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My mate can't get a smart trainer, but has a power meter. Is it significantly worse with a dumb trainer and power meter?
You won't feel gradient changes for a start, unless done manually.
That said, it's crap load better than not being able to use Zwift at all!
So less immersive but should work fine.👍
^^ What he said basically. It's not immersive and so feels a bit pointless. I've got a crankbased powermeter and a dumb trainer and I use TrainerRoad as whilst not being as involving it works better in terms of achieving a workout.
Plenty of dumb turbo workouts on YouTube, especially from GCN, and if you're a British Cycling member they have dumb turbo training programmes too. I wasn't that impressed with Zwift...used it last year for a specific structured training programme for the Etape du Tour, but found the graphics and general operation uninspiring so no better than a YouTube session if it were not for the proper structured training programme I was following. I immediately cancelled my subscription after the event. If I were you I'd try the GCN YouTube sessions and the British Cycling sessions first.
Dumb trainer was fine for the 1st few months I tried it, gear changes for the hills if he wants "realism" (it's not really realism, 'cos you'd change down at that point). It's better with a smart one but it's not a problem without - and he can try it for free
It makes racing a bit odd because smart trainer riders typically push harder up hills and you have to make yourself do the same; over the top and the opposite can happen and dumb trainers can pull away as the smart ones get caught out by the sudden drop in resistance
I have dumb trainer and power meter and I think zwift is amazing. It has enabled me to do 2.5hr group rides. It is still very immersive.
I have had a turbo trainers since the very early fan types that you had to remove your front wheel and mount your bike to and I have never 'enjoyed' turbos as much as now.
I am sure a smart trainer is infinitely better but if you don't know any different then your setup on zwift will be great.
It’s fine, I’ve got a dumb kurt kinetic.
Power is power, if anything you get an advantage on the downhill sections as it’s harder to maintain power on a
Smart turbo downhill as they back off the resistance.