Introducing The TrueTrainer Smart Trainer | Experiencing Effective and Efficient Indoor Cycling Just Like You Are Riding Outside (How It Works, Features & Reviews)

In the year 2022 at Eurobike, TrueKinetix - TrueTrainer announced their first smart trainer, which takes many of the features found in their higher-end smart bike, the TrueBike. This trainer has a slate of things we haven’t seen before on other smart trainers. It’s got integrated WiFi, an HDMI port with a built-in training app, virtual gearing (in a trainer – we’ve only seen that in bikes), and even a USB port for powering whatever it is you need to power.

Of course, it’s also got all the usual smart trainer things too. Connecting to apps like Zwift and TrainerRoad with ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart, max wattage of 2,600w+, changeable resistance/incline up to 30% (yikes!), status lights, interchangeable cassettes, and no power cord required either. Albeit, as one might expect, this one is a bit pricey. More on that in a second.

In this post, we will check out all there is to know about the TrueTrainer Smart Trainer. Keep reading.

TrueKinetix’s TrueTrainer Smart Trainer

Powered by the award-winning TrueForce Technology, TrueKinetix’s products are built around an innovative second-generation force-generating unit. TrueTrainer is the only trainer on the market to generate resistance with a powerful motor and smart robotics.

The TrueForce Technology features a powerful motor and robotics that measures and adapts 10,000 times per second the resistance it puts out to offer a much more realistic workout but also engages the muscles used in outdoor cycling.

Other indoor trainers feature a flywheel that is a factor of 10-20 times too light which makes it less realistic and trains the wrong muscles.

How Does the TrueTrainer Work? - Read TrueKinetix’s Response/Answer to This Question

1. The Folklore: Low indoor power output due to boredom and heat?!

It is common knowledge that people put out less power indoors than outdoors. If you have ever measured your power with the same power meter indoors and outdoors, you probably found the same.

The common folklore is that this is due to boredom and heat. But the more we thought about that, the sillier it sounded. In a basement with a fan, you are a lot cooler than on a mountain climb at a slow speed with the sun burning down on you.

Also, riding the same training route as you usually do is a lot more boring than watching Mr Willis save yet another building or The Avengers yet another planet, right? And in that burning sun or on that boring training lap you do put out the powers that you are capable of.

True Science

In the Mieras study people were asked to ride 40 km at a fast pace without knowing how fast they were going, or what their heart rate was. The results were shocking: indoors the subjects delivered less power.

During the Bertucci study people were asked to ride at various levels both indoors and outdoors. When asked how strenuous it felt, the subjects consistently indicated that indoors felt a lot more strenuous. Moreover, this study found that the force profiles indoors were significantly different from outdoors!

The conclusion of both studies is: “If you have the possibility, you can better train outdoors.” But not everybody has the time or finds him or herself in a location to ride outside whenever they want. That is where the TrueBike and TrueTrainer come in: We bring the outside to you!

True Reasoning

So indoor cycling should be seen as a sport different from outdoor cycling. Otherwise, it would feel the same and you would put out the same power. But don’t take our word for it. There is a large body of scientific work that shows this. People deliver less power indoors or they find it a lot more strenuous.

2. The Truth: Different muscle loads

The science behind the TrueForce Technology

The science behind the TrueBike and TrueTrainer is simple and straightforward: we bring outdoor cycling indoors. By replicating the resistance on the pedals during cycling outdoors, we can achieve the right neuromuscular load indoors.

Let’s have a look at the picture below. When you ride outdoors you activate your muscles in a very distinct pattern as shown on the right force circles: Most of your power is put in through the big muscles in your legs: your buttocks first, and then your quadriceps.

These are very big and strong since you constantly use them for standing, walking, and running. On the other hand, the current indoor trainers have a flywheel that is supposed to represent the inertia of your body (and bike) weight that you experience outdoors.

In reality, however, that flywheel is usually a factor of 10-20 too light, resulting in pedal forces that look much more like the force circles on the left: Only a little force can be put into the lightweight flywheel because it accelerates quickly as you start pushing.

This is the whining sound you hear with every push: the speed of the flywheel increases. As a result, your buttocks and quads cannot push as hard as they want.

Stand still vs. Rolling for minutes

But then, when you reach the top/bottom dead-point the light-weight gets slowed down a lot by the simulated wind, road, and climbing resistance. You notice this when you stop pedaling: You come to a standstill within seconds whilst on the road you roll for minutes.

So to keep going you have to use the muscles in your calves, the back of your legs (hamstrings), and even the muscles that lift your knees. Since this is very different from reality, these muscle groups are not well trained and therefore tire much quicker.

So by training on the TrueBike, the idea is that you get even more from your workout, by getting the same neuro-muscular stimulation (i.e. your muscles are loaded with the same forces and contract at the same speed) as you do outdoors. That way you train the way you would train outdoors.

3. The True Solution: Robotics

A new approach to cycling

The TrueBike and TrueTrainer take a completely new approach to indoor cycling. We don’t use a flywheel at all. Simply because we don’t know what you weigh, but more importantly because we are pretty convinced you don’t want an indoor trainer that weighs 450 kg (1000 lbs).

Because that is what it would roughly take to have an accurate simulation of your weight on the road. Seriously: how would you get that to your attic, and how would you keep it there?! Why so much? Well, then we get into some real boring stuff with rotational moments of inertia, bearing choice, and safety measures.

So instead we use a very strong robot. A robot that continuously calculates where your pedal should be and then moves your pedal to that position, no further, no closer. How do we know where your pedal should be?

Simple math: we measure the force you exert on your pedal and then we plug that along with the position of your pedal, your weight, your speed, the incline of the road, etc. into the laws of physics, and voilà! We know how to supply you with the right resistance force.

10,000 measurements per second

To do this accurately, we adjust the resistance 1000 times per second, and we take measurements of you and your TrueBike or TrueTrainer close to 10,000 times per second. That is simple math done very quickly by our robot.

Also, since your pedal push is strongest when you move the slowest, we don’t rely on electromagnetic (also called Eddy current, used in most higher-end indoor trainers), fluid (viscous), or wind forces to guide your pedals.

We use a very strong motor in our robot, straight out of a car. Since we labeled this section the science section we will show you in a graph. As you can see, a motor can deliver a force, even at a standstill (also known as the holding torque). This is how cranes and elevators work. They can hold your weight like we can hold your pedal force, even at low speeds.

That gives you the unique sensation when standing up and riding up a hill: Your pedals hold your weight and you don’t fall through! But … there is a limit here. Due to safety and wear considerations, you can go down to about 30 rpm, and below that, even our motor gets a bit sloppy with its placement accuracy (normal cycling is between 80-100 rpm).

The Design of the Truebike & Truetrainer

Electric currents mimic body weight

We have made a couple of important choices in the development of the TrueBike and TrueTrainer.

First, we have chosen not to use weight to mimic your body weight. Because the kinetic energy that is stored in your body and bike when you are traveling at 40 km/h (25 mph) is astounding.

Think of how long you need to brake at your hardest if you are traveling at those speeds, or maybe more vividly, think of the carnage if you hit a wall.

We didn’t think it was a good idea to put that kind of energy in your living room. Nobody does, that is why all the trainers and spinning bikes have such low-weight flywheels (even though the whole machine is quite heavy).

To put in realistic weight at the speeds required would require a whole different type of safety and construction. So we use electric currents (very big currents) to solve this issue. The cool thing about currents is that you can dump them almost instantaneously.

Lean and Green Technology

Second, the TrueBike and TrueTrainer have to be future-proof in the face of sustainability. The TrueForce Technology is a more durable and environmentally friendly option as the TrueForce Technology generates its energy using your pedal strokes.

When you pedal, the energy of your pedal strokes is converted into energy and used to run the TrueBike and TrueTrainer. Contrary to traditional indoor trainers, there is no hassle of cords and cables through the house and you can save energy and money on your utility bill.

A Dutch Frame Designed For Performance and Comfort

When cycling indoors on regular trainers, you will notice that the trainer feels very static and even can cause saddle discomfort and lead to injuries.

In case you experience any discomfort, it can take all the fun out of indoor cycling and you may skip your workouts altogether.

As a solution, we have designed the TrueBike and TrueTrainer for maximum comfort and performance with multiple ingenious features

One of the key features we have included for the TrueBike and TrueTrainer are flexible feet caps underneath the frame to simulate a built-in rocker plate.

On traditional indoor trainers, you may find that the ride feels static and even experience extreme saddle discomfort or knee pain that can distract you from training. For these riders, we have provided the TrueBike and TrueTrainer with flexible feet caps that simulate a built-in rocker plate.

The TrueBike and TrueTrainer move slightly side-to-side during the training to feel more like outdoor cycling and help you to put out more power on your climbs or sprints. Furthermore, it helps to redistribute the weight on the saddle and reduce pressure on your glutes, hips, and knees. A flexible frame helps to alleviate symptoms and helps you ride for much longer.

Another key feature of the TrueBike’s frame is the ability to adjust the height and reach measurements of the aero bar and saddle with just one hex bar. In case you have ever done a bike fit, you can transfer and apply the measurements to the TrueBike and TrueBike Base so it feels just like your own road bike and you can focus on your performance.

Modern and Sleek Design

The TrueForce Technology allows us to use durable and lighter materials. The TrueBike Base weighs just 38 kilograms and the TrueBike 40 kilograms, and both are fitted with wheels to easily move around the house.

The TrueTrainer is at just 15 kilograms the lightest turbo trainer on the market. The foldable legs allow you to easily store the TrueTrainer after each use.

But the benefits of our frames go beyond just performance and durability. Our products are also designed with aesthetics in mind, featuring a sleek and modern design with little to no cables that complement any home gym or fitness studio.

With their sleek lines and minimalist styling, the TrueBike and TrueTrainer are sure to impress and inspire, making them the perfect addition to any fitness enthusiast’s collection.

What Does The TrueTrainer Have to Offer? - Features of the TrueTrainer

1. No flywheel - Natural indoor cycling

The TrueTrainer measures 10,000 times per second and accurately simulates the forces and resistances of outdoor cycling, making each ride on the TrueTrainer more similar to the feel of a road bike ride. The flexible frame adds lateral movement for a more realistic and comfortable cycling experience.

2. Spot-on pedal force - Stronger through Science

By generating resistance via robotics and a strong motor, our trainers have no limitations determined by the weight of a flywheel. You’ll notice that you can fully exert your power on the climbs and sprints without falling through the pedals.

As a result, your muscles are better activated, and you build more muscle mass. Whether you want to ride during the winter, get fit, or want to smash your next race, the TrueTrainer offers you an all-around workout that helps you achieve your goals.

3. Virtual Gears - Try any gear set without changing your cassette

Customize your gear set without changing your cassette with the unique Virtual Gears feature. Switch effortlessly between a gear set for the mountains or a flat road to get the best out of your workout.

With Virtual Gears, you can also ride with the gears of your favorite road bike. Select up to 400 different gear sets in the TrueKinetix app. The supplied cassette maximizes the TrueForce technology and makes an 18T sprocket feel like a 30T sprocket.

4. Designed for movement - Built-in rocking motion

Ride naturally, comfortably, and longer. Featuring a flexible and lightweight frame, that is designed to allow for natural side-to-side movements to alleviate saddle soreness and activate the inner core muscles used to stabilize your body, just like if you were cycling outside.

5. Optimized for Zwift - Enjoy Zwift to the max

The TrueTrainer is fully optimized for Zwift, elevating the Zwift experience to new heights by offering the following:

• ERG soft start: Ease into your power workouts with gradual and smoother transitions between intervals. Even from a standstill, the TrueTrainer allows you to roll from the very first pedal strokes.
• Zwift-over-WIFI: Experience the most stable connection to Zwift ever to ride without interruptions.
• Heart-rate-pass-through: The TrueTrainer channels the heart rate of ANT+ heart rate monitors to Zwift without needing an extra transmitter.

6. Only 15 kg - Half the weight, double the punch

Weighing at just 15 kilograms (33 lbs), the TrueTrainer can be easily transported. Moreover, its compact design enables easy storage after training.

7. Groundbreaking connectivity

The TrueTrainer connects to all virtual cycling platforms, smartwatches, and cycling computers through BlueTooth and ANT+.

TrueTrainer Available Models

TrueTrainer is available in different models as shown in the image below:

Comparing the Models

Below is the comparison of the models:

How Much is the TrueTrainer & Where/How Can You Get It?

The TrueTrainer is available in 3 models; with the 4.2 model going for €1.049 the 6.2 for €1.299, and the 8.2 for €1.699. They can be obtained from their official website.

TrueTrainer Reviews

Check out the snapshot of the people's reviews about using TrueTrainer below to see if the TrueTrainer is what it says it.

The TrueTrainer is Not Just Another Indoor Trainer

The TrueTrainer has won some noteworthy awards due to its innovative tech as can seen in the image above; meaning that what the TrueTrainer brings to your sporting regime is remarkable.

“The TrueForce technology feels just like cycling outside on a road bike”, says Anna van der Breggen, Olympic Champion Road Cycling. So this goes to say that the TrueTrainer is a smart trainer that is trusted by Olympic athletes.

You can watch the video below to learn more about TrueTrainer