Tacx Flow Smart Indoor Trainer T2240

This suits me better than a direct drive trainer, because I can easily swap bikes. Features are more than adequate for my purpose and ability. Much quieter than I expected. Instructions are very limited, but there are plenty of youtube videos to fill the gaps in information. Delivery was quick. Best of all - It's not made in China!

Excellent budget smart trainer

I have had a simple turbo trainer for years, one with a lever to increase the resistance. I wanted something with some feedback so I could see if there was any improvement in my performance over time. This trainer seemed to provide this without breaking the bank.The trainer linked to my android phone and iPad (3?) with no problem. I just use the Tacx training app to control the resistance. I create workout using the web based interface to Tacx Cloud on my PC.The trainer does seem to control the resistance quite well. If you slow your cadence the resistance increases so that you are still outputting the same number of watts. You do have to be a bit careful to make sure you are in the right gear. The trainer, without electronically added resistance, is supposed to ... MoreI have had a simple turbo trainer for years, one with a lever to increase the resistance. I wanted something with some feedback so I could see if there was any improvement in my performance over time. This trainer seemed to provide this without breaking the bank.The trainer linked to my android phone and iPad (3?) with no problem. I just use the Tacx training app to control the resistance. I create workout using the web based interface to Tacx Cloud on my PC.The trainer does seem to control the resistance quite well. If you slow your cadence the resistance increases so that you are still outputting the same number of watts. You do have to be a bit careful to make sure you are in the right gear. The trainer, without electronically added resistance, is supposed to replicate a flat road which it seems to do. With the electronic resistance included it seems to be able to add up to about 100 watts of resistance to this. For example if you are controlling your wattage at 150W and have selected a gear that without any electronic resistance would have a nominal resistance of 140W (at the cadence you are riding at) then if you increase the resistance to 250W on the Tacx training app you will have to change into a harder gear or will not achieve your desired wattage. In the same way, using the same gear, if you dropped your desired wattage from 150W to below the nominal resistance of the gear you are in, 140W in this case, you will have to change into an easier gear.The trainer seems to run smoothly. On my previous trainer at high resistances my pedal strokes would stall a bit at the top of the pedal stroke. This is not the case with the T2240. I use a turbo trainer specific tyre, a Halfords branded one, and the trainer does not seem to make too much noise. There is a bit of resonance in some gears but you can just change gear and the trainer compensates by adding or removing a bit of resistance to keep the same wattage.All in all I would give this trainer the thumbs up. I have only had the trainer for a couple of weeks and so cannot tell if my workouts are doing anything for my fitness but I can always hope.

Excellent value for money

I’ve only had this turbo trainer for a few weeks but have already racked up over 200 miles. Overall, I think I’m quite pleased. It is easy to set-up and calibrate using a smart phone.Although my review is somewhat ambivalent, there are a couple of very positive points. Firstly, this is the cheapest smart trainer available, as far as I know, and as such it is exceptional value. Secondly, it is much more immersive than riding the dumb turbo I was using. I used to dread my turbo sessions and I never managed more than 30 minutes without feeling brain dead, but riding a video or GPS route on the Tacx is quite absorbing and I actually look forward to using it. It looks fairly smart, so I’m not nagged to take it out the conservatory and the wheels are actually closer to ... MoreI’ve only had this turbo trainer for a few weeks but have already racked up over 200 miles. Overall, I think I’m quite pleased. It is easy to set-up and calibrate using a smart phone.Although my review is somewhat ambivalent, there are a couple of very positive points. Firstly, this is the cheapest smart trainer available, as far as I know, and as such it is exceptional value. Secondly, it is much more immersive than riding the dumb turbo I was using. I used to dread my turbo sessions and I never managed more than 30 minutes without feeling brain dead, but riding a video or GPS route on the Tacx is quite absorbing and I actually look forward to using it. It looks fairly smart, so I’m not nagged to take it out the conservatory and the wheels are actually closer to the floor than other trainers, which makes getting on & off a little easierHowever, there are some negatives. The trainer doesn’t feel as solid or stable as the (Cyclops) model I’ve been using. I am 5ft 5in tall, weigh a bit over 10st and not very strong, but it seems to move about a bit. On switch-on, the Bluetooth connection to my Surface Go Windows tablet can be a bit iffy. Mostly it connects ok, but occasionally it doesn’t, although so far it’s not lost the connection when in use and it’s not big issue.So far I’ve only used the Tacx native app and it works well. When my trial has expired I’ll try Zwift and some of the others, to see what’s best.I am not sure about the “road feel” of the trainer. When riding my regular GPS routes uploaded from Strava, I seem unable to get into the high gears I usually ride on the flat or downhill stretches. On a 8% downhill video ride, I am unable to push a bigger gear than 50/15, whereas I would be spinning out on 50/12 on the road. I do understand that it doesn’t simulate descents, but wouldn’t have thought I needed to pedal quite so hard in such a low gear, even though it displays the virtual speed I would expect. Even without the trainer plugged it, there seems to be a very high level of resistance. The result if this is that one gets a good work-out even on descents.I have been in discussion with Tacx tech support by email about this and they seem very responsive, although it takes a couple of days each time to respond to me. As far as they can see, it is working properly, although I’d dearly love to try another one to make sure.

Good machine but not sure about the build quality.

Direct Replacement for Tacx Flow that I bought several years ago that finally died. Used most days. It is cheap but quite good. I have knocked one star off because the power cable does not fit very well with this turbo and I have heard crackling caused by arcing. It has to be checked before each use. Also the turbo does not calibrate when first switched on and I have to be on a route and it takes up to a minute for the turbo to set the resistance. This seems to be a software/firmware issue as it was the same for my old Tacx (I started using the turbo again in April after a year of not using it).

Great Product

This is a great way to train through the winter without heading out into the cold. It's a bit loud, even with the training tire, but especially if you have a mountain bike tire. I highly recommend getting the training tire to reduce noise and vibrations. Aside from that though, the app is great and adjusts the resistance for you automatically. It folds up and stows away easily if you're not using it, but it's small to begin with. It's also very solidly built and calibrating was easy enough.

Great Product!

This product is great quality, great design and is smart so you can connect to your laptop or smart phone and from your laptop, you can screen share to your larger TV. The product comes with a 30 day trail with the Tacx app and you can cycle down virtual roads, dirt tracks, lanes, etc. It is also compatible with Zwift and other cycling apps.It is simple to setup and connect to you laptop or smart phone. I recommend using a slick rear tyre or a Tacx training tyre (Halford's sell them) as this will keep the noise to a minimum. I purchased a Tacx training tyre and swapped my rear tyre over with this. I recommend a Tacx mat also to protect your floor and dampen the noise.It is a great way of keeping fit for your cardio from your own home and in the comfort of your ... MoreThis product is great quality, great design and is smart so you can connect to your laptop or smart phone and from your laptop, you can screen share to your larger TV. The product comes with a 30 day trail with the Tacx app and you can cycle down virtual roads, dirt tracks, lanes, etc. It is also compatible with Zwift and other cycling apps.It is simple to setup and connect to you laptop or smart phone. I recommend using a slick rear tyre or a Tacx training tyre (Halford's sell them) as this will keep the noise to a minimum. I purchased a Tacx training tyre and swapped my rear tyre over with this. I recommend a Tacx mat also to protect your floor and dampen the noise.It is a great way of keeping fit for your cardio from your own home and in the comfort of your living room (if you have the space) and a fun way to cycle along virtual routes using the app, to take your mind off the exercise and give you something to watch. The route on the screen will only move when you pedal, so the faster you pedal the further you go.Tacx customer service are great too if you have any questions.Some of the other features of this product are that is gives you a simulated incline so when you get to a hill on the app, pedalling will get more difficult so you will need to use your gears to assist you get up the hill. In addition, there are simulated surfaces from, grass, gravel, road and so on, that will make things a little tougher or easier and all these features can be adjusted or turned off within the Tacx app, so it's not too difficult for you until you build up your strength and stamina.To conclude, a great product with great features and will definitely challenge you and improve your cardio and fitness without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Great entry level smart trainer - punching well above its price.

I've now been using my new Tacx Flow Trainer for the last 8 days, as the weather has been so bad in the NE of Scotland. To say that I'm delighted with it, is a massive understatement, as its so much better than I thought it would be. If you are looking for an entry level smart trainer - then this is definitely the one to go for, as it makes indoor cycling so much more enjoyable. Out of the box, it was so easy to set up - probably took me no more than 15 mins. I've taken advantage of the free one month trial of the Tacx Training App - as a code is included in the box, as is a code for a free trial of Zwift (that I'll probably take advantage of later on) - though I'm really happy with what I've tried already with the Tacx Training programme. The Flow Trainer is much ... MoreI've now been using my new Tacx Flow Trainer for the last 8 days, as the weather has been so bad in the NE of Scotland. To say that I'm delighted with it, is a massive understatement, as its so much better than I thought it would be. If you are looking for an entry level smart trainer - then this is definitely the one to go for, as it makes indoor cycling so much more enjoyable. Out of the box, it was so easy to set up - probably took me no more than 15 mins. I've taken advantage of the free one month trial of the Tacx Training App - as a code is included in the box, as is a code for a free trial of Zwift (that I'll probably take advantage of later on) - though I'm really happy with what I've tried already with the Tacx Training programme. The Flow Trainer is much quieter than my previous old turbo trainer, which is a definite plus. I've really nothing negative to say about it. Great price and fast delivery from Start Fitness. All in all - its been a great purchase.

Returned after one month

i purchase this to replace my "dumb" trainer, it was used with a garmin computer, Garmin connect and Training peaks, used 2-3 times per week.the resistance control stopped working after a couple of sessions, so i had to start switching gears to accomplish the power output requested (up or down) which is the complete opposite of the ERG mode purpose. i tried different ways to pair it all with the same result. at the end of the month of use i started to have the complete opposite problem, the resistance will not ease during rest parts of thee interval.i contacted the GARMIN support and the help desk rep was unable to help and told to "use a different app" when it is supposed to work flawlessly with its own app.the pictures attached show you how may times in one ... Morei purchase this to replace my "dumb" trainer, it was used with a garmin computer, Garmin connect and Training peaks, used 2-3 times per week.the resistance control stopped working after a couple of sessions, so i had to start switching gears to accomplish the power output requested (up or down) which is the complete opposite of the ERG mode purpose. i tried different ways to pair it all with the same result. at the end of the month of use i started to have the complete opposite problem, the resistance will not ease during rest parts of thee interval.i contacted the GARMIN support and the help desk rep was unable to help and told to "use a different app" when it is supposed to work flawlessly with its own app.the pictures attached show you how may times in one hour the trainer gets disconnected (when the power drops to 0) and the second piture shows how the garmin comp is asking for max 90watts of power but the resistance was on and producing 170 which is not rest LOL.invest a little more and get a different brand!!!

Superb Budget Smart Trainer That's Better Than You'd Expect for the Price

With the onset of winter I am resigned to the fact that it will be more practical to train indoors some days - rather than risk a crash on ice or even just put up with getting soaked to the skin. Personally I've never been a fan of indoor training so I'll take whatever I can to make it more bearable.If you have even a passing interest in cycling you cannot fail t have noticed the growth of interactive training apps - such as Trainer Road and Zwift. And so I decided to give these a go - with Zwift being my preferred option. These days you can arguably get live on Zwift very cheaply - just a cheap ANT+ Dongle for your PC and compatible speed / cadence sensor does the trick. But for the fully-immersive experience you really need to get a controllable smart trainer ... MoreWith the onset of winter I am resigned to the fact that it will be more practical to train indoors some days - rather than risk a crash on ice or even just put up with getting soaked to the skin. Personally I've never been a fan of indoor training so I'll take whatever I can to make it more bearable.If you have even a passing interest in cycling you cannot fail t have noticed the growth of interactive training apps - such as Trainer Road and Zwift. And so I decided to give these a go - with Zwift being my preferred option. These days you can arguably get live on Zwift very cheaply - just a cheap ANT+ Dongle for your PC and compatible speed / cadence sensor does the trick. But for the fully-immersive experience you really need to get a controllable smart trainer and this is where the Tacx Flow T2240 Smart Turbo Trainer comes in.Generally speaking I was expecting to have to spend at least twice as much to get a controllable trainer and so when I spotted this on the Halfords website I thought it simply had to be worth a go. I can tell you right here and right now that this was money very well spent.The trainer will connect with both Bluetooth (LE) and ANT+. Other reviews have highlighted some of the connection issues with Bluetooth but I have to say that I personally have not experienced any of these. Using it with an iPhone 6s I find that it pairs reliably. After doing a bit of research I think that the trick with Bluetooth pairing is to make sure that your phone is not running any other apps in the background - just the Tacx app. As another reviewer has observed, calibration can be a bit hit and miss but after a couple of goes I have it nicely set up.In use it pairs very reliably with all of my ANT+ devices. I'm using it with an el-cheapo ANT+ Dongle I got from Amazon for £15 and have taken the precaution of buying a USB extension lead to make sure that the dongle gets as close to the trainer as possible. It could just be the budget nature of my ANT+ stick but I do find that the connection can be a bit hit and miss with the dongle plugged directly into the PC.Paring the trainer with Zwift has absolutely transformed my training. It's almost uncanny the way that this thing responds to gradients - and I'm sure I can even feel a few watts respite when I'm drafting (although that could be largely in my head I guess).Although the trainer will capture speed, cadence and power data I guess you probably have to take some of these metrics with a pinch of salt. I've not yet tried it with my crank-based Pioneer Power Meter but I think that the power figures I'm seeing from the trainer are probably there or thereabouts. But, let's be honest, this whole trainer costs less than half of what you'd expect to pay for an entry level power meter - so I can forgive it a few Watts discrepancy. Cadence is taken from the back wheel - so this will always be an estimate - but speed should be fairly accurate.I've now been using this with Zwift for a few weeks and, after starting out as a bit of a sceptic, I'm now a total convert. An hour on this on one of the hillier Zwift routes gives you a fantastic workout - and one that you can really feel in the legs afterwards. But, even better than that, the tedium of long winter turbo sessions is now firmly a thing of the past.In summary this is a fantastic bit of kit that represents fantastic value for money.

great entry-level trainer!

i’ve done a few rides on the tacx flow smart so far and it’s been running great. i don’t have a trainer tyre yet so it does rumble quite a bit, especially if i go past 140W. this isn’t much of an issue as i live in staff accom and my downstairs neighbours don’t mind but it could be a problem if you don’t have quite as understanding people below you.the setup was a bit confusing at first, as i’m not quite an expert about bikes. after some and watching tutorials, i got it up and running. calibration was super easy and setup with zwift was quick as well.one thing i dislike is that i don’t feel confident standing up out of my seat for prolonged periods as the front wheel stop shifts a bit if you’re not careful. this isn’t a big issue but for some it may be.all of ... Morei’ve done a few rides on the tacx flow smart so far and it’s been running great. i don’t have a trainer tyre yet so it does rumble quite a bit, especially if i go past 140W. this isn’t much of an issue as i live in staff accom and my downstairs neighbours don’t mind but it could be a problem if you don’t have quite as understanding people below you.the setup was a bit confusing at first, as i’m not quite an expert about bikes. after some and watching tutorials, i got it up and running. calibration was super easy and setup with zwift was quick as well.one thing i dislike is that i don’t feel confident standing up out of my seat for prolonged periods as the front wheel stop shifts a bit if you’re not careful. this isn’t a big issue but for some it may be.all of this said, this is a great entry-level smart trainer for someone looking to get some exercise and ride during the winter months / rainy days. if you’re a more advanced cyclist, i’d spend the extra money on a wahoo product.