Currently running a dedicated trainer bike and a direct drive trainer, but I keep coming back to the idea of getting one of these.
Slowman has a couple nice articles on the front page articles on the Tacx Neo Bike and the Wahoo Kickr Bike. Wondering if any forum users have spent time on either of these and have thoughts to offer. The good, the bad, what you wish you would’ve known before buying, etc.
I’ve had a Wahoo Kickr Bike for about 6 weeks and couldn’t be happier.
-having a dedicated trainer bike is awesome
-very adjustable…nailed my TT position coordinates easily…also allows for quick and easy experimentation…I’ve liked playing around with crank length
-also fun to play with different chain ring cassette configurations which you do via the app
-no calibration ever!
-easy to share, just write your numbers down
-smooth, very solid…you can muscle the hell out of it
-pretty quiet
-The up and down thing in Zwift on climbs and descents is interesting but I’m not sure if it matters at all
It’s expensive but I’m so happy I have it, especially the amount of Zwifting I’m doing…
Have you used ERG mode in conjunction with a structured workout much? Just wondering how quickly is responds and how it feels in erg mode. And if you stop in the middle of a threshold or VO2 max workout, if it takes a Herculean effort to start back up again like a lot of smart trainers. Also, what trainer were you coming from?
I have done a lot of structured workouts (have been doing the 12 week ftp builder) and no problem. I’m coming from a Wahoo Kickr that I moved to our beach house for use there…
Lock and load…
WattBike ATOM:
I have a lengthy review posted over on YouTube. I have issues with responsiveness and lag of the stepper motor resistance unit used on that bike. It’s a show stopper for me to be honest. I’ve recently retested with their latest firmware. Same issue. Their ATOM X has a redesigned resistance unit that should address the laggy resistance issue. There’s no gear change button from the drops either. That’s not ideal, imo. I’ve offered to review the ATOM X and perform the exact same tests to see if they’ve nailed it with that model. I was told direct by WattBike they’ll only consider “preferred reviewers” for the ATOM X. That pissed me off to no end. My offer is still there…
**Tacx NEO Bike: **
SUPER quiet until you freewheel. Bike is ROCK SOLID. It doesn’t move at all, unlike the welcome wobble of the Neo direct drive trainers. Power is accurate. Levers and gear changing buttons aren’t the best. They’re hard to distinguish up/down. Possible leg rub on the seat tube and seat collar - watch for that if you’re narrow hipped or have chunky legs. I lightly brush the unit with my legs but it’s not a show stopper. There was no updates to the Neo Bike firmware for around 6 months after release. With the eventual update addressing lower wattage ERG zones. Yet to re-test this myself. Hoping to see a redesigned seat collar and something done about the square/stiff levers.
Kickr BIKE:
The most ‘road bike’ like Smart Bike of the four I’ve ridden. The front end is very similar to a Shimano Di2 setup. Power accuracy nailed. Customisation of gearing/setup is good. The gradient tilt is welcome as you don’t have to ‘play pretend’ in your mind when you’re riding up a virtual hill. The unit makes a slight whirrrrring noise - it’s quiet but not silent. Still passes the sleeping baby test if your kid is into low volume white noise. Possible leg rub on the wide top tube.
**StagesBIKE: **
VERY well built - These guys know spin bikes. It’s a stiff ride. No flex. Best size/fit adjusters I’ve used - grippy, easy to adjust. MASSIVE flywheel. Power accuracy seems bang-on good. It uses the same tech as their power meters with their own cranks (so no asymmetry issues). Levers are nice (Tektro). Gear change buttons work well but take a little getting used to. No gear change clunk like on the Kickr and Neo units. Best saddle of all four Smart Bikes - It’s the same shape as a ~148mm Specialized Power. They’re yet to release final firmware/apps that do the gear customization so I’ve put the bike aside for now. End of May they’re saying those updates will be ready.
**Summary: **
Of the four smart bikes my wife is always on the Kickr Bike if that’s any indication to go by.
Integration with software platforms is a massive letdown at this point. The only “integration” with the four bikes above within Zwift is the ability to see gear change shifts on the ATOM when using Bluetooth… and road feel on the Neo Bike. Things like rider profiles, gear setups, button config, auxiliary button usage (steering?), etc etc is all VERY limited. I believe The Sufferfest make use of the auxiliary KickrBIKE buttons (Wahoo own The Sufferfest - that helps).
Smart Bikes were touted as the next ‘big thing’. They’re physically big, yes. As for them being a ‘thing’ it all comes down to better integration with the software platforms people use and ongoing updates/accessories promised from day 0 (TT extensions, etc).
You’ll find most people will be happy with whatever they purchase.
Thanks Shane. I’ve watched your video reviews a few times each. Top notch as always. I’ve been leaning towards the Wahoo or Stages. The climb on the former is pretty neat, though I don’t use Zwift anymore (TrainerRoad fanboy) so not sure how much I’d use it. Though I am training for a hill climb segment so maybe I’d find use training in that position for intervals. I thought about attaching cardboard on my current bike to replicate the Wahoo top tube to see if leg rim would be problem
The price tags are high but I figure I’d be on it 4 times a year a week and my wife maybe 2-3 times a week, so it would see plenty of use. Selling my smart trainer and the bike I use on it would help a bit. I guess it’s a bit of unknown how many years they’ll work well for. But if I could get 5 years of relatively trouble free use out of it I’d be happy
Just to add, we had one of the first tacx bikes in the shop and the Matt plastic over metal finish was hard to clean and a bit painful if you needed to take the bike apart for wiring issues.
Speaking of which, the wire going up to the bars is prone to cuts and shorting when you raise the bars up and down.
This creates smoke…which is not good. Reportedly 7 of the first 18 shipped in Canada were returned by shops (including ours) before being sold to customers.
So kind of bad but easily solvable…I really like the tacx neo 2 etc and from a shop perspective they are a (relatively) good company to work with.
Maurice
I was told direct by WattBike they’ll only consider “preferred reviewers” for the ATOM X. That pissed me off to no end.
Hell, this pisses ME off. And I’m not even in the market for a smart bike.
I was told direct by WattBike they’ll only consider “preferred reviewers” for the ATOM X. That pissed me off to no end.
Hell, this pisses ME off. And I’m not even in the market for a smart bike.
Why? You think any dude with a youtube channel that asks nicely should be given one of these $2-3k pieces of equipment to try out for free?
Tacx was on my list as well, but I noticed on a trainerroad thread there were a number of people who said their carbon belt drive snapped and had to be replaced. They said Garmin/Tacx was good about it, but that does mean you are unable to use the bike for several days which sucks. And it makes you wonder if it’s a one off thing or will be a continual problem
That is why the Stages is really interesting to me. They’ve been making indoor bikes for home users and gyms for a number of years, so you can be pretty sure it’s well thought out and vetted and should stand the test of time. The question is how well they will do at the integration and software side.
Tacx was on my list as well, but I noticed on a trainerroad thread there were a number of people who said their carbon belt drive snapped and had to be replaced. They said Garmin/Tacx was good about it, but that does mean you are unable to use the bike for several days which sucks. And it makes you wonder if it’s a one off thing or will be a continual problem
That is why the Stages is really interesting to me. They’ve been making indoor bikes for home users and gyms for a number of years, so you can be pretty sure it’s well thought out and vetted and should stand the test of time. The question is how well they will do at the integration and software side.
i don’t have a stages, but “we” have a stages: one of our slowtwitch team members has one he’s riding. so, we’ll review that. i haven’t heard the NEO Bike belt thing. i’ve ridden a LOT of miles on this bike, and have not had any trouble, but i have the same gripes that gplama mentions, about shifter buttons. but i’d be shocked if they don’t make those buttons programmable in a future firmware update.
the most important take-way benefits to smart bikes - the stuff what will absolutely, fundamentally change your outdoor cycling for the better - are rarely or barely mentioned in the typical reviews of these bikes. in my opinion smart bikes are THE game changing product of the past 12 months.
I think I’m on the same page as you. One of the most intriguing aspects of a smart bike is the fit aspect - to be able to play around with different fit aspects (crank length, stack, reach, saddle position, etc) so quickly and easily. On an ‘outdoor bike’ (even one set up on a trainer) this would be time consuming and cost wise could sneak up (buying cranks, stems, etc).
Make a fit change and then ride that ways for a while collecting power data and seeing if there are any big changes seems like a smart way to tinker with fit. Swapping between road and tri coordinates would be easier and faster than swapping bikes on the trainer. And if my wife wanted to get a workout in while the baby is asleep and I’m at work, it’s easy for her to adjust it to fit her. It might be more expensive than some of the alternatives, but from an ease of use and space saving standpoint I keep coming back to buying one. I’m just always hesitant of going for version 1 of things. Well that and my wife wants to get a new house. And I don’t want to set one of these things up in the basement and then have to move it. My upper body isn’t what it used to be since the gym has been down Defoe 2+ months, haha
I’ve put about 2,000 “miles” on my KICKR Bike and for me, it’s a keeper.
For me, it’s the “set it and forget it” aspect that I appreciate the most. Oh I know many will say it’s quite easy to take a bike on and off a trainer, and yes, it’s hard to argue that fact, and I did exactly that for several years before the smart bike, but now my trainer bike is always there waiting, no bike swap needed, no chain wear or mess, no cassette wear, no shifting that is just a bit off because of hub spacing… you just hop on and go, and it works each and every time.
I totally agree. The Wahoo Kickr bike is awesome. I’ve had mine since 4/28/20 and it has worked flawlessly. It’s relatively quiet, too. My dogs often come lay down by it when I’m riding.
the most important take-way benefits to smart bikes - the stuff what will absolutely, fundamentally change your outdoor cycling for the better - are rarely or barely mentioned in the typical reviews of these bikes. in my opinion smart bikes are THE game changing product of the past 12 months.
I get that these things are awesome, easier to share, keep clean, etc. I want one. But I really struggle to see how they are functionally better than a Tacx Neo with a dedicated trainer bike, which actually probably costs less. How do you see it being so much better?