With winter approaching there will be days where I will not venture outside. Have never used a trainer with a simulator/ laptop before. I was wondering what folks here know or think about this device compared to other choices.
Bkool Smart Pro Turbo Trainer + Cycling Simulator

This is probably your best resource-

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/11/...pps-guide.html

Based on posts on this and other forums, Zwift has more users so it can be a more interactive experience, while BKool is more flexible though the social aspect is less easily achieved.

YMMV. I have Zwift and am happy to pay $10 per month for it, I see no need to try any other programs.

I took advantage of the free 1month trial from Bkool and while I enjoyed it, Zwift ended up being more fun for me.

The option to have videos vs graphics was nice, but some of the videos were less than stellar, and the graphics weren't as nice as Zwift either, mostly just generic roadside, however, it was smart enough to pick up the fact that you were going through a city, as more buildings woudl appear. The biggest pain I found with the videos was that they'd be slightly off, the video would show you climbing even though the incline doesn't go up for several hundred more feet.

The ability to create your own courses was nice. I made a few routes around my old hometown, but it really just wasn't that exciting to ride, and since the rides are uploaded to Strava as "virtual rides" there's no way to even compare yourself to others in the area that have ridden that segment. Of course, this is probably a good thing as it'd be a pain to have people on trainers stealing segments from those actually riding them, but I do wish there was an ability to somehow compare.

The ability to create courses, along with the number of courses already available definitely outranks the 3 courses offered by Zwift, but I found myself riding alone most times, on a course that no one else was riding, or on a course where the handful of other people riding started 20 minutes before me. On Zwift, there's always people around you riding...a new carrot to chase, or a wheel to grab. For me, that adds a lot to the fun aspect of the whole thing.

Thanks Dan, excellent reference. I think I like the BKool. Will do some more research. Just as an aside, I have never used anything like this before, just mindless music, boredom. How much more interesting do you find these apps? Do you find yourself getting into it ?

But the Zwift does not change the resistance correct, whereas the Bkool does. What kind of trainer do you use with the Zwift, is it linked so resistances change with the program? Sorry if I sound ignorant but on this, I really am.

Zwift will change the resistance on most smart trainers and I believe, even works with the Bkool trainer. I use the Tacx Bushido and like it a lot, been using it close to a year now. I know a lot of people have been using the Tacx Vortex with good luck - I believe at one point, the Vortex was one of the cheapest smart trainers that would work with Zwift, but I think there might even be some cheaper options out now.

So with my Bushido, it'll match the resistance up to a 15% grade (if memory serves me correctly). It's also powered off of my riding, so there's nothing to plug in or turn on. I do believe the built-in power meter measures a bit on the low side, but it's still fairly accurate when compared to my Powertap P1 pedals.

As of August, this looks to be like the complete list of compatible trainers...
https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/a...Zwift-support-

The Bushido also worked with Bkool - I think most smart trainers will work with Bkool as well, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

At the end of the day, it's still training. I never found myself "get into" it regardless what workout or course I am on. Yeah, it's nice to have something to look at to take the boredom away a little, but certainly not immersive enough for you to forget you are still riding a trainer indoors.

I also use TrainerRoad, I often found myself focus more doing a workout there than doing Zwift. YMMV

To control resistance, the training program, e.g. Zwift, and the device/computer this program runs on, e.g. a Windows PC, and the smart trainer itself, e.g. Tacx Neo or Bkool, must support either or both of these protocols: ANT+ FEC or Bluetooth Smart (or Bluetooth 4.0).

Kind of what I thought. Not sure I'll want to spend the money for it. Will see.

Honestly, when I first started using Zwift it completely transformed my enjoyment of the trainer. I went from hardly being able to do more than 40 minutes to riding for 1.5 hrs inside. I really loved the competitive aspect of catching people, holding wheels, dropping strangers, groups, going for jerseys, ect.

The shine has worn off a little for me because it's still the same thing over and over (though you can run custom training programs in the game). It's still way better than a "normal" trainer experience, but I now sometimes find myself running Zwift on my laptop next to the bike and then watching a movie or show on the TV in front of me.

Still worth it, but it's not that revolutionary excitement I had when I first used it. I'd probably rediscover that feeling if I got a "smart" trainer, because I use it with a dumb trainer that can't adjust resistance which detracts from the immersive feeling when you hit a climb and keep pedaling the same cadence in the same gear, but see your little avatar rider slow down to a crawl.

I definitely have many a day that I still watch something else on the tv and just watch zwift on the laptop.

Zwift is offering a free trial for all Strava Premium members at the moment. I think even if you have a dumb trainer, I'd still give it a shot. An ant+ usb dongle is $20. I needed an extension USB cable to get the dongle back by my trainer, but ymmv - still for $25ish, not a bad time to try it out.

For videos that are "more then stellar" you can try Veloreality (videos and software). The software is free. Videos have price but they're the best quality vids you can find on the market.

Review from Rainmaker:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/11/...ml#veloreality

This is of course shameless self promotion as I work for Veloreality.

I just got mine (Bkool)... can't wait to get it set up and ride. I tested it out at a bike expo here in Wisconsin a few months ago and was hooked. If you don't like the Bkool simulator (software), the trainer itself is compatible with other virtual training apps and software that may give you more of the social aspect one of the comments was talking about.
What sold me on the Bkool was the ability to make my own routes... living in a different country from where I grew up, I am looking forward to making the routes that I used to make in my home country.

I am almost positive I know who you talked to at the bike expo....

Craig is a great guy. I have worked with him for years on a lot of things even before he took over BKOOL.

Full Disclosure: I have a relationship with BKOOL. We are technically sponsored and I have a demo unit in the shop/training center.

I have a computrainer multirider studio in house as well.

BKOOL works with any smart trainer. You can use BKOOL with a regular trainer as well you just need a bluetooth or ANT+ speed sensor and a device like a non-ios tablet, phone, computer, etc. If you run it with a smart trainer then it will control your resistance. It will even work with computrainers.

I use it to run simulated track racing in the shop. Kind of like goldsprints. I believe Zwift can do the same as they just had an event downtown at SRAM's place and it was posted all over social media here.

Between the two Zwift is more popular but the basics behind them - BKOOL is the better application. The people in the company also look at this as a subscription service - not a hardware company so they sell their smart trainers stupid cheap.

At the end of the day its all still riding your trainer indoors. pick your poison.

One of my friends uses it, and likes it.

That said, more people are using zwift. I can't comment on them because I haven't used either, but hey it's the 41 so it's SOP to give opinions without experience.