Garmin Tacx Neo Bike Plus

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Pam Wright

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Jun 21, 2025, 7:41:27 AMJun 21
to Randonneurs USA
Hi all,
Anyone familiar with Garmin’s smart bike and willing to share info?  I’m finally heading into the 2000s as I look to finally get a smarter-than-me bike.   Thought I’d decided on the Wahoo Kickr Shift but I’m such a Garmin Girl :)

Garmin has some drawbacks like way heavier and no wheels to move it.  Plus I have more minds that I can pick about the Wahoo.  Would appreciate any input or opinions… on or off list. 

Many thanks
Pam Wright 3205

Sent from Pam's phone
Please pardon misspellings and/or short responses. 

Cheng-Hong Li

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Jun 21, 2025, 9:10:43 AMJun 21
to Pam Wright, Randonneurs USA
I don't have a Garmin Tacx Neo Bike, but I have a smart trainer Tacx Neo 2T. If you are the only person to train indoors in your house, would you consider using your real bike on a smart trainer instead? 

I bought two Tacx trainers in the past, one before and one after Garmin acquired Tacx. Both trainers had issues right out of the box. But Tacx's customer service was very good and replaced both promptly. I don't have problems buying another Tacx trainer in the future, if I ever need to buy one more again.

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Lois Springsteen

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Jun 21, 2025, 10:59:59 AMJun 21
to Pam Wright, Randonneurs USA
I recently bought the Wahoo Kick’r Move and I’m very happy with it. I like using one of my own bikes with it, and I find the motion less fatiguing than a standard indoor trainer. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/09/wahoo-trainer-review.html

I find the DCRainmaker reviews super helpful. Motion and the description of shifting were the main reasons I decided to go with the Wahoo Kick’r Move. Also, I have several bikes, so it’s easy for me to leave one on a trainer for a realistic experience. 



Lois

Lois Springsteen, CFP® 
831-227-6266

Gardner Duvall

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Jun 21, 2025, 12:22:39 PMJun 21
to Lois Springsteen, Pam Wright, Randonneurs USA
As a dark horse in this competition, I recently bought InsideRide E-Motion rollers, on the advice of a racing buddy.  He related that another buddy, a masters racer who has scored many victories in sprint finishes, does all-out sprints on these rollers, which have smart capabilities.  I bought these at the end of winter, and I hate riding indoors, so I haven't tried them yet to provide my personal experiences.  Keep riding, G

Pam Wright

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Jun 22, 2025, 9:56:56 AMJun 22
to Lois Springsteen, Gardner Duvall, Randonneurs USA
Thanks Gardner, I'm not considering rollers, but hope they work for you.

Pamela Wright


Pam Wright

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Jun 22, 2025, 10:06:51 AMJun 22
to Lois Springsteen, Randonneurs USA
Thanks Lois, I've been all over DCRainmaker too... unlike you, I don't have several bikes :)

Pamela Wright


On Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 09:59:56 AM CDT, Lois Springsteen <lo...@bryant-springsteen.net> wrote:




Pam Wright

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Jun 22, 2025, 10:15:35 AMJun 22
to Cheng-Hong Li, Randonneurs USA
Thanks Chen-Hong, 
I've been using a great old Cyclops trainer for almost 30 years (dinosaur!), so I've been using my bikes over the years, but as I try to ramp up my indoor training and still get outside, I'm reallllly tired of all the bike movement.  Yes, a new rando bike is in my plan, but "now" I have one rando bike and one carbon race bike...and won't put the carbon back on a trainer again.

Great to hear about the Tacx support before AND after Garmin!

Pamela Wright

Eric Keller

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Jun 22, 2025, 11:43:49 AMJun 22
to Randonneurs USA
I don't trust any of the trainer companies enough to buy one of their
trainer bikes, but this is particularly true of Wahoo. Replacing a
trainer is a lot less expensive than replacing a smart bike. If you
are just using zwift or Rouvy (barring lawsuits) or an erg-based
program then the Zwift ride smart frame is worth considering.

I get a dedicated bike and put it on a trainer. My older trainer bike
cost me $50, and the new one was free. The issue I had with the older
one is that trainers work a lot better with bikes that have vertical
dropouts or I would have kept using it. This year I replaced my V1
Kickr with a JetBlack Victory. I also considered a Wahoo core. I'm
enjoying virtual shifting and a lot less noise.
Eric Keller
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania


On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 7:41 AM 'Pam Wright' via Randonneurs USA
<randonn...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>

Scott Starbuck

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Jun 23, 2025, 12:16:29 PMJun 23
to Pam Wright, Randonneurs USA
Hi Pam,

I have the "first edition" Neo (purchased in Covid) and I absolutely love it.  It does have wheels (two on the front) that make it movable.  I have thousands of miles logged on it and use both Zwift and Rouvy.  I set it up to match my other bike, and it matches perfectly.  For the version you are viewing, maintenance is straightforward and simple.  Unfortunately, on my "first edition," maintenance is a bit more complicated because of the original setup.  At any rate, you can swap out parts if that becomes an issue.  My issue needing maintenance did not start until 5 years into very heavy (high wattage) use.  Good luck!

--Scott Starbuck

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Pam Wright

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Jun 23, 2025, 3:51:19 PMJun 23
to Scott Starbuck, Randonneurs USA
Wow, great feedback Scott and thanks!

Pamela Wright


Bumha Lee

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Jun 23, 2025, 11:05:19 PMJun 23
to Pam Wright, Randonneurs USA
Hi Pam,
I have been exclusively using Tacx Neo 2T since early 2020. My original one died after almost 5 years of usage; ~13,000 mile. Garmin customer service generously offered me a replacement so I’m on my second one.

It’s great of all in terms of build quality and performance. I compared its power curve with a crank arm based power meter, it’s spot on. Ride feel is very realistic; I love off road emulation particularly on cobblestone, wood bridge and gravel. Stand-up pedaling is also great thanks to its lateral compliance which does not put much stress on the bicycle as another benefit.

Another up side with this trainer is that it could run without wall powered; basically it’s an electrical motor hence it generates electricity while spinning. 

Oh, last but not least. It appears that Garmin has Tacx Neo specific customer service phone line.

Regards
 Bumha Lee

ken jessett

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Jun 24, 2025, 11:25:01 AMJun 24
to Randonneurs USA
When I used to visit the gym and ride the stationary bike I would raise my heart rate up to close to its maximum and hold that for two minutes. I always thought that was an excellent use of a stationary bike. Once that was achieved, I thought the  whole riding for hours on a stationary bike thing was as boring as hell. I do understand the need for something like that for people living in the bitter winters of the north, but otherwise....
Ken.

Pam Wright

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Jun 25, 2025, 11:46:13 AMJun 25
to Bumha Lee, Randonneurs USA
More good feedback Bumha and thank you!  I've always been mostly pleased with Garmin service and their support has always been helpful.  

May need to adjust my thinking :)

Pamela Wright


Kitty Goursolle

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Jun 25, 2025, 11:46:17 AMJun 25
to Randonneurs USA
https://youtu.be/YCQejUhwkf4?si=DgRUoUU3vXJtC64A

Regan in Canada...rode a simulated 600k on Zwift to train for PBP...just amazing...! 


Pam Wright

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Jun 25, 2025, 11:50:46 AMJun 25
to Randonneurs USA, Kitty Goursolle
Damn impressive!!!!!  (and what a great bike room Emoji)

Pamela Wright


On Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 10:46:20 AM CDT, Kitty Goursolle <kgour...@gmail.com> wrote:


https://youtu.be/YCQejUhwkf4?si=DgRUoUU3vXJtC64A

Regan in Canada...rode a simulated 600k on Zwift to train for PBP...just amazing...! 


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