Duathlon Zwift Pain Cave Setup

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi there,
I’ve finally completed some works on the back of the house and I’ve a brand new garage, which accommodates a BOWFLEX BXT226 TREADMILL and a turbo TACX FLOW SMART (I either cycle there with my Giant Trinity Triathlon bike or with an old Trek Road Bike)

I now have a dilemma I am struggling to solve: how to level up my Zwift setup? There are so many options and I am really not sure what to do.

First issue is the height of the Treadmill vs the height when cycling, I thought I could do:

  • Two TVs, quite expensive TBH, but perhaps if I stay on the lower budget / not too big screens that would do the job (only concern is budget)
  • A TV Mount that can go ‘enough’ left and right, so placed in the middle. (worried I’ll have to look down when running and up when cycling!)
  • One of those Monitor Arm Mounts, usually used for desk, they also go up and down (worried that it might not move up/down/left/right enough, plus no tv at this point)

I can suck it up and stick with my ipad, a bit of a shame, I can’t hold the ipad on the tribike though, so what here:

  • Wahoo Desk, 199£ seems just a robbery
  • A music stand (sturdy enough?)
  • Just an ipad tripod … too far etc (Same issues with music stand)
  • Generally just not the same experience/screen size as a monitor or a tv

I’ve read zwiftalizer buyers guide 2019 and seen DC RainMaker Apple 4k TV review so the apple tv really seems the best quality/value device, with the least faff (compared to buying with involved risk a used gaming laptop/desktop… even if that might have better graphics)

So I guess I am kind of settled on the apple tv but still very unsure on which screen(s) to use.

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks

2

For the wahoo desk stand, I highly recommend checking out Amazon for hospital bed desks/tables. They are essentially the same thing and I got one for about 100 canadian… instead of the 250+ for the wahoo version.

3

A TCL 32" TV is $130-140 shipped. For a long-term pain cave investment, this is actually not expensive,especially considering how much you will use them.

32" is plenty big for Zwift and all you will need sizewise and them some. (Supergiant screens are only if you’re sitting really far back - you won’t be doing that with Zwift)

4

If you stick with the iPad, a music stand works just fine with my tri bike on my trainer. Then just place the iPad on the treadmill console for running. If you have an iPad case that’s also a stand, then you get a little better angle. I connect it Bluetooth to a speaker. Simple and cheap. I’ve been doing this for years to watch Netflix, ESPN, Zwift, w/e.

Going with like a 24”+ monitor might be a nicer option though. I just googled “long swing arm monitor” and this site came up https://www.ergomart.com/monitor-mounts/monitor-arms/heavy-duty

It’s clearly the more expensive option. But I’ve used extended swing arms for monitors and if you do your math right, they can be nice. I have one mounted to a stand beside my lazboy so I can swing the monitor out over my chair and work while resting/recovery.

5

What kind of budget are you working with?

I had two old TVs so was lucky with that, but have been using the Apple TV for a few years and it’s a flawless setup. They are at different heights and if I want I can slide the taller one for the treadmill over and have a dual set up when biking. Biggest hassle is switching the hdmi cord and that’s me trying to find a complaint. If you can afford it the dual TVs will be really nice.

6

Nice on the TCL, I checked reviews and it scores well, I am in the UK so https://www.amazon.co.uk/TCL-32ES568-Compatible-Bluetooth-Bedroom-Black/dp/B07SMLNX4G/ref=sr_1_1?a=b&ascsubtag=trd-gb-1107575274662284400-21&dchild=1&keywords=TCL+32S305&qid=1605431730&sr=8-1&tag=hawk-future-21 177£ is not bad at all.

7

I guess part of the problem is that I am still waiting for the final payment with the construction workers that did the refurb of the garage and then I’ll know how much is left.

If I go for 2xTCL 32ES568 32-Inch + apple tv 4k that’s roughly 500£ which is not bad at all, and perhaps I can go step by step (so stick with existing ipad for a while for running) and get only 1 tv at time.

I’ve also read someone of people successfully having an hdmi switch so one cable going out of the apple tv only

8

Nice find, for that search in the UK I found these guys https://www.ergomounts.co.uk/products/wall/monitor

I guess medical/industrial wall mounts would do the job.

But at the same time I think those will cost definitely more than a cheap tv + cheap tv wall mount (combo can be as low as 200£)

I am also starting to think that even splurging on the ‘best, longest, wall mount’ it will be a faff every time I want to switch from treadmill to bike, possibly not setting the right height and getting annoyed while running or on the bike.

Yeah I think I am heading towards double tv, possibly to be bought in phases.

9

I guess there’s also this sort of stuff https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invision-GT1200-ScreenStation-Mobile-Trolley-Black/dp/B079JWFYK7/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=tv+wheels+stand&qid=1602329283&refinements=p_72%3A419153031&rnid=419152031&sr=8-5

So mobile trolley and can adjust vertically…

need to measure if it goes low/high enough

10

Good point. No reason you need to have it all done in one swoop. Holidays are coming up too so maybe you get lucky to be gifted something if you drop a few hints :slight_smile: