Accuracy of Cateye Cyclosimulator

sward29

Does anyone with a powermeter know how accurate the Cateye Cyclosimulator is?

I imagine that there aren't that many people using these trainers as they stopped making them several years ago but I find that they replicate riding on the road more accurately than other trainers I've tried. I recently completed an FTP test on it and although I will use the data to set training levels and compare my progress over the winter when riding the same bike and in the same conditions, I am curious as to how accurate the readings are.

I have seen suggestions that other trainers such as the Tacx flow overestimate power outputs by as much as 20% when compared to a powertap or srm, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has some knowledge about this specific trainer.

Many thanks

BeaconRuth

Mine over-reads by a significant amount. I've never tried to quantify by how much, though. It is very self-consistent when used on the same slope setting. I wouldn't trust it to be self-consistent across different slope settings.

I think it's a fantastic bit of kit - far more stable and sturdy than any other turbo I've seen and personally the inaccurate calibration doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Ruth

FSR_XC

Wow . . . . I thought I was the only one who had one of these.

I use my Garmin Forerunner on the turbo as I then have cadence & HR too.

The Garmin tells me I have burned more calories than the turbo, yet the turbo reads about 1/2mph faster.

The best option is to always compare like for like, so I always only compare readings from the turbo.