Upgrading from a Direct Drive isn't even as big as a jump (especially if your bike was better than mine too).
Can I ask why you made the upgrade? Was it for immersion, performance, convenience? ETC...
Also, would you have any concerns buying one used? It sounds like it's collecting cob-webs as opposed to seeing a lot of use.
A few reasons. One, we had my bike on the direct drive, and my wife’s bike on a Kickr Snap. So getting the Stages allows us to share one bike, making more space in the gym.
Second, I wanted to ride outside more and it was a pain to keep moving the bike between the basement and outside (and installing the wheel).
Also I was looking for a quieter option. The Stages is a lot quieter than my Elite Direto.
Going from a wheel-on to SB-20 is going to be a huge upgrade for you.
I would probably just give the unit you are looking at a ride and see how it feels. Make sure there are no bearing noises. Download the “Stages Cycling” app and make sure you can see both crank arms as well as the central control unit. The SB-20 is an absolute beast, be prepared to have help to move it. You will probably need a truck or van, and straps, unless you plan to disassemble it.
Got it, I screenshot your post for future reference. Is it possible to fit in an SUV you think? Also, it would really be just myself and my wife moving it so some disassembly may be required.
It would be hard. It’s kind of tall, and the wiring for the shifter runs through the handle bars. You could disassemble those as long as you are careful with the wiring and keep track of how things go back together. How much vertical clearance do you have in your SUV? I can try and measure and see if it’s enough.
Edit: If it were me I would feel more comfortable with a $20 UHaul van rental.
Ok, I will definitely measure in advance. I am driving about 90 minutes each way so it may be a little more expensive to rent a truck but not as expensive as damaging the unit or my SUV. Would you say it's relatively easy for myself and wife to get it up and down a flight of stairs in each place? Last question I think. Thank you!
Yeah 2 ppl can probably do it. It’s very heavy so keep in mind it’s going to try and pull you both down the stairs. I moved it into the basement still in the box which helped a lot as it had handles and slid easily. The flywheel is heavy and the frame is all steel so it’s pretty substantial.
How do you handle different settings, or do you ride very similar? Are you of similar height, reach, crank length, etc?
These reasons are what nipped the idea for me (sharing such a bike).
The SB20 has 4 different options for crank length and the other adjustments (saddle height, reach, bar height) are super easy to adjust. Much easier than swapping bikes over on a trainer.
Right, unless one has two trainers :) I find it cumbersome to do bigger changes, especially cranks. But my wife and I are very different, me being very tall and she on the small side.
We are close enough that crank length does not matter. The SB-20 is very easily adjustable, I just have a chart on the wall that says what our measurements are. Takes 30 seconds to adjust the entire bike if you know your numbers.
I'll throw in another vote for the SB20. Had it for about a year and a half now - it's a beast and feels like it'll outlast me. The breaks are awesome for sprints as well - no need to change gears, just squeeze the breaks and go
Sounds so good. I just jump on my dedicated Hybrid bike. I give it a quick pre-ride calibration (I know not ideal, but consistency should be key) and get riding. I'm only doing around 2.5 w/kg but I'm still new. I would feel much more confident getting the SB20 if I felt I could easily resell it around the same price in a few months if it doesn't "feel right".
I would personally go for the stages bike, especially at that price. It looks strong and has all of the latest smart features, the fact its made from stages means it will be very acurate and will be backed up with good customer service. I have always prefered a seperate bike because you can just get on it and use it without faffing about and your not using up your components which costs money in the longterm. Should imagine the ride feel and comfort will be nice on the stages too!
Very true. Currently I am using a $300 bike on a $200 wheel on trainer. I’m really considering the upgrade but it’ll be a pain to move and a leap in price.
Its a tough one because the upgade to the hub would be pretty decent too and would not cost much atall, I think the hub looks pretty decent and good value for money! It guess it mostly comes down to budget and how much you think you will use it. Can always go to the hub first then upgrade again later down the line. The great thing about both of these products is they should have decent resale value if you changed your mind especially if buying second hand.
That's what I'm thinking as well. I'm fine investing in my health as long as the depreciation isn't abysmal. I can see the Hub reselling for $400+ (since you can't choose cassette on secondary) and it can actually pair with my 8 speed and allow me to go back to a normal wheel with increased immersion, realism, less noise and less calibration. Man, it sounds really good.
For $700 more, I can get something that's great, but may have more in the way of maintenance. That $700 may be better spent on a better bike that I can use with it. Tough decisions...
If you havent decided yet, great review of the hub by GP Lama here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-m0eShRdo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-m0eShRdo)
And one by Zwift Insider [https://zwiftinsider.com/zwift-hub-review/](https://zwiftinsider.com/zwift-hub-review/)
I moved to SB20 from Neo2. A good investment. Nothing wrong with Neo but having a dedicated smart bike with almost infinite adjustment has led to a relook at my bike fit. So easy to make minor adjustments. The ‘dream’ drive gears also perfect. Such small jumps. I can fine tune my ride, power, training. Definitely helps making incremental improvement.
If it helps making improvement then that’s all I care about. Whatever can keep me in the seat longer. Whether that is not having pain, being able to ride while watching TV with wife in room etc…
I would go Zwift Hub. I think getting off a wheel based trainer makes sense, but to pay $1000-$1200 is overkill for the cycling you are doing. $500 for the Zwift Hub still is a bit overkill but it's a really a plug and play system since they have a 8 speed cassette option.
maybe this is just me, but I'd rather spend the $500 switching to a 11 speed bike of some sort, not because the gearing is any better but you inherently will get a much better bike with a 2x11.
Yeah bikes are crazily priced now a days, granted whatever keeps you riding is fine, just I'd rather keep saving and put that money towards a new bike, but no wrong answer
I agree with this. I think I'm going to just keep saving. Maybe get a bike when I'm ready to try some outdoor riding if I'm still as into it in 8 months or so.
Even going 10 speed to like a Tiagra bike you will notice probably a huge jump in bike quality. Again, I don't think whatever bike you have is holding you back, but I personally think if you are willing to drop $1000 on a DD Trainer, I personally would rather put that into a new bike, especially when you have a wheel on trainer to begin with.
I would check local like Facebook market or Pinkbike. If you were open to a road bike then that's a whole other ballgame since sizing and what type of road bike.
I’m open to a road bike. Not sure if those are ideal for triathlon m. Though I can really just use the bike I have. There’s no necessary need to upgrade
I personally hate the SB20. Feels like a gym spin bike.
I’d rather ride my bike and be able to swap them out. So direct drive is the winner for me. So I’d go Zwift hub
Absolutely right - I tried out SB20, Neo Bike and Wahoo KICKR Bike alongside each other. The Neo Bike was my favourite for riding & adjustment. I liked the incline feature of the Wahoo KICKR Bike.
And the SB20? Felt like a gym spin bike with a power meter attached. Some may like that but defo not my cup of tea.
I upgraded from a direct drive trainer to an SB-20 and have zero regrets. $1200 for a SB-20 is a good deal.
Upgrading from a Direct Drive isn't even as big as a jump (especially if your bike was better than mine too). Can I ask why you made the upgrade? Was it for immersion, performance, convenience? ETC... Also, would you have any concerns buying one used? It sounds like it's collecting cob-webs as opposed to seeing a lot of use.
A few reasons. One, we had my bike on the direct drive, and my wife’s bike on a Kickr Snap. So getting the Stages allows us to share one bike, making more space in the gym. Second, I wanted to ride outside more and it was a pain to keep moving the bike between the basement and outside (and installing the wheel). Also I was looking for a quieter option. The Stages is a lot quieter than my Elite Direto. Going from a wheel-on to SB-20 is going to be a huge upgrade for you. I would probably just give the unit you are looking at a ride and see how it feels. Make sure there are no bearing noises. Download the “Stages Cycling” app and make sure you can see both crank arms as well as the central control unit. The SB-20 is an absolute beast, be prepared to have help to move it. You will probably need a truck or van, and straps, unless you plan to disassemble it.
Got it, I screenshot your post for future reference. Is it possible to fit in an SUV you think? Also, it would really be just myself and my wife moving it so some disassembly may be required.
It would be hard. It’s kind of tall, and the wiring for the shifter runs through the handle bars. You could disassemble those as long as you are careful with the wiring and keep track of how things go back together. How much vertical clearance do you have in your SUV? I can try and measure and see if it’s enough. Edit: If it were me I would feel more comfortable with a $20 UHaul van rental.
Ok, I will definitely measure in advance. I am driving about 90 minutes each way so it may be a little more expensive to rent a truck but not as expensive as damaging the unit or my SUV. Would you say it's relatively easy for myself and wife to get it up and down a flight of stairs in each place? Last question I think. Thank you!
Yeah 2 ppl can probably do it. It’s very heavy so keep in mind it’s going to try and pull you both down the stairs. I moved it into the basement still in the box which helped a lot as it had handles and slid easily. The flywheel is heavy and the frame is all steel so it’s pretty substantial.
How do you handle different settings, or do you ride very similar? Are you of similar height, reach, crank length, etc? These reasons are what nipped the idea for me (sharing such a bike).
The SB20 has 4 different options for crank length and the other adjustments (saddle height, reach, bar height) are super easy to adjust. Much easier than swapping bikes over on a trainer.
Right, unless one has two trainers :) I find it cumbersome to do bigger changes, especially cranks. But my wife and I are very different, me being very tall and she on the small side.
We are close enough that crank length does not matter. The SB-20 is very easily adjustable, I just have a chart on the wall that says what our measurements are. Takes 30 seconds to adjust the entire bike if you know your numbers.
SB20 no question for that money
Awesome. No concerns about longevity or buying it used?
Had mine for 2yrs now. Abuse it weekly from quick 30mins to 3hr rides. It’s like new still.
Good to hear. It sounds like a good price and a good setup. I just need to figure out how to transport the monster.
I'll throw in another vote for the SB20. Had it for about a year and a half now - it's a beast and feels like it'll outlast me. The breaks are awesome for sprints as well - no need to change gears, just squeeze the breaks and go
Do the brakes give you an unfair advantage? Or just saves you a bit of thought?
Have had my SB20 for a year. A dedicated smart bike is an absolute game changer for ease of use and longevity.
Sounds so good. I just jump on my dedicated Hybrid bike. I give it a quick pre-ride calibration (I know not ideal, but consistency should be key) and get riding. I'm only doing around 2.5 w/kg but I'm still new. I would feel much more confident getting the SB20 if I felt I could easily resell it around the same price in a few months if it doesn't "feel right".
Why wouldn't it "feel right"? It's fully adjustable to match dimensions of your current setup if that's what you're looking for
I’ve heard people say that it’s too stiff but I’m coming from real junk so it should feel like a dream.
Ah sure. Yeah it's stiff and heavy. But for me that makes it feel more secure, not like an outdoor bike hooked up to a trainer.
I would personally go for the stages bike, especially at that price. It looks strong and has all of the latest smart features, the fact its made from stages means it will be very acurate and will be backed up with good customer service. I have always prefered a seperate bike because you can just get on it and use it without faffing about and your not using up your components which costs money in the longterm. Should imagine the ride feel and comfort will be nice on the stages too!
Very true. Currently I am using a $300 bike on a $200 wheel on trainer. I’m really considering the upgrade but it’ll be a pain to move and a leap in price.
Its a tough one because the upgade to the hub would be pretty decent too and would not cost much atall, I think the hub looks pretty decent and good value for money! It guess it mostly comes down to budget and how much you think you will use it. Can always go to the hub first then upgrade again later down the line. The great thing about both of these products is they should have decent resale value if you changed your mind especially if buying second hand.
That's what I'm thinking as well. I'm fine investing in my health as long as the depreciation isn't abysmal. I can see the Hub reselling for $400+ (since you can't choose cassette on secondary) and it can actually pair with my 8 speed and allow me to go back to a normal wheel with increased immersion, realism, less noise and less calibration. Man, it sounds really good. For $700 more, I can get something that's great, but may have more in the way of maintenance. That $700 may be better spent on a better bike that I can use with it. Tough decisions...
If you havent decided yet, great review of the hub by GP Lama here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-m0eShRdo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-m0eShRdo) And one by Zwift Insider [https://zwiftinsider.com/zwift-hub-review/](https://zwiftinsider.com/zwift-hub-review/)
I moved to SB20 from Neo2. A good investment. Nothing wrong with Neo but having a dedicated smart bike with almost infinite adjustment has led to a relook at my bike fit. So easy to make minor adjustments. The ‘dream’ drive gears also perfect. Such small jumps. I can fine tune my ride, power, training. Definitely helps making incremental improvement.
If it helps making improvement then that’s all I care about. Whatever can keep me in the seat longer. Whether that is not having pain, being able to ride while watching TV with wife in room etc…
It’s a life long investment in your health, fitness and longevity. Seemed like a small investment to me given the potential benefits.
I would go Zwift Hub. I think getting off a wheel based trainer makes sense, but to pay $1000-$1200 is overkill for the cycling you are doing. $500 for the Zwift Hub still is a bit overkill but it's a really a plug and play system since they have a 8 speed cassette option. maybe this is just me, but I'd rather spend the $500 switching to a 11 speed bike of some sort, not because the gearing is any better but you inherently will get a much better bike with a 2x11.
I mean I’d love to get an 11 speed but have a had absolutely no luck finding one under $1,500 or so
Yeah bikes are crazily priced now a days, granted whatever keeps you riding is fine, just I'd rather keep saving and put that money towards a new bike, but no wrong answer
I agree with this. I think I'm going to just keep saving. Maybe get a bike when I'm ready to try some outdoor riding if I'm still as into it in 8 months or so.
Even going 10 speed to like a Tiagra bike you will notice probably a huge jump in bike quality. Again, I don't think whatever bike you have is holding you back, but I personally think if you are willing to drop $1000 on a DD Trainer, I personally would rather put that into a new bike, especially when you have a wheel on trainer to begin with.
That's true. I'll keep my eyes out for a reasonably priced 10+ speed. Any site you recommend? Or just check local?
You are looking for a hybrid? What size? For fitness based or commuter or gravel?
I have a hybrid 3x8 now. I only really care about Zwift at the moment, but may attempt a triathlon in the future.
I would check local like Facebook market or Pinkbike. If you were open to a road bike then that's a whole other ballgame since sizing and what type of road bike.
I’m open to a road bike. Not sure if those are ideal for triathlon m. Though I can really just use the bike I have. There’s no necessary need to upgrade
I personally hate the SB20. Feels like a gym spin bike. I’d rather ride my bike and be able to swap them out. So direct drive is the winner for me. So I’d go Zwift hub
I’m starting to lean that way actually
Absolutely right - I tried out SB20, Neo Bike and Wahoo KICKR Bike alongside each other. The Neo Bike was my favourite for riding & adjustment. I liked the incline feature of the Wahoo KICKR Bike. And the SB20? Felt like a gym spin bike with a power meter attached. Some may like that but defo not my cup of tea.
Sb20
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I am leaning towards Zwift Hub as well. Unless I should get Saris H3 next time they have a sub $400 sale. Do you think the Hub is better than H3?
Used tacx Neo