I need a trainer under $350 to use with Zwift. What one?
 

O just downloaded Zwift on my computer to see if it would play - it's an older computer. It looks like it works.

So now I need a trainer :)

Can anyone recommend one for under $350. I am in Tennessee, US and yes I will order online. I realize I won't be able to get a "smart" trainer, but oh well. I will just have to add the ant+dongle thingy and a speed/cadence sensor.

IMHO this is the best non-smart fluid trainer on the market.

http://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-Machin...c+road+machine

This version has a Bluetooth power-meter (which also gives you speed and cadence) attached for an extra $30:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01..._al_bw_g468_i3

But Zwift don't support Bluetooth, so that doesn't do you much good.

I think it was posted in the other Zwift thread that it actually does support bluetooth if you tether an iphone to the trainer? The Zwift website seems to indicate that the functionality is still in the pipeline, but the company's founder posted this in the other thread-

To be honest, I'm not sure how that works. I assume you still need a laptop hooked up to your TV to see the avatar and enjoy the virtual immersion of the experience, but if the phone is the device communicating with your trainer then does the phone also sync with your laptop via wifi or what?
@jmX, any advice on this?

Edited: https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/articles/206576683

This seems to answer my question, the phone acts as a bluetooth bridge that is also tethered to your computer. This seems to be the easiest solution, as there are generic BT speed sensors on ebay for ~$20.

I was just going on what I read on the Zwift website. I have 2 months of free Zwift through Strava, so I should try it out. I have my doubts that it'll support the inRide pod however. I use it with TrainerRoad.

EDIT: I just downloaded the Zwift link app, and it does seem to suggest that it supports Bluetooth sensors. Again, I doubt it'll work with the inRide pod, but I'll give it a go when I'm on my trainer next.

I wanted to get on Zwift before the winter. Of course I wanted a smart trainer, but didn't have 1k laying around for a Kickr, so I got the Performance Comp Fluid for $99 (it lists for $199 but it's almost always on sale for $99-$129). Spending a bunch for a "premium" dumb trainer to get on the Island just didn't make sense.

As it turns out I am impressed with the Performance trainer, it's solid, very smooth (once warmed up) and provides all the resistance I can handle. I really don't think the Zwift experience would be any better with a more expensive dumb trainer.

Ant+ dongle is around $25 and a BT/Ant + speed cadence sensor is about $40-$50.

That's what I thought until I bought a Kurt with the "pro" +12 pound flywheel upgrade (18.25 total) and returned my Performance trainer.

It has much higher inertial load so it feels better, more like riding on the road. Indoor power is higher (likely less limited by dead spots pedaling) which should produce better training impact on outdoor performance.

Kurt on left, performance on right. "Pro" flywheel on top of standard.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=490002

The Kurt is more stable, mounting mechanism with quick release faster, resistance varies less for virtual power, and it's leak-proof.

The CycleOps Fluid 2 is also a bit light, with just 2.75 pounds of flywheel weight.

Yea... no offense to your choice of purchase, but a "good" dumb trainer doesn't need to be warmed up to be smooth. Cyclops makes good stuff. So does Kurt. Both around $300 for their basic fluid trainer. I recommend Kurt Kinetic; no dynamic seal around the shaft to worry about wearing out (they use a fully sealed resistance unit connected to the roller by a magnetic linkage). Mine is still running strong after hundreds of miles and about 6 years on it.

EDIT: to add to the above comment... I've not experience the 12lb weighted flywheel, but I can say that Kurt's standard product with the smaller flywheel still feels much more "road-like" than any of the cheap trainers I've used.

Very happy with my new Cyclops Jet Pro, its a lot like the Fluid II I had. For the record I have never experienced a leaking unit and understand that issue has been resolved. I have noticed that the Jet Pro runs cooler than the Fluid II did. Its been a great tool so far but my desire to use it along with my Sufferfest videos plays into that. Nothing is like ridding outside. This is close to real world ridding and I get a better workout as far as intervals go.

You can get the Tacx Vortex Smart from Ribble for $354 shipped for free. If your budget is $350, I'd splurge and spend the extra $4.
Tacx T2180 Vortex Smart Trainer, Trainers/Rollers, TRAINERS / ROLLERS

I ordered my Tacx Bushido Smart from them for less than $500 at the time, free shipping, and it showed up within a week.

+1 Kirk Kinetic is on sale everywhere for $300 just about everywhere until Nov 28th I think. It's solid with a stable resistance curve that translates to fairly accurate approximation of power/watts.

It takes about 30 seconds to warm up, it's not really significant, my legs take longer than that. I don't doubt the Kurt or Cycleops are better, they should be for 3X the price. But I know I won't be satisfied until I get a Wahoo Kickr.

So replacing the skewer. Can you leave on the Kinetic skewer always? So I don't have to change it out for outdoor riding in the winter?

My KK skewer is always on my bike on the road.

Really, it's just an old school heavy steel skewer.

I use a spare wheel for my trainer, which also has a trainer tire on it, but there's no reason why you can't just ride the bike with the KK skewer on it, unless you're really bothered about the aesthetics of it, it's just a regular old style skewer.

It says it is not available outside the UK.

FYI I just had a chance to try Zwift with the new Bluetooth support (needs iPhone app), and was able to successfully pair it to my HR strap, cadence meter, and perhaps more importantly, my Kurt Kinetic inRide power meter pod. So for the first time, I'm actually able to propel myself down the road in Zwift (I have no ANT+ dongle). It requires some steps as it's in Beta, but it looks like Zwift will soon support this setup well.

Caveat about the inRide: I tried it with the v1 pod. The v2 pods (which presumably come included in the new trainers) may not work.

It's just a skewer, it takes like what, 15 seconds to swap?

Whoa, that just changed. PBK has it for $336 tho.
Tacx Vortex Smart Trainer | ProBikeKit.com

For whatever reason, they're drastically cheaper in the UK. I love my Bushido Smart, which PBK has for $491. Totally worth it in my opinion.

With the inRide, Are you able to calibrate or at least retain calibration settings using Zwift?
Very interested in the inRide, but the calibration feature is an important one, otherwise don't see how it would be any more accurate then zPower, which I'm currently using? since there will still be the variables of tension knob, tire pressure etc.

Waiting to learn more, and still seems like they are working things out both from Zwift and Kinetic devs....otherwise would rather save $100, and put it towards a real Power Meter.

+1 for tacx vortex smart. People recommend it for $650, which is what it goes for at LBS's here in the States. You can snag one for $320 including shipping from European sites. However, you will need a transformer which is another $40-$100. I did plenty of research and it is a steal compared to other trainers in this price range. I actually just ordered one today.

OK. I have spent the afternoon with Zwift and the inRide pod. Here's my feeling: I don't think the Zwift concept works without a smart trainer. I'm sure some will disagree with me, but I found that the lack of actual feedback when you climb to take me out of the experience totally. I didn't really feel like I was riding a bike, despite the fancy 3D graphics. I think with a KICKR it would rock, but with a dumb trainer, not so much. Maybe it'll grow on me, but I much prefer using software like TrainerRoad where it's all about hitting Power targets using gears and cadence, which is a much less abstract concept than purposely putting yourself in a harder gear when climbing.

As for calibration of the inRide pod: No, it's not there that I can see, the support is very much "alpha" I would say, even though they call it beta. The power reading off the inRide pod was way off, I was blowing past everyone with ease and running 350W average with no effort. Clearly this is wrong. With TrainerRoad I tried it calibrated and the same effort I was getting 350W in Zwift, I would say was more in the 200W range. Calibration is important, and it's not there.

BTW a calibrated inRide pod is much better than "Virtual Power", I can attest to that. For one thing, power goes to zero pretty much the instant you stop pedalling, rather than tailing off, plus the spindown calibration means that the systematic error is much smaller, and training feels much more consistent.

Saw this as Nashbar deal, and I think supported by Zwift.. only $112 reduced from supposedly $370
Elite Fluid Trainer - Closeout

I think to really enjoy the zWift you need a smart trainer. I just picket up a Tacx Vortex smart and zWift is a whole different story now.

Thanks Dr_lha very helpful. Guess I'll hold out longer and see what develops in the near term, and If not will either go for a PM or maybe even look into a SmartTrainer.

Keep reading posts on the various Zwift fora, with folks having SmartTrainer issues, which scares me off a bit. I'm sure they'll become more and more reliable and hopefully cheaper over time.
Wouldn't say I'm not enjoying Zwift though without one - I'm coming up on 2,000 miles on Zwift since may and between group rides and races, and getting my butt kicked! and now intervals in new workout mode, it's definitely keeping me well motivated to ride longer and harder indoors, than I would otherwise.

+2. You can pickup the Vortex Smart from the German online sites for about $300 plus shipping. DC Rainmaker reviewed this unit favorably and I don't think you need the transformer just a cheap plug adapter (about $1-2) to run these in the US. I just ordered the Genius Smart for $620 including shipping from bike-discount.de and it was shipped from them in about 12 hrs from when I placed my order, cheapest US dealers list that at $1100. I can update you on the power cord situation when it arrives next week.