Review on Tacx Smart Direct Drive Trainer by Nathan Jones

When I first used this machine, I found that the pedaling power I was experiencing was significantly higher than what I expected from the actual rides it was designed to simulate. After some digging I found out that there are several settings that can be used to change this. One of these is the "Gradient Modifier” which adjusts the degree to which hillclimbing increases the required pedaling power. The other is "FTP" or "Functional Threshold Power", defined as "the maximum power you can sustain for one hour". I've found that reducing FTP reduces pedaling effort, but unfortunately it acts as a sort of cap on how much force you're allowed to apply. So the pedals now felt ok on flat ground while feeling a little too light on hills even with the "Gradient Modifier" set to 100%. Conclusion: So far I can't find a combination of settings that make this thing like riding a bike. However, in fairness, this is a simulator, not a simulator.