Current best smart trainers

FatTed

I have the same setup as RDT works well, simulated climbs are quite good, but you are still in your garage. Coming from a LeMond the Neo is so quiet.

rdt

MrB123 wrote:

£650 for your turbo mule.

Landmark birthday incoming, so allocated a big budget to buy some quality stuff (no one else seems keen to do it for me!).

The last bike I'd bought was a dozen years ago - buy well and infrequently is my preference.

cattytown

Thanks all for input - great info RDT. I am now leaning towards a direto and potentially a mule. I will probably try with my bike for a bit. Awkward bit for a mule is I like SRAM gears/ 105 or Tiagra wouldn't be a big deal though.

rozzer32

Cycle ops hammer on offer at CRC this week. Down to £700 before BC discount.

I’ve got a direto (was the best I could afford) and love it but the hammer is a good price for top end trainer.

Bar Shaker

Thread resurrection alert!

I've just bought an Atom (got in with the TdF discount).

I have been using a Tacx Vortex Smart for about 3 years but the usage became less and less, for one simple reason. Despite having it set up with a dedicated mule (a Synapse with a blue tyre, in my case), I could never just jump on it and do a quick 20 minute HIIT sesh first thing in the morning. There would always be something, such laptop taking ages to start, then needing a Windows update, then the time taken for TR to get started, then TR needing an update... and then constant screen blocking from anti virus updates, the laptop not finding the turbo, or the speed/cadence, or my HR. When up and running, it was fantastic. The Vortex is brilliant way to use Trainer road and Zwift, but the more times it took 20+ minutes to get going, the more I found excuses not to even begin.

The main reason for buying the Atom was that it is instantly ready to go. Me and my GF use it and swapping set ups takes less than a minute (we've marked our setting positions with 'leccy tape) Sometimes I was the last user so no changes are needed and I am away within a minute of being in my gym. You hit 'Just Ride' or select a workout, or do the next ride in a plan, all on your ipad and away you go. The simplicity of swapping settings is also a great feature that was missing from the Synapse/Vortex. The bike was deliberately slightly too small for so my GF could use it too. I lived with it, but it wasn't ideal.

The best feature of ANY turbo is the ability to use it without a fuss. Only if it has this will you continue to use it long term. This is where the Atom leaves everything in its wake. Since buying, I have alternated between my Concept 2 and the Atom every morning before work. Longer sessions in the evenings will be for when the weather turns bad, but at least they are very likely to happen and not see me giving up on getting everything ready.

I could tell you how good the ride feels on the Atom, or how good the gear changes are with the latest updates, or how you will be jet washed with every bit of ride and pedalling efficiency data you could imagine... but you already know all that.

What you may not know is that an early criticism was the shifter buttons felt a bit dead on the early models. These now make a positive click and the change is as you would expect it to feel on a road bike.

Before you spend a £1k plus on any trainer set up, get a trial session on an Atom.

UpHillDownDale

Yep. Love my Atom for all those reasons stated. 3 months in now. No complaints.

StillGoing

Bar Shaker wrote:

Thread resurrection alert!

I've just bought an Atom (got in with the TdF discount).

I have been using a Tacx Vortex Smart for about 3 years but the usage became less and less, for one simple reason. Despite having it set up with a dedicated mule (a Synapse with a blue tyre, in my case), I could never just jump on it and do a quick 20 minute HIIT sesh first thing in the morning. There would always be something, such laptop taking ages to start, then needing a Windows update, then the time taken for TR to get started, then TR needing an update... and then constant screen blocking from anti virus updates, the laptop not finding the turbo, or the speed/cadence, or my HR. When up and running, it was fantastic. The Vortex is brilliant way to use Trainer road and Zwift, but the more times it took 20+ minutes to get going, the more I found excuses not to even begin.

The main reason for buying the Atom was that it is instantly ready to go. Me and my GF use it and swapping set ups takes less than a minute (we've marked our setting positions with 'leccy tape) Sometimes I was the last user so no changes are needed and I am away within a minute of being in my gym. You hit 'Just Ride' or select a workout, or do the next ride in a plan, all on your ipad and away you go. The simplicity of swapping settings is also a great feature that was missing from the Synapse/Vortex. The bike was deliberately slightly too small for so my GF could use it too. I lived with it, but it wasn't ideal.

The best feature of ANY turbo is the ability to use it without a fuss. Only if it has this will you continue to use it long term. This is where the Atom leaves everything in its wake. Since buying, I have alternated between my Concept 2 and the Atom every morning before work. Longer sessions in the evenings will be for when the weather turns bad, but at least they are very likely to happen and not see me giving up on getting everything ready.

I could tell you how good the ride feels on the Atom, or how good the gear changes are with the latest updates, or how you will be jet washed with every bit of ride and pedalling efficiency data you could imagine... but you already know all that.

What you may not know is that an early criticism was the shifter buttons felt a bit dead on the early models. These now make a positive click and the change is as you would expect it to feel on a road bike.

Before you spend a £1k plus on any trainer set up, get a trial session on an Atom.

That is debatable. I have a Direto with my winter trainer sat on it ready to go any time I choose. Morning, afternoon, evening or night. It sits in the integral garage in front of 2 x 40”
Screens giving me views of workouts and video if I wish. The advantage of a smart trainer over the Atom, is the ability to take the bike off of it and store the turbo neatly out of the way when not required such as in the present weather conditions.

PinarelloPrince

Philthy, two screens? How does that work?

norvernrob

PinarelloPrince wrote:

Philthy, two screens? How does that work?

I’m assuming one is hooked up to an iPad/laptop, and the other to a means of playing videos, Sky box or whatever.

I have TrainerRoad running on my iPad, and Netflix on a 42” TV mounted on the wall in front of me.

StillGoing

PinarelloPrince wrote:

Philthy, two screens? How does that work?

One screen is linked to a PC for use with ANT+ with a second screen that can play either BT Sport or Sky from my accounts. The second screen can also be switched to my iPad via a lightening to HDMI link (yes I checked and Apple do keep amending the firmware to prevent 3rd party adapters from working, so no choice but to buy the Apple one) for bluetooth connection. I use both connections as TrainerRoad doesn't seem to like ANT+ when using Windows with the Direto, whereas Sufferfest doesn't mind which I use. I can also use one screen with Bluetooth while my daughter uses the other with the ANT+ connection using a dumb trainer.