Tacx

i-Flow Multiplayer Trainer

If you're like us, the doldrums of indoor training quickly take hold, often far too early in the season. In a short matter of time, your playlists begin to lack motivation, podcasts become annoying background banter, and your favorite show becomes one of your most despised. In other words, your training begins to work against your morale. Luckily, Tacx had enough of this very scenario, and accordingly, developed a pairing of a sophisticated virtual reality training software with a truly professional level trainer — the i-Flow Multiplayer Trainer. So, when the mercury drops, you're able to race your friends in the Pyrenees, not watch reruns while you slug away on the trainer.

Tacx constructed the i-Flow's frame from aluminum, effectively making it both sturdy and lightweight. More importantly, though, when this material is coupled with the Flow's maneuverable VR steering frame design, it provides a bit of rebound in response to your efforts. Accordingly, this creates a more realistic ride characteristic than your standard, folding trainer. Even better, the frame's steering capabilities create seamless, interactive experience with the virtual game element of the i-Flow. In fact, your steering movements are immediately recognizable within the game environment, providing realistic attacks and bike handling.

And while the Flow is a bit of a marvel in terms of its industrial design, its functionality remains far more impressive. With the Flow, Tacx grants you access to your heart rate readings, power output, speed, and pedaling frequency. In more precise terms, your power is readable from 10 to 990 watts, and in readings of current, average, and maximum power. Likewise, your speed is capable of being read in categories of current, stop watch, trip distance, maximum, and average speed. And in terms of cadence, the Flow is capable of providing current, average, maximum, and total revolution readings per session. But, you're probably wondering where this information is displayed? Well, it's actually displayed on a beautifully designed onboard computer. This computer mounts over the faceplate of your stem with two points of attachment. It's easy to navigate through, and it transmits your metrics directly to your home computer.

Once you get riding, the Flow allows you to adjust your workout for both power and slope. The Flow operates off of an electro-brake system with six magnets and a 2kg flywheel. So, you're able to maintain a realistic resistance under the wheel. And speaking of resistance, the Flow features a maximum resistance of 800 watts — more than enough to make efforts of climb feel like a climb. Additionally, the included Tacx Trainer software (basic edition) provides the resistance that you'd naturally experience from wind and incline resistance, as well as the feel of riding on paved roads, wood paths, grass, and even sand.

Now, for the aforementioned software, you gain immediate access to animated Virtual Reality terrains, as well as realistic films of integral races. This means that you're able to ride courses ranging from Liege-Bastogne-Liege to Col de Mente. And with a quick software license upgrade, you'll receive access to Tacx's multiplayer web racing. With it, you're able to race against Tacx riders from all over the world, on the most historic courses in cycling, all on the Tacx server.

The Tacx i-Flow Multiplayer Trainer is available in one color and in one size. It's adjustable in order to accommodate various wheel sizes, from 600 to 640mm and 690 to 710mm.