My company has just ordered the Life Fitness IC8 for our company gym.
What do I need to get up and running with Zwift. Can I just use my Android phone to connect via Bluethooth. I appreciate it won’t do slope simulation etc…
This document could be helpful:
Speed sources for Zwift Running
TIM GROSE·SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017·
In order for Zwift to know how fast you are running, you will need a sensor (or ‘smart’ treadmill) of some sort to tell it. Here are some options below. The most popular options are foot pods, the cheapest options are the phone apps, the best options are probably the “direct” options.
NOTE: All of the options below also appear in a list of Platforms and Sensors that can be used to run the Zwift app (platforms) and that can deliver speed, cadence, heart rate or power data to Zwift (sensors).
Sensor types
Sensors come in two types depending on how they communicate with a receiving device:
ANT+ is popular in the Garmin world, and does allow a sensor to be connected to multiple receiving devices at the same time (e.g. you could connect an ANT+ footpod to Zwift on a PC and to your Garmin watch at the same time)
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is popular in the apple and smartphone worlds. BLE sensors can only connect to a single receiving device, but given the popularity of apple/ smartphone devices, it can be easier to directly connect the sensor to your Zwift device
The following table shows the options available for connecting ANT+ or BLE sensors to each of the Zwift platforms. Find your platform and sensor type to identify your connection options:
Connecting Sensors to Zwift
OPTION 1: Direct from treadmill (GEM Modules aka GymConnect OEM Module) ANT+ or BLE
See https://npe-inc.com/gem-bluetooth-ant-module/ (pre installed on treadmill)
Note that the product line was originally developed by Wahoo http://www.wahoogym.com/gym-equipment-gem-module/ and is now with NPE.
Examples:
True Performance 800 (PS800) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills (verified - see Zwift Runners | Facebook)
True Performance 10o (PS100) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills
True Performance 300 (PS300) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills
Star Trac http://www.wahoogym.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Wahoo-Fitness-star-trac-case-study.pdf (this seems to be the OpenHub consoles - see under OPTION 3)
OPTION 2: Direct from treadmill (GEM Retro aka GymConnect Retrofit Module) ANT+ or BLE
See https://npe-inc.com/gem-bluetooth-ant-products/ Requires fitting to the CSAFE port. Note that the product was originally developed by Wahoo http://www.wahoogym.com/gym-equipment-retrofit-module-2/ and is now with NPE.
Examples:
Precor 966i (mentioned Zwift Runners | Facebook )
Woodway Desmo
Some versions of the Life Fitness Club Series, Club Series +, Platinum Club Series treadmills have CSAFE ports that work with the GEM although not all do and apparently not the latest Life Fitness Club Series+ with the Integrity X console. https://shop.lifefitness.com/cardio/treadmills Please check with the vendor prior to purchase if considering one of these.
OPTION 3: Direct from treadmill (BLE)
Examples:
MYRUN Technogym https://www.technogym.com/gb/newsroom/technogym-myrun-now-compatible-with-zwift-running-platform and confirmed as working as for 19th Feb 2018 in this forum.
Woodway 4Front https://www.woodway.com/products/4front This seems to allow iOS users to pick up pace direct from the treadmill over BT and also HR from an ANT+ strap that is rebroadcast as BT). See Zwift Runners | Facebook for discussion here.
Life Fitness treadmills with a Track Connect console https://lifefitness.com/home/products/consoles/track-connect-console Confirmed as working in the comments of this doc and with Life Fitness. The T3, T5 and F3 home treadmills are offered with this console. Note the older Track Plus console or the cheaper Go console do not work with Zwift.
Life Fitness treadmills with a Discover console https://lifefitness.com/home/products/consoles/discover-console This appears that it may well work like the lower spec Track Connect console above but has not been verified.
BowFlex BXT116/BXT226, BXT216/BXT326. Confirmed as working with Zwift with Bowflex. Note that the BXT116 and BXT216 are the North America versions and the BXT226 and BXT326 respectively are the International versions of the same treadmills.
Star Trac treadmills with one of the OpenHub consoles https://corehandf.com/openhub (see in the video on that page or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD9XPw5Grpc). These ones have the “Bluetooth button” that is mentioned by Zwift in https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm
Sole F80 & F85 2019 models (and TBC other 2019 versions of Sole treadmills).
Treadmills that support Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service - see https://www.bluetooth.com/specifications/gatt). Examples of any treadmills that support this to be established.
Note see https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm for Zwift’s list of the latest supported treadmills.
Other direct from treadmill (BLE)
Tacx Magnum treadmill http://magnum.tacx.com/
OPTION 4: Foot pod (BLE) - these are typically attached to your shoe.
Polar Stride Sensor https://www.polar.com/en/products/accessories/stride_sensor_bluetooth_smart
MilestonePod http://www.milestonepod.com/ (Note that the MyFitPod http://www.theathletesfoot.com.au/myfitpod is a rebranded MilestonePod)
Stryd https://www.stryd.com/ (also ANT+ compatible)
Stryd Live https://www.stryd.com/live (also ANT+ compatible). This is a cheaper version of the Stryd that was designed just for Zwift and omits the power functions of the fully featured Stryd. As of September 2018 it has permanently sold out but will still work.
adidas MiCoach Speed Cell (discontinued)
Needs more verification:
RunScribe Plus https://runscribe.com/ (also ANT+ compatible)
Boltt Stride Sensor https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also ANT+ compatible)
Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also ANT+ compatible)
Foot pod (ANT+) - these are typically attached to your shoe.
Garmin https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/15516
Suunto http://www.suunto.com/en-GB/Products/PODs/Suunto-Foot-POD-Mini/
Stryd https://www.stryd.com/ (also Bluetooth compatible)
Stryd Live https://www.stryd.com/live (also Bluetooth compatible). Discontinued - see above.
Needs more verification:
RunScribe Plus https://runscribe.com/ (also Bluetooth compatible)
Boltt Stride Sensor https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also Bluetooth compatible)
Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also Bluetooth compatible)
OPTION 5: Apple Watch (BLE)
An update at end March 2017 has enabled the ability to use an Apple Watch
OPTION 6: iPhone Apps (BLE)
Treadmill Smart Speed (TSS) https://appyappster.com/apps/ John McManus (member here) developed this for the iPhone and is available in the App Store.
OPTION 7: Android Apps (BLE)
Treadmill Speed Transmitter https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bipr.treadmill.speedtransmitter
OPTION 8: Chest straps (dual BLE and ANT+)
Wahoo TICKR X http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-tickr-x-heart-rate-strap
Wahoo TICKR Run http://uk.wahoofitness.com/tickr-run-running-monitor
OPTION 9: Treadmill Belt Measurement (BLE)
TreadTracker http://store.runsocial.com/products/treadtracker Make sure you get the gen 2 version which works with Zwift as the gen 1 does not. It is however very difficult to tell which is which from just looking at them. It is thought the gen 2 version comes with
a branded cover sleeve for the cardboard box it comes in but the gen 1 just comes in the box with no cover sleeve. Recommend asking the vendor prior to purchase.
OPTION 10: BLE Shoes
UnderArmour Record Equipped shoes. Mentioned in https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000697031-What-Treadmills-and-Sensors-Does-Zwift-Support-?section=360000168612
Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/shoes.php
OPTION 11: BLE Headphones (yes really!)
Jabra Elite Active 65t https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-active-65t Confirmed as working in Zwift Runners | Facebook although accuracy is subject to further investigation.
Sensors that will not work as Speed Sources
There are some devices that Zwift users have expected to be able to use as a speed source that do not transmit speed data (they cannot be used as a speed source).
Garmin Running Dynamics Pod https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/561205
This pod clips to the back of your shorts/leggings and measures torso movement. It does not measure (or transmit) running speed.
Most running watches. Running watches do not typically broadcast running speed - Zwift cannot use them as a speed source.
Appendix
BLE/ANT+ bridges (for use with iOS and with ANT+ foot pods)
4iiii Viiiiva https://4iiii-innovations.myshopify.com/collections/heart-rate-monitors/products/viiiiva
WASP CABLE http://www.npe-inc.com/products/products-cable.html
iOS to ANT+ conversion (to use ANT+ sensors on iOS devices)
Wahoo Key http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-key-16 (this also would need the Apple Lightning to 30 pin adaptor http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter ). This does however need confirmation that it actually still works properly with Zwift as various users here have reported issues with it since a recent iOS update which seems to have adversely impacted it. As such it is NOT a recommended bridging solution at this time.
Note that the Garmin ANT+ Adapter for iPhone definitely does NOT work https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/103887
ANT+ stick (to use ANT+ sensors on Windows & Mac computers)
Garmin USB ANT Stick https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/10997
1 Like
Thanks Paul but the IC8 is an exercise bike.
Opps, was answering a lot of running questions at that time.
The LF IC8 broadcast in both BLE and ANT+ so you can use your Android as device, it should be campatable if it has the Zwift App in the Google Play Store.
Zwift Hardware say it’s only ANT+, but that could be out of date: What You Need To Ride
Hi @Stuart_Middlecoate_1
The most recent information I have about the Life Fitness IC8 is that it will broadcast power in Zwift, but it’s not possible for Zwift to change resistance of this trainer. If that’s still the case, you may not experience the realistic resistance changes when the game takes you up some hilly roads.
We may have to revisit this information since it appears that Life Fitness has added Bluetooth LE capability at some point. You may want to verify your particular bike has both ANT+ and Bluetooth capability and follow the appropriate setup how-to on our support site.
Thanks for that. I appreciate it won’t change resistance and it’ll effectively be in ERG mode throughout but that’s fine. I’ve never been a fan of exercise bikes so the chance to have some picturesque scenery and interaction is much better than staring at the wall of the gym.
Check my answer in another thread: Connect Life Fitness IC8 with Zwift - #7 by Howdy_Doody
Hi!
So is it true that even with ANT+ I can not feel changes of resistance from indoor cycle during zwift ride?
That is correct. You’d need a smart trainer for that.