FRIDAY FEATURE BRAND – TACX HOME TRAINERS

Happy New Year! A whole new year lays in front of us, with the potential to fill it with new personal challenges and targets. There’s even hope on the horizon that we can start to put 2020 behind us as the Coronavirus vaccine starts to roll out into society and race and event organisers begin to adapt how they run professional and amateur competition. Personal experience tells us that while we’re still in the depths of winter the next eight to twelve weeks will fly by and we’ll all soon be starting to take on our own cycling challenges. Whether you’re planning to hit the local crit racing scene with renewed vigour, are taking on an epic ride like the Fred Whitton Challenge in the heart of the Lake District or are simply looking for a way to get a little more enjoyment from your cycling by being a little fitter and more comfortable, taking on longer rides, it’s important to start getting focused on your training now.

We’ve seen a real boom in the popularity of indoor training over the past few years, particularly in 2020 as the impact of Coronavirus and the uncertainty around how and when we were able to ride during the various different lockdowns really impacted our cycling outside. As the technology of smart trainers has improved and the Zwift App has gained global popularity, riding indoors on a static trainer doesn’t fill cyclists with dread the way it used to. The impact of Zwift on the indoor smart trainer market cannot be overstated; this brilliant interactive App brings cyclists from all over the world together to train and compete in a virtual screen-based cycling world.

Let’s face it, here in the UK the weather is going to be against us for the coming weeks and months, then there’s the limited amount of daylight hours as well as the impact of other commitments such as work and family life; all of which impact just how effective you can be during your time-pushed training sessions. Using a smart trainer allows you to structure your training around your other daily responsibilities, it allows you to be more precise in the way that you train and enable you to focus on improving your weak spots in a safe and controlled environment. As you build up to the start of a new season you want to see yourself improving and again smart trainers are particularly helpful here, helping you to accurately record and analyse all of your training data which ends up motivating you more as you begin to see evidence of your fitness improving.

Today our Friday Feature Brand looks in more detail at Tacx smart trainers and some of their key models in the Tacx range. Typically, like any new technology there’s a lot of information to digest when you’re considering buying a smart trainer, including software compatibility, ride feel, power measurement, compatibility with your bike and even simple things like how much noise they produce. Below you will find all of the key information you’ll need to help you decide what is right for you. We wish you the best of luck in achieving your goals during 2021 and remember the well-known saying – ‘winter miles = summer smiles’.

 

Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer

The iconic, progressive and popular NEO 2 Smart has been optimised into an even quieter and more powerful Smart direct drive. The NEO 2T motor is redesigned in order to provide a better indoor cycling experience and ride feel, especially during climbs and sprints. The NEO 2T Smart is more silent than ever delivering powerful, realistic and accurate training.

Tacx Neo 2T Key Features:

• Redesigned magnets significantly improve stillness. The noise coming from internal vibrations has been significantly reduced
• Improved ride feel thanks to increased motor power giving a more authentic feel during climbs and sprints
• Includes pedal stroke analysis with ANT+ Cycling dynamics to allow you to analyse your pedal stroke via third party software
• Accurate measurement of power with incredible precision; no need for calibration the NEO 2T measures your power accurately within 1%
• Smooth ride feel, the trainer reacts instantly to speed or incline changes
• Dynamic inertia compensates for weight, speed and angle of incline to provide the most realistic, smooth ride feel possible
• Compatible with many axles, without the need for adapters. Directly compatible with all bikes. (Additional adapter required for 135×10 and 135×12)
• Authentic descent simulation with NEO 2T accelerating automatically on descents
• Stable yet flexible the Neo 2T allows a few degrees of movement left and right while cycling to give a more authentic real-world riding feel
• No mains required – the Neo 2T generates its own energy from your own cycling making this trainer more portable than others

Tacx Neo 2T Cycling Software, Apps & Devices:

• 1 month free Tacx Premium software included. Explore the world with high quality Films & GPS workouts. Train efficiently with structured training plans and cycling workouts. Analyse your data, export your activity to Strava.
• Neo 2T compatible with Zwift, TrainerRoad and Sufferfest cycling apps
• Tacx utility app allows you to upgrade firmware, test and calibrate your smart trainer; free to download
• Easily connect your Smart trainer to your bike computer or sports watch and display your workout data on these devices

Tacx Neo 2T Specifications:

• Type of Trainer: Interactive Smart direct drive with motor brake
• Magnets: 32 Neodymium magnets
• Transmission: None
• Electrical Requirements: 100-240 Volt (Mains power optional)
• Power Indicator: Multicolour LED, spot on floor
• Connection Indicator (ANT/BT): 2 LEDs
• Firmware Upgradable: Yes
• Suitable Cassettes: Shimano / SRAM (Campagnolo, SRAM XD and XD-R bodies sold separately
• Suitable Axles: 130mm, 135mm, 142mm & 148mm (Adapter for 135x10mm available)
• Supplied with : Front wheel support, Quick release for road bikes and mountain bikes, Direct drive quick release with adapter set 142x12mm & 148x12mm, 1 month Tacx Premium software

Tacx Technical Data:

• Power (40km/h): 2200 watt
• Incline: 25%
• Simulation of descent: Yes
• Torque: 85Nm
• Brake Force: 250 N
• Flywheel: Virtual
• Mass Inertia: Variable to 125kg (275.6lbs)
• Calibration: No calibration required

Tacx Data Output & Control :

• Wireless Communication : ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth Smart Open
• Control By: ANT+ FE-C bike computers, Connect to computer via ANT+antenna, Smartphone, stand alone, tablet
• Output: Cadence, power, speed
• ReadOut On: Bike computer, Computer with ANT+antenna, Smartphone, Sports watch, Tablet
• Accuracy: 1%

Tacx Neo 2 Smart Trainer

The Tacx NEO 2 Smart trainer is packed full of immersive features such as Dynamic Inertia, Road feel and Descent simulation. With an improved ride feel and more accurate power measurements, this smart bike trainer has everything you need for an enjoyable and efficient indoor training session.

Tacx Neo 2 Key Features:

• Improved cadence sensor takes measurements with a contactless capacitive sensor
• Neo 2 can handle sprints up to 2,000 watts
• Neo 2 allows you to track your performance, measuring power, speed and cadence
• Simulated inclines up to 16% to add authenticity and real-world feel
• Accurately measures your power to within 2.5%
• Compatible with all main cycling Apps including Zwift and Tacx
• Stable, well-balanced design with large footprint ensures maximum stability even when sprinting out of the saddle
• Neo 2 features a 7.6kg flywheel helping to create an authentic ride feel and good responsiveness
• This trainer is smooth and silent, taking vibration and noise levels to a minimum
• Neo 2 includes additional axle adapters to significantly improve axle compatibility
• Stand-alone mode allows you to ride the Neo 2 without mains power, simulating a flat road, the faster you ride the higher the resistance

Tacx Neo 2 Cycling Software, Apps & Devices:

• 1 month free Tacx Premium software included. Explore the world with high quality Films & GPS workouts. Train efficiently with structured training plans and cycling workouts. Analyse your data, export your activity to Strava.
• Neo 2 compatible with Zwift, TrainerRoad and Sufferfest cycling apps
• Tacx utility app allows you to upgrade firmware, test and calibrate your smart trainer; free to download
• Easily connect your Smart trainer to your bike computer or sports watch and display your workout data on these devices

Tacx Neo 2 Specifications:

• Magnets: 8 Permanent ferrite magnets and 8 electromagnets
• Transmission: None
• Electrical Requirements: 110-240 Volts
• Power Indicator: None
• Connection Indicator: 2 LEDs
• Suitable Cassettes: Shimano / SRAM (Campagnolo, SRAM XD and XD-R bodies sold separately
• Suitable Axles: 130mm, 135mm, 142mm & 148mm (Adapter for 135x10mm available)
• Supplied with : Quick release for road bikes and mountain bikes, Direct drive quick release with adapter set 142x12mm & 148x12mm, 1 month Tacx Premium software

Tacx Technical Data:

• Power: 2000 watt
• Incline: 16%
• Simulation of descent: None
• Torque: 41Nm
• Brake Force: 120 N
• Flywheel: 16.8 lbs (7.6kg)
• Mass Inertia: 68.8 lbs (31.2 kg)
• Calibration: Spin down

Tacx Data Output & Control:

• Wireless Communication : ANT+ connectivity, BLUETOOTH wireless technology
• Control By: Smartphone, tablet, ANT+ bike computers, stand alone, computer connection via ANT+ antenna
• Output: Cadence, power, speed
• ReadOut On: Bike computer, Computer with ANT+antenna, Smartphone, Sports watch, Tablet
• Accuracy: 2.5%

Tacx Boost Bundle

The Tacx Boost indoor trainer is easy, affordable and quiet. Now you can keep your training going year-round while tracking how far and how fast you ride and even train with your favourite app. This affordable wheel-mount trainer is a great option if you’re just starting out with indoor training; the Tacx Boost Bundle gives you everything you’ll need to get started.

Tacx Boost Key Features:

• Manually control flywheel resistance with 10 levels and up to 1,050 watts of resistance with handlebar mounted lever
• Speed sensor included allows you to track speed, distance and virtual power when training with such Apps as Zwift, Tacx Training and TrainerRoad
• Super simple, quick and easy setup in two clicks
• Quiet and realistic ride feel from flywheel thanks to closed resistance unit
• Small footprint means less space is taken up but Boost trainer remains stable
• Multifunctional front wheel support ensures a natural cycling position and also acts a handle to carry your trainer
• No external main power required, forceful magnetic brake allows you to directly apply resistance

Technical Data:

• Power: 1050 watt
• Torque: 17Nm
• Brake Force: 50 N
• Flywheel: 1.6kg
• Mass Inertia: 9.2 kg
• Calibration: Spin down

Data Output & Control:

• Wireless Communication : ANT+ connectivity, BLUETOOTH wireless technology
• Control By: Handle bar resistance lever with 10 positions
• ReadOut On: Bike computer, Computer with ANT+antenna, Smartphone, Tablet

Blog written by Johnny Dodgin