Zwift Chat

[Brusgaard]

Has anyone else with a Neo Smart bike tried the steering feature which has now been enabled via the buttons on the hoods? I've tried it a couple of times but found it awful to the point of unusable. Really random in its responsiveness, so sometimes you move when you press the steering button and sometimes you don't - or you think you haven't and then a few seconds later you shoot off in that direction unexpectedly.

I'm not sure if it's just bad in general or an issue with my particular bike/setup?

I have the Sterzo, and it behaves sort of like that - well it doesn't do it unexpectedly, rather not at all!
OK as long as you don't use it/depend on it for racing I guess. Also remember you can't steer (change lane) when another rider is in that lane right next to you (like in real life).

 

[alex_cycles]

Cheers Alex, really like it the steering. It does help and is advantageous on super twisty courses.

It's brilliant on Glasgow Crit and the intestines and esses. People are saying it's not great in a TTT, but I haven't tried that yet.

Just ran out of puff on the second Brae, good result for me. Numbers are coming back up

Excellent

 

[mjd1988]

Has anyone else with a Neo Smart bike tried the steering feature which has now been enabled via the buttons on the hoods? I've tried it a couple of times but found it awful to the point of unusable. Really random in its responsiveness, so sometimes you move when you press the steering button and sometimes you don't - or you think you haven't and then a few seconds later you shoot off in that direction unexpectedly.

I'm not sure if it's just bad in general or an issue with my particular bike/setup?

I find it okay but my expectations were low lol. It takes a bit of getting used to but generally I find it functional. There was a bit of shooting off at the start, I haven't noticed it doing that recently though to be fair. I wouldn't use it for every corner, just for hairpins like the crit city course or an uphill I really want to avoid every square inch lol. I'd rather be central and draft better for the most part.

I do also enjoy it for an attack or sprint

 

[CXRAndy]

People are saying it's not great in a TTT, but I haven't tried that yet

It's quite difficult to keep aligned behind the rider in front. My recent Innsbruck race where I was following quite a bit, I had to regularly reposition to maintain draft

 

[alex_cycles]

It's quite difficult to keep aligned behind the rider in front. My recent Innsbruck race where I was following quite a bit, I had to regularly reposition to maintain draft

I found for the first couple of races it required a lot of extra concentration (like learning to drive). But now it's ingrained.
Much harder in smaller races though to stay in the draft, but the flipside is when you want to get away you can cut a corner and deny draft to potential chasers. I'm not sending it back I think it's a net gain.

 

[CXRAndy]

I think it's a net gain.

Definitely

 

[Del C]

Has anyone else with a Neo Smart bike tried the steering feature which has now been enabled via the buttons on the hoods? I've tried it a couple of times but found it awful to the point of unusable. Really random in its responsiveness, so sometimes you move when you press the steering button and sometimes you don't - or you think you haven't and then a few seconds later you shoot off in that direction unexpectedly.

I'm not sure if it's just bad in general or an issue with my particular bike/setup?

What version of the Neo bike are people using?

I’ve got the original model, or at least not the recently upgraded one.

I did the firmware upgrade. I’ve tried pairing it for steering with Zwift, but it doesn’t detect it.

I’ve looked at settings in the Neo bike app, but can’t see anything there to set up steering.

I also changed the pairing to run via the Zwift app to Apple TV, in case it breached the number of Bluetooth connections, but that didn’t make any difference.

Any advice from other Neo bike users?

 

[CXRAndy]

This is what Zwift insider have to say https://zwiftinsider.com/neo-bike-steering/

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fi...6376/tacx-neo-bike-smart---new-beta-available

 

[mjd1988]

What version of the Neo bike are people using?

I’ve got the original model, or at least not the recently upgraded one.

I did the firmware upgrade. I’ve tried pairing it for steering with Zwift, but it doesn’t detect it.

I’ve looked at settings in the Neo bike app, but can’t see anything there to set up steering.

I also changed the pairing to run via the Zwift app to Apple TV, in case it breached the number of Bluetooth connections, but that didn’t make any difference.

Any advice from other Neo bike users?

Mine was very straightforward, beta installed and worked with apple TV instantly. I don't have the plus but have the later version of the first one I think (different holes for different crank sizes?).

On the neobike FB page there were a few people who had a bit of trouble but most seemed to work first time

 

[Del C]

Thanks guys.

Re-read the page that @CXRAndy posted. Looks like you have to do a beta software update on the Tacx App as well as the bike firmware. I think I missed that the first time. Going to try that later

 

[bridgy]

I find it okay but my expectations were low lol. It takes a bit of getting used to but generally I find it functional. There was a bit of shooting off at the start, I haven't noticed it doing that recently though to be fair. I wouldn't use it for every corner, just for hairpins like the crit city course or an uphill I really want to avoid every square inch lol. I'd rather be central and draft better for the most part.

I do also enjoy it for an attack or sprint

Thanks Michael - I'll maybe give it another try soon and see if any recent updates have improved it at all. Wasn't impressed initially though!

 

[bridgy]

Thanks guys.

Re-read the page that @CXRAndy posted. Looks like you have to do a beta software update on the Tacx App as well as the bike firmware. I think I missed that the first time. Going to try that later

Hi Del - not sure if Andy's already posted all you need but there's some info and links to instructions to do it here (the update itself worked pretty easily for me) https://zwiftinsider.com/neo-bike-steering/

 

[CXRAndy]

From comments, it seems the 'Zwift Play' controls have a bit more functionality in steering and other features. They do more than just steering, you can navigate around once logged in to Zwift.

Still I hope steering comes to my Stages Bike soon, it has plenty of buttons to utilise

 

[bridgy]

From comments, it seems the 'Zwift Play' controls have a bit more functionality in steering and other features. They do more than just steering, you can navigate around once logged in to Zwift.

Still I hope steering comes to my Stages Bike soon, it has plenty of buttons to utilise

The do look quite good to be fair. I have read that they don't fit well to the on the bars of the New Smart bike I have though otherwise I'd be tempted to try them. Just a shame the steering with the built in buttons is so poor!

 

[JuhaL]

That Zwift Play controller, that makes companion app useless or nearly useless if you don't wanna give ride-ons or send any messages?.