Thanks. Currently, the trainer and front wheel has some heavy duty straps but they are a bit elasticated - the trainer doesnot move though. I didnt want to really go down the cable tie route but that may be the best way to get a decent lockdown.
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If the front wheel is moving sideways, the trainer almost certainly must be twisting in those elastic straps. I personally prefer hard stops in the form of wood blocks or steel angle to restrain the trainer. Once that is done and the trainer can’t twist, the front never moves.
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I use Voile straps instead of Velcro with my Velocity Rocker (https://velocityrockers.com) and a Tacx Neo 2t. I use two on each side in the back (one will do). Voile Straps Nylon Buckle — 12": Voile. I don’t use a strap in the front. I use an Elite Sterzo Smart I bought used. I don’t care about the steering, but it does allow the bars and front wheel to move a bit and I think it is more comfortable than being locked down. Even during out-of-saddle efforts, it has been pretty sturdy.
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So I ended up buying the Pod lite which is due to arrive early this week. I noticed in your video that you put some weights on the side of it. I imagine was to offset the weight of the flywheel, but can you elaborate a bit on that?
Thanks
You want the bike dead center over the rocker deck, which means the left side has more weight due to the heavy flywheel on the left side of the trainer.
10 lbs [5 kg] worth on the right side is a counterweight that balances the rocker, bike and trainer. Gives is an even lean force, whether you use the inflatables or none and just the ribs.
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Will give that a try. Thanks
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My pod lite came today. Kinda rough unsealed wood. A few min with a palm sander and some finish to seal it up should do the trick. I’m also going to counter sink the screws a bit and putty over them to give it more of a finished look. Going to hit the thrift stores in hopes of finding a used 10lb weight.
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Yeah, it is pretty much just cut plywood right from the CNC router. I build rough stuff like that and tend not to put much time into finishing. But the work you mention is a good way to go to give it some nice looking details. Would love to see what you end up with when you get it all done.
Are the Tacx T2 rocker plates of any use, any good? I hear they are expensive, but are they a waste of money, better than nothing but barely, or are they actually usable decent things?
Thanks…
I can’t offer feedback on those plates specifically, but I do like the fore-aft motion present in my E-Flex units vs my older version rockers that were lean action only.
Is there a particular issue you aim to address with the Neo Motion Plates?
I currently ride a Neo Smart, and own a 2T and was thinking of using it to ‘mix it up’ on occasion. The 2T certainly rocks side to side more, but wondered if their ‘rocker plates’ were actually ‘usable’, and possibly worth the price.
Maybe it’s my head still not in full gear from the holiday, but I have no idea that a ‘T2’ is in this context?
Both our brains are in a different place. it’s a 2T, 
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OK, that makes sense now… Neo 2T.
Yeah, from the comments I have read, most people who get the Motion Plates end up liking them. They add a bit of motion beyond the Neo “flex” lean angle, which is a good thing IMO.
The main issue is their high cost. Garmin Tacx ran a deal a while ago with some sort of discount on them when you bought a new trainer, but that was no help for existing users like yourself.
For the full price, I think it is a bit of a hard sell. If you can find a sale (at least 10% off?) then I think it is worth the price.
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I reviewed these motion plates in another thread I believe when they first became available in the US. The 2T already has a certain amount of flex to it, and the motion plates add some relief and greater motion. they help with developing smooth application of power, particularly when standing. Are they worth the money - that depends. They add very little height ( I had ceiling constraints) and for the many hours one spends on the trainer any marginal gain can be considered worth it.
When I bought a second 2T for my wife there was a deal on such that the motion plates were free - so in that case, yup, absolutely worth the price. That said, I would pay full price for them, whine about it, and then move on and appreciate the improvement for all of the rides to come 
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DCRainmaker commented that they were really expensive giving me the idea that Garmin was pricing them in comparison to their competition (the Saris, etc) and not what they likely cost to manufacture. Who am I to deny a corporation the chance to make a profit, but it would seem they are ‘artificially priced’ to maximize their profit, but that clouds the idea of ‘is it worth it’', ‘do they do what they are advertised to do’. After buying a Kickr Bike, and now a Neo Smart, it’s kind of hollow to complain about the cost of these, so ‘do they work’ becomes the main point.
Yes, I saw that free sale wondered if any friends were going to buy one and would part with the ‘gift’ for a small contribution. They would be expensive at $200 for what they seem to be, but 'mudflaps on the Lamborghini… (I did ride the 2T while the Neo Smart was being replaced and the rocking kind of got to me, and I was concerned that the rock stable experience on it was spoiling me. Riding outdoors has not had that effect, so who knows I guess. I was just thinking that having some variety indoors would be nice… (The MP1 is $950? I thought it was cheaper than that, wow)
- It debuted and sold for a year or more at $1200 USD, so the current price is “better”.
- But I never liked that rocker in the first place, with the price as the absolute “no -deal” side for me.
- IMO, there are better rockers at lower prices than even the reduced MP1 price.
- I think they do, and the feedback I see is in the heavy “once you try them, you keep them” category vs people discarding them. 70/30 if I had to make a guess, with 80/20 or higher being likely if my reading of tea leaves is correct. I have not seen a ton of “hate 'em… waste O money” posts, which I would clearly expect if that were even remotely common.
All that to say I think they are a safe bet at any price a person is willing to open their wallet.
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DC summing up his review:
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not the price is worth it. For me, I will likely pick up a set of these for my older NEO 2 in the shed, simply because of the limited space and me predominantly using it for less frisky workouts. But, it’ll still feel like…well…I’m being fleeced for it.
Hah… I checked ebay, and the ‘best deal’ was $292. Garmin has locked their MSRP as well, they really want that much for them. Maybe I’l sit this out for a while. I’ve somehow lived without them and using the 2T fine so far, unbelievably😄. (Maybe with my allowance)
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I just had a sit down with my son who spent $560 in the last month on virtual currency and items for a video game he likes to play. For clarity, this is money he has legitimately earned in his part time job.
It took some amount of self control to sit and listen to him explain why I can’t compare what he is doing to anything I do or my sense of value. How it seemed worth it to him in the moment, and the feeling of ‘was it worth it’ did not cross his mind. An entire generation is coming into the world who are willing to pay enormous amounts of money for convenience, immediate gratification and digital items.
I will just carry on aging and ride my bike quietly! … far away from the virtual world.
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