Best price for the Tacx T1940 iMagic Fortius Turbo Trainer
Full Review of the Tacx T1940 iMagic Fortius Turbo Trainer
Ideal for: Cyclists who find indoor training boring, or who want to train realistically on race routes before races.
Its true, the Tacx T1940 I-magic Fortius Turbo Trainer is a bit on the pricey side as far as trainers go but the thing is, the Tacx i-Magic Fortius is anything but standard.
For starters, the Tacx i-Magic Fortius is virtual reality trainer. this means it is fully PC-controlled with pre-programmed sessions simulating actual terrains, riding conditions and resistance, all of which create a very real and exciting riding experience. But before we get ahead of ourselves, lets start at the very beginningassembling the trainer.
Unfortunately, much like the other Tacx trainers on the market, assembly of the Tacx T1940 I-magic Fortius Turbo Trainer can be complicated due to very un-clear instructions. The instructions relate to corresponding labelled diagrams that if squinted at long enough, do eventually make sense. If you have ever built a Lego ship or an Ikea wardrobe, you will have a complete Tacx i-Magic Fortius in the end (with only minor cursing).
After assembling the Tacx i-Magic Fortius, the next step will be to load the software. Loading the software is very straight forward as long as you meet the following system requirements:
- 2ghz P4 processor or higher,
- 512mb of memory,
- 8x AGP video card with 256 mb of video memory,
- 1 free USB port,
- Windows
As previously mentioned, the Tacx i-Magic Fortius is fully PC-controlled, connecting via USB from the control unit which is mounted on your handlebars. The software is not compatible with Mac operating systems.
There is something to be said about the Tacx i-Magic Fortius software in that it does everything short of your washing and ironing. The trainer comes with three completely different virtual reality pre-programmed terrains to get you started. Aside from these, there are many famous climbs which you can purchase separately on DVD for an average of 25 each. It really is just a case of popping in the disc and within minutes you will be grinding up Mt Ventoux or the Alp d Huez. The graphics are very realistic and engaging so much so that some of the terrains are actually postcard beautiful.
To further spice it up, the Tacx T1940 I-magic Fortius Turbo Trainer also allows you to download routes from Google Earth and routes from a GPS to the trainer so that you can re-ride them in the comfort of your own home. Dont get caught out on this one though as to download from GPS and Google Earth, you need to buy an extra bit of software which is not included in the initial Tacx i-Magic Fortius package.
Use the Tacx i-Magic Fortius to train real routes
The Tacx i-Magic Fortius also lets you try out triathlon and road race routes without having to travel across the country before the big day. You can ride against a previously recorded time of yours so that you can check your progress and fitness.
If you want to cycle against other online riders you can purchase an additional add-on. You can then cycle against other people from around the world who are actually riding right there with you, despite being 100s of miles awa).The multiplayer options is a brilliant addition as it is very motivating and gives you incentive to constantly try and improve yourself. The Tacx i-Magic Fortius has a large online community so purchasing the multi-player add-on opens up a whole new world of training. Racing people on your Tacx i-Magic Fortius is one of the most fun things you can do and is incredibly motivating.
The Tacx T1940 I-magic Fortius Turbo Trainer logs every ride you do. The software will track your heart rate, speed, wattage, cadence and calories. You will be given a table that you can load into other training programs as well as a four way line graph with the elevations of your ride.
The Tacx i-Magic Fortius resistance unit
The resistance unit is fantastic and is capable of massive resistance (1000 watts) with a very lifelike riding feel. The Tacx i-Magic Fortius simulates the hills by cranking up the resistance on the rear wheel forcing you out of the saddle and making you climb. And trust me, you climb!
While using the Tacx i-Magic Fortius essentially you will essentially replicate the movement of the rider on the screen in that when he stands, you stand and when he sits, you sit. An added benefit of this is that your onscreen rider does stop pedalling for a drink so it will remind you to do the same and keep hydrated.This change from flat to an incline is pretty smooth and requires a down shift in gears as opposed to an up shift often found in other trainers. Because you have to keep pedalling whether you are going uphill or downhill, the Tacx T1940 I-magic Fortius Turbo Trainer encourages you to really cycle hard whereas on the road, freewheeling is always an option.
The Tacx i-Magic Fortius is fun
Because of the variety of routes, conditions, rides and scenarios that you can choose from, the whole training session is actually loads of fun which is a rare thing to say about indoor cycle training.
The roller is a soft gel with a stainless steel cover which not only means that it is durable, but it is also really quiet which is always an added bonus when it comes to trainers.
In the unlikely event of running into any problems with the trainer, Tacx have an online forum with some very clued up advisers to help you out and give advice.
What we think of the Tacx T1940 iMagic Fortius Turbo Trainer
Pros: Alleviates trainer boredom; wide variety of rides, lifelike experience, logs your stats, active online community, quiet.
Cons: It could have better setup instructions, fairly large investment.
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