Is it possible to connect Zwift only with a cadence-sensor mounted to the pedal/crank?
Do I necessarily need a speed-sensor, too?
I only want to get my avatar cycling through landscapes, I don’t need very exact data from Zwift.
I use a Nohrd-Bike with a hidden flywheel, no possibility to mount a speed-sensor.
No, Zwift can’t calculate your speed from a cadence sensor.
If you were able to mount power meter pedals to the bike then that would give you accurate power. Though most fitness bikes don’t have standard pedal fitments - I have no idea about the specifics of your bike.
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You could just watch other people riding if you just wanted the scenery.
Hello Jan!
I was just wondering if you’ve been able to hook your NOHrD bike up to Zwift? I’m thinking of getting one myself, so I’m curious as to how it went?
From what I can tell from the NOHrD website, it should be possible with an upgraded Bluetooth (battery) pack on older versions of the bike.
I asked NOHrD about functionality and got the following reply:
“The Nohrd bike supports the FTMS protocol ( Fitness Machine Service protocol to control fitness equipment). It is possible to connect the zwift app (iOS or Android) directly to the bike. All relevant data will then be displayed in the zwift app. Therefore please take a look at the zwift app.”
Happy for your thoughts and insights on this one.
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Martin, curious if you were ever able to get this to work? I mean, connecting your Nohrd bike directly to the Zwift app?
Yes, I actually did manage to get it to work, at first. The speed metrics were fed into Zwift from the bike, but not the resistance settings. Hence, I had to manually turn the resistance dial on the bike as to whatever resistance I would estimate would correlate with the gradient shown in Zwift. But at least the Zwift bike/rider move when I’m pedaling and stops moving when I stop pedaling.
However, after maybe two training sessions a week for three or four weeks, the bike’s bluetooth module started to fail on me. It would often become discharged after only one or two training sessions. When battery level gets low, the module doesn’t read like “Nohrd bike” any longer, but identifies as “Gfit” (or something like that) instead. The usability in this “mode” was erratic, at best.
I got the laptop tray with my bike, so nowadays I’m mostly pedalling for half-an-hour during my office morning routine and then again while watching an tv episode in the evening. No need for the bluetooth connectivity for doing that, but relying on my Apple Watch to catch the health metrics instead.
I probably should contact Nohrd about the issue above in order to get a replacement bluetooth module, but haven’t gotten around to it. I’m also thinking about reaching out to their R&D department; they should absolutely develop som kind of resistance module, even if it would require a servo motor that automatically turns the resistance knob on the bike in accordance with the gradient on-screen.
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Thank you that’s helpful. Currently my Bluetooth module has failed too and they sent me a new one, which now the app recognizes, but it doesn’t record resistance properly. I think they will either need to send a technician or send a new bike. The app itself is now only usable in Guest mode. If the app reads any data it saves, it crashes. I agree that a resistance module like the one you envision would be a huge improvement, but only if they fix their basic functions first! For a very expensive bike (I have the walnut) the reliability and usability is beyond pathetic. Though it is a beautiful piece of sculpture.