Tacx Blue Motion Turbo Trainer Review

First things first: I’ve never owned a Turbo Trainer before. When in the UK, it was always easy enough to get outside, with only the occasional day called off because of the weather. Yes, there are the long, dreary, miserable winters, but they seldom stop you from cycling. Yes, you might need a few additional layers and some proper winter gear, but nothing too drastic.

Then came Stockholm, or more precisely, Stockholm in winter. If it’s not snowy, it’s icy, and it’s relentlessly dark. Plus there’s the matter of bike-destroying salt and grit all over the roads to combat aforementioned snow and ice. This all adds up to either a couple of months off the bike, followed by another couple of months remembering how to ride one, or turning to the alternative – indoor training.

The Decision

After a bit of research, and balancing cost against performance, I decided to go for the Tacx Blue Motion Pro. Firstly, the package seemed to be excellent value for money, as for around £130 you get the trainer, plus a mat and a stand for your front wheel. There are many trainers available at this sort of price, and all look and sound similar, so I went with brand reputation coupled with value.

The Unboxing and Setup

Fairly sure this was poor technique on my part, but the unboxing was an ordeal, culminating in a living room floor peppered with cardboard and polystyrene. The set up was considerably easier, and the instructions straightforward.

There aren’t really many moving parts to the turbo trainer. There’s the main base unit, with the legs, the resistance wheel… and that’s about it. As long as you attach the wheel at the right angle for your wheel size, which again is very clear, you’re good to go. Then you just put the plastic feet on the fold-out legs, and the trainer is ready.

Setting up your bike for the trainer is a little more complicated, but still straightforward enough. First, you need to replace the rear wheel skewer with the one supplied, as this is how the bike attaches to the machine. You’ll notice the skewer has bigger cups on either side, which fit into the holders on the trainer. When replacing the skewer, you’ll want to change your tyre too, as trainers have a habit of chewing up road tyres due to the constant friction. There are plenty of specific training tyres available so just pick one up with the trainer. After this, you’re good to go.

The Ride

Riding on a Turbo Trainer of any sort just won’t feel natural. The position is the same, but the feel is so different. The bike doesn’t rock beneath you when you’re standing, there are no little bumps, there’s no gentle buzz through the handlebars as you ride an old road. It takes some getting used to.

This isn’t about the absence of the wind in your hair though. It’s not a replacement for going outside, but a supplement to it, to make it all the more enjoyable when you can make it out again, and for that purpose, this trainer is perfect. It’s quiet too, which is a real benefit as magnetic trainers have a bit of a reputation for noise, so it’s ideal whether you’re in a detached house, or in a flatshare (in terms of noise of course. There’s no accounting for space).

There are 9 levels of resistance which can be changed through the included adjuster, which attaches to your handlebars. This means you can easily change your workouts on the fly, and do anything from interval training, to mock hill sprints, to a long day cruising. The resistance on the trainer, coupled with your gears, means you can change it up as much as you want, which really is the key to an interesting and worthwhile session. The claimed top power level for the Blue Motion is 950W as well, which is more than enough for your average club rider or amateur racer.

The only real drawback with this trainer is when you try and imitate a sprint. If you kick, sometimes the real wheel spins, but slips against the resistance wheel. Then you have to hold back a touch and dial it up again slightly slower so the friction is regained. It’s a minor quibble, and 99% of the time it’s fine, it’s just that it can be a bit deflating when it does happen, as it takes away momentum a little. In the grander scheme of things though, this is a small price to pay, considering the small price you pay for the trainer.

The Verdict

It’s a great entry level trainer. Sure, it’s more rudimentary than the more advanced electronic trainers, and it isn’t yet compatible with the upcoming, sure-to-be-huge Zwift training app, but it gets the job done. There are plenty of videos on YouTube which help you keep training interesting too, which is essential as a long session on the trainer can be a bit of a struggle without the usual chatting or scenery to keep you occupied.

For the price, and for keeping in shape during long, cold winters, this is faultless, so if you’re thinking of investing in a Turbo Trainer at this sort of budget, look no further than the Tacx Blue Motion Pro.

9/10

https://youtu.be/41Iu3Zwruq8