Elite Real Power Software Ltd

Turbo training has never been more fun Turbo training used to be a monotonous fight with a friction producing roller: a long and arduous, hot and uncomfortable, noisy and dull, masochistic battle. A means to an end. That's changed. No longer do you have to stare at a garage door, or watch a repeat TV show; virtual reality training allows you to tie your turbo trainer into computer software, and visualize yourself climbing a classic climb in the Alps or Pyrenees. The best thing is that as the road ramps up, so will the resistance on your turbo; it's as close as you can get to riding your bike on the road (without getting cold and wet). The Elite Real Turbo Muin caught my eye at Eurobike 2014.

Trainer Software. Blow past riding buddies with a unsurpassed real life look and feel. VRide Software works. Simulates ANT+™ Power. Elite's Real Tour is £250 cheaper than the Tacx Fortius, so how does it differ? The main technological difference is that the Elite.

The year previous, I had tested the original, and it had stunned me into silence. At just how silent it was! The benefits of direct drive technology are numerous: no more slipping tyres, no more worn out rubber on your rear wheel, no more riser block on the front wheel, and most significantly for me, no more noise. With the Turbo Muin, all you can really hear is the sound of the chain rolling over the cogs of the cassette. That, and your struggling breathing. So, when the Real Turbo Muin came out and promised the benefits of direct drive and the opportunity to use VR technology, it had to be a winner in my eyes. Set-Up You'll notice that the Elite Real Turbo Muin weighs a bit when the box arrives; that's the oil immersed 6.9kg flywheel.

Coupled with the electronic magnetic resistant unit, the two combine together to produce the counter-force for your pedaling. Once you've heaved it out of the box though, set-up is simple, and it's a case of bolting on the wide and stable base, and fitting your cassette (the unit is 8/9/10/11 speed compatible with supplied spacers, and Campag freehubs are available separately). The VR (Virtual Reality) kit that comes with the unit consists of a set-up disc for your PC, which allows you to run the Elite Real Software; a ANT+ USB stick to communicate with the trainer, and a cadence sensor to also fit to the bike (although this is not actually necessary when you are using it with the Real Software as it calculates cadence from speed, without the need for a sensor). Download the software, plug in the Real Turbo Muin, hear the electronic magnetic resistance unit start up, and you're ready to spin. The Real Software Integral to a good VR package is the software that you can use it with, and the in-house provided software from Elite is the Real Software package. It allows everything from simulated riding to guided training tests and training diary analysis.

Because the Direct Drive technology limits the loss of energy output through areas like tyre friction, hub friction and noise (that you get in abundance with a normal turbo trainer), it is able to monitor variables like power with far more accuracy. Indeed, the Real Software will take and read data on power, heart rate (through an ANT+ strap - not provided), cadence (via neat sensorless technology), speed and effective gradient.

It's a whole field of data, which makes virtual training and testing far more accurate and enjoyable. Getting down to training, the Real Software will conduct a Conconi Test for you, so you can work out your Anaerobic threshold power and heart rate.

It will conduct a Training Test for you, and then work out a 4 week training program for you off the back of it. It will even save, review and track progress for you as you train; so you can ensure you're progressing. Of course, the biggest advantage of the software, is that you can use the VR technology to train. It will allow you to pre-load routes onto your computer, either for a cost from the Elite website (Alpe d'Huez is provided free as a disc version), or from free user generated videos.

The software will also let you import GPX routes into your PC, and then mimic the profile on the Real Turbo Muin. It's got a great range of capabilities, and it seems to do all of them very well, and with minimal set-up fuss. If you are an iPhone/iPad user, these features are also available on the MyTraining App, or the My RealVideo App. It is worth noting that the Real Turbo Muin also allows open source apps to communicate and control its resistance (similar to the Wahoo KICKR), so you can link this in with other software as and when it becomes available. Start Training Once you're all set up with the Real Software, it's just a case of slotting your bike onto the Muin, and you're ready to climb a mountain, do a training test or even race others with Real's online software.

Silence is Golden --- Actually for most people, when they're turbo training, being able to hear your music is golden; that's certainly possible with the Elite Real Turbo Muin. Aside from the occasional sound of the magnetic resistant unit adjusting itself to the virtual terrain, and working in tandem with the heavy flywheel to provide resistant, you really do only hear the drivetrain on the bike. It's the major advantage of this kind of direct drive system over a traditional roller turbo, and because of the weight and wide stable base, the footing is ultra secure as well. Climbing Alpe d'Huez from your living room --- There's no doubting that I dislike the turbo trainer. I would normally prefer to go out in the snow than sit indoors.

However, I actually find myself looking forward to the sessions on the Real Turbo Muin. I uploaded the Alpe d'Huez route to my laptop, and must have ridden that climb at least 5 times now - 3 more times than I've ascended it in real life. The screen is a bit like watching a rolling Google street view map, which speeds up and slows down the faster you pedal. On screen, you get stats like HR, power, cadence and speed; so you can easily gauge effort. The pedaling sensation is as close to reality as you can get on a turbo trainer. Resistance is high, and there is no chance you'll be spinning out (unless you can produce over 3,500 watts); but you can adjust your gearing (on the bike and on the turbo) to make the resistance more manageable, and allow you to ride at your optimal cadence. As you hit an incline on-screen, the magnetic resistance unit will increase the level of resistance, and you're forced to shift down or put more effort in.

It is, quite simply, how VR training should work. Quality The Elite Real Turbo Muin retails for the best part of £1000, which puts it in the same bracket as other high end VR trainers from Tacx and Wahoo.

It seems like a lot of money to spend on a piece of equipment that isn't actually a bike; however, it is a step above most turbo trainers, without a doubt. Elite products are well known for their quality, and the build level of the Real Turbo Muin is as good as it gets. Everything from the quick release, to the flywheel and its housing, have a quality, durable look and feel to them. A bit like buying a Concept 2 rowing machine, this can be seen as an investment into one of the best training tools out there. Conclusion When you consider the quality of the Real Turbo Muin, the great functionality of the Real Software, and the ability to use this product with a whole multitude of bikes, cassettes and software providers; there is no doubt that this really is a great future-proof package.

Direct Drive technology is the way to go if you want the ultimate home training set-up, and this model from Elite represents a superb flagship offering.

Jokki wrote:I am new here, just downloaded your software and your demo-video. Very good quality. The trainer I have, although, is not on the list. It is an Elite Realtour b+ with Ant+ connection.? Which/What kind of variables should I add if I define my trainer as an 'user defined trainer'?

Where can I find the correct variables? Kind regards from the Netherlands You can define power vs speed curve by clicking on 'User defined trainer' and filling out few values of power vs speed.

Those values can be obtained from manufacturer or if you have/can borrow power meter you can do it yourself. If you managed to get that table please send us values so we can include it in the official distribution. VeloReality Video wrote:I think this trainer from Elite is now using the open FE-C protocol under the Ant+ settings tab in VRide software you should see FE-C trainer for power sensor, normally it should just work if your trainer has the latest firmware & Elite have actually introduced it. Looking on their site they seem to be advertising it at FE-C compatible will be interested to know if it does work! Bell Biv Devoe Poison Zippyshare Dj more. Their whole thing is highly confusing and NO.

In where it is compatible they specifically say and post ANT FE-C logo. Smart B+ means control by BTLE. VeloReality Video wrote:I think this trainer from Elite is now using the open FE-C protocol under the Ant+ settings tab in VRide software you should see FE-C trainer for power sensor, normally it should just work if your trainer has the latest firmware & Elite have actually introduced it. Looking on their site they seem to be advertising it at FE-C compatible will be interested to know if it does work! Their whole thing is highly confusing and NO.

In where it is compatible they specifically say and post ANT FE-C logo. Smart B+ means control by BTLE half way down the page. I am a little bit confused now.

My realelite Realtour trainer is now connected as an ANT+ trainer in your software (green light) It is true that in that case the resistance is automatically adapted and I don't have to insert the values for a user defined resistance trainer? Because I found a table of Power/Speed for the Realtour, but it shows power/speed with minimal and power/speed with maximum resistance. Or is it better to insert the power/speed values anyhow. If so which values, the maximum or minimal values? Elite claims that the Realtour can simulate climbs upto 6%.

Above that value the resistance will stay the same. Is this also the case when I use your software or should I insert a maximum slope of 6%? Thank you in advance for helping me out. Jokki wrote:I am a little bit confused now. My realelite Realtour trainer is now connected as an ANT+ trainer in your software (green light) It is true that in that case the resistance is automatically adapted and I don't have to insert the values for a user defined resistance trainer?

Because I found a table of Power/Speed for the Realtour, but it shows power/speed with minimal and power/speed with maximum resistance. Or is it better to insert the power/speed values anyhow. If so which values, the maximum or minimal values? Elite claims that the Realtour can simulate climbs upto 6%. Above that value the resistance will stay the same. Is this also the case when I use your software or should I insert a maximum slope of 6%? Thank you in advance for helping me out Those tables were/are for old non-smart/dumb trainers.

If you own new Smart trainer that speaks ANT FE-C then you should not concern yourself with the tables.