Hello,

I have "googled" a lot about indoor bike trainers and I’m finally confused. I’m searching for a bike trainer that can connect to internet and can use various routes (say from google maps or whatever) and that has variable resistance controlled by computer (e.g.: to automatically increase resistance when climbing a hill on the map, and reduce it on flats). Is there an option available in the range of 500-600 $?

Thanks,
Red

There are several on Amazon close to that range.
The one I like the best is the Elite Turbo Muin B+
Direct drive, quite, BT/Ant+ connectivity and you can used 9, 10,11 speed cassettes of your choice.
Im sure it would work well with Zwift too.
Amazon

Another good option is the Tacx Votex Smart

If you are thinking of using Zwift, check here for compatible devices.

There are only a few in that price range at this time. Some are less expensive overseas

tacx vortex smart
tacx bushido smart

Thank you for the answers.
I think some specifications from the suppliers are misleading, therefore I’m still struggling to clarify for myself:

@aubicat: it seems that resistance for Elite Turbo Muin B+ is based on a propeller rotating in a fluid. That would mean that its resistance increases with the increase of rider’s pedaling cadence – like riding on flat roads. But for a real climb, the resistance increases for the same cadence and the same gear – and I think Elite Turbo Muin can not do that, since it is just a propeller rotating into a fluid and its resistance can only vary with cadence, for a given gear.
Am I wrong?

@eric1971 and mvnsnd: About Tacx. should I understand that, once they have electro brake or electric motor brake, they can simulate climbs (e.g.: to increase resistance at the same cadence and bike gear, according to a slope that is simulated by the computer or by online systems such as Zwift)? Is my understanding correct?

No problem to search “overseas” – I am located in Europe.

If you can up your budget just a little, the Wahoo Kickr Snap is a great tool:

KICKR SNAP Bike Trainer - Devices

I have the regular Kickr and it has transformed my fitness, and removed a significant amount of the indoor cycling dread.

I recently purchased the Tacx Votex smart trainer and am using it on zwift with my desktop PC and a wireless ant+ dongle. The key is get on zwift and let the program vary the resistance automatically while you go up and down the hills and you compete against other riders interactively. It makes the whole riding on a trainer very enjoyable. It cost $529 shipping included from Indy cycles.

Watching videos while you are a trainer is not the answer. Interactivity while you are riding is what is the game changer. I can do a 90 minute ride at 20 MPH and it is very enjoyable!

Yes, it will automatically adjust resistance when using it w/ a program such as Zwift. It also comes with its own training software.

I run the BKool Pro smart trainer with the BKool web based program for routes which allows me to ride other people's routes and routes of my own creation. The newer BKool Pro trainers will sync with Zwift. Cost of the BKool trainer was $650.00, but I think have gone to just under $700.00. I have put 300 miles on mine in 2015 and a couple hundred miles in 2014 and it has held up well under my 360 pound weight.

i recently purchased a Vortex and love it. It simulates climbs to 7 degrees, and the resistance is intuitive when riding with Zwift.

Yes, the true 'smart' trainers use electronically controlled resistance to simulate what is seen on a screen (an incline or power target). The amount of resistance is fed to the trainer by the software through the use of an ANT+ dongle or Bluetooth connection from a PC depending on the trainer.

Thanks for the answers, now I do understand more, but still need some important information…

All the prices are highly misleading on the web, but it looks that:

“Real Turbo Muin” can do the work, but the price is well above 1000 USD (maybe 1500); there is a confusion on the market with “Turbo Muin Smart B+” (range 500 USD) that look pretty much the same but does not have dynamic variable resistance.

Wahoo “KICKR SNAP Bike Trainer” also can do the work, but the price is in the range of 750-800 USD, sensors not included; it is not clear whether the software and Windows PC communication is included in this price.

Tacx Vortex ($400+) or Bushido ($500+) can also do the work with dynamic variable resistance. However, further $150+ should be spent for PC connection and for Tacx software. So, the real price is $550+ for Vortex and $650+ for Bushido. Furthermore, around $65 per year should be spent to “ride” online on their platform, or $45 to “ride” on google maps. It still looks the cheapest, however:

If I start by buying Tacx Bushido standard package ($500+) without PC connection kit ($150+), what can I achieve with that?

Does it have speed and cadence sensors?
Does it have a screen or connection to Android smartphone, to monitor parameters?
Is there any kind of video interaction and automatic management of the resistance according to it – on Windows PC or at least on Android smartphone?

Thanks,
Red

My Winter 2015-2016 Bike Trainer Recommendations | DC Rainmaker

Tacx Vortex Smart is what I have and love it.

Thanks to this thread and more research I have decided on the Tacx Vortex. I read DC Rainmakers recommendations and many others. The realistic feedback from Zwift, BKool and other makes it a good choice. In the end the Tacx Bushido was the only other choice and it might still be in my future.
Right now the Vortex is a good choice because it gets you in the smart trainer game for a reasonable price.
It has the speed, cadence and power built in. It has to have a firmware upgrade to Ant+ FC-E protocol to work with 3rd party software like Zwift but that is done with an iPhone or Android app.

For my set up I will be training in my living room because I have a big screen TV and an HTPC. I'll be using an Ant+ dongle to connect the Vector with the PC.

[MENTION=419708]Redbullet[/MENTION] - I don't think you need the PC connection kit. A simple ANT+ dongle and USB extension cord is all it really takes. I do that with Zwift without issues, albeit on a Mac.

Thanks [MENTION=349639]aubiecat[/MENTION]
[MENTION=423178]thin_concrete[/MENTION]


Thanks, it sounds logical.
But what if I want to use Windows laptop and Android 5.1.0 smartphone? Do I need one ANT+ dongle for each of them (with micro usb for smartphone and with large usb for laptop)?

And still... there is blue tooth available on laptop and on smartphone as well. They say that the new Tacx trainers (starting with Bushido; I'm not sure about Vortex) have blue tooth interface. Can that be used instead of ANT+?

Thanks,
Red

You will need an Ant+ dongle with Windows. You may or may not need an Ant+ dongle with your Android phone. My Galaxy Note 2 doesn't have Ant+ but I can use a OTG extension and a dongle. My Galaxy Note 4 and Tab S have Ant+ built in. Anyone with an Apple device will have to use the dongle as well.
If you aren't sure if your Android device has ant service go to Google play and download Ant+ tester.
Blue tooth is only good for their basic app. If you want to "play" on third party software like Zwift and/or BKool you'll have to have access to Ant+.
I suspect Ant+ requirement is because it's a cycling industry electronics communication standard. Some have blue tooth capability but Garmin and Shimano, for instance, are exclusively Ant+.
I ordered the Docooler Ant+ dongle because it's half the price of the Garmin one and it had good ratings with people reporting success using the very setup I will be using. If you need to use a dongle on your phone you'll need one of these OTG extensions. You may or may not need a USB extension for your laptop. It depends on how close you keep your laptop to the trainer.

@aubiecat

Thank you, very useful information. Ant+ tester says that my Samsung Galaxy S4 has ant+ service included.
Finally, I changed my mind and I ordered Tacx Ironman. The price was higher - around 700 EUR, but they pretend it is more realistic than Bushido and it has "update smart" package - software and antena ant+ included for connecting to PC.

I don't know whether upgrade smart has ant+ usb for PC included - I'll wait for delivery and see then.

Thanks,
Red

You dont need any type of dongle for the smart phone. All the stuff from zwift and the trainer goes to the computer through the internet connection and the USB dongle. The smart phone also just connects to the internet through a Blue tooth wireless connection. Zwift says that both the computer and the phone have to be connected to the same network. Mine works fine both ways and I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 active. I have the Tack Vortex and I bought mine for $529, dongle was $20 on amazon. No other software or hardware needed. No extra Kit from Tacx needed as that is only if you want to run the trainer with their program. I run mine with zwift, and thats all you need.

Thanks.
In fact, I switched my attention from Bushido to Tacx Ironman smart because they claim a bigger "mass inertia" effect (125 for Ironman versus 60 for Bushido) and Ironman also has descent simulation, whilst Bushido does not offer it - overall, those might help for a more realistic feeling. Ironman also has bigger braking power, although I'll probably not take benefit from it - I don't have very strong legs.

Ironman comes as standard with the so called "upgrade smart", including their expensive software - you are not allowed to drop it to save money. I understood today that "upgrade smart" also contains an USB ANT+ device for PC. They call it "ANT+ Antenna", which is somehow misleading - in fact, I understand that this is the equivalent of an USB ANT+ stick for PC, but with a long cable.

I hope I did not make a wrong choice. I might come back to share some impressions some 10 days later, after I receive and use the trainer; however, I shall not be able to make comparisons - I don't have friends who own Bushido, to allow me testing.

Thanks,
Red

The Bushido and Vortex are pretty much the same machine, just that the Bushido doesn't have to be plugged in if I recall correctly. I personally didn't find the price difference worth it.

They claim that Bushido should be better than Vortex (apart from not plugging) - bigger "inertia mass" simulation and bigger braking power, so... it is better for sure on the paper, but maybe there is no such material difference in real feeling. Anyway, my option was Ironman... I hope there would be a difference in feeling as well. Otherwise... I paid more for figures on the paper and for marketing...

and supposedly simulation for up to a 15% slope (bushido) vs. 7% (vortex). Personally, in the comfort of of my living room, I'm not sure I'm game for doing 15% climbs all that often...

Redbullet, I think you made a wise choice. You will probably never have to upgrade to get more power features to enhance your training later on. The 7% on the Vortex was the only thing that really concerns me. Maybe I should have sprung for the Bushido. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

I don't know, I don't have a good representation of climbing slope in percentages. When my bike computer shows 4% in real life (based on air pressure change), I have to input a huge effort with 36/25 ratio. I feel a clear increase of effort even on a slope where my bike computer shows 1%. It looks like I almost cold not climb a 7% slope, let alone 15 or 20%... (I did not find such monsters yet). I think that my bike computer is totally unreliable in measuring slope in percentages, so I have no idea about what a real 7% means in effort.