New Kickr vs Tacx Neo (sorry, another thread )

Mr.Mouse

I appreciate there is another very similar thread at the moment, but firstly, don't want to hijack that, and secondly, i think i have some more specific questions, hope that is ok.

With regards to the new Kickr, looks like ( including the additional cassette purchase for the Neo ) about £250 difference to the Tacx. And, my understanding is, maybe wrongly that there may be more of a difference if you want to use proprietary software as opposed to Zwift and TR etc.

But, apart from the above, it seems to me, that there are two main differences. first being the noise created by the machine, and secondly, the downhill 5% 'simulation'. Now, presuming the noise is not an issue, with additional fans blowing etc i would expect the difference to be negligible, then the descending inertia thing seems to me, at least, to be the main differentiator.

How does this benefit? is it just the flywheel, or would they record different speeds on a simulated descent? ( sorry for my ignorance ). I am not overly bothered if it is just a 'feeling' thing.

I have a trainer at the moment, but, with knee problems, and as well as being boring, i find it aggravates my knee tenfold against being out on the road, i can ride for 5/6 hours and have less problems than 30 minutes on a cheap turbo trainer. if i can effectively simulate, as much as possible, riding on the road then either of these would be a worthy purchase.

Also, do either offer any lateral motion to further simulate real riding? guessing not.

And, i am assuming here that this question would be the same for both products. Can i just pick up a course or activity from my garmin ( been abroad a lot this summer, and visiting same places next year, so would like to be able to use all my data and 'virtually' practice those over the next year ) and just ride it with the resistance etc automatically calculated?

Many thanks, sorry for what might seem as a double post.

Mr.Mouse

sorry,forgot to mention, i have a couple of MacBooks, iPad and iPad pro and an iPhone ( sorry, not intentionally a fanboy ), but integration with these, over windows/android devices is also an important factor for me, so any differences there are something to bear in mind.

ta

markhewitt1978

A different trainer won't help your knees specifically. I know I bought a Neo for that and it didn't help. Putting my saddle to a sensible height did however.

I really like the downhill drive and it's hard to describe without experiencing it. It's most obvious function is that when you're descending you can stop pedalling let the freewheel spin and then pick up pedalling again just like outside. With an ordinary trainer you would have to spin up the back 'wheel' again.

The Neo also has surface texture simulation on Zwift although my wife complained that was making the house shake!

Mr.Mouse

Thanks Mark

I guess what i mean is that if there is a trainer that i can freewheel with ( momentarily ) and maintain inertia, similar to being on the road, that is what i want. i can adjust balance, put some more weight through my 'better' knee and maintain speed and cadence. i just can't handle that feeling of trying to ride through treacle.

from what you seem to say, the neo does that to some degree on a simulated descent, i kind of thought both the neo and kickr would allow some amount of freewheel inertia and maintain speed. maybe i am hoping for too much, but i would happily pay good money for a machine that allows me to ride in a way that i can contain my right knee issue, which i can do quite happily when out on the road.

my current trainer was about £100, and is pants and i pretty much can't use it.

cheers
J

Mr.Mouse

i guess my point is, if you are pushing out the watts going up hill, on the trainer, will it still give you the same spin on the freewheel to compensate for power output if you decide to coast for a couple of seconds?

markhewitt1978

Yeah it does have a good simulated intertia system. So you can expect the freewheel to keep going for a similar length of time to outside. This doesn't affect your power output of course.

Mr.Mouse

of course . but presumably it helps with pickup of my current pace?

basically, my knees are good if i don't impact them too heavily, and on my old elite, it was like popping my kneecaps out every time i had to pick up cadence.

so, kickr or neo? funnily enough i literally just got a message from my mate in florida saying he had just bought a new kickr, but, is the extra £250/300 worth it for for the neo?? subjective i know

markhewitt1978

Worth the extra. Having never tried the Kickr I can't comment only to say the Neo is good.

Mr.Mouse

ta v much for your help Mark