![]() All the tools you need are included, as are several different types of adapters for other through-axels. The Tacx Flux 2 setup is painless and quick-simply attach the legs to the body of the trainer, then add a cassette, and you’re good to go. Since that mid-2020 refresh, the Flux 2 has been rock solid and reliable. Garmin quietly replaced it with a newer version in the middle of 2020, less than a year after purchasing Tacx. The original Flux 2 had several problems, including measurement (you can read more about that here ). Garmin addressed the existing Tacx issues and has built and/or upgraded a solid line of trainers. ![]() It brought with them the manufacturing QA that their GPS units are known for. Garmin acquired Tacx to get into the smart trainer market. If you’re a hardcore rider looking for the most comfortable and accurate trainer, splurge for the Neo 2T. While the side-to-side motion would have been nice, neither that nor the ability to feel like I’m on cobbles made the $500 difference make sense. The trainer can also simulate different road conditions like gravel or cobbles, providing the app you’re using supports road simulation. The Neo 2T allows rocking the bike to the left and right for a more natural training workout. The Flux 2 has a retail price of $899.99 (on Amazon), while the next model up, the Neo 2T, is $1399.99. They eliminate wear on the rear tire and wheel, so you don’t spend your winter wearing out a single tire out of a pair.įor this winter’s workouts, I purchased a Garmin Tacx Flux 2, the company’s middle-tier direct-drive trainer. The second type of trainer is the direct drive trainer, where the rider removes their rear wheel and connects the bike to the trainer with a cassette mounted on the trainer.ĭirect drives provide a better experience, as there’s no lost energy in the friction between a wheel and a roller. Wheel drive connects like a standard “dumb” trainer, with the rear wheel hooking into the trainer and the tire sitting on a roller. There are two types of smart trainers-wheel drive and direct drive. If you have power meter pedals, this info can also be tracked for a more complex post-ride analysis of individual leg output. With the built-in power meters in a smart trainer, it’s possible to build and follow complex training programs as consistent as those the pros would follow. If a training plan says you should ride a base mile workout without knowing your power output, there’s no way to tell if you’re overtaxing your body. Watts is the preferred metric for serious bike training as it’s not affected by gear the way speed or cadence is. ![]() All of the training apps use power to determine the speed and also allow them to tailor specific, individual workouts. Smart trainers simulate climbs and other riding conditions by continually varying the resistance on the rear wheel, enabling users to climb mountains, draft off other racers, and cruise downhill.Įven better, smart trainers send ride data back to the apps, with the most critical bit of data being power (in Watts). There is another option, the “smart trainer.” These interactive trainers provide variable resistance and when paired with a compatible app like Training Peaks, Zwift, Rouvy, BKOOL, or Tacx Training simulate the conditions of an actual bike ride. Stationary trainers are deadly boring, rollers require too much focus, and spin classes don’t translate to real-world bike conditioning. For many cyclists, winter is the time to switch to indoor riding and maintain or increase the gains made over the last season.īut let’s face it, most indoor riding sucks. ![]() Garmin Tacx Flux in the garage.įor some, winter is off-season, and it’s a time to balance out those oft-neglected upper body muscles. While I’ve got plenty of cold-weather gear, there’s nothing enjoyable about the cold penetrating my lobster gloves and having my feet numb. Temperatures went from the 30s and 40s during the day to teens and single digits in a week. The Garmin Tacx Flux 2 is a smart trainer at an equally smart price.Īs winter set upon the Northeast, my opportunities for outdoor cycling quickly dwindled as the forecast started to look more gruesome. ![]()
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