This post lists the items I got to use Zwift, how much they cost, a short review of each item after more than a month of use and some pics of set up. The cost listed is for all the equipment + 1 month of Zwift, minus the bike, the computer and Strava.
To use Zwift I got these things at my local Performance bike shop:
Mat
$40.00 Travel Trac Trainer
Available at Performance for $39.99
Cadence and Speed Sensor
$60.00 Wahoo Cadence and Speed Sensor
Its available from Amazon for $70.00 and at Performance for $59.99
Heart Rate Monitor
$50.00 Wahoo Fitness TICKR Heart Rate Monitor
Its $49.99 at Amazon and Performance
Fluid Stationary Trainer
Compatible
$299.99 CycleOps Fluid2 Trainer
Got $5 off for "liking" the Performance Store and $32.60 off from my Performance reward points
Its $299.99 on Amazon and at $299.99 at Performance
Not compatible:
$180.00 CycleOps Fluid Trainer*
Its $169.99 on Amazon and $179.99 at Performance
Wheel lift a.k.a. Riser Block
$26.00 CycleOps Climbing Block
Available at Amazon for $24.25 and at Performance for $29.99
I also run the Zwift Helper App on my Google Pixel, the Zwift program on my T460 and use Strava to save the rides. The T460's specs are here. My Strava profile is here. Strava is $60.00 per year. Zwift is $15.00 per month ($180.00 per year).
*Asked Zwift and CycleOps if this trainer is equivalent to the Fluid 2.
Answer on Apr 8th 2017: From Zwift support: No. The Fluid is not compatible. You need to get the Fluid2.
Tips
I would suggest visiting your local bike shop to get everything you need to use Zwift. They will likely have a Zwift setup you can try and everything you need to get started.
Some Things I've Learned
I'm getting my heart-rate up a lot, more than if I didn't have Zwift
You don't get to ride "anywhere"
Zwift only has 3 maps: Watopia, London and Richmond. These maps are on a rotation and there are only a small set of roads in these locations you get to ride (except Watopia - you get to ride all the roads there).
To get things going and to make sure all the sensors sync up do these steps:
Launch the game
Launch the helper on the phone
Spin the crank and the wheel
Put on the heart rate monitor
Wait between 30 secs and a min
If the sensors don't sync up, logout of the Zwift Helper App and log back in.
Mat
I got the Travel Trac Trainer Mat on sale for $39.99 (was $49.99). It was not available at Amazon, but was available at Performance for $39.99.
Rolled up:
Unrolled:
Review
After a month the mat seems okay. The bike, trainer and riser press down the mat material a lot. This seems to lock everything in place, but it also makes re-positioning things a bit tough (which I've needed to do a few times). Overall the mat seems a little "cheap" but is functional.
Cadence and Speed Sensor
I got the Wahoo Cadence and Speed Sensor pack for $59.99. Its available from Amazon for $70.00 and at Performance for $59.99.
Front of the package:
Back of the package:
Review
After a month of indoor use these seem to work okay. Installing the speed sensor was a little difficult, you need to secure a rubber strap around a hub, between wheel spokes. Just needed to take my time.
Pictures of Set Up
Heart Rate Monitor
I already had the heart rate monitor, a Wahoo Fitness TICKR. Its $49.99 at Amazon and Performance.
Review
This is my second TICKR in 3 years. The first one quit after about 1.5 years. Overall I've used this a lot to track heart rate both on Zwift and outside.
Fluid2 Stationary Trainer
I picked up the Fluid2 after the Zwift told me the Fluid was not compatible with Zwift.
Review
It seems to offer about 30% more resistance than the Fluid.
Pictures of Set Up
Wheel lift a.k.a. Riser Block
I got the CycleOps Climbing Block for $25.99. Its available at Amazon for $24.25 and at Performance for $29.99.
Review
This riser works really good. Its very sturdy and holds my front wheel very well.
Archive
Fluid Stationary Trainer
Leaving the following here for reference. The Fluid is not compatible with the Fluid2.
I got the CycleOps Fluid trainer on sale for $179.99. I got this trainer after the guy at the Performance bike shop pointed out that a fluid trainer feels more natural than a magnetic resistance trainer. I was hesitant because I had read some reviews that these trainers start to leak. He said he hadn't had any problems. Its $169.99 on Amazon and $179.99 at Performance.
Having ridden a Tacx magnetic resistance trainer, I do like the fluid trainer better. It does feel more natural and you don't need to shift the resistance up and down.
The following is wrong. The fluid is not the same as the Fluid2:
Note: you'll need to select the CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer in Zwift. They don't list a "Fluid" without the 2. I've looked this up. The box says its compatible and there are some posts online that seem to confirm that its the same. I'm checking with Zwift and CycleOps on this point.
Review
After about a month this trainer seems to be holding up. I haven't seen any leaks. The noise seems about right.
Pictures of Setup
