Budget Zwift Setup Vs Premium | What Is The Difference?

[@stovetop6140]

If you are anything like me and have your indoor set up in a cold basement, I think the best $$$ you can spend is on a "smart" outlet plug for your fan. My basement hovers around 45F (7C) in the winter and the fan is too cold until I'm warmed up after 20 minutes or so of riding. When it's time for the fan I can turn it on using my Amazon Echo Dot and Alexa or an app on my phone.

[@kennyabsalonson4829]

I chose the kinetic fluid trainer (tire-on) with a built in sensor and love it. It's quiet, it works. My Trek is a used base model bought for $450, so I'm not about to spend more on a trainer than my bike. 😁

[@mylesiswhite4122]

Entry setup with a 10 grand bike

[@timpeterson3131]

Priorities!

[@xylerkajiyama7544]

He spent it all on the bike

[@Theharrisonvictor]

What does ‘grand’ mean

[@Pokemon223223PlaysMC]

@@Theharrisonvictor thousand

[@lfk53]

​@@Theharrisonvictor How do you not know that?😂

[@babygerald4645]

I'm just finishing my first full week of Zwift on a Kickr Snap and it's been a revelation. I've put more miles on in 6 days than I would in 6 weeks most winters with my old mag trainer and old TdF videos. Having real-time resistance is a massive upgrade and riding with others is a blast, so if you can invest in a smart trainer, I think it's well worth it.

[@CrankCyclingChannel]

Baby Gerald welcome to the 21st century. Join some group rides and training its v good 👌

[@babygerald4645]

Thanks, CycleTech TV! I'm still getting my legs under me and still have to take an FTP test to see where I'm at, fitness-wise. Once I get a handle on that, I'll join group rides.

[@sudduthjonathan]

Great decision! Depending on the weather where you live, you may be riding the smart trainer more than you do outside each year. If you eventually take the next step and start a good training program, you’ll really be loving the indoor trainer (ie the results) come summer.

[@rockyroshambo5865]

Same here Gerald! I almost got into Zwift 2 years ago, when I purchased an Elite Qubo digital smart. Mine controlled resistance so poorly that it completley ruined the experience, and a dumb trainer was actually an upgrade. At least the dumb trainer let me hit 400W. But, I slowly stopped using Zwift. Then this year, I came across a used CycleOps Powerbeam. It's completely old tech, but it accurately controlled resistance in Zwift, and suddenly I got what its all about....once it worked, I became instantly addicted. And the physical adaptations...I mean just wow, it's broken through a plateau I was having, and I'm seeing gains, it is like a miracle. The ability to join at any time, is so important. I now get in a couple races per week, and it really helps make my 'hard days hard' as they say.....

[@blackcloudnoyx4027]

I got my zwift hub 2 days ago and i confirm.. it's a blast. First ride i did was the "Coll d'Ordino", a 530m elevation ride (which i wasn't planning on doing at 9pm). But just from riding with people behind and infront of you, i got empowered. You're not alone, others are struggling with you! After completing the climb in 39 minutes i did a sprint with someone down the mountain, then another person joined in.. absolutely awesome and left in sweat from that ride. Well worth it indeed!

[@beigemaster]

Also worth mentioning that investing in slightly more expensive trainers will give you a much quieter ride, always useful if you have family that you love and don’t want to wake up one day wondering where they’ve gone.....🤔

[@gcn]

Definitely. Thanks for the comment!

[@boiboiboi1]

Also buy those rubber puzzle mats for kids. They make a great vibration absorber. Specially when living in an apartment complex, so that your neighbor below you wouldnt be disturbed.

[@JoakimPekkari]

Just changing to a trainer tyre makes a world of difference as well! My first ride i did on my normal but rather worn tyre and the sound was insane, for the next one i had changed to a trainer tyre and all of a sudden I could hear my own thoughts :D

[@RunninBird]

My fluid trainer is on the fritz so it whistles like a tea kettle above a certain wattage. I don't want to buy another of the same style, so I'm just dealing with it until I can get the cheapest "smart" trainer around - or until my wife forces me to go find a used fluid trainer.

[@stevelewis6154]

@@JoakimPekkari Wow do they make that much difference???

[@avi4758]

As a beginner, I was doing research on indoor training, this comparison gives me really good insight, I guess I would start with magnetic rollers with speed sensor on my bike.

[@colinhillson]

I think a good middle ground would be using a basic trainer with a power meter on your bike. Then you know your power is accurate, and you are able to enter races and post real results, as Zwift will trust your power output. Also the added bonus of now having a power meter you can use outside rather than buying a budget smart trainer that you can only use inside.

[@tomterblanche2315]

Or a cheaper smart trainer like a Tacx Vortex plus a power meter. Then you still get a pretty realistic feeling ride for a reasonable price.

[@ryanw8987]

This is what I’ve got (basic trainer + power meter). Sometimes I wish I had the interactive part, but when I’m doing structured workouts I know I’m not really missing anything. Still haven’t gotten myself to spend money on training software like Zwift, been using Road Grand Tours since it’s still free in beta. Was quite happy when I found a used (but barely used) fluid trainer for cheap. Really close to the feel of being on a flat road effort-wise. I’d recommend this as I originally had a total entry-level magnetic trainer without resistance adjustment and it was really only helpful for working on higher cadence. I’d have to be on my hardest gear at around 100rpm just to get over 200 watts!

[@jeremysweeten2792]

That’s how I’ve been training for 2yrs now... TRAIN, RIDE, RACE with the same powermeter source. Not all things are equal

[@5225807]

I am also using a "dumb" fluid trainer with an actual power meter and this set-up seems great since I do not really care about the additional features of smart trainers. Zwift as a software proved to be way too unstable at least for my computer so I had to move back to using Trainerroad.

[@waspcatcher]

Can you use this with TrainerRoad for FTP testing? (basic trainer + power meter)

[@LUCYDIAMONDBOXER1]

06:20 impressive quick change of shoes mid pedal stroke and back 😳

[@lisapet160]

The shoes go back to original colos once the downhill stretch starts: 6:33

[@JonnyInToronto]

I’ve gone even more basic to get me started on Zwift... Indoor Spin Bike with Wahoo Speed & Cadence Sensors... far from ideal but it gets me online until I get a smart trainer next winter. Great video!

[@kristiannilsson1893]

I'm primarily a runner, but after getting injuried I jumped on the bike to keep my fitness up. I was using an old taxc trainer, very similar to the cheap one you're using in this video. But after biking for a while I felt I needed something more to keep me engaged. So I started reading up on smart trainers and zwift, found a great deal on a wahoo kickr 2018 and jumped on the smart turbo trainer + zwift train and have fallen completly in love with cycling. To bad the sport isn't as cheap as running... gonna be totally broke after buying a "real" bike to race this summer. Cheers from Sweden!

[@kristiannilsson1893]

@Brainjock just luck and restless searching. Found a great deal, took that to a local store whom matched the price and instead of ordering and waiting I got it the very same day. super happy with it.

[@brianelander5905]

I ride Zwift on my dads old 1982 steel road bike on a 25 dollar thrift store spinner and a wahoo something I got second hand. I had to tape it together after it got caught in the spokes.. I just love being a broke high schooler

[@compassionsix]

Trying to get a friend to use Zwift who has zero knowledge of interactive workouts. This checks all the boxes on what he needs to know. Thanks mates.

[@iimmolarious7636]

Having a great time in zwift for 2 winters now on my budget setup, Rollers and cadance +speed meter

[@jascollinscork]

I Immolarious what you can do swift on rollers........ ???😮 I have rollers 👌🏻

[@iimmolarious7636]

@@jascollinscork Yep, feels better and more free than any turbo trainer

[@JMcLeodKC711]

I Immolarious Glad to see someone uses rollers

[@maxsungwd]

@@iimmolarious7636 No no no

[@smallplane6576]

This winter was my first year using a turbo trainer. I got a turbo trainer from aldi for £25 (down from £50), a speed and cadence sensor also from aldi for £10 (down from £20), used the bedroom fan, a old tyre I'd put to one side and went along to gcn workout videos...

[@samflint4749]

Hats off to you! That's is quite the bargain for what you have ended up with!

[@stevelewis6154]

Same here and at the end of the day its what you put into the training. Love the GCN workouts and looking forward to seeing if they have improved my fitness when the clocks change.

[@smallplane6576]

@@stevelewis6154 I'm more than happy with my fitness level. I've been out a few times already and for me I've noticed the difference on hill climbing.

[@DavidRodriguez-eh8yd]

Sunny Spin Bike 44 pound freewheel, zip tied Garmin Speed 2 to Front Hub, and Cadence Sensor on Crank, Bluetooth Insignia to computer, Iwatch for heart and more accurate heart sensor. End result My avatar moves and stops when I stop. Covid 19 Weight Loss Game. Total was $200 for used Spinner, $20 Blue tooth adapter and $70 for Garmin 2 Bundle Speed and Candence Sensors. $290. It can be even cheaper if you pay less for Spin bike. I chose this and when I’m ready I’m going for the full built with movement not going half way. Great video!

[@konstantintomilin1826]

I know the biggest similarity between the two setups - you'll suffer on both!

[@gcn]

Ha! Yes, there definitely is that.

[@singingitman]

I’m running an Elite Drivo, managed to get it for £600 as it’s replacement model was just being launched. Found it great. Let a friend who had only ever used rollers and he was amazed by the interactive element when on zwift, the feeling of the gradient change. So if you’re looking for a trainer, have a look when a new model is being launched you can get a higher end unit at a big discount.

[@edwardlunn6975]

Lol I asked just over a week ago if GCN would to a comparison on a basic Zwift setup vs a full bells and whistles one. Et voila!

[@gcn]

Your wish is our command.

[@stevelewis6154]

Great video as always from GCN. Really getting into my cycling over the winter after having to give up running. I've currently got a second hand road bike on a basic magnetic turbo trainer with a speed and cadence sensor from Aldi and use the GCN training videos. For those of us on budget I would really like to see some more updated indoor training videos instead of everything being linked to Zwift. At the end of the day I won't be racing or entering events but do want to be fit and fast using Strava. Don't forget the everyday cyclist.

[@yavormihaylov8711]

LOL, I like how the guys are pushing 140-150 Wats and speaking to the cam as nothing is happening. Thanks for the vid guys!

[@langy8525]

If anyone wants to convert ANT+ signals into Bluetooth and nice Versa I recommend getting a 4iiii Viiiiva HRM which does the job for you and it’s also a HRM!

[@MrJoseJasso]

What are good smart trainers that don’t cost as much as my car!?

[@norekpl]

Recently I bought Kickr Core for my first smart trainer. In the past I hate to ride on my old Tacx. An hour was like lifetime. Now on an hour on Zwift is like blink of an eye. I hope this will help to keep and elevate my fitness for next season. :)

[@randyisrad]

$250 for a fan???? Sounds like a wise investment :) :) :) :)

[@j1shin]

I assume that it's a smart fan meaning it will blow the wind according to your riding speed and simulated weather condition.

[@michaelstimson5148]

@@j1shin in that case! Here's my money!

[@prestachuck2867]

ViRuSTriNiTy You can use the Wahoo Fitness app to set the Kickr Headwind to change fan speed according to either your heart rate or wheel speed. You can also use the fan on manual control and turn it up or down remotely in the app, or manually on the face of the fan. Cheers

[@cletcher]

With that much money for a fan, there should be some blowing involved :P

[@prestachuck2867]

Works better that two conventional turbo fans and uses less electricity than the two turbo fans. A friend of mine landed himself in the hospital by indoor training on zwift without adequate air flow. Seriously. This fan would have been a lot less expensive than his medical expenses.

[@patbroadbent6816]

I use an elite basic trainer with there Misuro sensor, golden cheetah with gcn work out videos on a laptop fitted with a ant+ usb stick works amazing and I can analyse the data, have gained 45 watts in 6 weeks. Very cheap setup.

[@Bungle2010]

A smart trainer makes a hell if a lot of difference to how immersive it feels, and therefore how enjoyable Zwifting is. One of my best purchases going from a dumb trainer to a Zwift Hub.

[@JoakimPekkari]

I started Zwifting about a month ago after my knees halted my winter running. Using a pretty basic Tacx Satori T2400 connected to my gaming PC with ANT+, and I love it! Didn't think i'd enjoy it this much and the built in training sessions are awesome!

[@TGRacing]

I started with a cheap (basic) trainer before joining Zwift but moved to a Tacx smart trainer with an Ant+ dongle, cadence sensor and the companion app on my phone on a hacked Garmin mount. I played it through my laptop onto a big telly. Works a treat, very engaging, interactive. However, Zwift put the price up and I am now using that set up on a different service. i could do with a better fan but mine is also a heater which, in a garage in a UK winter is very useful.

[@samflint4749]

It is also worth mentioning that on a lot of wheel on turbo trainers it is a good idea to have a dedicated trainer tyre otherwise you wear through a regular tyre in no time

[@gcn]

💯%

[@oraszuletik]

I use my previous years rear tyre first (november-february) then the front goes to back till the outdoor season, when I'm starting with new tyres. Of course, my complete paincave is full with rubber dust.

[@prestachuck2867]

Ger Don’t forget the dust mask. You’re breathing that stuff.

[@ryanw8987]

I haven’t had much of a problem with mine, but I typically use thicker tread tires on the back anyways. I’ve found a smooth tread (current favorite is the Michelin Pro 4 Endurance) with the resistance unit snug enough so that there’s no slippage even when sprinting leaves hardly any black particles for me. I still tend to use an older wheel so the tire on my nice wheels stay fresher but I’ve had no issues when I’ve used that older wheel/tire outside if I decided to go out on wet roads and didn’t want to get my nice wheels dirty.

[@samflint4749]

@@ryanw8987 huh, interesting that. You clearly have a good method not to have black partials thrown everywhere

[@nickmarshall2585]

Thanked guys. A very useful intro and comparison. I’m a ride outside almost all year guy but many of my friends post some real fun stuff on Strava via Zwift. Getting jealous and I may have to get in. Just have to convince the wife to let me invest in a smart trainer as the feedback sounds too good to pass up. 😀

[@gcn]

Nice one Nick, good luck with that!

[@technocynic]

I think it's very important to mention wheel-on smart trainers (eg kickr snap). Most of the benefit of the wheel-off (direct drive) smart trainers but much cheaper. This is the most important upgrade you can do from the basic setup (other than a fan which really is mandatory) . Also worth mentioning that the device you choose for running zwift can be a significant factor. Android is only beta. Apple TV is generally held to be the best value entry point if you don't have a suitable device already. A PC or Mac gives a few more capabilities than tablet or phone. Maybe another video just on devices and screens.

[@chrisl.6158]

I got an Elite Rampa for 300€ back in September. I think for that kind of money those wheel-on smart trainers are the most fun. Also needed to buy a heart rate sensor, a small fan, an Ant+ dongle and a trainer tyre for around 20€ each. Using my computer that's connected to my TV, and an Android tablet, which I already had, 380€ is all I had to spend for quite a nice mid-range setup to enjoy zwift on a high level with the possibly lowest cost. And about the noise: I was a little worried there, but with a lot of climbing involved and an average speed up to 40 kph those trainers are not making a lot of noise; in fact, my fan and stereo speakers make more noise than the trainer.

[@BevOutside]

My husband and I use a Concept2 BikeErg because it was relatively inexpensive and allows us to easily share. I have a gravel bike with a 1x derailleur which wouldn't easily fit on a smart turbo trainer so this works out well for us both. If we ever win the lottery, I'll get a smart trainer and a bike that fits it.

[@technocynic]

why wouldn't your bike fit on a wheel on smart trainer? at most you might need a thru axle adaptor

[@BevOutside]

@@technocynic I guess I didn't mention my husband throwing up his hands in utter frustration with the wheel on trainer we tried for a bit before getting the BikeErg.

[@jonathanhoad5442]

I got a elite Qubo smart b+. I found it was huge difference to just a entry level trainer and I just bought a £20 heart rate monitor and it has really made a difference to my training and zwift experience

[@staminapromos]

Just in case you hadn't realised there are many other price points along this scale from cheap to expensive setup. You can easily get a fully interactive trainer with built in power meter for 300 and some of the direct drive trainers are now down to 500.

[@lfuscao]

I bought a smart trainer (kicker core) and it is incredible, there is no comparison to a wheel trainer.

[@erikknudsen4034]

I went from budget to smart trainer this year. The difference wasn't quite as large as I expected... Ultimately you're still just putting force through the pedals. The biggest gain i see is erg mode to dial in intervals.

[@kazimirsmith]

i had an entry level trainer, which used a battery, and had terrible trouble with dropouts on zwift - i now have a kickr snap which plugs in and haven't had a dropout ... def worth spending a bit more for a trainer to help you get the most of your training

[@oldtwinsna8347]

The kickr core is one of the best things I ever bought. I hated traditional wheeled trainers so much and for good reason - they suck. But the direct chain system with auto resistance is another level where you start to enjoy, and not hate, life.

[@bkmontgomery]

I think you guys really undersold how much better a smart trainer feels on Zwift. I had a no name fluid dumb trainer, but switched to a Tacx Neo this winter, and the difference was akin to the switch from a Walmart MTB (on the road) to a proper road bike.

[@dupondavignon869]

Lol, not at all. I have both, and the main reason I bought a smart trainer was for races : proving my set-up was legit. Considering the 95% cheating there's in A races, I don't race anymore. The only advantage now is the ERG mode I use for workouts. Not sure anyway I couldn't train as well with the dumb trainer, if I could manage to deal perfectly with the speed from workout to workout.

[@joerenner8334]

It better be. Dropping thousands to train indoors better result in something.

[@gilbertnadeau7181]

I use a Kinetic Road Machine Control with the Companion App and my laptop. I plug my laptop into a 40" TV in front of my training set up. It works very well for me. The Road Machine Control was the least expensive smart trainer option when I purchased it and last I looked it was now being carried by Zwift on their website. I also bought the trainer pad and leveling block. I have compared speed and distance with my Garmin Edge. Mileage looks comparable and speed while on level ground. It does not while going up hill or down hill which is understandable with the calculations necessary for accurate speed calculations.

[@mralistair737]

A minor point but you miss out also on the road feel simulations, like on the tacx neo, if you ride over the timber bridges the resistance wobbles to give surprisingly realistic sense of the surface changing... Don't know if the wahoo also does that. Like most of these things, its not a deal breaker but another thing that makes it more immersive.. and if that keeps me riding over the winter then worth it.

[@gcn]

Absolutely, anything to help keep motivated!

[@ScruffyG1984]

Currently running an entry level interactive with the elite novo smart as it was. I use both the pc application and the mobile version via android of zwift. I have have found that if you have a dongle or smart TV you can quite happily mirror your phone to your TV whilst zwifting. Obviously the result vary depending on the spec of your TV and phone for mirroring quality and speed but this is great for a mobile training setup.

[@4vickiekaye]

I have a basic setup using a Cycleops Fluid 2. That works great for me. You don't feel the climbs but the speed will be reduced unless you increase your power (wattage) to keep the speed up. Of course the wattage is calculated so not super accurate. I was an early adopter of Power Tap wheels, (no longer own them) and I find the simulated power level feedback I get to be totally acceptable.

[@holg3070]

I want to say thank you again. I have zwifted for the very 1st time, and I enjoyed the experience. Thanks for your help!

[@pilkjaer]

When considering total cost don't forget to include monthly subscription fee for Zwift. 15€ each monthly is rather costly.

[@wildanS]

Holy shit, and I thought iRacing was expensive.

[@dereksmith3632]

I'm waiting for a reai smart indoor trainer with virtual 360 glasses, real outdoor footage, closer looking actual riders. Come on zwift, step up, I'm getting old

[@rollandjoeseph]

Thats called going outside and biking

[@awesomeattic]

@@rollandjoeseph unfortunately, I have 2 feet of snow outside my house right now, I'd love to be outside, but can't

[@fuzzykeuh]

I remember seeing an app many years ago that had real life footage of some TdF mountains and some flanders races (where the video also followed at the speed you were riding). But can't exactly remember the name and i remember you needed to buy each video seperatly and they were quite expensive. A quick google search shows "biketheworld open road" is something similar. But i don't think there is a social aspect to ride with other either.

[@ukchub6633]

@@rollandjoeseph XD go away hahaha

[@ukchub6633]

@@awesomeattic Joes reply was directly to Derek XD

[@Saledburnette]

Really good to see the turbo trainer comparison. Would have been good to compare a basic smart trainer in there as more of a mid range option. Likely to be what the majority of us viewers would be looking to buy

[@Saledburnette]

​@Brainjock What i should have said was a basic smart trainer for a basic option.

[@andrewbackhouse5828]

I have had a mag trainer since the '90s, but it had little use because indoor training was so boring. I got myself a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt last year, which came with the speed sensor so dug it out again for something akin to your basic setup. Kind of worked but hard to perceive the slipstream effect, and only found gradients obvious by the speed changing. I had to approximate the power as Zwift didn't seem to have the Blackburn Trakstand mag trainer I had listed. I then got a basic power meter for the bike (Powertap P1S, so left side only), which made the numbers more reliable, but still a dumb experience. Good for outdoor riding, but not much different experience on Zwift. My new investment is a Kickr Core, which is just coming out of the box. No experience with it yet, but looking forward to a better experience. Oh...and I need a bigger fan!!

[@sonivex]

Great video and very accurate. BUT... I just want to let everyone know that I got the bells and whistles setup from Wahoo and the KICKR 2018 and the CLIMB both broke down and had to be sent to repair in less than 5 months from the date of purchase. Something you would not expect from such a premium setup. Wahoo are lucky they are the only ones that offer the "smart trainer+gradient simulator+smart fan" combo, otherwise I would have already taken my money elsewhere.

[@Skaughtto]

With great complexity comes great cost.

[@leedorney]

I SINCERELY hope you got a straight replacement and not a repair!

[@sonivex]

lee a dorney unfortunately not. Both time were fixes, believe it or not.

[@CrankCyclingChannel]

I’m hoping the 2019/2020 products will iron out some of these issues wahoo are having.

[@jeremysweeten2792]

2018 was NOT a good year for WAHOO products. Sad, bc they are a very innovative company. TACX/GARMIN???

[@juhoukkola2306]

I got a full suspension mountain bike with 180mm suspension on Tacx Vortex smart trainer. Setup looks stupid, but runs surprisingly well. Though I guess I am giving little bit handicap for others as suspension bounces little bit while pedaling.

[@Alniemi]

Mid range vs this top end setup please!!! I am seriously considering a high quality trainer, and would love to see a comprehensive video on a mid range vs a top end, its more realistic then dirt cheap or top end in my opinion. Loved the video still. thanks. Heres to a future where i wont be hit by any more cars

[@juniorbear9]

Use a Tacx Genius wheel on smart trainer with a Gator Skin tyre and have no problems with tire wear. It works well until you get to above 14% gradient when if you run Zwift at 100% you get rear wheel slip. It also has the down hill motor drive to simulate descents which you only get on the direct drive Tacx Neo but it is a lot cheaper. It’s a good option if you want a wheel on but high spec trainer. I have increased my fitness and lost 10kg on Zwift over the winter so will hit the roads in good shape in the spring😁

[@TimothyFish]

I use a Cycleops Magnus with an older road bike. I sweat too much to use my good bike. For a fan I use a big fan with a remote control to make it easy to leave it off when the garage is still cold but flip it on after I warm up. I also use the timer feature on the fan so it will help dry the leftover moisture and turn itself off later.

[@ericrickert3045]

Thanks for this video! This is something I want to get since I am a fair-weather rider.

[@Madmax36207]

Can I get a link to that mount you have your phone on on your bike?

[@TGRacing]

It's possible to hack one by using a SRAM mount and attaching that to a phone case... if you have a Garmin out front to attach it to.

[@ElPresidente561]

Not sure which one they are using but I got myself a "Quadlock" last year, absolutely love it, also able to change the phone orientation 👍🏼

[@stefankuhnen6305]

@@TGRacing Had used a thing like you mention with a sticker to my phone case. But it was far away from my bar because it needs to be turned to lock at the holder. The one used in the video was using the phone in landscape mode and clearly very close to the handlebars. I would really like to know which holder is used @gcn #askgcntech

[@The_Cotswold_Engineer]

I'm still old skool, and I ride outside regardless of the weather (and yes...I live in the UK!). I can see turbos are useful but getting outside is where it's at!

[@Jeff-bd4gg]

Pete Warburton that’s just not realistic everywhere. In the northern part of the us, our temps in January were -25°F or -31.6 C. You may be hardy, but until you go for a 20 mile training ride in that, I’ll spare you the accolade for toughness. (Yes, there are a few here that are out in that weather. Better them than me)

[@arcoulant87]

@@Jeff-bd4gg rule # 5 HTFU :)

[@kennyabsalonson4829]

Yah, the 2 feet of snow on the ground in Washington state, USA doesn't give me that luxury 😁😁

[@The_Cotswold_Engineer]

@@kennyabsalonson4829 yes... snow would cause a problem. We only have a couple of days of the white stuff so just make it coincidence with a rest day or two!

[@The_Cotswold_Engineer]

@@Jeff-bd4gg true! I commute most days 20 miles each way. When I started commuting by bike, I made the rule that the weather would have no effect on riding or taking the car. So if it's a riding day, it's a riding day regardless!! Lowest temps I've done are -7°c. Winds of over 40 mph are almost more 'fun'😣😜!

[@ltrtg13]

Interesting video. Would using Zwift inside a hyperbaric chamber be useful or a waste of time? This would be a good video to do to show any benefits and disadvantages.

[@gcn]

Good question Lisa and definitely one for a future video

[@Jeff-bd4gg]

Hypothetically, it should improve your hemoglobin and mitochondrion levels, making you a fitter athlete.

[@oleg8195]

I prefer to train in the hyperbolic time chamber.

[@jeremysweeten2792]

See OLYMPIC TRAINER CENTER, Denver, CO.

[@bigring6424]

I think it was a new Bkool where I saw they were advertising virtual hills and virtual shifting, lol.. so after having the resistance increased for a "virtual hill" you can "virtually shift" to put it right back where it was, but that *feels* real I suppose. It's like the only thing that changed is your speed on screen. There's only cadence and power indoors, and you can get that without erg mode, virtual hills, or virtual shifting, just by using real shifting. There are real differences in the torque curves on a hill (think about zero speed pedal force on hill vs flat), but I've never heard of any machine simulating that properly.

[@ronroman3536]

A big difference between the two options that is not mentioned here is the realism of the trainers when you stand up and pedal. The Kickr Climb makes standing and pedaling much more realistic. Also, a feature to add to the high-end setup to make it even more realistic is to place the trainer on rocker plates. Whether you make your own or buy a commercial version, the side-to-side rocking action also greatly adds to recreating the outdoor experience.

[@MaddDoggie]

Thanks so much. I have a basic trainer so a $30 investment as an introduction seemed the smart way to go.

[@Skaughtto]

For the budget group, look for a rim drive trainer. My Minoura RDA80 doesn't wear tires or make much noise. Along with the Wahoo speed, cadence and heart sensors, the setup provides a lot of bang for the buck.

[@jeffreywaller1971]

all I did was borrow a power meter, and see the power difference to my basic trainer which was easy 60 watts off, im 5'5 and 140 pounds. I added 10 pounds on zwift and messed with my resistance on my basic trainer until it matched up 5 watts difference, people think I cheat all the time when I race C but sometimes I get dropped because its really spot on now. IF you cant afford a smart trainer borrow a power meter and just match up your real power. Although when I push around 1000 watts the trainer maxes out at 650 watts, so I can only do 7 w/kg max

[@jasoncherry6097]

I often pass or get passed by an avatar in GCN kit. Is the kit exclusive to you at GCN or are there people out there rocking your swag?

[@colinhillson]

If you type "P", then a promo box will show up. Type "GOGCN" in the box, and then you will have the GCN kit!

[@matrixuss]

You can connect your phone with tv via hdmi cable and that works pretty good too if you are on a budget 🤫

[@richbutler5815]

That's what I've done aswell...👍

[@lucitribal]

The issue is the huge difference in price. A 'pro' zwift setup is more than double the value of my bike. I don't have the kind of money to justify buying something like that.

[@lexvandewal8856]

Yeah its cost also more then my bike

[@ryanw8987]

That’s where I’d suggest looking into getting a power meter. It’s a great compromise since it gives you better accuracy than the virtual power from using a speed sensor but is beneficial whether you’re riding inside or out. Plus, with the new options coming out you can often find a single sided crank- or pedal-based power meter for less than $300

[@CarlForde]

you don't need to have a pro set up. A good compromise is a smart trainer around the 800 dollar/euro mark. Less expensive models won't be able to replicate the hills as well and might be lacking some other features. (Also check craigslist) A basic trainer is like riding on level ground and that's it. A smart trainer changes the game because when the hill in the video becomes a hill to your legs, that makes all the difference.

[@neiltiffany4740]

You can get a smart trainer for a ok price. I got a bkool for under £300 and its good. There are other good smart trainers in that range too.

[@dupondavignon869]

The best set-up is dumb trainer and normal fan, + a 3 euros second hand training book. You'll go further than 99% of zwifters who spend all their money on equipment, and nothing concerning training. More concerned about what they have than what they're (in this case, an athlete). That's just ridiculous.

[@nicholassmith831]

I purchased the bkool go smart trainer. comes with its own zwift-equivalent but the bkool smart can be connected to zwift also

[@kschnorr]

I use an Elite Chrono Gel wheel trainer. I have ant+ speed and cadence sensors hooked up to my iPad.

[@jasonboring6429]

I can find lots of these types of reviews on youtube, but am struggling to find reviews between the mid-range direct drive trainer (eg. Wahoo Kickr Core, Tacx Flux (2/S), Elite Direto+, etc) and the top-end wheel-on controllable trainers (eg. Bkool Smart Pro 2,Wahoo Kickr Snap, Tacx Bushido/Vortex, etc). This is an area where there is a little price difference (€400-550 vs €600-750), but is the extra money for the direct drive worth the investment over the top-end wheel-on trainers?

[@gcn]

Good question. You raise a really valid point on mid-range Vs top of the range. We'll see what we can do with a video or in Ask GCN soon!

[@andrewwyatt9789]

I would love to see a video on the cheapest smart trainer setups too

[@aaronpopstar]

Wacky, I have the Kickr Snap, which works brilliantly & is half the price. (Had it for over 12 months) Its still a smart trainer so you get the feeling of gradients etc and it is easy to set up. I purchased the cheapest Bontrager wheel l I could find (to match my Bontrager XXX's) and got a turbo trainer tyre as well which cost all in about £85 which is worth it to save your normal road tyres as they do wear down.

[@matthewsackman]

DCRainmaker always has very in-depth reviews of all of these devices at the different price points. Well worth having a read.

[@jasonboring6429]

@@aaronpopstar Specific reason I asked is because I own a BKool Smart Pro myself and have the same experience as you do. :-) I am just curious to see if it worth it to sell my BKool and invest in a mid-range direct drive trainer. As this price range is a popular one for a lot of people it can be useful to have an opinion on either to invest a little more in a direct drive trainer or if the top-end wheel-on trainers can give you the same/similar experience. How do they compare on power accuracy, ride feel, noise, etc.

[@thegamingwolf9036]

I use a basic trainer and it works perfectly for me

[@TriRussell1]

I tried Zwift with a “dumb” fluid trainer and I just didn’t see the draw compared to doing intervals while watching a movie. What I’m gathering from this video is a smart trainer that controls the resistance is really needed.

[@technocynic]

smart trainer makes a huge difference, even just a wheel on one.

[@CarlForde]

exactly that. The change in resistance, experienced by your legs, when you're climbing a hill in the video makes all the difference. The game goes from boring to compelling.

[@playandteach]

I bought a used basic turbo trainer, and found out that neither of my back wheels were round enough to work. They are straight running with no brake rub, but obviously slightly oval which means that the turbo limps from high friction to free running during every revolution. No problems on the road, no hope on the turbo.

[@michaellionart4841]

How very timely as I found out yesterday that my turbo is not compatible with Zwift. However for£30 I could get started whilst waiting for a new turbo to be in stock. Thank You

[@gcn]

You're welcome Michael, bad timing on the Zwift compatibility but great to hear you're getting sorted :)

[@sierra0884]

I bought a used Wahoo Kickr and it is the best thing ever! ERG mode is a must!

[@user-ho8vu9yb4e]

Sierra Force what is ERG?

[@sierra0884]

@@user-ho8vu9yb4e when you start a workout. Erg mode changes the intensity of the workout so that you dont have worry about shifting gears. If the workout has you at 170watts for 5 minutes. Ergo mode will have you in that range during the 5 minutes.

[@sjon02]

Good video :-) Question though; when will there be an actual GCN zwift event?! Would love to compete in that!

[@Outsideville]

Top of the line would not use AppleTV, since it's the least expensive computer that's supported. Yes, AppleTV and a monitor are cheaper than your mobile phone. It's what I use, and it gets the job done, but you take a significant graphics hit compared to using a computer with a dedicated graphics card.

[@woody65536]

I have a cheap ($50) magnetic trainer. I usually have the resistance turned all the way up to 6 when I ride. I put a movie in to pass the time. So all I need now is a speed sensor and the Zwift app on my cellphone?

[@SergioCristancho]

The thing is... how much of a diferent training is low $ vs high $ ... to see results make a test... take a training week put on a target... see who or which bugget makes more difference

[@trailzrock2]

I actually prefer a fluid trainer with a powermeter over a smart trainer. Less shifting. Just put your head down and go. Speed on Zwift is reflected based on your power, weight, height, and of course if you're going up or down on Zwift. Mostly I have to pay attention to the downhills when racing g on Zwift, since you're not gonna go any faster on a 10% downhill even if you're laying down the power. Still, got rid of my Kickr and loving my Kinetic Road Machine with a power meter.

[@DirkDierickx]

if all you're interested in is some training, then the basic setup is just fine and sufficient. if you want to really enjoy free riding or race on zwift then you'll need a smart trainer.

[@StaffRoelofse]

What bracket are you using for the smartphone?

[@BbB-vr9uh]

I would think this would be a great time to use a cheap steel frame and just upgrade your seat, pedals, and bar tape to be more comfy. Then of course you can still choose the remaining equipment according to budget.

[@shainexxxsescrimshaw7605]

I'd prefer the cheaper option really, at the end of the day you still get the same results from the cheaper ones, makes sense really

[@fluffy13bondjames92]

It’s been a while but I could only justify the back end of the more expensive option. The fan and the front like you don’t need that but I see some real advantages from the high end back end if you want to do more than just casually train

[@wraith01mg]

Super useful, I'm getting a speed and cadence sensor for zwift, but I'm on a variable mag trainer, ( and I'm relatively honest with my resist level) its good to know. Thanks.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Should have done an intermediate set up: the simple connected trainer (resistance aligned with (say) Zwift, no climb, no fan (you can buy a fan)).

[@lanaklyueva2280]

Something in between works great - I use Kikr SNAP with a cadence sensor and a iPad - have the simulated gradients, consistent power measurements, the ERG mode, the interaction and all the great stuff on ZWIFT and did not have to rob a bank to get it :-)

[@rzeckner]

I went from a standard turbo trainer a bit over two years ago to a Wahoo setup with Zwift and my efforts went from something I felt obligated to do to something I enjoy and look forward to doing. From my perspective the "dumb" turbo trainer was the poorer investment.

[@cooperharris13]

I'm in the dumb trainer world right now. Just started getting into cycling a year ago. Using the speed/cadence sensor. It's ok... Just "meh" for me. Sounds like you experienced a big improvement. Did you go direct drive or wheel on smart trainer?

[@sevenrats]

The difference in price is huge. I have a question though. I already have a dumb trainer. If I use it for zwift, will the apparent speed change when climbing and descending? I really don't want to make this too attractive for me. I mountain bike and try to ride all winter and really only want to use this when I'm really rained out or snowed in. I don't want to be opting for zwift if I don't really have to.

[@TehTianHong]

what is the resistance setting in the standard turbo trainer? what if we manual change the resistance, will it affect the zwift data?

[@simonrichardson5259]

Yeah it would, Zwift tells you to keep the resistance on a specific setting.

[@sillem4337]

@@simonrichardson5259 So the limit is in fact your gearing? What happends when you go like, the max gear? You have to spin your legs faster to increase speed?

[@technocynic]

@@sillem4337 I think if you are on a dumb trainer you are limited in watts anyway (not a problem that was likely to effect me). 400 on an unsupported trainer and 1200 supported I think

[@samuelmundula2216]

I got super lucky and got my hands on an Elite Zumo direct drive trainer for $320 from Performance when they were having their store closing sale. I love it and it's incredible - but I don't know if I could justify the $800 price tag if I were to pay full price. Either way, it certainly beats my Kinetic fluid trainer and I can already tell that this season is going to result in greater results than last ;)

[@christrickett3291]

I am hoping to get onto Zwift so I can ride through the Kazakh winter, so in my garage, a fan will not be much use, as it will be minus 40 anyway. However, I don't have a road bike, I have read that MTB is OK on a trainer, but only OK and that there are snags. Can anybody who is using an MTB, even if they had to change to a flat tyre, let me know if it works OK or so I need to buy a road bike? Thanks

[@matthewscanlan1893]

Slightly old video but doing some research before getting zwift, so if I get the budget trainer etc does that mean I can’t participate in races???

[@jdr4307]

You can. Everyone can. Smart trainers just give it more of a road feel. But the power is estimated unlike the ST

[@J-Stoic]

Just picked up a Tacx Vortex for £180 from Chain reaction Cycles really cheap deal! Not had a go with Zwift yet will wait for my 30 day Tacx trial to run out first. Zwift looks fantastic though!

[@plantfuelled8912]

What about a basic trainer but with a power meter paired up to a PC with ANT+? That's really what most people have as a basic setup. I ride a lot indoors but I only do that because of the weather, I don't want to spend thousands that could have been spent on a real bike. What do I lose vs a smart trainer? Top end power etc? The Zwiftpower speed sensor uber entry level setup is prone to inaccuracy and banned from many races.

[@nickhickton2395]

This may be a stupid beginner / newbie -type question, so please forgive me. I'm riding on a basic setup without auto-resistance control, How do I know what gear I need to be in to replicate the actual gradient and the resistance that a smart trainer will be producing ? Is there a 'proper' way of doing that, or do I just select a gear that feels 'about right' ?

[@graeme5060]

Any recommendations for a budget turbo trainer? The one featured in the video wasn't listed sadly.

[@JeBaSIINGH23]

After buying 2 bikes and a ton of cycling gear/clothing during covid, I found myself wondering what I should do for the winter months with no more budget to invest in an indoor trainer. My dad gave me his vintage wind trainer and I bought a speed sensor... Let's hope this setup is ideal and will work using Zwift! Please let me know if anyone else is using an old school trainer :)

[@neiltiffany4740]

It's worth saying that zwift on android is on beta at the moment and does not work on every device. Which is a shame, bkool for me while it doesn't work on my phone.

[@StopaskingformynameYouTube]

I've got the wahoo kickr core and paid 4 times more for that than my bike. But, it's dead silent, comes with built in cadence meter, power meter and smart variable resistance aswell as a free month of zwift. I didn't bother with the cheap trainers to begin with, i am riding 1 hour or more every single day and i don't want to limit myself to something less than good enough. And imo.. if it isn't a smart trainer it's not good enough.

[@christrickett3291]

Pardon what may seem like an embittered poor-me response, but for me, even the cheapest way of getting onto Zwift is beyond my budget and I have to save for six months to buy even a cheap trainer. So while I agree with you, it is just a no go for many riders.

[@StopaskingformynameYouTube]

@@christrickett3291 i can totally understand that, i come from a family with no money, but i have established a family where we do spend little on things, whi le we earn a decent wage, so we could afford a one time expense to get in shape during the Winter. If you can not afford a roller, then riding outside is just a matter of making time for it, plus you're less likely to quit early as you have to get home. :-)

[@pathopkins4500]

Thank you ...... Thank you ....... Thank you; so very much for the great review ! Much needed for some one just getting started on a limited budget .