eileithyia wrote:Have PM'd you
Received, much appreciated! xx
eileithyia wrote:Have PM'd you
amaferanga wrote:A wheel off trainer will be more accurate when it comes to power and therefore when using software like Zwift will give a better experience. Definitely avoid a cheap non-smart trainer if the intention is to use it with Zwift as these are notoriously inaccurate.
I have an Elite Direto OTS 2 which I bought from Halfords at the start of lockdown. Its been great and I'd thoroughly recommend it. It's <£600 too so one of the cheaper wheel off trainers. Unfortunately, as with most trainers, they seem to be in short supply again.
rfryer wrote:I'd say that you're looking at 30s for wheel on vs 60s for direct drive (once you've had a bit of practice). May double those numbers if you're not trying to break records!
However, that's assuming you use wheel-on with your outdoor wheels. Ideally, you want to be using a trainer tyre, which will mean a wheel swap as well, and end up needing slower than direct drive.
Be aware that direct drive needs a cassette on the trainer. I'm assuming you'd buy one for the purpose; it doesn't need to be high end. If you didn't, then fitting the bike would involve swapping the cassette from the wheel to the trainer, which would add a couple more (oily) minutes and be enough to discourage me! Personally, I keep an old bike on the trainer at all times - saves wear on the good bike and makes me more likely to use the trainer.
eileithyia wrote:^^^ this is one of the complications with a wheel out / direct drive trainer, the number of cogs on the rear gears needs to match the number of cogs on the bike you are using... ie the number of gears, because we have a mix of 10 and 11 speed bikes in our garage, when my other half bought a direct drive trainer, we had issues sorting two bikes that would be compatible, as it is I have continued to use the full bike set up / wheel on trainer (as we originally thought there was a problem with it and it was on it's way out but we solved the problem), while you can buy a trainer tyre I just use my bike as it is set up for the road.
Quite honestly if it was the only choice I would faff with wheel out option, but the messing around with it would put me off... though it helps if you can leave the bike on whichever trainer you choose... and then it is always set up to go.... especially if over the winter you are likely to use the trainer more than being outside.