I’ve used dumb rollers and an old Saris magnetic wheel-on trainer, then used a Saris H2 for a while before getting my Tacx Flux Neo 2T. I probably have a similar number of kilometres on the H2 and Neo 2T now. I only had access to so many through ‘donations’ from friends and family before I got the Tacx. I briefly tried a Stages and Wahoo bikes in stores but can’t really comment on those. I do like my Neo 2T the best, but I wasn’t wishing for anything new with the H2 while I had it. The Tacx feels more stable (and heavier) and while it is gimmicky I do appreciate the road feel vibrations it offers as it offers something different that helps break up a longer indoor ride. The H2 was definitely easier to carry with it’s integrated handle; the Neo 2T is difficult to maneuver around.
I didn’t have any real problems with the H2, but the Neo 2T is much quieter to me. I wouldn’t be comfortable setting my carbon bikes on the old wheel-on trainers (I could see my aluminum frame flex in and it did scratch the paint a bit), but I’m more ok with it on the direct drive trainers. I do appreciate the minimal noise as it’s less likely to wake up anyone else in the house (yes, the fans are loud, but they are like white noise and don’t seem to be as disruptive). I do wax my chains and I stick to a schedule (from notifications on ProBikeGarage) so I don’t have a squeaky chain to add to the sound mix.
Speaking of chains, I know that oil may be a better lubricant option indoors but I can’t be bothered to switch from wax since it has been so nice outdoors. I do have to spend a bit of extra time cleaning out all of the wax chips that fly around though, but they are generally easy to get off any surface with some water (heated if necessary). On another component, I run carbon handlebars so am not too concerned about salt issues under bar tape. I do replace bar tape in the spring (after indoor riding season) and sometimes once during the season. I have tried using no bar tape on my indoor setup, and while it was much comfier than I anticipated I would still prefer bar tape and will just leave on whatever I have next time.
I do set up my bike slightly differently for indoor use. I’m generally using a bike with 40-50mm front tires on, so I just use the stock (small) front wheel holder/riser and then re-angle my saddle to my desired 2-3 degrees down. If I were to put my bike on straight from outdoors, the saddle angle is too high for me for longer rides. I have tried raising the bars/stem as suggested on a Performance Process podcast a while ago but I didn’t find it made a big difference in comfort or power. Despite the front wheel being lifted from the bigger tires I don’t feel the need to adjust the bar ‘roll’.
I have though about adding the motion plates that Tacx sells, but they are expensive and I don’t know if they would be a huge benefit. While I’m usually riding/racing for 45mins-1h30mins, during cyclocross season I will often ride while watching the elite men’s and women’s races to do a ‘long Z2’ style ride. In either case, I don’t feel any major discomfort - if anything, I find hard efforts to be more uncomfortable as the bike doesn’t move as much and I’m trying to resist twisting the frame while sprinting. I used to not care as much, but now I do try and be mindful during sprints which unfortunately has reduced my max power (or at least that’s the excuse I tell myself).
I use a box fan and a regular standing fan, but as I’m typically riding indoors during the colder months I also leave my window open for some air circulation. I do try and keep a towel or clothes rolled up under the door to limit the draft to the rest of the house. It’s definitely nicer to ride when the outdoor temps are below -5C but it’s manageable otherwise. Even in the hotter summer months, if I do jump on the trainer (for an interval session/workout) I find it ok to have the two fans (standing in front on my face, box fan angled up beside me) plus household AC to keep me cool enough for a while. Any extra warmth is just ‘heat training’ right? I don’t have to use a towel or anything in the winter but I should probably invest in a mat now that I’ve moved my space from the (unfinished) basement to the top floor spare bedroom (lucky enough that it fits behind the ‘Work from home’ desk setup). The basement was ok, but I had to set up the trainer so I didn’t whack my head off of the beams on the 5-foot-tall ceiling and I may have got myself sick by doing the Festive 500 down there while it was damp and cold down there. I found that if it wasn’t permanently set up, I am much less likely to commit to riding unless I have some scheduled event ( am even considering keeping a ‘spare’ drop bar bike in the stable to be the ‘trainer bike’).
Since my new setup is beside my WFH desk, I just use my computer and a second monitor to display Zwift. It is a bit of a pain since the monitor is off to one side, but I could probably re-arrange the furniture a bit to be able to move the monitor directly in front of my bike. When my setup was in the basement, I used a small, old TV with a Chromecast to stream Zwift from my phone. Moving to a full PC makes it easier to see some of the text and map, but I don’t think the difference in graphical quality makes it significantly better for me. Sure, it does look nicer, but I’ll still ride with Zwift on my phone (no additional screen) sometimes since it’s easier/quicker to set up.
I was using a cassette on recently switched to a Zwift cog since that is where I do most of my riding. Despite deliberate chain waxing and measuring wear, I managed to dummy two cogs on my SRAM Apex 11-44 cassette within one season of riding. This was likely due in part to using a gravel bike and the 40 tooth chainring required me to be in the smallest cogs quite regularly. The Zwift cog has held up so far but I have not put as many miles on it. I do like the virtual shifting a lot since you can ‘shift’ under load but I do wonder if that is a bit unfair during racing. To me, the fake shift on the Tacx feels good (it’s noticeable regardless of the power I can put out) but it does feel/look like it takes a second for the power to re-align itself. Maybe it’s just placebo, but I feel like the first second after a downshift up a steep climb is a bit easier to hit the same number and if you downshift every second or so up a short steep climb (like the new escalators in NYC) it feels like cheating a bit. One other pro/con is that I don’t have to continually charge my AXS batteries, but that means I am liable to forget before I go for an outdoor ride and have to wait at least a few minutes to get some charge in.
I don’t have a table or any surface set up. I have two bottle cages on the bike and for longer rides I will take a ‘coffee break’ and refill bottles and grab a snack. I’ll often ride with some sort of drink mix, but otherwise I take advantage of being indoors to eat things other than gels, gummies, and bars. A favourite for this season’s long rides has been holiday fruitcake and baked goods, but last year I did a lot of Pizza Pops and Jamaican patties (only on easy rides).
My indoor fashion choices are probably typical: nicer bibs and good socks (though often the latter are running ankle socks I wear in the summer). Usually I don’t wear a jersey while riding indoors, but I have been recently since I moved my setup upstairs. I often ride/race when the sun isn’t up here, so a light on in the room combined with an open window means my neighbours get a full, unobstructed, and highlighted view of me on the bike. I don’t think anyone is watching me but some days I feel more self conscious than others and will put on a summer jersey.
It is a privilege to have the space and tools to have a permanent indoor setup, but I greatly appreciate it. I have done more racing this year (signed up for ZRL) but less riding time than last year as I have been doing more nordic skiing on the weekends (it’s been a great season around here). I’m not a super user, but I do it all on Zwift: I participate in racers, (in C/B category depending on the event), use my setup for training sessions (only custom workouts, no Zwift ones), and I use it as a substitute for outdoor activities when the weather is poor.
That ended up being a much longer post than I anticipated but hopefully it gives a view of what my setup looks like!
