• Tacx Desktop App Ant+

Hi all,Just got into road bikes after many years of having a MTB for the odd 20 mile jaunt here and there (but nothing regular). Lost weight and gained fitness since getting the road bike and want to keep it going through the winter and on the evenings when I can't get out there.So I'm pretty set on the Tacx Flow Smart, seems a good trainer at a reasonable price. My question is - what do I need in order to get going in Zwift? Obviously the trainer, a PC, and Zwift, but what else?

Do I need a bluetooth dongle or an ANT+ dongle? Do I also need a cadence/speed sensor? How important is having a HRM or power meter?Hope you'll appreciate I'm new to this, sorry for the obvious questions but I'd like to know what I'm getting intoJoe.

Pretty sure you'll need the ANT+ dongle. Tacx do one with a cable connected if you have the lap top far away from the turbo. The turbo will output speed, cadence and power. The power is virtual but it's fine for training, you don't need a power meter. Make sure you keep the same tyre/pressure on the bike.I like having a heartrate monitor but it's up to you, you don't really need one once you know your FTP. I use a magnetic resistance turbo with a speed/cadence sensor so I find it very useful (I also have used one for training for ages so prefer to have the data, even if I rarely look at it these days!).Have a look at the Sufferfest app too, I'm a big fan of their videos for a more structured approach and they do have a couple of easier ones now to mix it up. You will need an Ant+ stick, Zwift may well recommend a brand, TR do.

I bought a generic one from Amazon and it works happily with Sufferfest, Zwift and Trainer Road.I would probably look at some point on getting a cadence sensor as the Tacx cadence output can be something of a random number generator.I didn't think the power was virtual on the Flow. I though it was an FE-C trainer and therefore the software can control the trainers power.As the trainer gives power you don't need a HRM, however you may find it useful to measure the HRM data against your power data and try and replicate that on the road.I would also look at the alternatives to Zwift, I'm sure they all have free trials of varying length. I too prefer the structure offered by TR and Sufferfest with an overall preference for TR for a variety of reasons.

Tacx Desktop App Ant+

Myideal wrote:I did much the same and purchased one of these. Seems to be working well at the moment on the time that I have spent on it. I just used the tacx fitness test on the app and then Bkool app on the ipad. These both seem to work well. I would like to get Zwift on the go, however think I will wait until the ipad version comes out as believe it is not far away and this supports bluetooth as well?Next Friday (9th December) is where the betting money currently is for the iOS release.

IPad will only support bluetooth. Thanks for the info! Will get the ANT+ dongle (although I'll also try connecting through the Mobile link app too as markhewitt1978 mentioned)Think I understand it now. The Flow Smart doesn't have a USB cable so can communicate to a PC either through ANT+ (requiring a ANT= dongle at the PC) or with Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Smart I think it's actually called?). Reading in various forums, the ANT+ seems like it works more reliably than Bluetooth.I'll be running Zwift on a windows laptop (my wife's), just out of curiosity what is the weediest laptop anyone is running this on? Am thinking I may get a 2nd hand laptop with an i3-3110m (which is the cheapest CPU with the minimum-spec Intel HD 4000 graphics). Of course if Zwift for iOS is released very soon then I may get a 2nd hand iPad Air 1 or iPad Mini 2!

LolLet us know what the Flow Smart is like Nibbsy! Myideal wrote:I have been impressed with the Smart Flow as it seems to work well. I can't wait for Zwift to appear for the Ipad as hoping that it will work well.

Im finding that Bkool is not that stable on my ipad mini 3, which I suspect is the same for most people given Apple control the hardware.Also I am having issues getting Bkool to see the trainer as a 'Smart Trainer', however that could be me that has done something wrong, I guess.Tacx app will work with Bluetooth but I think anything else on iOS will need an ANT+ key as the open smart controls are via ANT+ FE-C. I tried it with Zwift this morning and it worked well with the bluetooth bridge to the computer. However im not sure that it was changing the resistance with the trainer.When I went to pair it up, I had no issues with finding the Tacx Smart T2240 on the Power Source and the Cadence options, however on the Controllable Trainer option it was just not finding anything. Is this right for this trainer? Im guessing I need this setting enabled for it to change the resistance? I am doing all this over bluetooth so is this where the issue is?

Myideal wrote:I tried it with Zwift this morning and it worked well with the bluetooth bridge to the computer. However im not sure that it was changing the resistance with the trainer.When I went to pair it up, I had no issues with finding the Tacx Smart T2240 on the Power Source and the Cadence options, however on the Controllable Trainer option it was just not finding anything. Is this right for this trainer? Im guessing I need this setting enabled for it to change the resistance? I am doing all this over bluetooth so is this where the issue is?Unpair it as a power source and the option to pair as a controllable trainer will highlight.

Myideal wrote:I tried it with Zwift this morning and it worked well with the bluetooth bridge to the computer. However im not sure that it was changing the resistance with the trainer.When I went to pair it up, I had no issues with finding the Tacx Smart T2240 on the Power Source and the Cadence options, however on the Controllable Trainer option it was just not finding anything. Is this right for this trainer?

Im guessing I need this setting enabled for it to change the resistance? I am doing all this over bluetooth so is this where the issue is?Unpair it as a power source and the option to pair as a controllable trainer will highlightThanks. What an idiot I feel now if its that simple.

Train on the Tacx with an iPadThe Tacx Cycling app makes it possible to train with a tablet computer. Genius, Bushido and Vortex riders with a tablet can now train using this free app, developed for the iPad. The Tacx Cycling app contains a simplified version of the Catalyst training software, the Analyser and Real Life Video to play Tacx films.CatalystProfessional training programs and fitness tests for a scientific analysis of your training session. Train on heart rate, power output or slope. Follow your development and become a better rider step by step.AnalyserAnalyser presents the recorded training data on the screen of the tablet. Your performance is displayed in a graph.Tacx filmsCycling in a Tacx film makes a training session more enjoyable and adventurous. The speed of the film is influenced by your cycling pace.

If you are cycling up a mountain, the brake of your trainer will generate so much resistance that you can actually sense the percentage of incline. A demo film from the Mont Faron, Toulon in France is included. In the Tacx Cycling app you will find a list of all film titles that have been developed specifically for the app. These have a distance of about 30 km.Note: The Tacx download films for the Tacx Trainer software and the Tacx films for the Cycling app cannot be combined with each other. The films for the Tacx Trainer software can be ordered via the Tacx Online shop.

The films for the Tacx Cycling app can be ordered via the app itself.SYSTEM REQUIREMENTSSystem requirements: iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air en iPad Mini Retina.For use with Tacx ANT+ compatible trainers (i-Genius, i-Genius Multiplayer, Genius, Genius Multiplayer, i-Vortex, Vortex & Bushido) in combination with a Wahoo ANT+ dongle.The Tacx Cycling app is not compatible with the Garmin ANT+ dongle.The Bushido or Vortex handlebar computer and Genius handlebar interface are not required during use.Note: For the iPad 4, iPad Air and iPad Mini, an additional adapter is required for the Wahoo dongle. It can be purchased via the Apple StoreACCESSORIESBracket for tablets T2092This handlebar bracket is designed for mounting a tablet on the handlebar. Suitable for handlebars with diameter 26 to 35 mm and adjustable for various image sizes. The design includes a safe distance to make sure sweat doesn’t drip down on the tablet display while training.Wahoo ANT+ dongle T2091iPad users need to purchase the Wahoo ANT+ dongle first to establish the connection between the Tacx trainer with ANT+ communication and the tablet.

The Bull Tamer, 2018-02-11 Very very poor - lots of Bluetooth issuesThe app almost always will fail to connect to the Tacx trainer via Bluetooth. Pretty much a given that I'll have to spend 15-20 minutes trying to trouble shoot connectivity issues.

The app 'sees' my trainer under the list of nearby devices but just won't connect to it. Incredibly annoying. The online help / Tacx support is totally useless.And unfortunately the full value of the trainer is only realized when connected and using the online workouts. So connectivity issues leave you feeling like this pretty pricey piece of gear isn't worth it.