Smart Trainers
Author
Discussion

ferrisbueller

Original Poster:

30,241 posts

253 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
Having just endured a cold, windy, muddy and puncture riddled ride, I'm back to looking at indoor trainers. I need something interactive as just sitting spinning a basic trainer has been tried before and wasn't for me.

Is it worth the £700 or so to get something like a Wahoo?

What else are people using/recommending please?

z4RRSchris

12,469 posts

205 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
get a kickr

ferrisbueller

Original Poster:

30,241 posts

253 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
z4RRSchris said:
get a kickr
Core or the full blown £1k job?

Mastodon2

14,264 posts

191 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
Covered in depth last week:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

In short, I highly recommend Zwift and a Wahoo Kickr. Very easy to do structured, very high intensity training which can be difficult on the road and a great way to build fitness if you don't want to ride in wind, rain, ice, snow or darkness, or a combination of any or all of the aforementioned conditions.

Edit: I've got the top line Kickr. Worth the cash imo, the heavier flywheel feels very realistic.

z4RRSchris

12,469 posts

205 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
Core or the full blown £1k job?
same thing. core is just the 2017 kickr on a different stand

Ares

11,275 posts

146 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
Having just endured a cold, windy, muddy and puncture riddled ride, I'm back to looking at indoor trainers. I need something interactive as just sitting spinning a basic trainer has been tried before and wasn't for me.

Is it worth the £700 or so to get something like a Wahoo?

What else are people using/recommending please?
Get a proper smart trainer, you won't be disappointed. I've gone from KICKR to KICKR Bike. They are amazing pieces of kit. I now do c300km per week indoors to complement c200km outdoors - my on-bike performance has rocketed since training on a smart trainer.

ferrisbueller

Original Poster:

30,241 posts

253 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Covered in depth last week:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

In short, I highly recommend Zwift and a Wahoo Kickr. Very easy to do structured, very high intensity training which can be difficult on the road and a great way to build fitness if you don't want to ride in wind, rain, ice, snow or darkness, or a combination of any or all of the aforementioned conditions.

Edit: I've got the top line Kickr. Worth the cash imo, the heavier flywheel feels very realistic.
Thanks. I did search, must have used the wrong terms. I'll have a read.

anonymous-user

80 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
Best of luck. Unless you're going top of the range the rest are in short supply.

Gareth79

8,812 posts

272 months

Thursday 15th October 2020
quotequote all
I have a smart trainer and as mentioned having a varying workout programme may be more useful than a "virtual ride". I tend to find a long running TV series I'm interested in watching, and have that on in the corner, then the time just disappears.

I have a Tacx Neo, the original version. The Neo 2T has been made slightly differently and the bearings are harder to replace, so definitely avoid that for now. Garmin have screwed up support for Tacx products so while it's an incredible machine (and I've had zero issues) I'd hesitate to recommend it right now.

TyrannosauRoss Lex

36,714 posts

238 months

Thursday 15th October 2020
quotequote all
I have a Kickr (and a Climb) and absolutely do not regret the expense. I mainly use Sufferfest (use a 32 inch TV hooked up to a laptop) and love it. I do well over 1/2 my riding on it. I am seemingly in the minority....I actually enjoy indoor training, often more than outdoor riding.

Many people who hate indoor training haven't tried such a set up....it makes it so, so much more enjoyable than a dumb trainer and a wall to look at.

Rich135

806 posts

268 months

Thursday 15th October 2020
quotequote all
I went for a Tacx Flux S with Zwift a few weeks ago and am really enjoying it so far. I have a dumb trainer sitting in a box in the loft as they just don't hold my attention!

SCH

29 posts

164 months

Thursday 15th October 2020
quotequote all
how about a recon Kickr Core from Wahoo and save £100:
https://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers/...

They seem to come in to stock fairly frequently.

_Hoppers

1,623 posts

91 months

Thursday 15th October 2020
quotequote all
I’ve just picked up an Elite Novo Smart from Halfords in Leeds.They’ve sold out for home delivery but there are a few stores with stock

Edited by _Hoppers on Thursday 15th October 19:16

Ares

11,275 posts

146 months

Friday 16th October 2020
quotequote all
Certainly a huge demand. I put my KICKR v2 (2017) on eBay last night. Within 2 hours I had 5 messages offering me £500/600 to end the auction early.


Teebs

5,734 posts

241 months

Friday 16th October 2020
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Just pre ordered a Kickr V5 from Prologue in Harrogate.

They are selling pretty quickly

ferrisbueller

Original Poster:

30,241 posts

253 months

Saturday 17th October 2020
quotequote all
Ares said:
Certainly a huge demand. I put my KICKR v2 (2017) on eBay last night. Within 2 hours I had 5 messages offering me £500/600 to end the auction early.
There's nothing in stock anywhere.

Mastodon2

14,264 posts

191 months

Saturday 17th October 2020
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
There's nothing in stock anywhere.
Have you tried buying from Wahoo? I got my Kickr from them in August, during "peak cycling", as it were.

Ares

11,275 posts

146 months

Saturday 17th October 2020
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
ferrisbueller said:
There's nothing in stock anywhere.
Have you tried buying from Wahoo? I got my Kickr from them in August, during "peak cycling", as it were.
In Bueller's defence, July & August saw most things back in stock during that brief period between lock downs complimented by decent weather.

My eBay posting is now over £500 with over 40 messages from people wanting to buy-it-now....!!

ferrisbueller

Original Poster:

30,241 posts

253 months

Saturday 17th October 2020
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
ferrisbueller said:
There's nothing in stock anywhere.
Have you tried buying from Wahoo? I got my Kickr from them in August, during "peak cycling", as it were.
Wahoo site shows no stock for me.

defblade

8,012 posts

239 months

Saturday 17th October 2020
quotequote all
I like my Saris H3. I've done about 1800km on it so far.

Had to get it from Germany due to UK stock issues, but it was over £100 cheaper than the UK price. They've still got them and they're still cheaper:
https://www.bike24.com/p2354121.html?menu=1000,5,6...