Tacx Satori Power Meter Accuracy

bennyp115

I recently purchased a Tacx Satori turbo trainer and was wondering how accurate the power meter is on it?

I calibrate it before every session (pedal up to speed until red light flashes fast then stop pedalling). I am using it with my Garmin Edge 500. I recently used a Wattbike and found that my power was slightly lower than the numbers im used to seeing from the Tacx. I tend to use the high resistance levels (6-10) with an old road tyre.

Any previous experience with this or tips would be much appreciated.

daniel_b

I don't think you will find they are tremendously accurate, for a start you have multiple factors.

Pressure of roller on tyre
Type or tyre
Pressure in tyre
Wear on tyre (Marginal perhaps)
Temperature differences - not sure how much they play a part.

If you want higher accuracy then you would need a direct drive trainer.

Not saying yours is over reading (Although your findings may support that) but when I swapped from a wheel on trainer to a DD trainer, I had an effective 10% drop in my FTP, which just means the original was over reading.
Mine was a Vortex.

Additionally DD trainers, and presumably the watt bike will take the power measurement differently to your Tacx, and I gather that is likely to result in a few watts less on either of those as opposed to a wheel on trainer.

But if it's only slightly less on the Watt bike, then perhaps your Tacx is doing a pretty good job, and at the end of the day, if it's consistent with it's readings, then it will still make you a stronger rider.