#Computrainer review update#
#Computrainer review software#
#Computrainer review plus#
#Computrainer review tv#

Ok, with the unit flipped over we head to the complete other end of the steering platform and affix these little blue clamps into the track. Once the batteries are in, the little green light illuminates:

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The batteries power the ANT+ chip thatвЂ™s used in there to communicate via private-ANT to the TTS software suite.

#Computrainer review tv#

It needs no more compartment security than the batteries in a TV remote control. This is probably the single item on the hardware that annoys the crap out of me.ДЇirst off, why on earth did they actually require two screws on the battery compartment? ItвЂ™s a piece that never moves, and isnвЂ™t going outside. The idea behind this is that it sits below your bike (so your weight keeps it from moving), and then you put your front wheel in that mount block, which you can turn left/right within various virtual reality scenarios.Д«ut first we need to flip it over and put some batteries in it.

Now that weвЂ™ve got the trainer portion assembled, lets turn our attention to the sprawling steering system (Blacktrack).

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WeвЂ™ll be utilizing two bolts and connecting them to the frame and the brake, plus a cover piece that seals it altogether tonight. The vast majority of your setup time will actually be on the software side.ДЇirst up is the trainer вЂ“ aka the вЂbrakeвЂ™. Now that weвЂ™ve got everything unboxed, weвЂ™ll start to put the hardware together. LetвЂ™s get on with setting this whole kit up. In short, two bottles, a towel, a trainer wheel, a bike protector, and a trainer mat. Once I made the goods all look pretty, hereвЂ™s what was inside. The Girl was hoping it might have a bunny inside. I wasnвЂ™t really quite sure what was in it, given the first one had all the components. Now in addition to the usual box, the Tacx folks also sent over this secondary box. All I can think of is вЂ“ вЂIs that a BlackTrack in your living room, or are you just happy to see me?вЂ™.Д«efore we start assembling, hereвЂ™s all the Genius components unboxed in a tidy little pile: Wait a section until we really unfurl the whole thing. It may look all small and compact, but itвЂ™s like a slinky and expands. To the left of the trainer is the steering system. Inside that package below the trainer are bolts and more pieces IвЂ™ll dive into in a minute. Now weвЂ™re down to the trainer, which IвЂ™ve pulled off to the side for now. And the unit is 100-240v, so it can be used on either system with the help of a 99 center converter plug if you happen to move (or buy from overseas).

They sent me a euro-power cable, but US versions have the US one. This is used to provide the ANT+ USB adapter a bit more range. Increasing excitement, weвЂ™ve got the USB extension cable. Starting with the least exciting вЂ“ the manual: LetвЂ™s start digging through all the pieces. Once youвЂ™ve wrestled it out of the box, youвЂ™ll be facing your newfound investment: Like a big picnic cooler.Д¬racking it open youвЂ™ll find the Genius well protected by Styrofoam inside: Unboxing:ДЇirst up is getting this baby unboxed.

#Computrainer review update#

Also, because the technology world constantly changes, I try and go back and update these reviews as new features and functionality are added вЂ“ or if bugs are fixed. But, if IвЂ™ve missed something or if you spot something that doesnвЂ™t quite jive вЂ“ just let me know and IвЂ™ll be happy to get it all sorted out. I write these reviews because IвЂ™m inherently a curious person with a technology background (my day job), and thus I try and be as complete as I can. Lastly, at the end of the day keep in mind IвЂ™m just like any other regular triathlete out there. Sorta like hiking in wilderness trails вЂ“ leave only footprints. Because I want to be transparent about my reviews, once my evaluation period with the Tacx Genius + software has elapsed, I send it back to them in the Netherlands. In doing so, IвЂ™ve got a pretty good grasp on how the unit works, as well as all the details inside and out. But is the unit worth the price tag? And what else has changed within the Tacx software suite since I reviewed the software component last year about this time with the lower priced Tacx Bushido unit? Well, I set out to find out. The high-end trainer is designed to let you simulate just about anything you can think of while on a trainer вЂ“ including even steering the bike. The Tacx Genius Trainer is the latest trainer to work itвЂ™s way through my вЂlabвЂ™ (aka living room).