Zwift Chat

[CXRAndy]

They should be popular with ZRL riders then?

I've not tried one yet. What are the main benefits of a decent static bike over a trainer + bike?

They are multi user easy to setup, more stable/solid-aids sprints. They have TT bars and holders for tablets.

Other than that not a lot really

 

[JuhaL]

What are the main benefits of a decent static bike over a trainer + bike?

Maybe Tacx Neo Bike is more maintenance free, depending how long that groovy belt last vs. cassette, chain and chainrings.

 

[mjd1988]

$800...

RRP has gone up from £2,299 to £3,499 so a 52% price increase

Edit: having said that Wiggle currently have it discounted at £2,999.99

That is bonkers

 

[CXRAndy]

View: https://youtu.be/P7R_ruqMDNY

 

[Joffey]

Anyone raced The Bell Lap before? And if so is the final lap usually the quickest? Just wondering if, like on the Queens Highway, there is no point trying for a FTS early so best to just to wait for the final lap. I appreciate though that the finish line on The Bell Lap is another half lap away, unlike the Queens Highway.

Cheers 👍

 

[CXRAndy]

Anyone raced The Bell Lap before? And if so is the final lap usually the quickest? Just wondering if, like on the Queens Highway, there is no point trying for a FTS early so best to just to wait for the final lap. I appreciate though that the finish line on The Bell Lap is another half lap away, unlike the Queens Highway.

Cheers 👍

Yes I've done the bell lap. Final lap will most likely be the fastest. Everyone ramps up the pace , then there is the sprint

 

[Joffey]

Yes I've done the bell lap. Final lap will most likely be the fastest. Everyone ramps up the pace , then there is the sprint

Cheers Andy - I thought that might be the case. I'd imagine I'll be fine as long as I monitor any fliers as we come up to the sprint and just wait until the final lap. Save the old matches. 👍

 

[steverob]

Yes, last lap fastest cause of the sprint, first lap second fastest due to the blast out of the pens, rest of them in decending order (2nd, 3rd, etc.)

 

[Joffey]

Yes, last lap fastest cause of the sprint, first lap second fastest due to the blast out of the pens, rest of them in decending order (2nd, 3rd, etc.)

Cheers Steve 👍

 

[bridgy]

They should be popular with ZRL riders then?

I've not tried one yet. What are the main benefits of a decent static bike over a trainer + bike?

Just speaking for myself, I'd say the main benefit is I find it really comfortable, quiet and smooth to ride (I had a bike on a Tacx Neo before). I know some people like a fair bit of side to side movement - you get none of that with the Neo bike, it's really solid and stable, but I really like that personally.

I like how much adjustability there is - I started off copying my road bike measurements because I'm really comfortable on that on the road, but I've adjusted it a bit since as I find a slightly different position more comfortable for indoor riding.

The virtual gear changes are fantastic - instant and no fear of dropping your chain etc even if changing under great stress.

Having the smart bike has made the whole zwifting experience much more enjoyable for me and I'm so glad I got one. Reading some reviews they're not for everyone though clearly and some of the things I like about them others dislike so there's an element of personal preference too.

 

[Whorty]

Just speaking for myself, I'd say the main benefit is I find it really comfortable, quiet and smooth to ride (I had a bike on a Tacx Neo before). I know some people like a fair bit of side to side movement - you get none of that with the Neo bike, it's really solid and stable, but I really like that personally.

I like how much adjustability there is - I started off copying my road bike measurements because I'm really comfortable on that on the road, but I've adjusted it a bit since as I find a slightly different position more comfortable for indoor riding.

The virtual gear changes are fantastic - instant and no fear of dropping your chain etc even if changing under great stress.

Having the smart bike has made the whole zwifting experience much more enjoyable for me and I'm so glad I got one. Reading some reviews they're not for everyone though clearly and some of the things I like about them others dislike so there's an element of personal preference too.

I love my Atom for similar reasons. No maintenance, no skipping gears, permanent setup up, stable, just works. For someone mechanically inept it's perfect.

I went with Atom as there are UK based engineers should anything go wrong. But of the 4 bijes available at the time they all seemed much of a muchness.

I'd never go back to a wheel off trainer again.

 

[alex_cycles]

Just speaking for myself, I'd say the main benefit is I find it really comfortable, quiet and smooth to ride (I had a bike on a Tacx Neo before). I know some people like a fair bit of side to side movement - you get none of that with the Neo bike, it's really solid and stable, but I really like that personally.

I like how much adjustability there is - I started off copying my road bike measurements because I'm really comfortable on that on the road, but I've adjusted it a bit since as I find a slightly different position more comfortable for indoor riding.

The virtual gear changes are fantastic - instant and no fear of dropping your chain etc even if changing under great stress.

Having the smart bike has made the whole zwifting experience much more enjoyable for me and I'm so glad I got one. Reading some reviews they're not for everyone though clearly and some of the things I like about them others dislike so there's an element of personal preference too.

Ta for that. Yes it does sound like a marmite thing. I suspect I'd probably like it, but the cost is a big barrier to entry. If I was going to lash out £2-3k on a bike it'd have to be my main outdoor road bike. If I won the lottery... (I'd have to buy a ticket though )

 

[Whorty]

Ta for that. Yes it does sound like a marmite thing. I suspect I'd probably like it, but the cost is a big barrier to entry. If I was going to lash out £2-3k on a bike it'd have to be my main outdoor road bike. If I won the lottery... (I'd have to buy a ticket though )

I'm super lucky ... Rach's last present to me before she died was my Specialized Roubaix Expert with DI2. So I already had my best road bike and one that every time I ride it reminds me of my beautiful kind wife.

So it was an 'easy' decision to get a good indoor trainer. Not cheap, but I've used it so much and will continue to that for me it's a good investment

 

[Joffey]

I love my Atom for similar reasons. No maintenance, no skipping gears, permanent setup up, stable, just works. For someone mechanically inept it's perfect.

I went with Atom as there are UK based engineers should anything go wrong. But of the 4 bijes available at the time they all seemed much of a muchness.

I'd never go back to a wheel off trainer again.

Ditto. I love mine. And in the summer it makes quite a good looking clothes horse. Ranks as my 5th best cycling purchase - No regrets 👍

 

[bridgy]

Ta for that. Yes it does sound like a marmite thing. I suspect I'd probably like it, but the cost is a big barrier to entry. If I was going to lash out £2-3k on a bike it'd have to be my main outdoor road bike. If I won the lottery... (I'd have to buy a ticket though )

Yeah that's completely fair enough re: the cost - especially since the price hikes! I actually do far more indoor riding than outdoor now so I was happy to spend the money on the indoor setup rather than upgrade my road bike.

Indoor bikes aren't the only things to have gone up a lot in price though - I got a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (the best carbon frame they did at the time, now the middle option) 5 years ago for £2,999. It wasn't the base model (it had the aero handlebars and carbon aero wheels). In the current Canyon range the cheapest model CF SLX Ultimate is £6,249

Admittedly specs are different now and the current ones have electronic gears and include power meters across the range, but even if you drop down to the lower level carbon frame, the equivalent spec level to my bike is £1,600/53% more than mine cost.