Cheapest Smart trainer?

[oldguy00]

Hey all, looking for a backup trainer to my kickr, to drag with me to group rides, etc.

What is the cheapest smart trainer that can be controlled via erg mode from trainer road, zwift, etc?
To be clear, not just looking for one that can broadcast numbers TO TR and zwift, but looking for one that allows those programs to control it.

Thanks!!!

[VTR1000SP2]

To haul along to group rides???


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[oldguy00]

Indoor group rides. 5 or 6 of us get together, each with our kickrs and out own iPad, etc to control the trainers with trainer road.

[VTR1000SP2]

Ah. For a second I thought these rides involved some stationary warm up. Sounded pretty intense.



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[VTR1000SP2]

If within budget, the Elite Direto is quite light.


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[waypastfast]

I am curious about this as well. But not to haul around. More cause I am on a limited budget. Sorry to hijack the thread :)

[trener1]

I believe that would be the cheapest would be the Elite Quabo , it can had for $449.
I also believe that Competitive Cyclist is blowing out the Cycleops PowerBeam at $499

[DfCas]

The Tacx Vortex Smart is very popular.

[cmbicycles]

I believe that would be the cheapest would be the Elite Quabo , it can had for $449.
I also believe that Competitive Cyclist is blowing out the Cycleops PowerBeam at $499
Nashbar has the Qubo digital interactive model for $349... it's probably the cheapest with digitally controlled resistance aside from buying used. It's on my radar for the next sale that includes it.

[ceolwulf]

The Tacx Vortex Smart is very popular.

I have this and works very well.

[TunaAndBikes]

I saw a review on Youtube of a guy being pretty satisfied with the :
Elite Qubo digital smart b+, but have no personal experience with it.

[kramnnim]

Vortex from bike-discount.de

[oldguy00]

I saw a review on Youtube of a guy being pretty satisfied with the :
Elite Qubo digital smart b+, but have no personal experience with it.

Thanks, I saw those on Nashbar, but couldn't tell by the description if the trainer simply reports its power numbers to other applications (zwift, etc), or if it in fact allows said applications to control its resistance.

[TiminVA]

The Kinetic smart road machine is $369 at REI and all Kinetic trainers are 20% for REI members beginning Nov 10.

[oldguy00]

The Kinetic smart road machine is $369 at REI and all Kinetic trainers are 20% for REI members beginning Nov 10.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that one only works with their own app, not the online stuff like TR or zwift. For those, I think you need their more expensive 'smart control' version (569 at rei)

[trener1]

Thanks, I saw those on Nashbar, but couldn't tell by the description if the trainer simply reports its power numbers to other applications (zwift, etc), or if it in fact allows said applications to control its resistance.

Yeah that Smart B+ looks great for the price, however beware, it will only report to Zwift, or other smart apps, but it won't let the apps control the resistance etc.. of the trainer which I think the OP was looking for.

[cmbicycles]

Yeah that Smart B+ looks great for the price, however beware, it will only report to Zwift, or other smart apps, but it won't let the apps control the resistance etc.. of the trainer which I think the OP was looking for.
The Qubo B+ only reports I think, but the Qubo digital interactive (older model) let's the app control resistance... at least that's my read from Elite's (pretty awful) website.

[trener1]

The Qubo B+ only reports I think, but the Qubo digital interactive (older model) let's the app control resistance... at least that's my read from Elite's (pretty awful) website.

Yeah that is exactly the case.

[simplemind]

Any other smart trainers (controlled resistance) that I should consider?

[Epicus07]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that one only works with their own app, not the online stuff like TR or zwift. For those, I think you need their more expensive 'smart control' version (569 at rei)

I'm using the Kinetic with TR and my Android phone. It works great. Transmits Bluetooth so it should work with any device.

[merlincustom1]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that one only works with their own app, not the online stuff like TR or zwift. For those, I think you need their more expensive 'smart control' version (569 at rei)

You don't need a smart trainer for Trainer Road. You can use their virtual power configuration.

[AngryScientist]

there is probably newer stuff out there this year, but last year i was very pleased with my tacx vortex smart. about this time last year, it was the least expensive "smart" trainer you could get if bought from europe.

worth looking for a deal on one still, i would say.

[stien]

Kickr snap?

On a somewhat related note: I made a 12v cigarette lighter adapter for my kickr and now I can warm up next to the car with it.