Turbo Trainer Advice

Why do you need cadence?

I know nothing about this, and do still get an average of one 1sec drop per hour using my £9 ANT+ dongle that's stuck to my downtube (dunno if that's good or bad?) - but FWIW this is what I read from Garmin when I was looking into it..

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/edge-830/166164/connecting-your-sensors-best-practices

Garmin recommends always using the ANT+ connection on a sensor if it is available with your Garmin device. The profiles are more mature, often have more features, and there are no customer facing benefits to using the BLE connection unless that is the only option for the sensor to be connected. We are continuing to make improvements to prioritize ANT+ connections in the sensor search UI (User Interface) to better support customers in making this choice.

In-short, unless there is a good reason to pair over BLE such as data content or signal strength then the recommendation is to pair over ANT.

I think these don't exist and you're trolling me, in which case haha. But having two perfectly good wireless cadence sensors I'm obviously not going to invest in a wired one!

Why do you need any data? But specifically in this case I'm doing TrainerRoad where workouts require you to spin within a certain cadence range. The Kickr has RPM estimation built in which is not bad but it's not as accurate as an actual RPM sensor.

Meh. The workout doesn't stop if you don't hit the cadence.
As the mighty lord @hippy said to me: this isn't your first time. you know what you're doing.

So after selling my direto a few months ago because I couldn't find a permanent space for in the house, I've now stared at my garage long enough to think I might be able to make it work. It's an uninsulated, drafty single skin brick garage, so gets very cold in the winter. Does anyone know if it would be ok to keep run a turbo all year round? Thinking the cold might kill the electronics / power accuracy? Will be doing ERG workout's so consistency is important. Am eyeing up either a Kickr core or a H3.

I know people who turbo outside year round so.....yeah.

It's only cold until you start working hard. Layer up and peel off when necessary

There are a number of workouts that featured cadence variation. These can be really useful as a way to help me work outside my comfort zone. Often the suggested changes are small (5% or less) which I can’t gauge myself. As such I can see why someone might want that information and for it to be relatively accurate.

I'd more worried about moisture than cold

I know people who turbo outside year round so

@Señor_Bear ?

He is one.

I'm not worried about me, I run hotter than the sun when training. Am thinking the turbo electronics /power consistency.

Waves

Buy a dumb trainer and a power meter.

Remind me again who owns the ANT+ protocol?

What kind of sadist wants to train indoors?

waves

Define 'want' though.

Smart trainers are for the weak of will.

Smart trainers are for the weak of will.

This

Which is exactly why I bought one

Remind me again who owns the ANT+ protocol?

Ah yes good point. Well, I did start by saying I knew nothing about it! It's hardly the only part of the internet suggesting that though, including Wahoo reviews (despite the acceptance that BT is better technically, as you said). I will have to try it again myself (I don't think it was even a valid option when I first attempted it)..

You've no doubt tried this but the only Bluetooth issues I have is when somehow one my sensors has paired itself to something else Bluetooth. e.g. my HR sensor pairing to my other half's phone when she walked past the shed.

The ANT+ dongle fixed all my issues. Rock solid connection, no dropouts. Finally managed to pair my HRM successfully too. Only downside is reduced range, the sensor does need to be within a metre or so of the turbo but that was easily fixed with a short USB extension cable I had to hand.

why do you LOVE garmin so much?

Very powerful

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