DFW_Tri wrote:
For wheel-on smart trainers, the ride quality sucks compared to a fluid trainer (at least for the models I compared).
I totally agree. I thought that my Kurt Kinetic was the gold standard for awesome-feeling ride quality. It feels massively better than both the Wahoo KICKR and Tacx Neo 2.
MrTri123 wrote:
Is it true you don’t shift on wheel off trainers?
Also that they set the difficulty according to what the workout says?
Or is that erg mode I’ve heard of
Yes, you generally do not shift on smart trainers, but that is because you are jumping into a wholly different approach to training. This is ERG mode in which the training program sets a target power level, and the trainer dynamically changes its resistance so that you are pedaling to that power. This maintains the power level independently from your gearing and cadence.
The other variant is that you do shift gears on simulated rides, such as Zwift. In ride simulations, Zwift will change the trainer's resistance based on riding up a virtual mountain. In that case, you would respond by downshifting just like you would on a real hill. Then, when you go downhill, it will reduce resistance (and with the Tacx Neo, the trainer can actually spin the freewheel as if you were coasting down a hill).