Considering a Turbo
myideal
Posts: 231
Hi,
I've done a bit of reading and seen some videos and ha e to admit that I am considering a Turbo for my winter riding. I do like the look of zwift, however I do worry about the cost of buying all the kit and then finding its a bit rubbish as such.
There seems to be some people at the moment complaining about things not working and talk of an iPad app etc, which makes me think I should hold off a little before jumping in, as tech has told me that early adopters usually never get the best deal.
However that aside. What would people recommend would be the best / cheapest / value for money smart trainer on the market to purchase? I saw some BKool one reviewe don GCN and that looked quite smart, however I get the feeling you need to make sure you get one with a large community to cycle with to get the real extra benefits as such?
Also are their any so called "free" alternative apps to Zwift that are popular and used with people? Also ideally ones that run on an iPad at the moment?
I've done a bit of reading and seen some videos and ha e to admit that I am considering a Turbo for my winter riding. I do like the look of zwift, however I do worry about the cost of buying all the kit and then finding its a bit rubbish as such.
There seems to be some people at the moment complaining about things not working and talk of an iPad app etc, which makes me think I should hold off a little before jumping in, as tech has told me that early adopters usually never get the best deal.
However that aside. What would people recommend would be the best / cheapest / value for money smart trainer on the market to purchase? I saw some BKool one reviewe don GCN and that looked quite smart, however I get the feeling you need to make sure you get one with a large community to cycle with to get the real extra benefits as such?
Also are their any so called "free" alternative apps to Zwift that are popular and used with people? Also ideally ones that run on an iPad at the moment?
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Comments
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If you have an iPad which is compatible then certainly wait for that. But it will run on a modest PC as long as you have a reasonable graphics card. I wouldn't take talk of problems too seriously people always have some issues with computers!
As for the turbo as ever with these posts it entirely depends on what you want to spend. Personally I would say either go cheap as in Flow or Vortex or do it properly with Flux / Kickr / Neo
As for alternatives to Zwift. No there aren't. There are other software packages such as Tacx Training but you'll be riding on your own.0 -
Thanks for the reply. Excuse my thickness. If I went for a tra flow for example, do I then have to buy one of these ANT+ adapters or does it all come wirh this?
Some Pepe mention Bluetooth. Is this an alternative option than this ANT+ or in addition to this ?0 -
myideal wrote:Thanks for the reply. Excuse my thickness. If I went for a tra flow for example, do I then have to buy one of these ANT+ adapters or does it all come wirh this?
Some Pepe mention Bluetooth. Is this an alternative option than this ANT+ or in addition to this ?
This has changed just recently with Zwift.
For iPad & Mac the Flow will work with the built in Bluetooth
For PC you can bridge the Flow Bluetooth to the PC using your smartphone and the Zwift Mobile Link app.
Or on PC & Mac you can get an ANT+ dongle for about £20 which will do everything.
It often depends if you have any devices which are ANT+ only.0 -
One final question.
Just seen that bkool has an app on the iPad for their system. Is this just for their trainers as seems to at least work now on the iPad.0 -
myideal wrote:One final question.
Just seen that bkool has an app on the iPad for their system. Is this just for their trainers as seems to at least work now on the iPad.
No idea sorry0 -
I'm in the same boat as you currently, I'm awaiting Zwift iPad to be released then i will decide!0
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I have a cheap sub £300 Lenovo i3 processor laptop that many snigger at... it , coupled with fibre broadband, renders Zwift very nicely thank you.. also with Deezer flow in the background... I can just concentrate on not getting dropped or hanging onto the laughin group. you really dont have to forkin out for i kit.0
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markhewitt1978 wrote:myideal wrote:Thanks for the reply. Excuse my thickness. If I went for a tra flow for example, do I then have to buy one of these ANT+ adapters or does it all come wirh this?
Some Pepe mention Bluetooth. Is this an alternative option than this ANT+ or in addition to this ?
This has changed just recently with Zwift.
For iPad & Mac the Flow will work with the built in Bluetooth
For PC you can bridge the Flow Bluetooth to the PC using your smartphone and the Zwift Mobile Link app.
Or on PC & Mac you can get an ANT+ dongle for about £20 which will do everything.
It often depends if you have any devices which are ANT+ only.
Hi, I just bought a Tacx Flow Smart and planned to hook it up to the missus' iPad Mini 2. But only just realised that the iOS app is still in beta, so I'm waiting for that. Once that app is released, I'll only need the turbo and iPad, right?
But am I right in thinking in the interim I can use my PC laptop and bridge the Flow Bluetooth via my Android phone using the app? This is all very confusing...
Cheers!0 -
myideal wrote:One final question.
Just seen that bkool has an app on the iPad for their system. Is this just for their trainers as seems to at least work now on the iPad.
I spend a lot of time on bkool and at the cyclechat bkool forum. My understanding is that there is not a lot of love for the ipad app. That may have change and you could post there. You can use any ant+ fec trainer but I am not sure you can over blue tooth so you would need the apple doobrey and wahoo key.0 -
Michael-B wrote:Hi, I just bought a Tacx Flow Smart and planned to hook it up to the missus' iPad Mini 2. But only just realised that the iOS app is still in beta, so I'm waiting for that. Once that app is released, I'll only need the turbo and iPad, right?
Yep, and a bike and a fan
. A BT heart rate monitor would be a good idea too.But am I right in thinking in the interim I can use my PC laptop and bridge the Flow Bluetooth via my Android phone using the app? This is all very confusing...
Yes; that should work as long as your laptop is up to the job graphics wise.0 -
markhewitt1978 wrote:Michael-B wrote:Hi, I just bought a Tacx Flow Smart and planned to hook it up to the missus' iPad Mini 2. But only just realised that the iOS app is still in beta, so I'm waiting for that. Once that app is released, I'll only need the turbo and iPad, right?
Yep, and a bike and a fan. A BT heart rate monitor would be a good idea too.But am I right in thinking in the interim I can use my PC laptop and bridge the Flow Bluetooth via my Android phone using the app? This is all very confusing...
Yes; that should work as long as your laptop is up to the job graphics wise.
Ha! I'm alright on the bike & fan, although think my PC's graphics card might be a bit, erm, retro. Think I'm going to be waiting for the Zwift app at this rate - I've asked to be a beta tester but never heard back.0
