The color coding for the trainer feet is also interesting…and something we did years ago for our BP units. Consumers were often confused as to where to insert the elbow connecter form the cuff tube to the unit itself. We then made our connectors yellow and the port on the unit yellow. Our returns / complaints dropped ~25% almost instantly.
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Yup, some people would scoff at things like that, but it’s amazing how much something as simple as color coordination can help. I use color in a number of ways in my work and play to make it super easy to do stuff. This is a great execution and adds a bit of flare to an otherwise boring black/black design.
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I haven’t been tightly following the news of this, but watched DCRainmaker’s video yesterday (while slightly distracted by some intervals), so my apologies if this has been explained in details elsewhere but…
How can this trainer have the accuracy issues currently identified while the Jetblack Volt does not? Is it not exactly the same hardware under the hood?
Totally aware other things have changed - but just seems like a strange hurdle not to be cleared pre-announcement
Haven’t seen the video, but the website post mentioned a firmware update.
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While the guts are apparently largely the same (if not identical), Zwift is in charge of the firmware on the Hub. It is unique in some ways compared to the JetBlack original for the Volt.
Makes sense that Zwift would want to control the firmware, and means it should be possible to resolve without hardware changes, but…seems really strange they’d announce without having addressed those issues. Makes it seem like they are focused on the date and timing rather than the quality
Well, from my reading & watching… it seems the Hub was working really well for a few of the reviewers, and then a recent firmware update lead to some issues. Sounds like they understand the issue and are working to resolve it.
Nothing earth shattering here, because we have seen essentially the same issues (even after initial release) from the likes or Wahoo, Tacx and Saris for nearly all of their new product releases. Same ol’, same ol’ from what I see.
Considering the history of the Volt, the hardware seems more than capable, and Z just needs to dial in what may be “new” to them in terms of dialing in FW.
DCR says in the article that he does not have the production version of the firmware (as it is not finished) and that is the reason for the accuracy issue.
The JetBlack VOLT isn’t without issues that Zwift will have inherited and have to address. There was/is a thermal drifting issue with that hardware after periods of time at higher wattage and lower flywheel speeds.
With the VOLT nearing two years old and those issues identified a LONG time ago, I hope this is an area they’ll address in the final/production firmware.
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Or you can get two ANT+ dongles and use Zwift and TR at the same time over ANT+. I’ve been doing it for awhile with no issues.
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“TBD” . . .
While I acknowledge the potential of the Z-Hub, @dcrainmaker delivered a 100point font red flag, namely accuracy!
Until Zwift delivers production units (sounds like early October) that can he tests for power accuracy over an entire power range and responsiveness to app commands power adjustments (structured training), the product is just at marketing brochure level when contrasted to the high end trainers, and specifically, the Wahoo Kicker and Garmin Tacx NEO (that he didn’t mention).
Given it’s a product with almost two years of history, I think it’s way more than a marketing brochure. For better or worse.
Based on price and on reviews of the Jetblack Volt, I don’t think the (regular) Kickr and the Neo are the direct competition of this device. You get a lot for your money but it’s not perfect.
Zwifts intention is clearly to sell a device that is cheap enough, good enough and easy enough to install in order to attract new groups of users and keep users who won’t use a truckload of money on a hometrainer…
They may very well succeed at that.
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Excellent comments! I’d like to clarify a couple of points:
It was my interpretation [or mis-interpretation] that @dcrainmaker was positioning the Hub as a $500 bike that will be competitive with the [$1000+] high end smart trainers. Whether the Jetblack Volt has been in the general market ($400-$700?) for 2 years or longer, specifically in the high end market, to the best of my knowledge, it has not existed there, hence my brochure-ware comment.
What is possible, however, is that Zwift changes that. It is hard to understate just how powerful a force Zwift is and is becoming in the cycling industry. With over $400million in funds raised and based in CA, they have access to talent and resources like few other companies. In addition to improving the current version of the JBV with the Hub (phase I), it is quite possible that they make substantive hardware, software and firmware changes to become competitive in the high end market at a later date (e.g. offer a phase II with a 1.5% accuracy and other features). Personally, I believe they will succeed.
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I’m pretty sure it was that there would be no compelling reason to get any of the <$1000 units out there compared to this. But that other companies high end (>$1000) are still better. But it has been a couple days since I read it and I could be mixing his opinions with the other big reviewers out there
Yes, but the question is now if they are >$500 better. In the case of the neo 2t, the question is if it is $900 better - almost 3 times the price.
While not a direct competitor, I think this will have a significant effect on smart trainer pricing, as the high end units will have to offer ‘more’ to justify almost triple the price. This is of course highly subjective, but I think it will have a notable effect. For trainers that it directly competes against (aka anything mid-range) I think it will have a much more direct pricing impact.
That question has always existed between mid-range and high end trainers
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Exactly…it isn’t like this is the first ~$500 direct drive trainer in the market.
Zwift is right to tackle this from the mid-market perspective, but as noted many times before, trainers are durables. Once someone makes a purchase, they are out of the market for years.
In order for this to be successful, Zwift has to bring more people into the market. After all the trainers that have been sold in the last 2 years, that is going to be a tall order.
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Sounds plausible and this is something I hope will happen. Looking to replace my ageing 1st gen Wahoo Kickr. and wondering whether I really need a premium device. Yes, they are better but at 2-3 times the price? Might end up buying a more mid-level trainer, but the cat is out of the bag in terms of whether a high-end device is really worth it.
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I’m looking to replace my 2017 Wahoo Kickr. I’ve been in the gym this past week using a Stages SC3 dumb trainer with power and heavy flywheel. One negative is the lack of electronic braking, otherwise its pretty good.
WIth the Zwift Hub, I would pair the Hub with Zwift and use sim mode to simulate riding outside. Then use Garmin 530 paired to my bike’s Quarq power meter to a) display my workout, and b) record the workout. Basically it works just like doing a workout outside, and the accuracy of Hub trainer doesn’t matter.
If only someone would invent a system that used the data from the power meter to control the trainer 
PowerMatch: Using Power Meters with Smart Trainers – TrainerRoad