You do not need a smart trainer to use Zwift. However, it makes for a much better experience. Zwift can pick up power, speed, cadence, and heart rate sensors.

Zwift is the best thing to ever happen to indoor training since the smart trainer. Get the Wahoo Kickr and Zwift.

---

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

Pretty sure Zwift works with the computrainer.

https://support.zwift.com/...putrainer-HJxKyCJZr7

What would motivate or captivate your wife the most for indoor riding? I would not rule out a Peloton until you assess fit. Those are pretty freakin' awesome. If she likes the spin and rah, rah environment, then she might love the Peloton. A friend of mine logs a lot of miles and hated a KICKR with Zwift. He went back to his Peloton.

Peloton = high-energy spin class environment and easy for anyone to use
Zwift = gamified riding and sense of competition with others
TrainerRoad = sophisticated program-oriented training (but check-out and watch Netflix while riding)

Peloton is an all-in-one solution.

If you go Zwift, TrainerRoad, or something else, then you need a smart trainer (ideally) and a computer or TV to host the training program. You can do one of those with a dumb trainer, but you have to concentrate more to get the workout quality.

Does your wife have an actual bike? If not, peleton will prob be all around best option.

I would check out dc rainmakers https://www.dcrainmaker.com/...endations-guide.html trainer guide. If money isnt really an issue (700-1000 vs. 300-500), I would jsut get a direct drive trainer (bike stays on it).

Two main schools of thoughts. Trainer Road (VERY SIMPLE WORKOUTS) vs. Zwift (more "game based"). Trainer Road is pretty simple. I choose a workout plan (for 8 weeks), load up my ipad and go on my way. I have this hooked up to my iPad. Then I have a computer that I watch DVDs/netflix on.

Let your wife figure what she wants to do on her own. You can make some suggestions or give her some information but back away from telling her what to do.