I'm using the same approach - plug out the Direto before riding, then plug back in and launch Trainer Road. Seems to be working so far, but need to do more rides to confirm for sure that this approach is working.

Bumping this post.

Are fellow Elite Direto owners still getting this issue? I just received my Direto and have it all set up, but erg mode flat out does not work for me (tried controlling it on both my iPad and iPhone). I've tried unplugging the Direto, but it doesn't fix the issue - it just operates in free ride mode. I've tried it on both TrainerRoad and The Sufferfest to no avail. Not sure what the fix is here, but it's frustrating!

I have not had any more issues once I found what works for me. Turn off both ipad and iphone, unplug direto. Then plug in direto and turn on either ipad or iphone. Leave the other one off. Start pedaling as ipad or iphone is booting up. Open trainerroad app and load a workout.
I use my ipad everytime now without issue.
Hope this helps

Hey Johnathon,

Thinking about getting a Direto but concerned what I'm reading. Have you tried ERG with Ant + yet?

Apologize if you already wrote this. Getting cross eyed reading this late.

I use the Direto with a laptop and an Ant+ dongle. Absolutely NO issues. I have been on the bike pedaling before I launch the app (Zwift) in the computer, and I have launched and then woken up the trainer. It only gets unplugged when I need to move it.

It does overshoot when making large adjustments, and you sjhouldn't try and chase the resistance, just keep pedaling smooth and it settles down at the target wattage pretty quickly.

Several things that I have learned from being a direto owner :). 1) the bluetooth can only pick up on one device. So if it is paired with phone/tablet/computer, it cant pair with another one. So make sure it is disconnected. This happened to me originally when I used my phone to calibrate, then tried to use tablet for workout. 2) I unplug the machine, 3) load up trainer road, 4) plug in direto. It has worked perfectly since novemberish (other than I realized my old kurt kientic had my watts around 50 to high : (

well it's certainly disappointing to read this post, given that for the past month I've been struggling with the same issues on my Tacx Vortex Smart - ERG is basically useless at this point. I've tried my old Ipad, new ipad, bluetooth, ANT+, increasing roller resistance, decreasing roller resistance, new Tacx training tire, the whole 9 yards. I was about to give up and buy a Direto, but now having second thoughts given all the issues noted here.

Is there a consensus on the start up protocol to make these work? I thought I had it solve by: EVERYTHING turned off, start up ipad, start up trainer, open TrainerRoad then pedal - that seemed to work for a minute but no longer. Should I start the trainer first then the ipad?

I do usually listen to music via bluetooth from my phone, so now I'm really suspecting that the 'extra' bluetooth connection is screwing things up, even though that phone is not connected to the Tacx.

I thought riding indoors was supposed to be less of a hassle than outside!!

An issue for you MAY be that your phone is also synced up to the trainer.

I havnt had any issues for a couple of months now. When there is an issue, i do a hard shutdown of my computer (macbook), load trainer road, make sure phone/ipad is not connected to bluetooth (no ant stick), then turn on trainer.

I am not 100% sure if the trainers are able to dualcast at the same time, which could be an issue (I really do not know at all). BUT if one of the other devices picks up the trainer before the ipad on bluetooth/ant it could be causing an issue.

If you are using trainer road, you may just want to email them. they are pretty damn responsive (much better than elite)

Just got my Direto a month ago. I found it took a few rides to get used to the erg mode. Until I started focusing on keeping a very consistent cadence and trusting the trainer to adjust the resistance I struggled with the spikes as well.

Bummer. I've been on the fence between an elite direto and a tacx flux but was leaning this way because of better thru axle compatibility. its starting to look like I should just pony up for a wahoo and be done with it.

I think you're onto something patentattorney. Did a test today: power off ipad, Tacx, all iphones and all bluetooth devices in the house. Power on Tacx. Power on ipad (ipad 2 for reference, ANT+ stick). Fire up TrainerRoad. Perform warmup of whatever workout was up next = 0 issues. Power went up and down nearly flawlessly - hurray!

Before hitting main portion of workout, fired up my iphone and bluetooth headphones = Tacx won't respond to power changes on TR, upwards or downwards. Workout ruined.

I don't get it - the iphone is not connected to the trainer and it was powered down for 30 mins beforehand. How could these things possibly be trying to talk to each other; more importantly - how do I get them to forget each other!?

I'd just go with ANT+ off the bat. How much is an usb dongle anyway?

Out of curiosity do we know if all these problems exist with the wahoo? I ask because I just got my direto today and same issues. Kinda ridiculous to pay ~$1k and have to jump through 20 hoops for it to maybe work.

At the risk of sounding like a smug git, I've had my Direto a couple of months now and it has worked flawlessly. I use it in one of two ways, usually;

1. Resistance mode with Zwift, to simulate gradient. ANT+ FEC with my Windows 10 PC and a Suunto USB dongle. I also pair my Garmin HR strap (ANT+).
2. Eg mode with Trainerroad. Bluetooth with my Galaxy S7. Usually noodling around zone 2 while I watch something on Netflix.

I only ever use wired headphones, nothing else running on bluetooth. Haven't tried Sufferfest yet.

Only observation is that I have to turn the gradient simulation in Zwift (Trainer Difficulty) way down to make it rideable/enjoyable. 100% is nuts. Could be the gear ratios on my bike... riding a 53/39 and 12-25 which I've probably never taken up much more than 10% in real life.

Same problem here. New Direto and cannot use ERG mode on Bluetooth connection to iPad or Mac or Ant + connection to Mac. Seems like I may need to disconnect it from one device. I would prefer tp run Zwift on the iPad. How do I disconnect my Mac from establishing a connection to my trainer?

Bumping this thread:

I've just signed back up to trainer road for a 12 month plan after 16 months away.
I'm using an Elite Direto trainer, Garmin 800 and the TR IOS app
I did the new ramp test today and Erg mode would not work - I had to manually match the power via my own speed and gears
My Garmin and the TR app seem to connect to the Elite Direto fine and display the correct speed/power etc, but Erg doesn't seem to be working.
I've made sure Erg mode is selected on the app, but it is still won't work.

I'd like to add on to this thread.

I just started riding my direto, four rides in, only doing zwift, using an android phone/bluetooth to connect to the trainer, then my phone and house wifi connect to the pc.

Today, 30 miles in, I heard a weird noise then the trainer didn't seem to adjust for the terrain, no difficulty in the pedaling. I tried it later the same day and it seems to not want change difficulty when I hit a hill.

Any idea of what's happening? Do you hear any motor noise or get any type of feedback from your trainer?

It's so new it's tough to remember what it felt like, but heading up that hill, I knew something happened as the resistance was just steady, like a dumb trainer, and I had to change gears to make it harder or easier.

I've sent emails to Elite but who knows what help they will offer. I just have no idea how to trouble shoot this.