Smart trainers

Davinchia1981

Davinchia1981

Well-Known Member
I've been doing training sessions on a cheap excersize bike and am looking to upgrade my situation. I have an older gt that I used to ride and have been considering a Wahoo kicker with the zwift cog so I can just hook it up and not have to get another cassette for the trainer.
Would there be another option of trainer that is a better alternative than the Wahoo unit in the same price range? ($500 without Zwift year membership.)
I like the idea that I don't have to physically change gears. The bike is a 10 speed and the cog, if I am correct, effectively turns it into a 21 speed.
Anyone with experiance maybe on why not to get this chime in please.
I feel like I could put any bike on there because of the cog.
 

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Jet Black Victory $399 and arguably better. Look at DCRainmaker or Gplama reviews. They've broken the mold with the pricing. Only problem is availability. You might have to wait a couple of months, but if you've waited this long...
 
goldsbar said:
Jet Black Victory $399 and arguably better. Look at DCRainmaker or Gplama reviews. They've broken the mold with the pricing. Only problem is availability. You might have to wait a couple of months, but if you've waited this long...
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Didn't even know about them. That's looking like a great alternative. Thanks. Will be viewing the reviews on it later. 👍
 
We have our remaining smart trainer inventory on end-of-season blowout...Elite Tuo smart trainer (wheel on unit) ...Reg. $350, sale $250....Elite Suito-T smart trainer (wheel off) with 1 month of Zwift free...Reg $550, Sale $375. We have 1 of each left...
 
goldsbar said:
Jet Black Victory $399 and arguably better. Look at DCRainmaker or Gplama reviews. They've broken the mold with the pricing. Only problem is availability. You might have to wait a couple of months, but if you've waited this long...
Click to expand...
There is a waitlist for that Jetblack. There’s been one for a long time too. Which is weird. Something about that tell tell me something is off with that company.
 
Jetblack and Wahoo zwift trainer with virtual shifting all great. Waitlist for jet black is long for sure.

As suggested above ask around the LBS folks on here I’m sure they will give you a great deal.

Wheel off trainer is the new standard but depending on your budget and training goals wheel on smart trainer isn’t terrible. But the downside is no virtual shifting
 
jShort said:
There is a waitlist for that Jetblack. There’s been one for a long time too. Which is weird. Something about that tell tell me something is off with that company.
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I just got told "lol that sucks" when my speed sensor inside the unit went bad from their Warranty. They did offer me a Victory for $50 off and said US retailers will have some in a week or two.

I ended up just ordering a Kickr Core.
 
Cassinonorth said:
I just got told "lol that sucks" when my speed sensor inside the unit went bad from their Warranty. They did offer me a Victory for $50 off and said US retailers will have some in a week or two.

I ended up just ordering a Kickr Core.
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When my kickr made a weird noise they sent me a refurb with minimal fuss. So…ya I guess that’s not really surprising.
 
Davinchia1981 said:
I've been doing training sessions on a cheap excersize bike and am looking to upgrade my situation. I have an older gt that I used to ride and have been considering a Wahoo kicker with the zwift cog so I can just hook it up and not have to get another cassette for the trainer.
Would there be another option of trainer that is a better alternative than the Wahoo unit in the same price range? ($500 without Zwift year membership.)
I like the idea that I don't have to physically change gears. The bike is a 10 speed and the cog, if I am correct, effectively turns it into a 21 speed.
Anyone with experiance maybe on why not to get this chime in please.
I feel like I could put any bike on there because of the cog.
Click to expand...
Just know that going with the Cog locks you into Zwift. Right now their virtual shifting only works on their platform. You can still use the virtual shifting on Zwift without the Cog. You just need their shifters
 
Any input on the Kikr Roller? To an ignoramus like me looks like a good option if you don't want to permanently dedicate a bike to indoor riding...
 
serviceguy said:
Any input on the Kikr Roller? To an ignoramus like me looks like a good option if you don't want to permanently dedicate a bike to indoor riding...
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When I got my bike fit, the fitter used one. I really liked it. There is a little side to side movement so you aren't quite as stationary as a wheel off trainer. But he needed to do some wonky hack to fit my MTB because the wheelbase was too long. Also with a MTB, you're going to get the knobby noise. But if you are going to stick to using a road bike on the trainer, I think it's pretty good solution. Easy on and off and all the same basic features as a more expensive wheel off trainer..
 
serviceguy said:
Any input on the Kikr Roller? To an ignoramus like me looks like a good option if you don't want to permanently dedicate a bike to indoor riding...
Click to expand...

Why would you permanently dedicate a bike to the trainer? Takes like 3 minutes to take off the rear wheel, put bike on trainer, go. No harder than taking a wheel on and off.

I'd rather do that then shred tires every few months on rollers/wheel on. I can't imagine it's that much quicker taking it on and off the Kickr Rollers either.
 
jShort said:
When I got my bike fit, the fitter used one. I really liked it. There is a little side to side movement so you aren't quite as stationary as a wheel off trainer. But he needed to do some wonky hack to fit my MTB because the wheelbase was too long. Also with a MTB, you're going to get the knobby noise. But if you are going to stick to using a road bike on the trainer, I think it's pretty good solution. Easy on and off and all the same basic features as a more expensive wheel off trainer..
Click to expand...
If I were to go in that direction it would be with my El Mar gravel mounted with gravelkings so probably not as noisy as a MTB.
Cassinonorth said:
Why would you permanently dedicate a bike to the trainer? Takes like 3 minutes to take off the rear wheel, put bike on trainer, go. No harder than taking a wheel on and off.

I'd rather do that then shred tires every few months on rollers/wheel on. I can't imagine it's that much quicker taking it on and off the Kickr Rollers either.
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Lazyness? Free some garage space? I bet most people on MTBNJ.com actually dedicate their less used bike to indoor duties and leave it mounted on the trainer most of the time...
 
Trust me you want a wheel off trainer, the difference is night and day, back in the day when a wheel on trainer was $250 and a Wheel off was $1200 well that was a different story, but now that you can pick up a direct drive trainer for $375 (like the Elite posted above), it would just be a mistake to get a wheel on trainer.
And BTW that Elite sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
 
serviceguy said:
If I were to go in that direction it would be with my El Mar gravel mounted with gravelkings so probably not as noisy as a MTB.

Lazyness? Free some garage space? I bet most people on MTBNJ.com actually dedicate their less used bike to indoor duties and leave it mounted on the trainer most of the time...
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You have what, 10 El Mariachis? Store one on the trainer.

Wheel off. Wheel on is like riding a 26" bike with tubes in 2025. Rides smoother, doesn't destroy tires, takes up less space and never having to fight with tire pressures.
 
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