When I visited Garmin a couple weeks ago for the Edge MTB media event, the new computer wasn’t the only product they wanted to show us. While at the brand’s Cochrane, Alberta facility, they also introduced us to the new TacX Alpine climbing simulator. The Garmin team gave us the full rundown along with the opportunity to take this unique indoor cycling accessory for a quick test ride.
The folks at Garmin, and particularly those who work at the Cochrane, Alberta facility, where the winters are long and cold, are quite familiar with riding indoors. They understand that it’s a necessity for many riders, including themselves, for training and fitness, and are acutely aware of how unrealistic, static, and boring it can be to spend hours on the trainer. With the TacX lineup of trainers and accessories, the team is trying to deliver the most realistic and natural indoor riding experience on the market.
To that end, the brand new TacX Alpine joins the family to simulate climbing and descending gradients, provide a natural steering feel with a dynamic fork mount, and fore-aft movement with the built-in motion base. While other climbing simulators like the Wahoo Kickr Climb and the Elite Rizer work similarly, the TacX Alpine aims to make the ride experience even more realistic.
According to Garmin’s Susan Lyman, “We are excited to add the TacX Alpine to our lineup of premium training tools to create an ultimate indoor cycling experience unlike any other. This new gradient simulator helps bring real elevation changes to life and complements the motion of our powerful NEO 2T and 3M smart trainers to add a whole new level of immersion and realism to any ride. And when riding life-like videos from some of the most beautiful routes and locations in the world through the TacX Training App, the full TacX suite makes cyclists feel like they’re actually there.”
TacX Alpine Details
The TacX Alpine is a gradient simulator that raises and lowers the front end of the bike to replicate climbing grades up to 25% and down to -10%. These gradient changes are made automatically when paired with compatible apps like Zwift or the TacX Training App, or it can be controlled manually. It sits on a motion base that allows fore-aft movement to match the motion of the motion plates of TacX’s NEO 3M or the NEO 2T (with motion plates added). As such, the TacX Alpine is designed to work exclusively with those trainers.
Additionally, the TacX Alpine has a dynamic fork mount that allows for twisting to mimic the natural dynamics and steering feel at the handlebar. Not only does this avoid the static and unnatural bar feel of riding most trainers, but it also pairs with compatible apps for virtual steering.
TacX Alpine Highlights
- Replicate grades from up to 25% and down to -10% for more natural movement.
- Make steering more fun with a dynamic fork mount that provides virtual, real-time steering — just by rotating the handlebars.
- Experience more natural, smooth, and responsive movements thanks to a built-in motion base.
- A stable design makes for a quiet and comfortable ride, so it’s easier to come out of the saddle when tackling climbs or remain seated when descending.
- Seamlessly integrate with the Tacx Training App on a compatible smart device to complete training plan workouts, participate in virtual GroupRides, take part in training rides with WorldTour pros, and experience immersive videos from some of the most beautiful routes and locations around the world.
- Manually adjust grade using the built-in control panel or receive real-time, automatic grade changes when paired with compatible apps.
- After a ride, view performance data, training effectiveness, and more in greater detail through the Garmin Connect app.
TacX Alpine First Impressions
While visiting Garmin a couple of weeks ago, they had a couple of the new TacX Alpine climbing simulators set up for us to try out. Along with a TacX NEO 3M trainer and a large screen showing a virtual ride video on the TacX Training App, I hopped on briefly to get a feel for this new indoor training accessory.
Of course, as expected, the TacX Alpine raised and lowered the front of the bike to simulate the climbs and descents on the screen. I also immediately noticed the fore-aft movement of the motion base working with the motion plates on the trainer to create a system that moved in concert dynamically beneath me. At the front of the bike, the twisting movement of the handlebars added an element of realism to the ride experience. While I’m pretty accustomed to a static handlebar on the trainer, it’s certainly not ideal, and the dynamic front end absolutely felt more natural to me. It also felt plenty stable, even with the front end raised while pedaling out of the saddle.
For serious indoor cyclists who already own a TacX NEO smart trainer, the Alpine strikes me as a great, albeit expensive, accessory to enhance the training experience. Riding indoors can be incredibly monotonous and static, and if something like the TacX Alpine can help make it more interesting and engaging, then it could potentially be a great addition to your indoor training setup.
Garmin TacX Alpine: Pricing and Availability
The new TacX Alpine is available now at a retail price of $1,099.99. You can learn more about this new gradient simulator or purchase one for yourself through the brand’s website or one of Garmin’s retail partners.
