VR Trainer is it worth the money?
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:18 pm
Another member PMed me as a Tacx VR Trainer owner asking is worth paying the extra to get a VR trainer?
Does the incentive/fun factor get you to ride the trainer more often?
That was the question I asked half a dozen VR trainer owners, including a guy who was selling his trainer + bike on ebay to fund a world tour, before I bought mine. The response was overwhelming yes. I asked the ebay seller after he sold it to somebody else, if he would buy another trainer, once he returned from his travels he said yes.
I have met a few more VR trainer owners since then, every one except tripstobaltimore (see his comments here) are very positive.
My mileage does vary, first 4 months of the year, I was racking up over 1000km a month commuting to and from work in good weather and light, plus weekend rides. I did not touch my trainer.
However, since then I have been using the trainer at least on a weekly basis. Weather, lack of light (and aging eyesight) and a head cold that has destroyed my sense of balance have reduced my road mileage and increased trainer time.
For me there is an incentive to get on the trainer and do a better time than my last run, which is why I like the trainer.
So would I buy a replacement if mind disappeared. Yes, but not the same model.
Lets run through the options:
VR terrain, you ride 3d terrain, either preset courses or explore if you having the steering frame. I used to like riding VR, but I now prefer the other alternatives.
RLV video, you get to ride usually famous courses or climbs. No use for steering frame. They are not cheap and they are only limited choices But they do offer different terrain than is available in flat Western Australia. Why worry about riding 50km so I can climb 250m in a few kms, when I have the Col De Tourmalet in my shed.
RLT ride courses imported from your or other people's GPS. Want to ride the full TdF course over 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years. You can find them on the web, download them and then ride them of Google Earth with the new TTS software. Graphically it is boring, but still fun to ride.
iMagic trainer the 1st VR trainer from Tacx, cost about $750 from Wiggle. Limitation, can only replicate slope to a max of X% (depending on source X = 5 or 7 or 10 )
Fortius trainer, the improved model, better quality, can replicate a bigger slope than the imagic, cost $1100 or $1400 with steering frame from Wiggle.
Bushido Wireless trainer, the new wireless model, can even replicate higher slopes than the Fortius. $800 for the trainer from Wiggle, but requires separate $250 expansion pack to run the VR/RLV/VTTS software (separate purchases and avoid GST)
If I was looking at replacing right now I would get a Bushido and the expansion pack. The steering frame is my opinion is not worth it.
Things you need to know:
The current Tacx software only runs on Windows 32bit OS.
The next version on their software is due out later this year it will be a paid for upgrade (though if you have v2 you only need to buy a new RLV to get the upgrade)
It does not all work perfectly http://forum.tacx.com/ has more that it's share of horror stories and whingers
Other things to think about:
You need a decent screen, I run a 24" wide screen 30cm in front of my bars, other people use 42"+ screens
You might need a spare wheel, with a training tire + spare cassette (I did, but then I built a bike to attach to my trainer)
Does the incentive/fun factor get you to ride the trainer more often?
That was the question I asked half a dozen VR trainer owners, including a guy who was selling his trainer + bike on ebay to fund a world tour, before I bought mine. The response was overwhelming yes. I asked the ebay seller after he sold it to somebody else, if he would buy another trainer, once he returned from his travels he said yes.
I have met a few more VR trainer owners since then, every one except tripstobaltimore (see his comments here) are very positive.
My mileage does vary, first 4 months of the year, I was racking up over 1000km a month commuting to and from work in good weather and light, plus weekend rides. I did not touch my trainer.
However, since then I have been using the trainer at least on a weekly basis. Weather, lack of light (and aging eyesight) and a head cold that has destroyed my sense of balance have reduced my road mileage and increased trainer time.
For me there is an incentive to get on the trainer and do a better time than my last run, which is why I like the trainer.
So would I buy a replacement if mind disappeared. Yes, but not the same model.
Lets run through the options:
VR terrain, you ride 3d terrain, either preset courses or explore if you having the steering frame. I used to like riding VR, but I now prefer the other alternatives.
RLV video, you get to ride usually famous courses or climbs. No use for steering frame. They are not cheap and they are only limited choices But they do offer different terrain than is available in flat Western Australia. Why worry about riding 50km so I can climb 250m in a few kms, when I have the Col De Tourmalet in my shed.
RLT ride courses imported from your or other people's GPS. Want to ride the full TdF course over 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years. You can find them on the web, download them and then ride them of Google Earth with the new TTS software. Graphically it is boring, but still fun to ride.
iMagic trainer the 1st VR trainer from Tacx, cost about $750 from Wiggle. Limitation, can only replicate slope to a max of X% (depending on source X = 5 or 7 or 10 )
Fortius trainer, the improved model, better quality, can replicate a bigger slope than the imagic, cost $1100 or $1400 with steering frame from Wiggle.
Bushido Wireless trainer, the new wireless model, can even replicate higher slopes than the Fortius. $800 for the trainer from Wiggle, but requires separate $250 expansion pack to run the VR/RLV/VTTS software (separate purchases and avoid GST)
If I was looking at replacing right now I would get a Bushido and the expansion pack. The steering frame is my opinion is not worth it.
Things you need to know:
The current Tacx software only runs on Windows 32bit OS.
The next version on their software is due out later this year it will be a paid for upgrade (though if you have v2 you only need to buy a new RLV to get the upgrade)
It does not all work perfectly http://forum.tacx.com/ has more that it's share of horror stories and whingers
Other things to think about:
You need a decent screen, I run a 24" wide screen 30cm in front of my bars, other people use 42"+ screens
You might need a spare wheel, with a training tire + spare cassette (I did, but then I built a bike to attach to my trainer)