Tacx Vortex Smart Trainer (T2180)

Stand-alone Training When the Vortex Smart isn’t connected to a smartphone, tablet or computer, it behaves as a fluid trainer. This means the trainer behaves progressively: when your speed increases, the resistance increases as well. So it is possible to use this trainer in a “stand-alone” status.

Resistance Unit The trainer’s resistance unit provides a particular cycling experience by increasing or reducing the resistance on the rear wheel. From a 7% incline, a motor brake can simulate the cycling experience more accurately than an electro brake. The motor brake can increase the resistance above this percentage; the electro brake is limited in this respect. When climbing this incline with an electro brake, the software ensures that it takes longer to cover the same distance to enable each cyclist to burn the same amount of energy (kcals). So, the software determines the virtual speed with respect to the actual cycling speed.

Electro Brake The Vortex Smart works with an electro brake. By placing magnets and electro magnets beside a rotating aluminium disc, eddy currents are created which generate an opposing magnetic field. In this way a non-contact, maintenance-free brake is realized that is also silent. Thanks to the electro brake a resistance can be set that you also experience on the road or in a climb.

Virtual Speed The electro brake does not have a downhill drive, such as the motor brake of the i-Genius, and it generates less power while riding uphill. When you are cycling in a virtual terrain or in a film you can get outside the range for which the brake is intended. To allow cyclists with a motor brake and cyclists with an electro brake to ride races against each other in Multiplayer, Tacx has developed the virtual speed. This concept translates the energy supplied into a certain speed, which can guarantee a fair contest. If this speed differs from the speed at which the rear wheel is running, the virtual speed will be shown on the screen in red. Tacx Cycling App Download the Tacx Cycling app free of charge from the App Store or Play Store. There are applications for iPads, Android tablets, iPhones and Android smartphones. You can order and download Tacx films using a Tacx Cycling app for tablets. The films of the Tacx Cycling app cannot be combined with films of the Tacx Trainer software.