift but didn't get on with the computer game feel, and rouvy was just weird due the the videos being recorded on every vehicle except a bike, whereas the majority of fulgaz are done on a bike.
Had the Atom since the first lockdown, if I had my time again, I'd buy exactly the same thing
Used with fulgaz it gives me virtual rides all over the world and on a rocker plate it feels much better than being locked in place.
Lots of gearing options, but after trying them all I went back to linear gears as I didn't see much advantage in making it like my road bike set up and it was one less thing to have to tweak.
Tried it also using my power meter pedals alongside the wattbike power meter, and the power readings were the same as near as could be measured.
I only use the wattbike hub to do firmware updates as I'm not one for old fashioned training programmes, tried zwift but didn't get on with the computer game feel, and rouvy was just weird due the the videos being recorded on every vehicle except a bike, whereas the majority of fulgaz are done on a bike.
Had the Atom since the first lockdown, if I had my time again, I'd buy exactly the same thing
As the OP i wanted to re-visit this and ask for further advice.
Just placed an order for the Stages SB20 and now need to select the software. Its looking like we will trial Zwift, Fulgaz, MyWoosh and BKool.
My question is what hardware are people using to run their software?
We have a Samsung Android Pad which i plan to start off with, but id like to progress to something that can drive a large screen, plus the pad is generally used by our daughter.
It looks like its between a PC or Apple TV. I have no experience of Apple products and i think currently BKool and MyWoosh arent supported. Our Windows PC is pre 2015 with a naff graphics card, so probably needs updating, either completely or just graphics card.
Just placed an order for the Stages SB20 and now need to select the software. Its looking like we will trial Zwift, Fulgaz, MyWoosh and BKool.
My question is what hardware are people using to run their software?
We have a Samsung Android Pad which i plan to start off with, but id like to progress to something that can drive a large screen, plus the pad is generally used by our daughter.
It looks like its between a PC or Apple TV. I have no experience of Apple products and i think currently BKool and MyWoosh arent supported. Our Windows PC is pre 2015 with a naff graphics card, so probably needs updating, either completely or just graphics card.
Other apps a may look more realistic, or have a less cartoony interface, but Zwift just works.
I have used it with various trainers over the years, and now with my wattbike, and as a training tool, it’s all you need.
All I have ever used is an IPad to run Zwift, and never had any issues across the different trainers.
I have used it with various trainers over the years, and now with my wattbike, and as a training tool, it’s all you need.
All I have ever used is an IPad to run Zwift, and never had any issues across the different trainers.
Edited by andyeds1234 on Sunday 19th March 13:15
ED209 said:
We had a neo, excellent bit of kit had it five years and done over 20000 miles on it and it’s been faultless. The only issue was swapping our bikes over every day. The solution was to buy another neo so now we have his and hers neos.
Lol...we've done exactly the same thing!Commenting on both aspects.
Hardware, I've got a Wahoo KICKR bike. Had it for 3 years, done over 30,000 miles on it. Still rides like brand new. Never had a problem with it.
It can be adapted to my daughter 4'8 right the way through to my son at 6'4. Beauty of it is, the fit is all managed by the app.
On Software, I use the Wahoo suit, used to be sufferfest, now RGT and SYSTM. Both great, both very much structured training, I prefer them. But, Zwift is the more enjoyable riding environment. for 99% of users.
Hardware, I've got a Wahoo KICKR bike. Had it for 3 years, done over 30,000 miles on it. Still rides like brand new. Never had a problem with it.
It can be adapted to my daughter 4'8 right the way through to my son at 6'4. Beauty of it is, the fit is all managed by the app.
On Software, I use the Wahoo suit, used to be sufferfest, now RGT and SYSTM. Both great, both very much structured training, I prefer them. But, Zwift is the more enjoyable riding environment. for 99% of users.
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