Posts tagged InsideRide
InsideRide E-Flex Plus Now Compatible with the Zwift Hub
July 6, 2023 11:29am
by
rob
Back in February I met Larry from InsideRide at the Seattle Bike Swap, and I got a chance to demo his E-Flex Plus rocker plate. At that point I was on the verge of buying a Saris MP1 platform, but after a short demo on the E-Flex Plus, I was in love. The E-Flex Plus felt totally natural and fun, and seemed like it would solve many of my issues with stationary trainers. And there were a few things that made it immediately more appealing to me than the Saris: a lower price, a smaller form factor and lower bike height relative to the floor. And the E-Flex Plus just seemed a lot more dynamic, allowing the front of the bike to steer and lean.
There was only one problem: I had recently purchased a Zwift Hub, and the E-FLex Plus was only available for the Wahoo Kickr and Core smart trainers. Larry made me an offer: if I sent him my trainer, he’d use it to adapt the E-Flex Plus to the Zwift Hub, and send me back a new E-FLex Plus for free. It was too good a deal to pass up! A few weeks later I shipped my Zwift Hub down to Oregon. And a few weeks after that, Larry sent it back with the newly-adapted E-FLex Plus. I now had the first one in the country!
I’ve been riding it for a week now and I can tell you: it’s fantastic. This is not a full review because I don’t consider myself an expert on smart trainers or rocker plates. And, as mentioned above, I received the product for free in exchange for letting Larry have access to my Zwift Hub for a few weeks.
I’ve never really been a fan of stationary trainers. I used Kreitler rollers exclusively for the first few decades of my biking life. Rollers are much more dynamic and natural feeling. But they do require more attention. And they get kind of boring. When the first smart trainers came out I had to try them, and purchased a Tacx Neo, which seemed to be the best one at that time. I loved it, and I loved riding Zwift, but I still hated the static nature of it, and always felt like I was fighting the bike. My ass would also start hurting after 30 minutes. So I sold the Tacx and forgot about smart trainers for a while.
But then the new Zwift Hub was so affordable at $500--I had to check it out. I felt like the Zwift Hub was nearly as good as the Tacx and I liked the lower bike height relative to the floor. But it was still very static feeling and I was still uncomfortable after 30 minutes.
All this has changed with the InsideRide E-Flex. I rode for an hour yesterday (around Lago di Garda in Italy via Rouvy–more on Rouvy later). I don’t remember the last time I rode on a trainer for more than 30 ro 40 minutes. I got used to the motion of the E-Flex immediately, and no longer feel like I’m fighting the bike. My core is engaged and overall it’s just a lot more natural feeling, a lot more comfortable and a lot more fun.
Want one for yourself? The E-Flex Plus for Zwift Hub is now available to purchase on BikeList, directly from InsideRide! Just $595!
Be sure to note the warning from InsideRide:
NOTE: Due to the realism of the PLUS system, it may not be a perfect fit for all riders. Motion platforms require active balance to ride, which takes practice if you have spent a lot of time on rigid trainers. Before you purchase, consider if you are willing to make the transition to a naturally balanced system.
If you mostly ride a bike outside, have good bike handling skills, or are used to rollers, the E-Flex should be great. But if you do all your riding on a static bike trainer, or have balance issues, it may not be right for you.
There was only one problem: I had recently purchased a Zwift Hub, and the E-FLex Plus was only available for the Wahoo Kickr and Core smart trainers. Larry made me an offer: if I sent him my trainer, he’d use it to adapt the E-Flex Plus to the Zwift Hub, and send me back a new E-FLex Plus for free. It was too good a deal to pass up! A few weeks later I shipped my Zwift Hub down to Oregon. And a few weeks after that, Larry sent it back with the newly-adapted E-FLex Plus. I now had the first one in the country!
I’ve been riding it for a week now and I can tell you: it’s fantastic. This is not a full review because I don’t consider myself an expert on smart trainers or rocker plates. And, as mentioned above, I received the product for free in exchange for letting Larry have access to my Zwift Hub for a few weeks.
I’ve never really been a fan of stationary trainers. I used Kreitler rollers exclusively for the first few decades of my biking life. Rollers are much more dynamic and natural feeling. But they do require more attention. And they get kind of boring. When the first smart trainers came out I had to try them, and purchased a Tacx Neo, which seemed to be the best one at that time. I loved it, and I loved riding Zwift, but I still hated the static nature of it, and always felt like I was fighting the bike. My ass would also start hurting after 30 minutes. So I sold the Tacx and forgot about smart trainers for a while.
But then the new Zwift Hub was so affordable at $500--I had to check it out. I felt like the Zwift Hub was nearly as good as the Tacx and I liked the lower bike height relative to the floor. But it was still very static feeling and I was still uncomfortable after 30 minutes.
All this has changed with the InsideRide E-Flex. I rode for an hour yesterday (around Lago di Garda in Italy via Rouvy–more on Rouvy later). I don’t remember the last time I rode on a trainer for more than 30 ro 40 minutes. I got used to the motion of the E-Flex immediately, and no longer feel like I’m fighting the bike. My core is engaged and overall it’s just a lot more natural feeling, a lot more comfortable and a lot more fun.
Want one for yourself? The E-Flex Plus for Zwift Hub is now available to purchase on BikeList, directly from InsideRide! Just $595!
Be sure to note the warning from InsideRide:
NOTE: Due to the realism of the PLUS system, it may not be a perfect fit for all riders. Motion platforms require active balance to ride, which takes practice if you have spent a lot of time on rigid trainers. Before you purchase, consider if you are willing to make the transition to a naturally balanced system.
If you mostly ride a bike outside, have good bike handling skills, or are used to rollers, the E-Flex should be great. But if you do all your riding on a static bike trainer, or have balance issues, it may not be right for you.
@bikelist Watch Larry demo the @insideride E-Flex trainer, which is integrated with the Wahoo Kickr. Larry invented this cool system to make days on the trainer more natural, more comfortable and more fun. I got to try it and loved it. I was leaning toward getting the Sarris platform but now I think I want this instead. Seems much more dynamic. Plus it’s got a smaller form factor and the bike remains at a natural height relative to the ground. I plan to talk to Larry more about how to get it integrated with the Zwift Hub. #insideride #zwift #wahoo #wahookickr #bike #bikel ♬ original sound - BikeList
InsideRide E-Flex Plus
February 15, 2023 10:05am
by
rob
Larry from InsideRide invented this cool new platform to make days on the trainer more natural, more comfortable and more fun. I got to try it at the Cascade Bike Swap in Seattle and loved it. I was leaning toward getting the Sarris platform but now I think I want this instead. Seems much more dynamic. Plus it’s got a smaller form factor and the bike remains at a natural height relative to the ground. Currently the E-Flex Plus is only compatible with the Wahoo Kickr and Core, but I plan to talk to Larry more about how to get it integrated with the Zwift Hub. Made in Portland! Watch Larry demo it below!