Bike for Tacx Flux Smart Trainer

[areyouactuallymoving]

Hi,

Apologies if there have been numerous threads on this (did a quick search but didn't find anything) or if it's in the wrong place.

I am looking to get a Tacx Flux Smart Trainer and would like to get a bike just for this rather than having the faff of removing wheel, fixing to trainer and vice versa with my current bike. I don't know too much about bike specs but would I be better going for a cheap new bike or a cheap secondhand bike? What specs should I look for?

I don't know if any of this will make any difference, but, my 'real' bike is a Norco Search adventure road bike and I would prefer a drop bar, plus I live in the Cotswolds so would be looking to use virtual hills to strengthen me up for rides in the real world.

Cheers!

 

[screenman]

Anything that you can set up with the same position as the main bike.

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

Hi, thanks for your response, do you mean same riding position? Does it need to have the same/similar gearing?

Thanks

 

[huwsparky]

I think I could put my bike on my trainer in less than 20seconds. Just saying...

 

[screenman]

Hi, thanks for your response, do you mean same riding position? Does it need to have the same/similar gearing?

Thanks

Same riding position.

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

I think I could put my bike on my trainer in less than 20seconds. Just saying...

You maybe able to, but the trainer I am thinking of getting is a drive train one, so wheels needs to be removed etc. Plus would have to get bike out of shed, up 2 flights of stairs and onto trainer. I know how lazy I am and all that extra faff would put me off. I also intend to keep cycling outside through the winter, so again if I can make my life a bit easier I am more likely to do both.

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

Maybe I need to rephrase the question, does the quality of the bike matter? Would a cheap Apollo from Halfords do, or would a better quality second-hand bike (or a slightly more exp3nsive, but still cheap e.g a BTwin road bike) with gearing closer to my current bike be worth the extra money?

 

[CXRAndy]

Spend the money on a decent turbo and use your bike. A top end smart trainer are so much better than the budget trainers. Tacx Neo, Wahoo Kickr, Elite? (cant remember model)

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

As long as the new bike is 9 speed or above and somewhere close in setup to your usual bike, no problem

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

Thanks @T.M.H.N.E.T, apologies for the stupid question but do you mean 9 speed in total or 9 on one chainset (if that's the right term, per front cog is what I mean)?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Thanks @T.M.H.N.E.T, apologies for the stupid question but do you mean 9 speed in total or 9 on one chainset (if that's the right term, per front cog is what I mean)?

Sort of, 9 or more gears on the rear cassette(wheel) the front whether 2 rings or 3 isn't as much of an issue

 

[kingrollo]

Personally I would see how go removing the wheel - you might not even like turbo training. A dedicated bike just for the turbo seems a massive expense. And if you want the exact same set up - you going to need the same bike.
If you really can't hack taking the wheel off - Id go for a used bike at around £150 and take the hit it won't feel exactly same.

 

[mcshroom]

It doesnt have to be identical, but you need tobe able to get into a very similar position to tour current bike. It would be preferable if the gear shifters were similar to your current bike too.

You are probably better going second hand imho.

 

[areyouactuallymoving]

Hi,

Thanks again for the replies, you are probably right that I should at least try it with taking the wheel off, started looking for a similar bike and it was looking a bit more expensive than I thought. Never realised that secondhand bikes went for so much.

 

[kingrollo]

Hi,

Thanks again for the replies, you are probably right that I should at least try it with taking the wheel off, started looking for a similar bike and it was looking a bit more expensive than I thought. Never realised that secondhand bikes went for so much.

Depends what you are looking for. I save loads by buying 'nearly new' of e-bay - for example my alu defy which the owner said had 20 miles on it - (and tbh it didn't look like it had that) £250 v about £500-600 new.
Whats strange is though the values don't continue to drop - a tatty older defy I reckon would still fetch close to £200 !!!