I’m outfitting a pain cave for the first time. RV life is coming to a temporary end. Family calls. Your collective knowledge exceeds me tremendously here!
Goals:
Two people can ride on Zwift at once, whenever, however.Seamless efficient enjoyable day-to-day operation. No swapping, no moving stuff. No messing around.Behave like money is a consideration, but not at all at the cost of numbers 1 & 2 What I have:
1 Wahoo Kickr What I need:
Everything else. I don’t want to swap our current bikes on/off the trainer. So… bikes.Stands for devicesStands for other stuff?DevicesSecondary devices?Keyboards?MatsACFansShoe/apparel Storage/hanging stuffOther stuff?
I think I have my fans figured out but open to input here too. I thought I’d go with a Zwift Hub but that means I need two bikes to put on the trainers and that makes me question everything.
Advice welcome. Direct links to products appreciated. We’re in Western Washington (state). We don’t have whole house air conditioning. Only a floor/window unit in a distant room. The room does have two large windows with good blinds.
I’d prob just get another Kickr. It’s nice having the same devices.
I have an IKEA simple square shelf between 2 bikes and an adjustable walking treadmill on the other side. Both work fine. IKEA Kallax shelf to be exact. You can buy boxes to store stuff in for that shelf. This gives me room for food and water bottles on the ikead, and my ipad/phone on the other stand.
HR monitors are nice for extra data. I like my wahoo strap.
other devices - I run zwift on my ipad and have a 65" tv to keep my occupied. I don’t need to watch myself go around zwift and would rather watch some mindless tv.
just about any mat from amazon will be fine. I have horse stall mats on the floor, and another thin mat on top of that, then the trainer/bike.
I keep my shoes clipped to my bike all the time so they dry there.
fan with stand in front of the bike to keep me cool.
Everything else. I don’t want to swap our current bikes on/off the trainer. So… bikes.
Zwift doesn’t care what you’re actually sitting on. Look at yard sales, Craigslist, etc, as long as the bike has functional shifters and derailleurs, and can get your saddle/bar positions. My dedicated trainer bike is a no longer road worthy frame with various salvaged components, a front wheel that can’t be trued, and no brakes. But I have it set up as a perfect match to my road bike (and according to Zwift is lighter, more aero, and faster than my IRL bikes…).
What device are you using to run Zwift? What’s a cheap option for at least 13 inch monitor? Is there a relatively cheap option to use a device and broadcast it to a TV or other monitor that’s larger? I seem to recall folks on forums being aghast that their device wouldn’t run it and don’t want to end up in a frustrating situation. (and also don’t want to run it on the 6-inch screen of my phone.
THIS laptop stand works really well and is a fraction of the cost of the Wahoo table. I stuck a magnetic power strip to the base to plug everything into.
If you’re planning to watch TV/movies/etc. while riding, a good pair of noise canceling bluetooth headphones is key. I prefer Airpods.
I’m not picky on fans, I use a pretty generic pedestal fan from Amazon pointed directly at my face. Get one with a remote and velcro it to the laptop stand so you don’t have to reach or stop riding to adjust.
I have a few options I can offer. I posted an image of my old TacX setup using a laptop and my new Stages using a monitor and AppleTV as well.
Bikes - I got suckered into the Stages SB20 deal that included a year of Zwift they were offering at the beginning of this year (https://zwiftinsider.com/sb20-zwift-deal/). It doesn’t solve your two at a time issue but it is super easy to adjust if you wanted to share one device independently. Same goes for the Kickr and Neo bikes.Hanging stuff - A few years ago I think I used this YouTube to build my own but there are prebuilt options as well.
Buy - https://mypelogear.com/products/exercise-bike-shelf-organizer-shelf-popuplar-for-peloton-ridersBuild - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu8wRwz31lsFan - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DNGSCM/ (added benefit of additional power outlets)Stand - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BQZY9RL/ (I found this from DC Rainmaker and there are other names it goes by depending on where you purchase it from)Power - I connect this to my fan and run the 10’ cord up to the stand and plug my AppleTV and monitor into it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BBQD659H/Mat - I bought this one in 2020 and it’s still available 😀 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N808QIHAppleTV - I think you can find this one on your own and determine if it is the best Zwift computer for your situation.Monitor - This one was trickier than I wanted it to be. The first issue was the large computer monitor I initially purchased at Costco was too tall and it interfered with seeing my binge watching TV located on the wall. I found a 24" Vizio that ended up working perfectly. The benefit of the TV is it has speakers if you care about that and it supports HDMI CEC on/off and not all computer monitors do. That was important to me so I could get by with only the AppleTV remote to turn my Zwift monitor on and off. https://www.walmart.com/ip/898265731
Okay I’ve got two remote fans, and two desks/stands in the amazon cart. Thanks all.
Now I just need to sort out what devices we’re going to run Zwift on and if they can cast to a screen.
If someone can ELI5 me here, I’ll be eternally grateful. I’ve been living in a motorhome for 4 years (riding in good weather) so I’m a little behind on the pain cave methods. (and TV methods because we didn’t have one)
For the devices, just buy two Apple TV devices and be done with it. It’s by far the cheapest, as well as most reliable, entry-point into Zwift. Especially since you’ve got two screens to deal with.
It’s what I have: Two TV screens side by side, allowing myself and wife to both run Zwift concurrently, or, if one person is using it, Zwift on one, and then some other Apple TV app like Netflix/YouTube/GCN, etc… on the other.
Okay I’ve got two remote fans, and two desks/stands in the amazon cart. Thanks all.
Now I just need to sort out what devices we’re going to run Zwift on and if they can cast to a screen.
If someone can ELI5 me here, I’ll be eternally grateful. I’ve been living in a motorhome for 4 years (riding in good weather) so I’m a little behind on the pain cave methods. (and TV methods because we didn’t have one)
I run Zwift on my iPad, which sits on the pool table in my basement next to where I have my Zwift Hub. The iPad is connected via an adaptor to an HDMI cable that is connected to my 42" TV that sits in front of my bike. The adaptor also is plugged into the power strip on the floor (my iPad can’t run Zwift for very long before running out of power), which also powers my two fans, the TV, and my Hub trainer itself. The adaptor allows me to easily mirror the iPad display (whether the Zwift app, or Netflix, or whatever) on the TV. I believe that the Zwift app (on my iPad) does not allow for casting, hence my direct connection solution. I have also done this with my iPhone instead of the iPad running the Zwift app.
My wife uses the same bike as me (my road bike), but I change pedals and swap out the seatpost/saddle unit when we switch usage.
The Zwift Hub is sufficiently quiet that I don’t need any headphones/earbuds, and just use the TV speakers for sound.
For the devices, just buy two Apple TV devices and be done with it. It’s by far the cheapest, as well as most reliable, entry-point into Zwift. Especially since you’ve got two screens to deal with.
It’s what I have: Two TV screens side by side, allowing myself and wife to both run Zwift concurrently, or, if one person is using it, Zwift on one, and then some other Apple TV app like Netflix/YouTube/GCN, etc… on the other.
I wouldn’t listen to this guy. No experience in the subject.
You’d think Apple would make it easier to find a place to find the TV online. I suppose it’s Google & Amazon that are making it tough on them. I’d figured they were $$$$$.
They’re cheap! Sold.
Okay now how do I connect them to Zwift? Do the TV’s just act like iPads over wifi and download the Zwift app directly onto them?? That’d be too easy.
To be clear, Apple TV is simply a small box - like a computer. You’ll then connect it to any TV/monitor via HDMI cable.
From there though, yup, you’ll install the Zwift app on it - just like you’d install apps on an iPhone or iPad. After that you’ll sign-in with Zwift, and it’ll search/pair to your bike trainer/heart rate sensor/etc…
To be clear, Apple TV is simply a small box - like a computer. You’ll then connect it to any TV/monitor via HDMI cable.
From there though, yup, you’ll install the Zwift app on it - just like you’d install apps on an iPhone or iPad. After that you’ll sign-in with Zwift, and it’ll search/pair to your bike trainer/heart rate sensor/etc…
Note that the AppleTV will connect directly to any Bluetooth enabled devices ( Kickr, Power meter, HRM, Cadence sensor, etc ). If you have any devices that are are only still ANT+ then you may need something like this ( I use the predecessor product, the CABLE ):
It rolls up the data from the multiple ANT+ sensors I have on my bike, into a single Bluetooth device to pair with the AppleTV.
Older AppleTVs could only pair with 2 Bluetooth sensors at a time, so if you had more than 2 things ( cadence, HRM, power ) that device would let you consolidate them. Not sure if that’s still a thing with the latest generation AppleTVs.
AppleTV is IMHO the best platform for running Zwift. It’s dead simple and cheap ( just add any TV or Monitor with an HDMI input ), and you can play your music ( Spotify, iTunes, whatever app ) while running Zwift.
And depending on your flooring ( our exercise room is in the basement, concrete floor ) and we just got interlocking rubber floor tiles from a local HW store ( pick your favorite Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc. ).
To be clear, Apple TV is simply a small box - like a computer. You’ll then connect it to any TV/monitor via HDMI cable.
From there though, yup, you’ll install the Zwift app on it - just like you’d install apps on an iPhone or iPad. After that you’ll sign-in with Zwift, and it’ll search/pair to your bike trainer/heart rate sensor/etc…
I have one AppleTV. If I’m doing an erg workout, I’ll run Zwift (the Zwift app, not the Companion app) on my phone - since I don’t really need to look at it, then watch a show on the AppleTV.
I also use an ultra short throw projector because I have limited space, and it’s simple to move if needed.
To be clear, Apple TV is simply a small box - like a computer. You’ll then connect it to any TV/monitor via HDMI cable.
From there though, yup, you’ll install the Zwift app on it - just like you’d install apps on an iPhone or iPad. After that you’ll sign-in with Zwift, and it’ll search/pair to your bike trainer/heart rate sensor/etc…
Note that the AppleTV will connect directly to any Bluetooth enabled devices ( Kickr, Power meter, HRM, Cadence sensor, etc ). If you have any devices that are are only still ANT+ then you may need something like this ( I use the predecessor product, the CABLE ):
It rolls up the data from the multiple ANT+ sensors I have on my bike, into a single Bluetooth device to pair with the AppleTV.
Older AppleTVs could only pair with 2 Bluetooth sensors at a time, so if you had more than 2 things ( cadence, HRM, power ) that device would let you consolidate them. Not sure if that’s still a thing with the latest generation AppleTVs.
AppleTV is IMHO the best platform for running Zwift. It’s dead simple and cheap ( just add any TV or Monitor with an HDMI input ), and you can play your music ( Spotify, iTunes, whatever app ) while running Zwift.
I recently switched to Apple TV after my iPad died, its still limited to a few Bluetooth connections. I’m using a 4iiii HRM strap to get around this (https://shop.4iiii.com/products/viiiiva), which also works as a bridge for ANT+ signals.
The only thing I can add from experience is the height of your tv. I used to have it mounted on the wall where “normal” people would mount a TV, and it was virtually impossible crane my neck up to watch while on the trainer. I then got a platform to set the TV on that puts it about 2.5 feet above the floor (sitting approx. 8 feet in front of my trainer). Now I can look forward and down a bit at the TV while in aero without a prob. If you’re always on the hoods / base bars disregard.
