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With so many new product launches and upgrades, Eurobike 2022 could go down as a fantastic show in the world of indoor training. While Zwift was one of the first to launch it all at Eurobike with a big presence several years ago, many other brands wanted to showcase the 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 home training products on the scene, MyWhoosh seems intent on making the biggest splash. The free virtual cycling app, which has a logo you may recognize from the Emirates kit of Tadej Pogkar’s United Arab Emirates team, had one of the biggest stands in Hall 11. The stand featured a number of coach setups for riders to test the Maywish stage and win one of the four Colnago C68s. But the centerpiece attraction was an “immersive cube” with three walls and a roll-up screen on the floor.
With MyWhoosh now in its third year, the team behind it feel they have the technology and physics to elevate the platform and bring it to more riders around the world. Kevin Poulton, product director at MyWhoosh, believes the platform now has the best graphics, best competition and most integrated calendar view thanks to the integration of TrainingPeaks and Today’s Plan.
Poulton explained that while many riders still turn to indoor training out of necessity — to avoid bad weather or for specific training adjustments — MyWhoosh aims to make indoor training more attractive and useful.
MyWhoosh wants to facilitate better training and fitness programs. With calendar view and third-party training platform integration, MyWhoosh hosts a variety of test sessions and integrations to help riders and coaches track fitness changes.
Poulton’s comment that MyWish already offers “the best indoor racing” is now open to debate, but there’s no doubt that MyWish plans to expand into racing and everyday events. There are daily events and races in the arena, and the race prize money in particular is attracting the attention of many riders.
The platform boasts the largest prize pools and with that comes the responsibility of ensuring fair play. MyWhoosh currently verifies each rider’s data individually, but developers will soon release a new verification system designed to provide automatic and instant verification within minutes of a race.
The platform offers a map of the Middle East already live and virtual Colombia coming soon, along with real and virtual routes. Riders can customize their bikes and gear, from kit colors to sock height. And while MyWhoosh currently only offers Colnago bikes, more brands are coming soon.
Go to MyWhoosh.com for more information.
VirtuPro Cycling
Next door to MyWhoop was VirtuPro, a new trainer platform focused on developing “the most authentic indoor cycling experience ever.” VirtuPro claims to combine the realism of video games with the rigors of serious training for improved performance and enjoyment.
While the platform offers challenges and achievements to complete in tracks based on real-life stages, racing is primarily built around stage races, time trials and free rides. With over 1,600 kilometers of virtual routes on 60 stage routes, VirtuPro offers everything from alpine climbing to the Champs-Élysées and other virtual leisure routes from around the world.
The VirtuPro platform is said to offer real-feel draft effects, FTP-based AI racing opponents, classic-style wind and cobble racing, steering and collisions. In addition, VirtuPro provides “group communication” by providing group strategies and commands.
Although currently only available in a trial version, VirtuPro is free to register and download. However, it is currently only compatible with Windows operating systems, with Apple and Android apps soon to follow. More information is available at Virtuprocycling.com.
Gymrail Momentum X1 movement rocker system
Gimrail is a Finnish company that claims to have introduced the most natural indoor riding motion with the Momentum X1 4D bike rocker system. Touted as the first “4D full motion rocker system for indoor training,” the Momentum X1 offers 12 cm (4.5”) of total fore/aft motion, 15° of total side-to-side tilt motion, 12 cm (4.5”). A total swinging motion from side to side, and 7 degrees rotation in both directions from the central axis. That’s a lot of activity.
The spring kit allows you to adjust the stiffness of your Momentum X1 to your preference and complete the MX1 4D experience.
The Momentum X1 runs on a series of rails, springs and roller wheels, with the trainer mounted on a board compatible with any trainer. The front forks are mounted on an independent suspension platform at the rear. In addition, the system’s stiffness can now be further adjusted with a variety of new orange and red springs to match the dynamic feel from Gimrail to your preferred driving style.
We got about 30 seconds of riding the Gimrail on the Eurobike – not enough time to draw any real conclusions on the system. But it sure is fun.
The Momentum X1 is priced at €1,395 + VAT, and is available now via Gimreal’s website.
TrueKinetix
TrueKinetix is the Dutch brand behind the TrueBike smart bike trainer, and now the TrueTrainer is one of the all-new trainers at Eurobike 2022. TrueTrainer is a direct drive smart trainer that offers the same benefits of Traibike in a smaller package.
What are these benefits, you ask? TrueKinetix claims TrueCycle and now the TrueTrainer delivers the most realistic cycling experience for indoor training with its TrueForce technology. TrueKinetix CEO Bas van Riens told us that the TrueTrainer uses a small, lightweight motor to replicate the fatigue and energy experienced while riding outdoors. This engine replaces the flywheel found on many coaches and provides power feedback. This is most noticeable in the first few pedal strokes after coasting and the feeling is very similar to riding outdoors compared to accelerating the flywheel on a regular trainer.
TrueTrianer also calculates virtual gears, meaning riders can ride with multiple virtual cassettes without ever changing the cassette mounted on the trainer. The trainer calculates what gear the rider is currently in – estimated by watts, cadence and virtual speed – and automatically matches the rider’s real-world shifts. While we only had a very short ride on the TrueTrainer, this virtual shift seems to take a bit of getting used to, with a significant delay translating from actual shifts to virtual shifts.
The TrueTrainer is also recharging itself from the energy generated while driving.
Beyond that, the new TrueTrainer claims +/- 0.5% power meter accuracy, a USB port and Wi-Fi connectivity for data transfer and live data via HDMI in the top-of-the-line “Max” model at a price of €1,999. While the middle “Shift” model has TrueForce technology, USB and HDMI ports, it drops Wi-Fi and direct data HDMI connections, bringing the price to €1,799. The entry-level “base” coach drops the price to €1,499, but sacrifices more USB and HDMI ports to do so.
You can learn more at TrueKinetix.com.
Britain
Headroom and now vehicle radar brand Britton was another brand that had a new live driver trainer on show. The new trainer is still unreleased and details are slim, but its main feature is an 8° built-in swingarm that brings left-right swing to a direct-drive trainer.
Details are still very thin, but the new trainer seems to be well made, it has a well-designed handle and flexible legs, and we see that it is compatible with LEDs on the back, ANT + and Bluetooth.
Again, a quick tour of the new coach isn’t enough to draw any definitive conclusions about Brighton’s new offering, but it was enough to understand the swings left and right. Initial impressions suggest only a modest balance swing.
Zickle trainers
Spanish coach brand Zikkel had three coaches, all made by the two Spanish factories, and now available throughout Europe.
First, Zickle’s new Smart ZDrive Direct-Drive Trainer uses USB connector technology to connect directly to electronic hardware to help eliminate signal interruption. With magnetic resistance, the Smart ZDrive is said to be one of the quietest in its class (although the Eurobike halls were too loud to test those claims).
The Smart ZDrive claims a maximum wattage of 2,000 watts at 40 km or 375 watts at 10 km, up to 20% gradient simulations, and no calibration requirements. The trainer is compatible with 9mm, 12mm and Boost thru-axles and offers ANT+ and Bluetooth with USB direct connectivity.
The new trainer is compatible with Zycle’s ZPower battery, giving the Smart ZDrive the option to use it without AC power for pre-event heating.
Perhaps most impressive is the ZCycle Smart ZDrive’s price tag of just €699 for what appears to be a high-end direct drive trainer.
Next up is the Zikkel Smart ZPro wheel-by-smart trainer, +/- 3% power accuracy, 1,200 Watt maximum, ANT+ and Bluetooth connections and magnetic resistance, price is 349 euros.
Last but not least is the Smart ZBike, the brand from Zeekel. The unique smart bike is said to be ideal for cycling and fitness training with a built-in power meter and integrated electronic gear shifting.
The Smart ZBike is based on a 14kg flywheel that is said to offer improved pedaling sensations and is compatible with most indoor training software platforms. Although, the 188mm Q-factor might blow anyone away with its riding position.
However, at €1,499 ZBike is one of the lowest priced smart bikes available.
The Zycle range is available on Zycle.com with both the Smart ZBike and Smart ZPro available now and the Smart ZDrive coming soon.
Elite Aria fan
While we covered Elite’s new Aria Smart Fan last week, the new indoor training fan deserves another mention here. The new Smart Fan adds power and core-body temperature controlled fan speed to speed and heart rate first with the Wahoo Head Wind Fan.
Elite has also added carbon-active air filters through each new fan and is said to deliver 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 find all the information we have so far in our Elite Aria article from last week.
Elite Justo trainer
Elite had the new Justo range-topping direct-drive trainer at the Eurobike show. This will be the first time many riders will see Juston in real life since he announced it on the eve of the Tour de France. As shown above in the new Brighton, Justo incorporated left-right swingarms into the direct-drive coach, doing so with squat legs built into the new coach’s stabilizer legs.
Justo is also said to offer improved power measurement accuracy with an updated optical torque sensor, gradient simulator compatibility and foldable legs for a smaller storage footprint.
The Justo is now available for US$1,199/£999.99/€999.99 at Elite-IT.com.
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