I’m considering getting a set up to use Zwift. I don’t currently have a bike that I can mount onto a trainer.
I was looking at the Zwift ride. (This might be too much of a commitment because I don’t know well I’m going to get on with it, I’ve only done a handful of rides on Zwift).
Another option is buy a trainer and a cheap bike for now until I buy a bike in the summer.
My main concern is the noise in an apartment, I’ve seen people say that it’s too noisy. I’m on the first floor and the sound proofing isn’t the best. Is there an option that’s better for less noise?
The starting point really is ‘which smart’ trainer. One that support the Zwift cog and virtual shifting will be the quietest, but that also requires a controller like the Zwift Click, Zwift Play or full Zwift Ride - and only works with Zwift. So an all in commitment to Zwift for something you’re not entirely sure about.
Maybe better to go for a trainer that is Zwift virtual shifting compatible but start with a standard cassette on it. That way you can try Zwift, Rouvy, and others and see how you get on and whether the neighbours notice. If then you find Zwift works for you, swapping the cassette for a Zwift cog is relatively simple.
If you’re planning to get a real bike anyway (in the summer as you mentioned), I’d just go this route now – why bother with an interim cheap bike, and likely you can find discounts on bikes since we’re in the off-season.
Most trainers are all about the same decibel level so I wouldn’t get hung up on that. Virtual shifting only removes the sound of the shifting itself, and some have reported that the plastic Cog parts somewhat amplify regular chain running sound – not sure that’s true though, or just incorrect setups.
You’re on the first floor – is that US first floor or Euro first floor? Ground level or up one flight? Anyone in other words, living below you? I wouldn’t worry at all about sound traveling up thru your ceiling.
The thing that will most likely annoy your neighbors - particularly any downstairs neighbors - is vibration from the flywheel on the trainer. I’ve had several trainers and they vary in how well balanced the flywheel is. One of them shook the entire building.
To mitigate any vibration:
Find a trainer with a well balanced flywheel.
Choose a set-up location that’s carpeted.
Get an exercise mat.
Put a 1 meter square sheet of plywood on top of the mat (which is on top of the carpet) and put the trainer on that.
I went a bit extreme and built a platform from multiple sheets of plywood and some appliance isolators sandwiched between.
Mainly because I don’t know what type of bike I want. I don’t know if I want a road bike or something that I can use in the country park that I live next to.
Hi,
I live in an apartment above people in a mid-1960s building that has very poor sound insulation between floors. I use a bike with a kickr core trainer that is on a hardwood floor with an area rug and then an exercise mat on top of that. I have been zwifting for 4 years and through two different sets of downstairs neighbors and never received a complaint.
Given the issues I have seen on this forum with virtual shifting, I would highly recommend going with a trainer and a separate bicycle at this time rather than relying solely on something that is tied to the zwift universe and completely reliant on virtual shifting. I would recommend finding either a used bike locally if they are cheap ones in your area. A road bike that has 10 or 11 gears would be ideal. There’s also occasionally a sale on new bikes from Decathlon that are perfect for my indoor trainer use and don’t break the bank. I have picked up their RC 520s which had* a manual Shimano 105 groupset for as low as around $700 on closeout.
*I think their newer models have a different groupset.
For silence I would recommend the Wahoo Kickr Bike in one of its forms. These don’t make loud noise or vibrations. I have used a Kickr Bike since at least 2020. Also Wahoo support is rock solid - you can email them back without “going to the back of the queue”…
I wouldn’t suggest Zwift Ride at the moment due the issues being reported in the forum.
Also important is a trainer that can be used with any software you choose.