Same here. 90% of the time I’m just in erg mode grinding out my TR session and a single cog system would be great for that.
Pair that with the ability to do a free ride or event on Zwift here and there using this virtual gearing would make for a great set up.
Not worth buying an entire new trainer, but if I could add the Zwift Cog to my Kickr I’d be all over it.
So if it’s compatible with the hub that fits Shimano, why wouldn’t it fit a Kickr? Shane? @GPLama?
It sounds like the actual physical COG cassette is mounted on an HG compatible freehub body (usual HUB version), so it could presumably be removed from the one that is HUB compatible and installed on other smart trainers with an HG freehub. But that is only part of the issue with using it on a non-HUB trainer.
The Zwift app must communicate with the specific trainer to adjust resistance level in accordance with the CLICK or PLAY controllers. That software side is presumably possible, but we don’t know if/when Zwift will make that step for non-Zwift trainers.
In reality, the physical COG is not the core issue, since you could still use the virtual shifting via Zwift and the CLICK and/or PLAY on a regular 10-12 speed cassette. The key again is Zwift altering trainer resistance once triggered and that comes via app and trainer communication only in place for the HUB right now.
Correct. I’ll do a hardware teardown if there’s enough interest.
Here’s the hypothetical scenario I can’t quite square to see if it works:
But importantly, you could do the same with any of the many geared to single-speed conversion kits available, you don’t need a Zwift COG. It may be possible to put one together for less than the current $60 intro price.
The main mechanical benefit to the COG that I see is the plastic shell making bike install possibly a bit easier than without, but it may not be all that useful. I wouldn’t be surprised to see 3D print options or other hacks down the line, from this inspiration.
The other reason to snag a COG at the discount now could be hopeful aim that Zwift adds function to other trainers in the future and you’d also have a CLICK to use at that time. But may only matter for those that intend to use Zwift down the line with the COG and virtual shifting.
So is it not technically compatible with any bikes that have a SRAM FT chain? Or is it just that the chain will wear out faster?
This is the same merry-go-round as with the Zwift Hub 12 speed cassette being ‘everything compatible’. They claim it’ll work fine. It works well enough. Technically it’s likely to cause premature wear on a flattop chain. How much will depend on usage, the power you’re putting down, chain condition, etc.
Could you not hack a two-cog cassette together?
Take a middle cog from an 11-speed and one from a 12-speed cassette, and some spacers from a single speed conversion kit, and put both on at the same time. One bike then uses one cog, and the other bike the other cog. Just never shift!
Is the virtual shifting different from adjusting “trainer difficulty” (think that is what its called, haven’t used zwift in a long time)
Or maybe zwift just set some sort of resistance multipliers, that are send to the hub to simulate shifting.
I don’t really think it’s something unique to the Hub, so it should work with other trainers too. But maybe zwift only enable virtual shifting if a zwift hub is connected.
What became of the point that the zwift hub was basically a ripped off kickr core? I don’t know it irks me.
Nice that they give it with a year of zwift. That’s like half the price of the trainer.
That’s a winning idea that’d work… but do AXS 12spd cassettes come apart to pull out the 14t?
One issue I have with swapping 11 to 12 speed and back is that I have to reindex or things are noisy and jump around. How does the COG (and the DIY single speed alternatives) avoid this?
Yeah, I don’t know if they come apart, 12 speed hasn’t made it to my house yet. But maybe there are after-market ones that have separate sprockets?
Unless your indexing is very out of whack (basically indexed on the next sprocket), mosr of the noise and jumping around is because the chain is rubbing on the side of the other sprockets. The jumping is when it catches some of the shifting ramps and tries to move over. If you only have one cog, there isn’t any rubbing on the sides, and much less incentive for the chain to move sideways.
What @Splash wrote, but also because single speed sprockets have full height teeth which hold the chain more securely in the same way that single chainrings does.
As someone who’s stuck with a wheel-on, due to sharing the trainer with an incompatible drivetrain, this looked really tempting to me. Until I realised that it’s hobbled to only work with Zwift.
Since all it’s doing is essentially applying a differential to the grade-based resistance, there doesn’t really seem to be any practical reasoning to this - merely ‘walled-gardenism’. And I can see patent issues blocking the entry of anyone who wants to do something similar but with a more open approach that would work with any sim programme. Which is extremely frustrating.
I might be wrong but I think it would work with TR or another programme without the Zwift shifters, its the same as I think sticking the bike in one cog and controlling the resistance with the keyboard or ERG or any other program that controls resistance. Although I do prefer to do it the other way round, set resistance to one value or let ERG/another programme smartly adjust it and change gear around them.
Yep - TR would be fine, but the limitation is on other sim platforms - no Rouvy, Fulgaz, RGT, MyWhoosh, etc., unless you’re happy being stuck on a single-speed.
Yip, I prefer it the other way round (changing gear to suit) it feels more immersive.