FIXED: Trainer Resistance Issues (Mainly on iOS Devices)

I used to have an issue where, after i calibrated my elite direto, it suddenly stopped registering resistance from hills. Resistance would change slightly but not nearly enough (e.g., 10% would feel like 2% etc.)

And, it seemed that the watts displayed were low relative to my Stages (on my CX bike) and my power2max (on my MTB).

the resistance problem was solved by getting an ANT+ dongle and connecting directly to the PC rather than using BLE through the iPhone. No problems now and zwift works as intended.

However, the Elite trainer still registers low in comparison to my other PMs, to the tune of a good 15 to 25 watts or so. This may not actually be a bug, it could just represent resistance in the system, heat loss, other efficiency loss, etc., due to the fact that the Elite measures at the rear ā€œwheelā€ whereas the other PMs measure at the crank.

However, in order to maintain consistency, I have paired the trainer as the ā€œcontrollableā€ speed sensor, but separately paired a PM as the power source. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

  • Your exact trainer (including the year if applicable) Elite Direto (2017 model)
  • The device youā€™re using to run Zwift iPhone 6 previously (through companion app); now directly on PC using ANT+ dongle
  • BLE or ANT+ connection? ANT+
  • Zwift Game version most recent
  • Trainer Firmware the latest provided by Elite
  • Sim or ERG mode Sim

Tried a workout today. Seemed to start okay, but after 14 minutes the resistance became so high I could not turn the pedals anymore.

On free rides I still get resistance issues, like gradient of 2% feels like 10%.

I would like my money back. This issue started in September. I donā€™t want your socks or sunglasses. I just want it to work.

Hi Guys!

Maybe someone here could help me.

The problem is I feel almost no resistance while climbing :thinking: Even though I set the slider to MAX (when it comes to ā€œTrainer Difficultyā€ option in settings). But when it comes to downhills, I slow down a bit.

I tried to pair and unpair everything a couple of timesā€¦ :disappointed_relieved:

  • Your exact trainer (including the year if applicable): Elite EVO (2018)
  • The device youā€™re using to run Zwift: PC using ANT+ dongle; I use also companion app
  • BLE or ANT+ connection?: ANT+
  • Zwift Game version: most recent
  • Trainer Firmware: the latest provided by Elite
  • Sim or ERG mode ERG

Any ideas? (Thanks in advance!)

Natalia, as far as I know (correct me if Iā€™m wrong), there is NO climbing/downhill simulation while you are in ERG mode.

In ERG mode your trainer keeps wattage according to workout setting ā€¦ no matter what gradient of the road is. If your workout says, for example, 80Watts, then trainer sets 80watts and it doesnā€™t matter you are currently on flat road or steep climb. Conclusion - there is no relationship between watts and the gradient of the road in ERG mode.

You should be in SIM mode to get simulation of the road - then trainer changes resistance according to gradient ā€¦

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Thank you! (Iā€™m still a newbieā€¦) :flushed:

So, to sum it up:

  1. ERG mode =
  • makes me hold particular wattage during my training;
  • has nothing to do with resistance (example: even if I ride uphill I donā€™t feel any resistance, because itā€™s all about keeping particular wattage)
  1. SIM mode:
  • trainer changes resistance according to gradient (so I should feel thereā€™s uphill);
  • good to use it when free riding than doing particular workout/training

And one more question (it may be stupid :sweat:): Does SIM mode have aā€¦ hmmmā€¦ special icon to turn it on? OR Am I in SIM mode just when I uncheck ERG mode (and thatā€™s it)?

Thank you in advance for the reply!

Yes, You got it. Note, Iā€™m quite a newbie, too, so take my advice with ā€œsome saltā€ :wink: but I honestly believe Iā€™m right (if Iā€™m not, then I hope somebody more educated will correct me) :slight_smile:

ERG mode = you (or your workout) say what wattage/resistance you want ā€¦ if you set ERG and wattage to, letā€™s say, 60Watts, trainer keeps resistance at 60 watts no matter whatā€™s going on ā€¦ you can change gear, you can change cadence ā€¦ and trainer still keeps resistance at 60 watts ā€¦

ā€¦ and, of course, in ERG mode there is no relationship with track/gradient/surrounding at all ā€¦ trainer is set to 60 watts resistance and it keeps it. It doesnā€™t matter if you are currently on flat road or climbing to Alpe de Zwift or even going downhill. What is variable is your speed, but resistance of trainer is still the same. It may sound weird, but in ERG mode (which is mostly workout mode) the surrounding is just for our entertainment/fun.

Some useful info can be found here: All About Erg Mode in Zwift | Zwift Insider

SIM mode is actually Free Ride - your trainer behaves as a normal bike on the normal road. Hard to climb, easy on flats, even easier on downhill ā€¦ resistance changes depending on the gradient. Your speed changes depending on gradient and your effort (how many watts you currently produce).

ā€“
And one small addition to ERG mode - in Zwift Companion App you have an option to change ā€œclassicā€ ERG mode to INCLINE mode. Actually, itā€™s the same ā€¦ the resistance is fixed (doesnā€™t respond to road gradient). Instead of Watts you just set Degrees of slope (which is just another name for some # watts) ā€¦

you can find more information here Five Things to Know About The New Zwift Companion App - SMART Bike Trainers .

Thank you, Godmother_Fox!

I read both articles couple of days ago, but I thought that I still do something wrong.
Maybe I should just ā€œplayā€ more with the settingsā€¦ :thinking:

I just had/have that feeling that I had no problems with the settings when having trial version of Zwift; but when I paid for a membershipā€¦ hmmm, I felt like something went wrong and my settings just got dysregulated :sweat_smile: (But maybe it was just me who messed up somehow with the settingsā€¦ :grimacing:)

I guess, I will try different settings combination and check what feels right for me!

Godmother_Fox, once again, thank you for your help and patience!

You are welcome! Donā€™t be focused on all those settings and options too much :wink:

  1. do you want to enjoy the simulation of ā€œreal roadā€? Then jump on your bike, choose Free Ride and go ā€¦ you choose the track, you choose your gear/cadence/tempo, you choose if you ride hard (put more watts) or easier (fewer watts) ā€¦ everything is up to you. Actually, I like those free Rides the most - my favorite feature of Zwift.

  2. do you need some more serious/exact training? Then choose some Workout and start it ā€¦ and you are in ERG mode ā€¦ all you need to take care of is pedaling ā€¦

thatā€™s all ā€¦ The most important thing is ā€¦ Have a fun! :wink:

GdF

Hi @Jon , since the latest build that came out on Saturday (1.0.32268) Iā€™m now suffering from the original problem again. I rode in Sim mode on NY on Friday and everything was as expected. Lined up for the Fondo on Sunday morning and no resistance or road feel on my Neo. Once Iā€™d finished the Fondo I quit Zwift on the ļ£ætv and relaunched and did a small sim ride and resistance was back. Iā€™m hoping that in the latest build the bluetooth patch hasnā€™t been missed off.

It was pretty disappointing to have to ride the whole Fondo with no simulated gradients, I tried unpairing and repairing the trainer during the ride but it dint help. Starting again wasnā€™t really an option with it being an event.

Kind Regards Jamie

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Did you force quit Zwift after your ride on Friday night? I found out a long time ago that force quitting Zwift after each ride was way to go. This eliminated some odd issues.

Did you do a ride on Sunday morning prior to the Fondo? For example, you rode around for 20min. Saved the ride and returned to the rider selection splash screen. Then, went right back into Zwift for the Fondo. If so, I found this on occasion causes oddities. As a result, I would recommend: 20min ride, save, force quit Zwift. Relaunch Zwift, join Fondo.

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Yeah always force quit it as I too have found if you donā€™t it can hang onto the BLE connection and cause issues. Sunday was a bit chaotic, I had signed up in the companion app but once it Zwift it wasnā€™t joined so had to quit and rejoin with about 3 mins to go. Maybe this stuffed it up. Still a bit annoying, Iā€™ll keep an eye on it and see what happens with events.

I used to use a Tacx Bushido. Since I use a Tacx Neo the average power has dropped from 185 W to 145 W consequently.

Tacx Neo 2018
Ipad Air (iOS 12.1)
BLE
Zwift 1.0.32268
Tacx latest version
Sim

Hi, thatā€™s not got anything to do with this BLE issue and resistance drop outs with Zwift and iOS. Thatā€™s because the Neo is very accurate and your bushido wasnā€™t. My Neo is identical to my P1 power pedals, my previous 1st gen kickr read 20-30w too high in comparison.

Cheers Jamie

Thanks Jamie for your information. I am very disappointed that I am not as good as I thought I was (ha ha).

Cheers Willem

I know I went from a race winning B to a mid pack C but at least itā€™s real

I think I read somewhere that if you start Zwift with less than 5min to go, the auto join dialog for the event will not pop-up. If so, I am not sure of the logic behind that design choice. :man_shrugging:

I am still having problems with my Tacx Vortex applying resistance during Zwift rides. (or rather NOT applying resistance!)

As suggested I have contacted Tacx support and carried out all their suggested fixes:- Delete and reload all programs/apps/ roll back firmware updates/reload firmware updates. Dissemble the trainer control module, disconnect, reconnect. I have cleaned out and removed all tyre debris and dust from the internals and reassembled.

I have also updated with the last Zwift update to my I-pad, after which it appeared to work a bit better for a whileā€¦BUT, although I hear and feel the trainer responding to a 1% of 2% incline, as soon as the road slope increases to 3 or 4%+ the tension gets much stronger for a few seconds, power pushes up to 290/300+ watts then with the same effort/cadance etc Power drops off to 85/90 watts for the remainder of the climb. Once the incline reduces to 1% the power reading recovers to a normal level and we start the process again. Obviously this means that Iā€™m climbing at about 2kphā€¦which takes a while on the big climbs, and is meaningless for the stats and a bit embarrassing when riding in company :slight_smile:

Tacx say if it persists I should send it back to retailer (Wiggle) but the postage to UK from Sweden will justify a new trainer (which if it happens will not be a Tacx!) Wiggle say they will fix it and return it (IF it turns out to be a trainer issue) but I canā€™t afford the money or the time off the trainer. I will persist in erg mode which appears to work OK and wait for more updates (tacx and Zwift)

I have been reading this thread and find I have very similar issues so this seems to me to be a software/firmware issue. watching with interestā€¦and fitting the Ice Spiker Proā€™s to the MTB tonight! :slight_smile:

UPDATE. Tacx support just sent me a Beta firmware update which has fixed this! got there in the end!

Iā€™m having very similar issues to above reports on elite direto over Apple TV anyone still having these problems?

Did your direto issue get resolved? I have direto with similar problems

Yes. I found that unplugging the trainer when I finish a session and force quitting the Zwift app after a session ensures everything resets. If you switch out of Zwift during a session (for example to change a music playlist) slope control disconnects.

Michael P. Foradas

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