Tacx has announced the Boost, a non-smart turbo trainer with a 1.65kg flywheel and a magnetic brake unit capable of providing up to 1,050 watts of resistance.
The Boost’s resistance can be manually adjusted via an inline shifter that mounts to your handlebars, and there are ten different resistance levels available.
Priced at £229.99 / €249.99 / $299.99 / AU$349 or £249.99 / €279.99 / $329.99 / AU$349 bundled with a speed sensor, which enables Zwift compatibility, the Boost is aimed at the more budget end of the indoor cycling market.
Tacx claims the closed resistance unit helps reduce noise from the unit, but hasn’t made a specific claim as to its precise noise levels.
It doesn’t require a power source to operate either, possibly making it a good option for warming up before races in the real world.
- Read our Tacx Boost review
Is the Tacx Boost compatible with Zwift and other indoor cycling apps?
Because it’s not a smart trainer, the Boost trainer alone is not compatible with Zwift, RGT Cycling, Rouvy, The Sufferfest or Tacx’s own indoor training app. An ANT+ or Bluetooth compatible speed sensor – included with the more expensive Boost bundle – changes this slightly, though.
With a speed sensor mounted to your bike at the rear wheel, Zwift and other similar apps are able to estimate your power output based on the known power curve (the power required to make the rear wheel on your bike spin at a certain speed, at a certain resistance setting) of the Boost trainer, and use this to power your virtual avatar or follow power-based workouts.
Just like any other non-smart trainer, the Tacx Boost is not capable of automatically adjusting the resistance to simulate virtual gradients or to control your power output during interval training sessions, even with the addition of a speed sensor.
Tacx has also not made any specific claims regarding the accuracy of this estimated power.
Tacx Boost availability
The Tacx Boost trainer is available now.
It ships with a front wheel riser block and quick-release axle for road and mountain bikes. Adaptors for bikes with thru-axles are available separately from Tacx, with prices starting at €29.99.
We’ve had a test unit in to test and will bring you our impressions very soon.
We’ve had a unit in to test, so check out our full Tacx Boost turbo trainer review.
Tacx Boost specification
- Price: £229.99 / €249.99 / $299.99 / AU$349 or £249.99 / €279.99 / $329.99 / AU$349 bundled with a speed sensor
- Dimensions: 675mm x 650mm x 410mm
- Weight: 8.54kg
- Mount: Wheel-on
- Resistance type: Magnetic, with 10 adjustable resistance settings
- Flywheel weight: 1.65kg
- Max power (at 40kph): 1,050 watts
- Wheel size compatibility: 26in, 27.5in/650b and 29in/700c with 5mm rear axles (thru-axle adaptors available to purchase separately)
- Folding legs: Yes
