For anyone wondering why a perfectly functional bicycle needs an expensive device that prevents it from going anywhere, the Garmin Tacx NEO 2T is an indoor smart trainer. Remove your bike’s rear wheel, attach the frame to the trainer, and it turns your bicycle into a stationary cycling simulator. Apps such as Zwift and ROUVY then adjust the resistance to recreate climbs, descents, and different riding conditions while a virtual version of you actually gets somewhere.
We first met the Garmin Tacx NEO 2T in 2019. Seven years later, it has returned with Zwift Cog and Click, making it easier to attach different bikes and change virtual gears without rummaging around for tools before pedaling furiously in place.
The pre-installed Zwift Cog replaces the usual cassette and works with almost any 8- to 13-speed bike. This makes swapping bikes easier and eliminates much of the setup normally required before entering Zwift or ROUVY. No calibration is needed either.
Mounted on the handlebars, Zwift Click provides quiet virtual shifting and controls for steering, navigating menus, and dispensing “ride-ons” to fellow cyclists. Because even simulated hills require encouragement.
The trainer measures power and cadence with accuracy claimed to be within 1%, while ride data can be viewed in Zwift or ROUVY and automatically uploaded to Garmin Connect. Optional Tacx NEO motion plates add multidirectional movement and simulated road surfaces, including cobblestones and wooden planks. The optional Tacx Alpine can simulate climbs up to 25% and descents down to -10%, for anyone whose pain cave was not painful enough.
The Garmin Tacx NEO 2T with Zwift Cog and Click is available now for US$1,099.99. New Zwift subscribers may also qualify for a complimentary membership offer. A subscription is otherwise required.
Images: Garmin.