Looking at upgrading my 18 year old Fluid2 with a smart trainer and the Kickr snap and Cycleops M2 are my top picks right now. I want to stay with wheel on because I have both Campy and Shimano drivetrains and don't want to deal with swapping cassettes in a direct drive trainer so these are the top picks.


I am finding information on what free software comes with the trainers confusing at best. For Cycleops, I see people mentioning Virtualtraining that comes free, but there is nothing in the app store for apple matching this. Did Virtual training become Rouvy at some point? If so isn't Rouvy a paid subscription so I would have to pay to do simple spin down calibration? Or am I missing something.


For Wahoo it seems less confusing and looks like there is a wahoo fitness app in the app store that would work with the snap trainer.


I plan on trying out Zwift, Rouvy and trainerroad. Probably going to go with something like trainerroad because I would rather watch recorded races from nbc sports and whatnot rather than watching virtual stuff of me. I will be using my iphone to control it and screen mirror with a lightning to hdmi to the big tv if I decide I do lift zwift or Rouvy type software.


What software do you use if you have a cycleops or wahoo trainer? What is available for free that comes with each?

I can't speak to the others, but Wahoo does have a fitness app, but if you have an Elemnt or Elemnt Bolt, it will connect and control your smart trainer (targeted watts, resistance, level, erg mode, etc.). It will also allow you to virtually ride any route that you have created in RideWithGPS (for example). None of these are like Zwift or FulGaz where you are in a virtual environment (on TV). I find myself using Zwift less and less and using my Elemnt Bolt more and more while watching something on TV I am interested in, such as GCN or GCN Tech, etc....

I'm also in the market for a Wahoo smart trainer, but am undecided between the Kickr Snap (wheel on) and the Kickr Core (direct drive). I had a wheel-on trainer many years ago, and it really wore down my rear tire and created a lot of black rubber dust. Are the newer trainers any better for this? Do most people use separate "trainer wheels" to avoid wear on their nicer road tires?

Are there other advantages to the direct drive trainers other than wheel wear and tear? Is the road feel significantly different?

Rouvy is the Cyelops app. There is some free stuff but most of the training options are paid but I think they do 30 day trial. But you can use Rouvy, Zwift, Trainerroad or Wahoo or most apps with any trainer basically (smart or dumb). I had a Magnus for about a week and tested Rouvy with that and a dumb trainer and I didn't think it was worth it. Now they have added the Augmented Reality option and I watched review and it looks cool. It's basically Zwift laid over real video of real courses which is more interesting to me then what Zwift offers. I also tried Zwift and wouldn't pay for it. Currently I'm using the Wahoo app to track my rides on trainer with speed/cadence/hr sensors but I'm not using smart trainer now so I don't have feedback/adjustment. But all of the apps have some sort of trial period so try them all

I have a M2, one classy thing is it gives cadence, power, and speed, not just power (Saris/PowerTap/Cycleops patented a cool power spike = cadence algorithm).

Also no, you do not need to purchase any type of rouvey subscription to calibrate. There is a phone and computer app for Rovey, you can use it for spin down calibrations, a 1 hour free ride, and firmware updates without subscribing.

I use my cycleops magnus (or M2 as you called it) with Trainerroad, Zwift, and occasionally, Xert.

I normally powermatch mine to a G3 powertap hub power meter perfectly fine as well.

As for wheel on / wheel off - I believe most wheel-on trainers need to be calibrated every time you use them, whereas I calibrate my kickr about once every other month with no particular issue. Wheel off usually is capable of simulating steeper grades, which may or may not matter to you. No wear and tear on your rear wheel so they're also cleaner to run in your den or wherever.
I personally like zwift because seeing some fake guy go by me on a fake bike motivates me to ride harder than watching a show on TV. Trying to keep up with a fast group, or a race is motivating too. YMMV. I can't STAND indoor trainers for more than 30 min normally but somehow I can tolerate 4 hours on zwift. Go figure. Trainerroad is superior if you just want to do hard core workouts though.

Yes, you can enter the grade, set a power to erg to, etc. and it will record, presenting the information in realtime, as well as giving you the ability to upload it.

I'm finding the road feel to be pretty realistic with my Kickr Core, but I can't compare it to a Snap as I've never been on one. It is certainly much better than the Fluid2 that I have. When I used the Fluid2 I didn't use a special wheel or tire and didn't have any issue.