My Wahoo came in today, and I have not opened it. I am having second thoughts given previous Slowtwitch posts that discuss out quiet the Neo is. As of late, I have been driving my downstairs neighbors CRAZY with the vibrations caused my my current (cheap) mag trainer. They say it is SUPER loud.
In reading Slowtwitch comments, when people say the Wahoo is loud(er), are people addressing the audible noise coming from the trainer AND the loud vibrations going to your neighbors???
My primary issue is the thunderous noise I cause when I’m at >250 watts. So, keep my Wahoo or send it back for a Neo?
Your input is greatly needed !!! My lovely wife just gave me the “OK” to get a NEO if it eliminates the thunderous noise.
Having used both, I feel the tacx is not only quieter, but is an all around better product. If it’s in your budget and you mainly train indoors, it’s worth its weight in gold.
Another vote for the neo. I was tossing up between the two last month. I went with the Neo not only because of the decreased noise levels, but also because it just felt better riding it in the shop. It is a bit more expensive, but when you are spending that money on a trainer what is an extra couple of hundred?
Having said all that, if money is an issue the Kickr is not that noisy. I was surprised in the shop at how quiet it was actually given it is a belt drive. I think a lot of it will depend on the surface you use it on. I use my Neo on a tiled kitchen floor and when it is simulating cobbles by vibrating, it does kick up quite a noise. That can be turned off of course.
DC Rainmaker has a pretty good side by side comparison incase you haven’t seen it (Scroll down to noise, weight and size section for video)
I have a Neo, and I have to say that it is the first truly awesome product Tacx has put out, and I have absolutely zero regrets buying it. In regard to vibrations, I suppose it depends on how thin and shaky your floors are, there may be no trainer that won’t bug your downstairs neighbors. Neo will be the best you can do, though and the other thing is to try to work out a time to train that is best for you both. At least that way, they can see you’re not being a dick about it, and actually care about them so they’ll be less upset.
Ok, now we’re getting somewhere… this is helpful. Horse stall mats is a great idea.
Again, I don’t care about babies trying to sleep next door (air noise), I care about thunderous vibrations that sound like a train … for my downstairs neighbors.
I am simply wondering if ALL trainers create the same thunderous noise? If so, then I can keep my Wahoo and set it on horse stall mats.
This fall I moved to a Neo after 20+ years of Computrainer use. It’s so quiet that my wife has repeatedly remarked that she has no idea whether I’m riding or not as she can’t hear it at all over the sound generated by my two fans. The electronically simulated flywheel effect greatly exceeds the actual flywheel of the Computrainer making it seem much more like riding outdoors.
Can’t you return the wahoo if it doesn’t meet your needs? Why don’t you try it and then see for yourself? Won’t take you more than 15 mins to set it up and get started
I just bought one last week and I use it in my garage to replace an old mag trainer
I don’t have a sense of vibrations (a mat would help) … but it does have a loud “whiiizzzzzz” that is slightly audible in the house when completely quiet (like it it at 5am)
Im contemplating sending back and getting the neo instead.
I am saying it is always a good idea to use sound/vibration deadening materials under your trainer if people live under you. I don’t know about the specific trainers you are considering but if you have a dialogue started with your neighbor below why not ask them for feedback on the options you are trying?