Can we expect it to be just like IRL? Overall I think it is a great bit of kit but there are some issues. Tacx says theyre working on better material there, and thats easily sendable to people in a single envelope if need be. On the Tacx bike we slammed the seat post but this was not quite low enough for her. And do not think Wattbike in interested in these types of features. Wattbike Atom: 1,599/2,149 Shipping already [Mainland EU distribution mixed] Im now using a Direto (bought after reading your review some years ago) an my retired Cube GTC. So building A STRONG indoor smart bike that does replicate outdoor riding is absolutely no easy thing. You can combine that with the lock, so that you can just keep yourself perpetually pointed skywards or downwards. First is that youll feel how the bike reacts to acceleration, and then youll feel how it reacts as you stop accelerating. Keep in mind: You cant ride a 10 speed chain/bike on an 11 speed cassette! Clever is legit and reputable. But first Wahoo has committed to putting together some sort of triathlon bar addition, which would include connected shifting. The critical difference is support for TrainerRoad, Zwift etc. I would assume that the movement on the trainer would probably be analogous to the movement of a bike on the road, but without actually riding it myself, I cant rule out that possibility that the flex might fight the rider a bit. Also its great for testing out different riding positions and frame geometry. Its frustrating to not be able to actually purchase one of these and it seems even if you get one, its luck of the draw. Most of that is all nitpicking though all three bikes are easy enough to set up, but as noted at the top, the Wattbike comes essentially fully assembled. A couple of questions surrounding the Wahoo bike specifically: any word from Wahoo on whether they are looking to add broadcasting via ANT+? Heres a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that Ive put together and posted. Theres no meaningfully loud click when you do so, nor any feedback from the bike itself (except the fact that the amount of power required changes). PS . In the UK/EU/Australia/New Zealand? Was thinking the same thing and doesnt look to just be flexing from side to side but, as its unsupported where the front forks would be, it looks to be rocking/flexing quite materially on that vertical axis as well. The three bikes in the test are basically just better Pelotons for people who not only want a and b and c, but are also d roadies sheltering from the weather and combining it with having other household users use it as a Peloton. And I think well see others dive into this market as well with viable options. Who knows, but I can almost guarantee you theyll be cheaper theres no reason any of these companies will try and compete at the higher price points with Wahoo & Tacx. And finally, in the case of both Tacx and Wahoo we dont have much long-term public data there. So again discussions with Tacx support, Garmin support. Peloton has shown theres substantial market here for the $2,250 price point, but thats going beyond the niche of cycling. In summary wait until version 2 of all of these next year. Tacx Bike: 170/172.5/175mm One minor note is that the Wattbikes vertical components as they go up/down actually slide at an angle inwards and outwards. The cranks could pose a problem I suppose, but theyre already a problem with these smart bikes no? In talking with them, they dont see themselves as having a production unit. Of course, as I say often quantifying this is really tricky, if not impossible. They said I should bring this unit to shop where I bought it they speak about it like if it was a bread that I bought in the bakery next doors. At 7ft though, youd have been in trouble, lightly grazing your head in certain spots. Even more so notable since two other companies (Elite & JetBlack) developed steering plates for Zwift this past year. Wahoo Bike: Unlike the existing Wahoo trainers, the KICKR Bike is an entirely different design. Do you have any sniff on if/when we should get the next gen? Hey Ray, just a copy editing note at the beginning of the article, you say youre going to refer to the Wahoo Bike as Wahoo Bike but halfway through the article you start calling it the KICKR bike. Just a heads up of something you might want to edit for consistency. Thats a massive difference to the feeling of the bike. The dude from support sent me links to articles about changing cassette on Neo2. Once you add in fore aft adjustability for seat and bars, custom made framing thats solid enough to last, adjustable cranks, and decently aligned bb and derailleur hanger, I found cost was going to be way too high to justify the project. At a certain point Id just rather be on a solid bike that lasts for hard pedaling and not bother with trying to fully simulate outdoor feel because none of it works very well. also, from everything I have heard (from Wahoo directly and from my local shop) is that Wahoo wont know about the next set of bikes to go out until December, meaning no bikes (other than the 100 already spoken for) will be going out until sometime between January March. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. Note, Im going to abbreviate the Wahoo KICKR Bike as Wahoo Bike, and the Tacx NEO Bike as Tacx Bike, and just leave the Wattbike Atom as-is, because they were already two words and not three. I dont think they will offer it. It has to have something that connects between the cranks and the resistance wheel and I cant imagine what else it would be. Modular as in virtual shifters for the neo/kickr, to combine with a single speed conversion of your dedicated trainer bike. Thank you for taking the time to assess this for me, hope you are enjoying it and I very much like your site which I depend on for my indoor and outdoor purchases. And theres no better example of that than the thigh gap issue I talked about on Twitter recently. I could be wrong. If its not, it will be. LOL. I mean, weight is of no issue when the bike is on the trainer , Hi ray, The Atom was my first choice until the Tacx came out, but it seems I wont be able to get one of those anytime soon in the UK. Just like last time I did the power meter pedal shoot-out post, this thing kinda got out-of-control long. Go ahead, but prepare to change horse next year again. ive a low ceiling in my pain cave. Nice review! c. Dont ride outside on a real bike at any point in the year. While I agree pedaling an inclined bike would require some help from other muscle groups than utilized while pedaling a bike on a level surface, you cant be suggesting riding an untethered bike on an inclined surface and riding an inclined but fixed bike can be same can you? Hi Ray, Which may not seem like much unless you think about your seat post on your normal bike actually shifting like a see-saw 2-3mm. Maybe you can use your jedi skills to find out whats up. Corrosion from sweat had caused the hex bolt to seize on my Atom, I tried unsuccessfully to free it with WD40 but then ruined the head of the hex bolt so its no longer adjustable. One can guess market is there. Seriously, the Tacx and Wahoo bike arent going to get cheaper in 2020. But thats not the case, so these smart bike trainers are an absolute dream. Take for example the boxes. I was expecting my replacement within a few days as they had indicated when I sent the first unit in, but also just received word that my replacement is delayed so that they can ensure the same problem doesnt come up again with the new one. Mixed feelings. However, what is far more likely is that well see other entrants. I am back on my Kickr, which after riding the NEO Bike for that short time feels like going back to fly coach after taking your personal jet. Maybe they discovered something in my return unit and some others that caused a general stop. Many of the reviews of the Tacx I have read suggest they have a lot of production issues, so I have excluded them and are looking at the Wahoo, Stages and Wattbike. Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. Dont know tacx. link to bowflex.com Im 204cm, so Ive been asking the same questions. Will cancel, what a bad customer experience and shady practice. Add a soundproofed chainbox similar to that on an omafiets (unfortunately, belts cannot be fitted into regular frames without sawing). Do you have any recommendations or observations? However, I think theres a substantial market for $1,500-$1,800 bikes. At the moment all the bikes seem to have some small issues, maybe Wattbike have improved the feel on the Gen 1.5 device. Tacx Bike: 147mm My wife and I have the same difference in height as you guys. Ahh sweet, I hadnt seen that. They both go up to around 90cm to the top of the saddle. Not easy to move, shift to one side, etc. I was hoping the Halloween Zwift update released today would fix it but no joy. Wattbike Atom: Wattbike does not have any brakes, but they do have two buttons that could be repurposed down the road as steering buttons on top of the handlebars (one per side) should an app support it. In most cases, they arent making it more difficult to determine them. Avec cette article, la concurrence que je ne connaissais point est venue perturber mon esprit. However, for something more substantial you definitely will. However, I think at the moment wed have to consider the Wattbike Atom as sorts the best option from a repairs/etc standpoint. Very few people who dont ride at all will be buying one of these right now. You just connect the sensors and off you go. Its as solid as a rock. Shane was pretty hard on it but Ray seems to be more positive. Ideally with buttons on both sides of the handlebars, just like in real life. And there are often suitable higher spec second hand bikes with little use available on online auction sites as I found. I just tested for the first time my Neo 2T (in replacement of the Neo 1) and road feel works perfectly in the Tacx Desktop Application. So which is the right bike to get? Although with that idea youd still have to deal with the drivetrain needing maintenance I guess. In the case of Wattbike, Im just not seeing any comments around Atoms breaking down the road. It has nothing to do with not wanting to ride outside. Spot-on. My experience over the past six weeks and 1000 Miles is that it does make some resonance noises, but only at very low cadence (60-70 rpm) and that it is actually quite quiet at my usual cadence of 80-110 rpm. That would lower the height by 2-3 cm by the looks of it.. Can you elaborate on that? Just a matter of when. Completely agree with this. As I said earlier on (again, in this post for text to read) I think Wahoo has a better design on paper (and far better marketing), but Im unconvinced that from a manufacturing standpoint theyre there yet. I think this point has been brought up fairly often in previous reviews of these bikes (at least in the comments). One newbie aspect that may not have been discussed, or that I may have missed: How is what one might call the stability of sitting on one of these bikes relatively to, say, Tacx Neo 2? On the Atom we were on the limit. But their bikes are also VERY stiff. The shops do not have it, so not only that I am supposed to carry/ship 60kg parcel, I will actually be without the trainer. Both are 198cm and the other guy has relative long legs. IP65 rating or something? You want a climbing setup, you can simulate a nice compact crank and well-geared cassette to go with it. Nonetheless I must say, the hardware seems to be better polished than NeoBike. They are far more likely to go with Peloton. Time will tell where and how they end up. Ok, I see now that its only offered on iOS at present. Your email address will not be published. We will not open up for that. Onwards! That noted, with winter coming, I will happily put my bike back on the KICKR and spend my mornings indoors in te comfort of my own home! Tacx NEO Bike: This does not include any aerobars, but you can add your own. I must have missed this in the reviews. In particular, my comments at the time were that it was hard to feel the shifts like an outdoor bike. Cobblestones (soft) I am not quite sure how are you trying to attract the customers from this gray zone. This is really a bummer with a belt driven design. Its general fitness and the want to look good crowd. Ive never done this on a trainer but I was thinking of using this for some longer training rides I do outside to do real hill repeats inside during the winter. Though realistically, one should talk about that since when you add in those effects across differing terrain, I think as a package it actually edges out the KICKR Bike for road simulation. In any case, heres what it looks like with my RedShift aerobars attached. Cheers And companies must account for returns and servicing within their margins, so they cant just assume all bikes will make only a one-way trip. These bikes are expensive. My guess is if you dont care about riding outside, and think you will spend your life on zwift or other virtual platforms then fine, spend this crazy amount of money. Like the Tacx bike though, nobody yet takes advantage of this. the Polar Beat App and get those data? DCR It will depend on saddle rail clearance, but if the Tacx rail clamp can be rotated upside down that will lower the saddle by 2-3 cm. I cant help but wonder why none of these bikes have a quick swap mount for saddles. I suspect at the end of the day in a few months theyll sort all these issues out. The feeling on this is pretty darn good, and that ignores the cobblestone and such replication I talk about later in the Party Tricks section. I see this comment posted a bit on sites and if there was not a market then they would not make them? All adjustments are marked in increments so you can easily set up a particular position repeatedly. The reason my report evaporated was because I had to ship my bike back last week and was told that they would be shipping a replacement out after they received it back and then yesterday I received notice that they would not be shipping out my replacement until MID TO LATE DECEMBER! The easiest way to explain that is that if youre just riding along with a group at a nice talkable pace, and then someone in your group surges ahead how does that surge feel. we can both use it. Interestingly, someone who doesnt sell Wahhoo has just recommended the Wahoo over the Stages to me as a result. Any idea if these 3000$ bikes would be really waterproof? My Girlfriend is 152cm (50). This might make the Tacx and wattbike better? Good to hear! I wonder How The ride quality between tacx neo 2t vs wahoo kickr bike. Tacx has resumed shipping a while ago. B) Utilize a well-known bike fit measurement system from GURU Fit System, Retul Fit, and Trek Precision Fit, which will give you the right measurements for the KICKR Bike In the case of Wattbike, when I talked to them this summer about this (specifically in relation to USA sales and such), they noted that in their experiance, about the only areas that required service for their bikes was seat posts and handlebars, all easy to ship/replace by the user. I can try and figure it out tomorrow at full up, and then a sprint. But its a tougher pitch in the US at the current price points. Not only is it silent, as opposed to the constant banging of gears on a trainer, but you can shift right in the middle of a flat out sprint, or grinding climb, and not miss a beat. I do currently own neither anything like a Tacx Neo 2 nor, unsurprisingly, a, say, Neo bike, but have briefly tried the former in a store. I thought with Wahoos new design of the resistance unit that roll down was no longer needed. These other bikes dont offer that, and Zwift doesnt have the same broad appeal as Peloton. Cheers. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by! However as I already pointed out I didnt think that was a enough big market. Thanks. 1) Bike storage is in the basement, trainer on the roof As is probably clear Tacx is the clear winner here. I dont doubt theres some engagement there. Through focus, my score is now consistently in the target zone, and I believe that this has transferred the the road. Thanks. Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here! But let me step back and explain why, by first explaining how each one does shifting. Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? But first, you need to understand that none of these bikes have real gears. Totally not in the sense that youd be afraid of falling off the bike, more like in the sense of if I slightly shake like this for the next 1-2 hours in a workout staring at a screen, Id be susceptible to get a headache.. On the KICKR Bike the rear still spins, but as I found yesterday in a case of descending out of the Zwift Volcano, it didnt feel quite right. Hello, I appreciate your response. Whereas if youre riding on Zwift and just want to capture that ride on your watch or bike computer so that it adds to your training load for the day, you cant do that.. The problem will be in getting cost down to where its not much more if not less than a basic beater frame. Is that what you want? So then we take Wahoo and they kick it up another notch. It took about 2-4 weeks to completely transision. Not sure now. Heres how the shifters look, which are button-based: Wahoo Bike Gearing: The Wahoo bike supports the ability to configure your gearing via Wahoos app. The sensation is different on the KICKR Bike than a KICKR+CLIMB because the pivot point is different. Its so damn good. I purchased a Wahoo Kickr 2019 trainer from a local bike shop last month and the owner was kind enough to give me the option to return it once the Kickr bike is available for full credit towards the Kickr Bike. Personally Id say to others, dont waste your money on the fancy Tacx or kickr just for the sake of it feeling more like a bike, indoor trainers are just that, indoor trainers and the WB has the same stack, reach, seat position etc as any normal bike and you wont notice any difference in q-factor or any loss of compliance. As of this writing, Wahoo does not support normal broadcast of ANT+ power or Bluetooth Smart power (nor cadence or speed via those channels either).