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Cheapest virtual reality (VR) turbo trainer
So you would like the engagement that a virtual reality (VR) turbo trainer offers to keep you motivated but you would rather NOT spend £1000+, what are your options? The good news is that there are virtual reality turbo trainers out there that are well below the £1000 mark, and they do offer a great user experience. Two of the main players in turbo trainers, Tacx and Elite, offer very good lower cost VR trainers, that come with the necessary sortware so you can start cycling though some of the most famous terrains in the world. Elite have a range called their ‘REAL’ turbos, and the Real tour is there lower priced VR trainer, while Tacx also has a few options, with the i-Flow being particular popular. In fact the i-Flow is one of the most popular VR trainers out.
Tacx i-Flow turbo trainer
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The Tacx i-Flow requires your front wheel to be removed and your forks are placed into a VR steering frame. An added bonus for this particular i-Flow package is that is comes with a multiplayer licence, meaning you can compete against others as you conquer some of the most demanding courses in the world. The i-Flow uses an electro-magnetic braking system that automatically adjusts the resistance to take into account things like wind resistance, the road surface, and inclines, which for most of us is what we are after in a good turbo workout.
Elite RealTour turbo trainer
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The Elite Real Tour simulates slopes of up to 5% gradient and comes with the full version of the Elite real software release 7. The Elite does not offer the steering capability of the Tacx unit, but their software does allow for competition against other riders over the internet. The Elite Real Tour uses an Elastogel roller which wears your tyres less and reduces workout noise, and you can control the trainer resistance either with your computer, or simply via the control unit supplied with the trainer.
In Conclusion Tacx Flow or Elite Real tour
The Elite Real Tour is slightly cheaper than the Tacx i-Flow multiplayer, however the number of virtual terrains is greater with tacx, and you have the ability to steer your ride with the special steering frame. Check out the individual product pages by clicking on the images above, and compare prices to help you decided on the right virtual reality trainer for you. There are also significantly more advanced virtual reality turbo trainers such as the i-Genius multiplayer turbo trainer that even drive the back wheel on descents and allow you to compete in completely immersive 3D environments where you can overtake other cyclists in real races on famous cycling terrains, such as stages of the tour de France.
Need more help? Visit the homepage and browse/filter all turbo trainers, or check out our popular Best Turbo Trainer 2013 Guide or our new Best Turbo Trainer 2014 Guide.
