Review on 🚲 Saris H3 Direct Drive Smart Indoor Cycling Trainer by Andy Tunes

I was waiting for a review as it was a big purchase but I have now put 1042 miles (64 rides) on the Zwift with a total of 61 hours in the saddle. Setup: Pretty easy. I had never installed a cassette before, so I immediately bought a Luditek chain whip (ASIN: B07517WGKY). It only took about 10 minutes to remove the cassette from the wheel and install it on the H3. I've watched a few general videos on how to do this and there is also an unboxing video on the Saris website with great info. It comes with a spacer - the spacer stays on on 8-10 speed cassettes and comes off on 11 speed. Everything worked and I was able to get started. Each of the support legs is adjustable in height, so make sure you screw them down so you don't wobble back and forth. The device itself makes a very solid and stable impression. Connectivity: I had no trouble connecting to my computer or iPhone to ride Zwift. It usually connects automatically after H3 wakes up and remembers the previous connection type (don't know if it's H3 or Zwift). In Zwift you can choose whether you want Bluetooth or Ant+. I use Bluetooth to connect to a Mac Mini or the accompanying Zwift iPhone app. I had 1 ride where the connection dropped (it recovered after about 30 seconds) and 2-3 rides where I felt the resistance change was delayed, although I don't know if those cases were H3, my computers or Zwift so I don't shoot stars. These cases started appearing pretty soon after I received it, so firmware updates may have fixed this issue. Overall it looks good and is easy to connect. Ride: The resistance is amazing. If you're coming from old-school Fluid trainers, this thing will kick your ass. Mountain resistance changes are constant and follow the on-screen gradient. When training in Erg mode, it perfectly maintains the specified performance. When riding in Zwift, shift and use the full range of gears. If you're riding without being connected to a program (Zwift, app, etc.), it simulates the resistance of a fluid trainer, which is great for cooling down or warming up. My only complaint is that the cadence calculation doesn't keep up with the gear changes. With firmware updates it's more accurate when riding at a constant pace but drops out when shifting compared to the cadence output on my CatEye computer which is still on the bike (which now only shows cadence). I'm not deducting a single star as overall this is a pretty small complaint. Saris App: It has had major updates in the last 2 months (almost like it wasn't finished when they released the product). Firmware updates worked without issues, calibration works (I didn't notice a significant difference before and after, so I think it was pretty close for me right out of the box), and ERG mode works as expected. The app is free, so I recommend downloading it for firmware updates and calibration. The app needs to be disconnected from other devices to connect, so I usually check the firmware and calibration about every 2 weeks at the end of a trip. Conclusion: Overall, I am very happy with this purchase and would highly recommend this device. I ride more, ride longer and have MUCH more fun on it than I ever did on my old "dumb" trainer. I get stronger and faster even during the rainy off-season.