technical question

Hi all,

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer. I
got my wife a Wahoo Kickr for Christmas, and want to pair it up
with some training option to make it less boring for her. From
some searching of the web, it seems Zwift may be the best bet.

As I understand it, the Kickr will pair via bluetooth with a
smartphone or computer, and I'm hoping to get some advice on what
approach I should use for video: smart tv, computer monitor, or
some other type of display?

Thanks for any input!

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

Ted Heise wrote:

Hi all,

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer. I
got my wife a Wahoo Kickr for Christmas, and want to pair it up
with some training option to make it less boring for her. From
some searching of the web, it seems Zwift may be the best bet.

As I understand it, the Kickr will pair via bluetooth with a
smartphone or computer, and I'm hoping to get some advice on what
approach I should use for video: smart tv, computer monitor, or
some other type of display?

Thanks for any input!


It depends on your setup. I have a Tacx trainer and use the Tacx software
or Zwift on an iPad. A phone would work but would be very difficult to
see. I’m not sure what the options are for Android phones and pads.

I can also use a laptop but to put the video on my TV I need an HDMI cables
my TV doesn’t let me connect directly.

The issues are mostly what type of connection you can use for whichever
display. For me the simplest is running the software on the iPad that
connects directly to the trainer via Bluetooth. I have a handlebar mount
for the iPad.

Certainly your idea is correct that this will make it less boring.

On 12/27/2019 6:53 AM, Duane wrote:
Ted Heise wrote:

Hi all,

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer. I
got my wife a Wahoo Kickr for Christmas, and want to pair it up
with some training option to make it less boring for her. From
some searching of the web, it seems Zwift may be the best bet.

As I understand it, the Kickr will pair via bluetooth with a
smartphone or computer, and I'm hoping to get some advice on what
approach I should use for video: smart tv, computer monitor, or
some other type of display?

Thanks for any input!


It depends on your setup. I have a Tacx trainer and use the Tacx software
or Zwift on an iPad. A phone would work but would be very difficult to
see. I’m not sure what the options are for Android phones and pads.

I can also use a laptop but to put the video on my TV I need an HDMI cables
my TV doesn’t let me connect directly.

The issues are mostly what type of connection you can use for whichever
display. For me the simplest is running the software on the iPad that
connects directly to the trainer via Bluetooth. I have a handlebar mount
for the iPad.

Certainly your idea is correct that this will make it less boring.


Definitely less boring. I'm using a computer with TV screen video output.

A big screen TV screen is nice, but probably not necessary.

If you go with a laptop screen, I think you'll want it close to your
eyes. Various mfrs sell "trainer desks" that will put a laptop at or
above your handlebars. My wife bought me a flat-topped ?wine rack
stand? at a thrift shop, about 1'x1'x4' tall that sits alongside my
handlebars and holds the mouse, wireless keyboard, towel, etc., so
cheaper alternatives exist.

PS - one thing you'll really want, unless the trainer is in an unheated
shed - a fan. I can recommend this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lasko-Pr...4905/202185788,
there are others similar.

Enjoy!

Mark J.

I don't use a bicycle type trainer but a treadmill instead. There's a little shelf on it with a lip to retain papers or a laptop. I use an iPad on it to read books, watch movies, correct text, take dictation, etc. My heart rate monitor sensor works with the iPad by Bluetooth but I can't remember when I last had the software for it open on the iPad. See, the treadmill, and I presume any reasonably complete bike trainer will have built-in programmes, so I just set one of those and complete it, and that's the main part of my workout, complete with the warmup and "warm-down" the physios and my cardiologist insist upon. The treadmill handles also has sensors which detect your heartrate through your skin on the grips, but the iPad covers the readout, so I don't see it. After the main programme, I set the speed to 3km, which I know is comfortable while I'm doing something else as well, and if I feel the urge to work harder, raise either the speed or the inclination of the base ("hills") with buttons under my hands on the grips. My aim is endurance, not speed. Before my gym bike and rower and Nordic air-walker went to the loft on the advice of my physios (they especially hated the air-walker, for bringing my heart rate up too suddenly) I used the stationary bike basically the same way.

I suppose a big flat screen, either TV or a 27" iMac, in front of the treadmill could be an improvement on the iPad, but for me the time on the treadmill is a break, so the iPad does fine.

Andre Jute
Putting together yesteryear's transwreck

On Friday, December 27, 2019 at 2:39:11 PM UTC, Ted Heise wrote:
Hi all,

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer. I
got my wife a Wahoo Kickr for Christmas, and want to pair it up
with some training option to make it less boring for her. From
some searching of the web, it seems Zwift may be the best bet.

As I understand it, the Kickr will pair via bluetooth with a
smartphone or computer, and I'm hoping to get some advice on what
approach I should use for video: smart tv, computer monitor, or
some other type of display?

Thanks for any input!

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

Ted Heise wrote:

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer.

Did you have a look at
a href="https://www.dcrainmaker.com/"DC Rainmaker/a
already?

There are some good overview articles about topics like this.

--
Note: please read the netiquette before posting. I will almost never
reply to top-postings which include a full copy of the previous
article(s) at the end because it's annoying, shows that the poster
is too lazy to trim his article, and it's wasting the time of all readers.

Claus Aßmann
wrote:
Ted Heise wrote:

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer.

Did you have a look at
a href="https://www.dcrainmaker.com/"DC Rainmaker/a
already?

There are some good overview articles about topics like this.


Agreed. His comparison of different bike computers is also very useful.

On Fri, 27 Dec 2019 14:39:08 +0000 (UTC), Ted Heise
wrote:

As I understand it, the Kickr will pair via bluetooth with a
smartphone or computer, and I'm hoping to get some advice on what
approach I should use for video: smart tv, computer monitor, or some
other type of display?

An iPad or other tablet is probably your best option, plus it has many
other uses. There are very solid, secure clamp mounts that go on
microphone stands which would be an unobtrusive way to hold it up at the
right height.

On Fri, 27 Dec 2019 10:10:26 -0800,
Mark J. wrote:
On 12/27/2019 6:53 AM, Duane wrote:
Ted Heise wrote:

I'm looking for input on video options for an indoor trainer.
I got my wife a Wahoo Kickr for Christmas, and want to pair
it up with some training option to make it less boring for
her. From some searching of the web, it seems Zwift may be
the best bet.

It depends on your setup. I have a Tacx trainer and use the
Tacx software or Zwift on an iPad. A phone would work but
would be very difficult to see. I???m not sure what the
options are for Android phones and pads.

I can also use a laptop but to put the video on my TV I need
an HDMI cables my TV doesn???t let me connect directly.

The issues are mostly what type of connection you can use for
whichever display. For me the simplest is running the
software on the iPad that connects directly to the trainer via
Bluetooth. I have a handlebar mount for the iPad.

Certainly your idea is correct that this will make it less
boring.

Definitely less boring. I'm using a computer with TV screen
video output.

A big screen TV screen is nice, but probably not necessary.

If you go with a laptop screen, I think you'll want it close to
your eyes. Various mfrs sell "trainer desks" that will put a
laptop at or above your handlebars. My wife bought me a
flat-topped ?wine rack stand? at a thrift shop, about 1'x1'x4'
tall that sits alongside my handlebars and holds the mouse,
wireless keyboard, towel, etc., so cheaper alternatives exist.

PS - one thing you'll really want, unless the trainer is in an
unheated shed - a fan. I can recommend this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lasko-Pr...4905/202185788,
there are others similar.

Thanks for the feedback, you guys--and to Claus and Tim.

So far we have used her Mac laptop, connected to a largish
tv--just had to get a dongle that would convert the Mac output to
HDMI. After the first session, it seems to work okay for her. I
do have to say I'm less than impressed with Wahoo's instructions.

And Claus is absolutely right about DCRainmaker--he is great.
I've used his info before on GPS and routing, but didn't think to
look at itfor this topic.

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA