Tacx Flux

DC rainmaker rates it highly and it looks good.

Not out until the end of the month.

ben@31 wrote:

Apart from direct drive will the Flux have anything that the cheaper Tacx trainers don't? Seconded that not having direct drive is a shame.

I read somewhere that the Flux could be £700. Is direct drive worth this price tag? Thats more than double the cost of a Tacx Vortex Smart !

Direct drive is the big selling point, and I believe it's very quiet too, although not quite as quiet as the Neo.

Sigma Sport has it on pre-order price of £629.

But certainly you could get three Tacx Flows from Halfords and have enough left for a meal out for the price you pay..

Has anyone seen any information to suggest if these will work with medium/long cage rear derailleurs and 11-32 cassettes? I've seen a few reviews to suggest that these set ups are a problem for the Neo.

I've pre-ordered one

There also seems to be a requirement to buy an additional "Upgrade Smart" to use these with a Windows computer. That along with the cost of buying a cassette to go with it is starting to make me think a Kickr with platinum discount from Wiggle might represent better value.

MrB123 wrote:

There also seems to be a requirement to buy an additional "Upgrade Smart" to use these with a Windows computer. That along with the cost of buying a cassette to go with it is starting to make me think a Kickr with platinum discount from Wiggle might represent better value.

It was the need for a cassette and the apparent lack of information on exactly what you need to get for Tacx trainers that led me to the same conclusion. The price of the Kickr before the rise a couple of weeks ago, along with its tried and tested 2nd generation design was enough for me to get one.

I spoke to some Tacx staff at the Sigma Sport Zwift event last week and they confirmed that there was a delay on the Flux. They had meant to have it ready to demo at the event but instead had to use a bunch of Neo's. I mentioned that the confusion over what tools you needed to install the cassette, along with the lack of information about the use of long rear mechs may be costing them some sales. The Neo felt like a great trainer though, and the Magnum treadmill and Zwift VR were fantastic, though I was very nervous about riding. Venge on a treadmill in front of a crowd.

I have had the "benefit" of a Tacx Smart Bushido, which was subsequently sold on, as it felt clunky, not in the same league as the Kickr that replaced it, albeit I am aware of the cost differences! If Tacx have sorted their power curves/smoothness etc then both the Flux/Neo look good, but I think there is a tipping point where nothing else can be done to make any interactive trainer just like a road ride.It's all well and good simulating pave etc etc, but looking at the computer or garage wall isn't really going to convince anyone they really are in the Paris-Roubaix! Good effort for the idea, just not sure what it brings to the table, but then again, I haven't tried it so am not going to rubbish it at all. If the Neo were in at the same price point as the Kickr I think there would be equal numbers owning either.I'm just glad I have a Kickr already, as the scam of Brexit related price rises appears to be sweeping across the cycling world here in the UK!!

Road feel isn't a training addition but a feedback one, training has been pushed from the basic gui of trainer road etc which were all about training, to being a game, mass multiplayer etc.

If there was no vibration/recoil from a sniper rifle in call of duty on xbox/PS# it wouldn't be the same immersive gaming experience.

I don't think it could logically go as far as blood,rain or explosions though, might as well ride outside