Tacx I-MagicVR trainers

sheffsimon
sheffsimon Posts: 1,282
edited October 2010 in Road buying advice
Any good?

Despite being a train-outdoors-in-the-winter devotee, I was looking at these last on t'interweb with the missus looking over me shoulder.

"I would use one of those, why don't we get one as a joint Christmas present" was her comment.

And they say romance is dead. :)

Any comments appreciated, I have used a turbo and rollers in the past, and TBH never really persevered, but that was two decades ago when we knew f00k all about training with power, intervals etc. Does the I-Magic measure power, HR etc?

Seen them for £450-ish from chain reaction.

Comments

  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,788
    This question comes up every year about this time :wink:
    Best £400 I've spent. It'll be my third winter with it and i use it 2 or 3 times a week for 5 months a year. I always say this but if you hate trainers this isn't going to convert you but if your OK with them they make the experience bareable to the point that I actually look forward to it for the first few sessions. There is enough on there ro keep you entertained (you can treat yourself to new films once in a while to keep up the enthusiasm).
    Yes it does measure power but not in an accurate way I'm sure, though if you climb Alpe d'Huez on it for example it's not a million miles away from doing it for real.
    Any questions I'll do my best to answer but for honest it's a bargain compared to a pair of wheels
  • dcj
    dcj Posts: 395
    a virtual reality trainer has been fundamental to my winter and summer training for 4 years. the video mountain rides can be good for a hard work out.

    alternatively,you can design your own profiles. for example, 3 miles level then 0.2 miles sprinting uphill at 10% gradient followed by 3 miles level etc.

    it makes the most of your available time and is totally independent of the weather.

    except for events, i only bother training outside on warm dry days. then each ride outside seems really special.

    i accept this approach is highly unusual so am not advocating it as such, but it works spectacularly well for me.
  • ilm_zero7
    ilm_zero7 Posts: 2,213
    SheffSimon
    I have an i-magic - the VR and real time videos are the best thing about it - wouldnt be without it as cycling on the road is not always a possibility - do check out the tacx website - there is an upgrade to the software coming out
    http://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=3370a&r=3&c=5&u=M&g=p&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png
    Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
  • Eskimo427
    Eskimo427 Posts: 288
    I've been looking to these and have changed my mind from the i-magic to the fortius. My reason for this is the better hill simulation and the better motor of the Fortius. I'm hoping to order it tomorrow.

    If your interested in the steerer then this is the cheapest I've seen it:

    http://www.shinybikes.com/product.php?productid=18785

    and the i-magic here comes with TTS 2.0 as I emailed them:

    http://www.bikester.co.uk/bicycle-equip ... 1900-39041

    Software upgrade to TTS 3.0 here:

    http://www.tacxshop.com/index.php?cPath=30_36

    This heart rate monitor should work with it too:

    http://polar.fitnessmegastore.co.uk/pol ... gn=froogle



    Hope that helps.
  • ilm_zero7
    ilm_zero7 Posts: 2,213
    Eskimo427
    try Fudges - always a good deal on Tacx there
    http://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=3370a&r=3&c=5&u=M&g=p&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png
    Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
  • Eskimo427
    Eskimo427 Posts: 288
    Eskimo427
    try Fudges - always a good deal on Tacx there

    I did, they put up the price yesterday of the Fortius. :(