The latest and greatest indoor training technology from Eurobike 2022 - CyclingTips

With a number of new product launches and updates, Eurobike 2022 could become a landmark in the world of indoor training. While Zwift was among the first to kick things off on Eurobike with a big stand a few years ago, many other brands are eager to showcase their new technology this year.

We walked the halls and booths of Eurobike 2022 to bring you some of the latest indoor training technology.

MyWhoosh

Of all the indoor training brands on display, MyWhoosh seems intent on making the biggest splash. A free virtual cycling app with a logo you might recognize from the UAE Team Emirates Tadej Pogacâr kit, has one of the largest stands in hall 11. The stand features several coach settings for riders to try out the MyWhoosh platform and win one of the four Colnago C68s, but the power The main attraction is the “immersive cube” with a circular screen that spans three walls and floors.

With MyWhoosh now in its third year, the team behind it feel they now have the technology and physics to improve the platform and bring it to more riders around the world. Kevin Poulton, product director at MyWhoosh, believes that the platform now has the best graphics, best races and the best integrated calendar view offering the integration of TrainingPeaks and Today’s Plan.

Poulton explains that while many riders still turn to indoor training out of necessity – be it to avoid bad weather or for specific training adaptations – MyWhoosh intends to make indoor training more interesting and rewarding.

MyWhoosh wants to facilitate better training and fitness programs. In addition to a calendar view with third-party training platform integrations, MyWhoosh also hosts customized testing and integration sessions to help riders and trainers track fitness changes.

Poulton’s suggestion that MyWhoosh already offers “the best indoor racing” is open for debate now, but there’s little doubt that it’s the daily racing and events where MyWhoosh plans to thrive. Daily events and races are already live on the platform, and the racing prize money in particular attracts a lot of riders’ attention.

The platform offers the largest prize fund and with that comes the responsibility to ensure fair play. MyWhoosh currently verifies each rider’s data individually, but the developer will soon launch a new verification system to provide automatic and instant verification within minutes of the race being completed.

The platform offers a mix of real and fantasy routes with live maps of the Middle East and virtual Colombia coming soon. Riders can customize their bikes and gear from the color of the kit to the height of the socks. And while MyWhoosh only offers Colnago bikes at the moment, more brands are also coming soon.

For more information, visit MyWhoosh.com.

Cycling VirtuPro

Next to MyWhoop is VirtuPro, a new trainer platform focused on developing “the most realistic indoor cycling experience ever”. VirtuPro claims to combine video game realism with serious training intensity for enhanced performance and enjoyment.

While the platform offers challenges and achievements to complete on routes based on real-life stages, racing is built into its core with stage races, time trials, and free rides. With 60 stage routes over 1,600 km of virtual roads, VirtuPro offers everything from Alpine hikes to the Champs-Élysées and a number of other virtual recreation routes from around the world.

The VirtuPro platform is said to offer real draft effects, FTP based AI racing opponents, crosswind and cobble racing like classic, steering, and crash. Furthermore, VirtuPro will offer “team communication” which provides team tactics and commands.

Although only available in a trial version, VirtuPro is free to register and download. However, it is only compatible with the current Windows operating system with Apple and Android apps to follow soon. More information is available at Virtuprocycling.com.

Movement system Gymrail Momentum X1

Gymrail is a Finnish company that claims to offer the most natural indoor riding motion with its Momentum X1 4D bicycle rocker system. Called “the first full-motion 4D rocker system for indoor training”, the Momentum X1 offers 12 cm (4.5″) total forward/back movement, 15° side-to-side tilt motion total, 12 cm (4.5”) ) total side-to-side rocking motion, and 7° torsional rotation in both directions from the central axis. That’s a lot of movement.

The spring set allows you to adjust the stiffness of your Momentum X1 to your preferences, and to complete the MX1 4D experience.

The Momentum X1 operates on a series of rails, springs and roller wheels, with the trainer strapped to a board compatible with any trainer. The front fork is mounted to a motion platform that moves independently from the rear. Plus, system stiffness can now be adjusted even further with Gymrail’s new range of orange and red springs to match the feel of motion to your preferred riding style.

We got a total of about 30 seconds of riding the Gymrail on the Eurobike – no time close enough to make any definitive conclusions about the system. But it sure is interesting.

The Momentum X1 is priced at €1,395 + VAT, and is now available via the Gymrail website.

TrueKinetix

TrueKinetix is ​​the Dutch brand behind the TrueBike smart bike trainer and now TrueTrainer, the only completely new trainer at Eurobike 2022. TrueTrainer is a direct drive smart trainer that offers the same claimed benefits of TrueBike in a smaller package.

What are the benefits of that, you ask? TrueKinetix claims TrueBike and now TrueTrainer offers the most realistic cycling experience for indoor training thanks to its TrueForce technology. Bas van Rens, CEO of TrueKinetix, told us that the TrueTrainer uses a small, low-weight motor to mimic the inertia and momentum experienced when riding outdoors. This motor replaces the flywheel found on many trainers and provides force feedback. This is most pronounced during the initial few pedal strokes after gliding, where the feeling is much more akin to riding outdoors than to speeding a flywheel on a regular trainer.

TrueTrianer also calculates virtual gears which means riders can virtually ride with any number of virtual tapes without ever changing the actual tapes attached to the coach. The trainer calculates which gear the rider is currently in – perhaps based on watts, cadence, and virtual speed – and automatically shifts to match the rider’s real-world shift. While we only had a very short ride on TrueTrainer, these virtual shifts are likely to take a little getting used to, with significant delays from actual shifts translating into virtual shifts.

The TrueTrainer is also self-charging, self-powering from the energy produced as you ride.

Beyond that, the new TrueTrianer has a claimed +/-0.5% power meter accuracy, USB port and Wi-Fi connectivity for data transfer, and direct data via HDMI on the top-end “Max” model priced at €1,999. While the intermediate “Shift” model retains TrueForce technology, USB and HDMI ports, it downgrades Wi-Fi and HDMI direct data connections, bringing the price down to €1,799. The entry-level “Basic” trainer drops the price to €1,499 but goes on to sacrifice USB and HDMI ports to do so.

You can find out more at TrueKinetix.com.

Bryton

Head unit and now vehicle radar brand, Bryton, is the only other brand to have a new direct drive trainer on display. This new trainer is still unreleased and details are very thin, but its main feature is the internal 8° swing which brings left-right wobble to the direct drive trainer.

Again, the details are very thin, but the new trainer looks well made, features well-designed folding handles and legs, and from the LEDs on the back, we can see it’s compatible with ANT+ and Bluetooth.

Again, a quick ride on the new coach isn’t enough to draw any definitive conclusions about Bryton’s new offering, but it’s enough to get a feel for the left-right rocking motion. Initial impressions show only a simple, balanced swing.

Zycle Coach

Spanish coach brand Zycle has three trainers on display, all made at its two factories in Spain and now available across Europe.

The first is Zycle’s new Smart ZDrive direct drive trainer which features USB link technology for direct connection to electronic hardware to help eliminate signal dropouts. With magnetic resistance, the Smart ZDrive is said to be one of the quietest in its class (though the Eurobike room is too loud to test that claim).

The Smart ZDrive has a claimed maximum wattage of 2,000 watts at 40 km/h or 375 watts at 10 km/h, gradient simulation of up to 20%, and there should be no calibration requirement. This trainer is compatible with 9mm, 12mm, and Boost via axle and features ANT+ and Bluetooth in addition to USB direct connection.

The new trainer is compatible with Zycle’s ZPower battery offering the option to use the Smart ZDrive without AC power for pre-event warm-up.

Perhaps most impressively, the Zcycle Smart ZDrive costs just €699 for what appears to be a high-end direct drive trainer.

Next up is Zycle’s Smart ZPro wheel-on smart trainer, offering +/- 3% power accuracy, maximum 1,200 Watts, ANT+ and Bluetooth connections, and magnetic resistance, priced at €349.

Lastly from Zycle is the Smart ZBike brand. This particular smart bike is said to be perfect for cycling and fitness training with its built-in power meter and integrated electronic gearshift.

The Smart ZBike relies on a 14 kg flywheel which is said to offer better pedaling sensation and is compatible with most indoor training software platforms. Nonetheless, the 188mm Q-Factor might make anyone unable to adjust to their riding position.

Nevertheless, at €1,499, the ZBike is one of the lowest priced smart bikes available.

The Zycle lineup is available on Zycle.com with Smart ZBike and Smart ZPro available now and Smart ZDrive available soon.

Aria Elite Fan

While we covered the Aria Elite smart fan last week, the new dedicated indoor training fan is mentioned again here. The new smart fan adds temperature-controlled fan speed and power to the speed and heart rate first seen with the Wahoo Headwind fan.

Elite has also added a carbon-activated air filter to each side of the new fan and is said to provide wind speeds of up to 30 mph (48 km/h). While the fan on display is still a 3D printed prototype, Elite plans to officially launch the new fan in February 2023. In the meantime, you can get all the information we have so far in our Elite Aria article from last week.

Elite trainer Justo

Elite also has a new Justo top-range direct drive trainer on display at Eurobike. After announcing Justo on the eve of the Tour de France, this will be the first time many riders have seen Justo in real life. Like the new Bryton seen above, Justo incorporates a left-right swing into a direct drive trainer, doing so with a slick foot attached to the new trainer’s stabilizer leg.

Justo is also said to offer improved power metering accuracy with an updated optical torque sensor, gradient simulator compatibility, and folding legs for a smaller storage footprint.

Justo is now available, priced at US$1,199 / £999.99 / €999.99 on Elite-IT.com

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