Bike Trainer Stand How To Set Up
With Zwift taking the indoor cycling world by tempest at the moment, giving riders the chance to immerse themselves in a virtual universe and train more efficiently than ever, are you thinking about taking the plunge and investing in a dedicated Zwift setup?
It can be hard to know exactly what you need or how much money you should spend to go your platonic Zwift setup. And so, with that in mind, we've examined all of the options and put together a guide to the best Zwift setups for every rider and every budget.
We've covered it all; from the cheapest Zwift turbo trainer to the ultimate loftier-stop indoor training hurting cave.
Otherwise, check out our complete guide to Zwift for more than on the virtual cycling platform, as well as our circular-upwardly of the best smart trainers and best indoor cycling apps.
Why should you use Zwift?
Zwift
Zwift is a great way to race and train, enabling you to reap the benefits of indoor preparation while having fun – or stoking the competitive fire – along the fashion. It tin be used throughout the twelvemonth, at whatever time of the day or nighttime.
It's an online cycling game with dissimilar worlds to ride effectually, virtual grouping rides to bring together, Zwift workouts and preparation plans to complete, and FTP and ramp tests to benchmark your fitness. At that place are fifty-fifty Zwift races to be won and lost.
Zwift is neat not merely because it takes the boredom out of indoor cycling, merely because it'southward so feature-rich that it tin be considered an ideal complement to riding outside, rather than an culling.
How to sign up to Zwift
Yous can sign up to Zwift on a Mac or PC via zwift.com/create_account, or on a compatible tablet or mobile device via the Zwift app, which is available through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
You can besides purchase a digital membership gift card on Zwift.com.
Once y'all've created an account, you'll become a seven-day gratis trial if you lot signed upward online, or 25km of complimentary riding if you joined via the Apple tree App Store.
In one case that's finished, you'll need to sign up for a subscription, which costs £12.99 / $14.99 per month.
Inexpensive Zwift setup
If you're on a tight Zwift budget, yous'll demand the following equipment to put together the cheapest setup:
- A cycle
- A budget indoor trainer
- A compatible computer, smartphone or tablet with Bluetooth or ANT+ (or an Pismire+ USB dongle)
Upkeep smart trainer
Simon Bromley / Firsthand Media
A budget wheel-on smart trainer is the ideal introduction to the immersive experience Zwift offers.
We'd recommend a inexpensive cycle-on smart trainer over a regular, dumb (i.e. not-smart) turbo trainer, equally it allows you to reap the benefits of Zwift'due south virtual worlds and workouts, thanks to the variable resistance and ability measurement offered by a smart trainer. You lot needn't suspension the bank to get started.
Though upkeep options may non on paper appear to offer comparable operation to more expensive smart trainers, our testing has shown there are good options for less than £300 / $400.
Our pick of the bunch would exist the Tacx Flow Smart . At a penny under £270 / $349 at RRP, information technology offers a solid spec for beginners, is easy to fix and use, and delivers peachy performance at a very competitive price.
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Alternatively, an even cheaper option is the Aristocracy Novo Smart (RRP £259 / $350).
While its construction quality doesn't quite stand to that of the Tacx Flow Smart and information technology has a lower maximum power output, it nevertheless takes total advantage of all of Zwift's immersive features and offers impressive data accuracy.
It's worth noting while both of these trainers can technically merely simulate gradients upwardly to 6 per cent, Zwift's default trainer difficulty is set at 50 per cent, meaning you lot won't actually max out the trainer's resistance until you hitting a 12 per cent slope in the game.
Cheapest Zwift trainer and speed/cadence sensor
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If you're on a very tight budget, any standard, non-smart turbo trainer can be used with Zwift, every bit long as you take a few accessories. The cheapest Zwift trainer, therefore, might just be the one yous already take.
If you lot currently ain an ANT+ or Bluetooth-compatible measurement tool, such as a modern ability meter , Zwift can utilize the information from that device to power your on-screen avatar.
Of course, this means missing out on things such as false gradient changes, drafting and ERG way , merely it'south a workable option in a compression.
It is worth noting that if you're using an iOS device, then connecting via Bluetooth is your merely selection at this point.
Those without a power measurement tool will demand a speed/cadence measurement device instead.
Something like Wahoo's RPM Speed and Cadency Cycle Sensors are what you're looking for, merely whatsoever Bluetooth or Pismire+ speed sensor should work.
If yous are just using a speed/cadence sensor and a non-smart trainer or rollers , and then Zwift has two methods of computing virtual watts.
The commencement way is for Zwift to use the known power curve of your turbo trainer. If you ain a trainer that Zwift has tested (the total list of compatible trainers tin be found on Zwift's website ) this tin exist a fairly accurate way of measuring power, but your in-game wattage will be capped at 1,200.
If you lot have an unsupported trainer, Zwift will try to make a rough calculation based on your wheel speed, simply realistically this is a terminal-ditch option, and so don't expect the numbers to be peculiarly accurate. Your in-game wattage volition also be capped at 400 watts, then this isn't a long-term solution for many.
Essential accessories
In terms of accessories, you'll as well need some kind of stand up for your phone, tablet or reckoner – but you can simply equally easily make do with a few boxes stacked on height of a chair or stool, if that'south all you have bachelor.
Finally, y'all're going to need some sort of fan. A cheap but powerful option such as the aptly-named Honeywell Turbo Fan from Amazon volition work fine, if you lot tin get it in the right position.
Mid-range Zwift setup
The mid-range is dominated by more expensive wheel-on smart trainers, plus a few accessories that aid improve the quality of the experience. You'll besides start to see upkeep direct-drive smart trainers.
- Mid-range bicycle-on or budget smart trainer
- Turbo trainer table or tablet/phone stand
- Trainer-specific tyre
- Front-bike riser block
Mid-range wheel-on smart trainer
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
With a bicycle-on smart trainer, you'll exist able to access all of the features Zwift has to offering, such as simulated courses and gradients, ability-based workouts and training plans with variable resistance, group rides, races, etc. They're a great mode for riders on a upkeep to go into interactive training.
Our electric current favourite mid-range wheel-on smart trainer is the Saris M2 (RRP £499 and $549.99). We were impressed not but with the price, but also with its performance compared to direct-drive trainers.
It has a claimed power accuracy of +/- v per cent, but in practice our tester constitute it generally kept within 3 per cent of his Garmin Vector three power meter pedals.
Budget straight-drive smart trainer
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
There'south besides a growing number of competitive-priced, directly-drive trainers. With a direct-drive trainer, you lot remove the rear cycle and connect your bike to the trainer via a standard cassette.
The advantage of this is that in that location'due south no wear on your rear tyre, and the best ones are able to offer better power accurateness, also as a quieter and more realistic ride feel than a wheel-on trainer – usually cheers to them having a larger flywheel.
They're likewise generally able to simulate steep gradients and offer better back up for higher-wattage outputs because there's no risk of the tyre slipping on the trainer during dart efforts.
For £449 / $699, the Elite Zumo offers a lot of bang for your buck. It's i of the cheapest direct-drive smart trainers available, but offers adept ride feel and is very quiet.
However, its ability values read a piddling on the low side compared to on-bike power meters, so it's maybe non the best option for aspiring esports earth champions, but otherwise information technology's an impressive unit.
The ThinkRider X5 Neo Smart is another directly-drive smart trainer in the same pricing ballpark. Information technology has a couple of quirks, but otherwise offers practiced power accuracy and an impressive specification for the price.
Fine-tuning your setup
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A dedicated trainer table with extendable legs will assistance yous easily get your laptop or tablet at eye level, as well as provide a convenient place to put your telephone and spare h2o bottle.
You'll want to get a riser block for your front wheel also, if the trainer yous purchase doesn't come with ane. This levels out the bicycle and holds the front wheel in identify for amend stability.
You might as well consider a trainer-specific tyre for utilize with a bike-on trainer, only you'll ideally need a spare wheel to put this on because swapping tyres every fourth dimension yous desire to apply the trainer isn't practical. If you lot're buying a direct-drive trainer, you may besides need to buy a cassette (some trainers include a cassette, only many don't).
Finally, if you've got a little fleck more money to spend, it'south worth investing in a slightly more than powerful fan than recommended in our budget setup, to help continue you cool and comfortable, such as this Vornado 460 Small Air Circulator – merely anything similar will exercise.
All-time high-end Zwift setup
Here, the market place is dominated by loftier-spec straight-drive smart trainers:
- Direct-drive smart trainer
- Apple Television or powerful tablet/laptop with HDMI connectedness
- Indoor training-specific fan
High-finish straight-drive smart trainer
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
There'southward a range of price points to choose from, merely the best ones more often than not cost over £500 / $700. As you lot spend more, the resistance ceiling, slope simulation, ability accuracy and ride feel of a direct-bulldoze trainer will ordinarily improve.
At an RRP of £549 / $749.99 the Tacx Flux S is an first-class-value route into high-end direct-drive trainers.
Its specs might not match up to its more expensive competitors on paper, with power limited to 1,500 watts and gradient simulation to x per cent, only in reality it'southward a great smart trainer that offers more than enough power and resistance for the vast bulk of riders.
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
For only £100 more, the Elite Suito (RRP £650 / $799) is another good option. It's ever so slightly louder than some of the best direct-drive trainers nosotros've tested, only its operation, ease of use and stability make it a smashing option.
The Wahoo Kickr Core (RRP £699.99 / $899.99) offers a spec with few compromises, splendid ride feel and is also very serenity. It'due south another fantastic selection.
Zwift in HD
BikeRadar / Immediate Media
At this level, you may fifty-fifty want to consider using Zwift on a Television receiver, and then you tin can really savour the virtual worlds in all their glory.
Yous could connect a laptop or tablet to your Goggle box via an HDMI cable, but the easiest and perchance most price-efficient way (if you don't already own a suitable laptop or tablet) is to utilize an Apple TV 4k because there's a dedicated app for that platform.
In terms of top-end fans, the Wahoo Kickr Headwind can simulate a headwind of up to 38mph / 48kph, with the fan speed controlled by your attempt level – which tin be measured in speed, ability or middle rate.
Ultimate Zwift setup
If money is truly no object, so there's still some other tier of Zwift setup you can reach:
- Acme-end direct-drive smart trainer or smart indoor bike
- Accessories that create a more immersive feel
- Projector and cinema screen
At this level, you lot really will need to have deep pockets considering costs can spiral out of control very chop-chop. But, if you take your Zwifting seriously and you've got the cash to spend, why not treat yourself to the ultimate Zwift setup?
Flagship smart trainer
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
1 of the most fully-featured straight-drive smart trainers is the Tacx Neo 2T Smart.
At an RRP of £1,200 / $1,399.99, it's certainly not cheap, but it has excellent ride feel thanks to its virtual flywheel and a claimed power accuracy of +/- one per cent. It can even simulate descents and dissimilar surfaces (such as cobbles and gravel).
The Elite Direto XR (£824.99 / $949.99) is another fully-featured, loftier-stop smart trainer that works perfectly with accessories such as Aristocracy's Sterzo Smart steering block.
Indoor bikes for Zwift
Tom Marvin / Immediate Media
If y'all're able (and willing) to spend even more, there's a recent trend towards dedicated smart indoor bikes.
Our choice of the best smart bikes is the Wattbike Atom. There's also the Wahoo Kickr Bike, StagesBike and Tacx Neo Bike Smart.
These are definitely halo products and will likely be out of attain for most people, but they accept some key specs that differentiate them from even the best smart trainers, if your budget stretches this far.
Cycle fit and crank length are unremarkably highly adjustable, for instance, and many models allow you to customise shifting and even chainring or cassette profiles.
They often claim ameliorate ride feel and power accuracy, have back up for higher maximum power outputs, and tin can too offering fifty-fifty greater degrees of gradient and descent simulations.
An obvious drawback to these indoor bikes is that they can't be folded away for easy storage, so you lot really need a dedicated space to train.
Cinematic experience
In terms of other equipment, everything else from the top-finish tier applies hither, unless you notice that a TV is merely too small for your ultimate grooming space and want to consider a projector and movie theater screen to create the truly ultimate experience.
If you employ the excellent Wahoo Kickr smart trainer (£999.99 / $i,199.99), yous can also brand use of the Wahoo Kickr Climb, which attaches to the cycle'southward forepart dropouts and simulates climbs of upwardly to 20 per cent and descents of -10 per cent, for a more immersive experience.
David Caudery / Immediate Media
You might fifty-fifty decide you want some indoor-specific cycling kit as well, from the likes of NoPinz, Le Col, Rapha and Madison. Sure, your normal cycling kit will do the task, but when we're talking about the ultimate Zwift setup, no rock should be left unturned.
The benefits over a height-end setup will probably only be marginal, but marginal gains are gains withal. So, if you're looking to squeeze out every terminal watt from your sessions, spending this kind of money could be worth information technology.
Best MTB setup for Zwift
Zwift isn't just for roadies, so if y'all're a mountain biker there's no reason you tin can't bring together in the fun also. Yous might call information technology the mountain biker'due south dirty secret.
This is the best mountain bike setup for Zwift:
- Direct-drive smart trainer
- Uniform freehub or cassette
- Steering platform
Zwift
Direct-drive smart trainer
The mechanics of using a mountain bike on Zwift are essentially the aforementioned equally a road bike.
If you have a bicycle-on trainer, yous'll need to check the trainer is compatible with the size of tyre you're using. At that place are besides turbo trainer tyres available for mountain bike wheels, if yous desire the quietest, most stable ride possible with these types of trainers.
As with road bikes, direct-bulldoze smart trainers are generally better though, if your budget tin can stretch.
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If your bike has a 12-speed drivetrain, so y'all may need to bandy the stock cassette or freehub on the trainer to make it compatible with your bike.
Most directly-drive smart trainers, such every bit the Wahoo Kickr or Elite Direto XR, take compatible freehub bodies available to purchase separately, though.
A cheaper and simpler alternative to a freehub swap is to use a SRAM PG-1230 NX Hawkeye 12-speed cassette on the trainer. This will fit on Shimano/SRAM 11-speed freehubs that come up fitted as stock on practically every direct-drive smart trainer.
Elite's Sterzo Smart steering platform is as well perfect for getting the nearly out of the singletrack courses and other mountain bike events on Zwift.
Across that, everything else that applies for road bikes also applies here; y'all'll need a decent fan and a device to play Zwift on, and somewhere to put it, such as a turbo-trainer table.
Turbo trainer accessories for Zwift
Alex Evans
No run-through of the best Zwift setups would exist complete without briefly touching on turbo trainer accessories.
Every bit with most things, in that location's an endless array of bits and bobs you lot can throw coin at, simply there are a few things that genuinely make a divergence when sweating it out on the trainer.
Nosotros've already covered a fan every bit an essential, but these are our other top picks:
- Sports towel
- Large water bottles
- Trainer mat or some class of flooring protection
- Wireless headphones
- Cotton cap or sweatband
Bike Trainer Stand How To Set Up,
Source: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/best-zwift-setups-for-every-rider/
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