Stationary Training Advice

[SPINMAN]

Reaching out to the Forum community again about stationary bike training.

My indoor training is on my old Spin Bike from my 25 years as a certified Johnny G Spin instructor. No, it's not 25 years old. It's my third one over the years.

With the advent and technology improvement to trainers, I think I will get a new indoor setup.

The two I'm thinking of is Rouvy and Zwift. Any advice on trainers and platforms? Video quality? Link to map my ride, Strava, power meters?
Thanks

[enkei]

I use Rouvy and love it. I'm not into the gamification or competition for which Zwift is arguably superior. I just enjoy the videos of travelling through scenic places. Running an HDMI cable from my MacBook to my 4K 55" TV gives a superb experience. The only problem was almost falling off the trainer the first couple of times I encountered roundabouts at speed, as my brain automatically tried to lean into the turns, LOL.

AFAIK unless you're training very seriously, you don't need any of the expensive smart trainers. I use the Van Rysel D100 (available in the USA as a Magene), connected to a Garmin chest strap and Magene cadence sensor. I usually have my Garmin head unit running at the same time to monitor how parameters compare against the Rouvy display. Every ride is automatically updated across Rouvy, Garmin, and Apple Fitness, which feeds it into my nutrition tracker.

There may be better options in that price bracket now, however.

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Forgot to add that if you use a smart trainer like this, you don't need a power meter, the trainer measures that for you.

[SPINMAN]

(11-07-2025, 09:00 AM)enkei Wrote:  I use Rouvy and love it. I'm not into the gamification or competition for which Zwift is arguably superior. I just enjoy the videos of travelling through scenic places. Running an HDMI cable from my MacBook to my 4K 55" TV gives a superb experience. The only problem was almost falling off the trainer the first couple of times I encountered roundabouts at speed, as my brain automatically tried to lean into the turns, LOL.

AFAIK unless you're training very seriously, you don't need any of the expensive smart trainers. I use the Van Rysel D100 (available in the USA as a Magene), connected to a Garmin chest strap and Magene cadence sensor. I usually have my Garmin head unit running at the same time to monitor how parameters compare against the Rouvy display. Every ride is automatically updated across Rouvy, Garmin, and Apple Fitness, which feeds it into my nutrition tracker.

There may be better options in that price bracket now, however.

---

Forgot to add that if you use a smart trainer like this, you don't need a power meter, the trainer measures that for you.

I see. So I can still use my SPIN bike and use the Rouvy just for the routes? I won't get any stats.
Funny about the roundabouts. I'll look out for that. Ha! Thanks.

[Jesper]

I use a 45 year old wind trainer. No batteries, no wires, no distractions. Lightweight, collapsible, and easily transportable. Easily adjustable for height, length and levelling in less than 2 mintues; mount your bike in as much time as it takes to remove the front wheel. Ride your bike exactly as it is set up for the road. It can be connected to drive a generator. Use inside or outside. Easy to maintain.

I mounted it on the forecastle of a warship and trained on it while navigating the Suez canal from Port Said through The Great Bitter Lake down into the Gulf of Suez; no video devices required and very interesting scenery including remnants of derelect military equipment from the 6 day war in 1967. Reality; live it and love it!

[meamoantonio]

(11-06-2025, 04:34 PM)SPINMAN Wrote:  Reaching out to the Forum community again about stationary bike training.

My indoor training is on my old Spin Bike from my 25 years as a certified Johnny G Spin instructor. No, it's not 25 years old. It's my third one over the years.

With the advent and technology improvement to trainers, I think I will get a new indoor setup.

The two I'm thinking of is Rouvy and Zwift. Any advice on trainers and platforms? Video quality? Link to map my ride, Strava, power meters?
Thanks

Skip the power meter and go straight to a Smart Trainer from ThinkRider(they make smart trainers for other brands but of course English on their app is bad) or Magene (has better English apps and they also make trainers for everyone)

Zwift is pretty cool but its expensive in relation to our local currency so I gravitated towards MyWoosh instead since it is free

Make sure to get sweat guards and regularly have your bikes bearings checked every 6months to 1 year (corrosion is a real problem for people who train indoors)

Enjoy!