Turbo advice

[Tommy2tyres]

Without spending loads of money would I be able to buy a ant+ sensor for my bike and get a decent on-line experience with my non smart turbo?

[Mick F]

Welcome to the forum.

You raise a good question.
Some years ago, I had a Garmin 705 with all the bells and whistles. I could ride my rollers indoors with the GPS switched off, but I'd still get the speed and distance and heart rate recorded. I've sold it now, and have non ANT GPS devices on the bikes.

I now use use a cheapo wireless bike computer to give a readout of speed and distance on the rollers. It's ok and only cost a few quid.

[0xymoron]

Depends what you mean by loads of money.

I bought the following speed / cadence sensor and Ant+ receiver more than a year ago, and they have operated faultlessly ever since (that's about 220 hours use with no need to replace the battery in the sensor). I'll doubt you'll get set up much cheaper than this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M98OVQ5/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M4NFENM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PS you may also have to budget for a USB extension lead as the ANT+ receiver needs to be as close as possible to the sensor - I place my sensor on the floor between the wheels.

[Tommy2tyres]

Thanks for replies, to clear up what I meant by online experience I meant playing one of these interactive apps like zwift or TrainerRoad while I'm training. Am I right in thinking if I got the items that Oxymoron mentions and a handlebar mount for my tablet I'd be good to go?

[Paulatic]

Handlebar Mount isn’t essential. My neighbour has his bike in front of a work bench and props his tablet or laptop up on that. He reckons it has his head in a position similar to being on the road and looking where he’s going.

[0xymoron]

Thanks for replies, to clear up what I meant by online experience I meant playing one of these interactive apps like zwift or TrainerRoad while I'm training. Am I right in thinking if I got the items that Oxymoron mentions and a handlebar mount for my tablet I'd be good to go?

Depends what tablet you've got - I don't think Zwift will work on android tablets, for example, so you'll have to go onto the Zwift site to check for your specific setup. Also, there's lots of info on youtube (Zwift's own channel, Shane Williams, etc).

https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005742563-Can-I-run-Zwift-on-my-Android-device-?section=201304583