Direto XR-T resistance change too abrupt
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 12:46 pm
I bought a new Direto XR-T a few weeks ago to use with Zwift, and I'm generally very happy with it.
However, I've noticed when riding on courses that have undulating terrain (like Titans Grove) that the trainer's resistance doesn't seem to take the rider's current speed inertia into consideration when switching from a negative to a positive gradient.
On other trainers I've used (like the KICKR), the resistance felt in the pedals gradually increases after coming out of a negative gradient and starting to go up a positive one as you slow down. The Direto XR-T on the other hand immediately sets the positive gradient's resistance when you enter it resulting in what feels like hitting a resistance wall.
Example:
Let's say I'm going down a -5% gradient and pick up speed going 60 km/h. The course then comes out of the negative gradient and goes up a small 200 m 5% positive gradient.
What I expect to happen:
The resistance felt in the pedals when entering the positive gradient should be negligible due to my speed's inertia. The resistance should then gradually increase as my speed slows down, so that I have time to react to the resistance change and shift accordingly (like what happens when riding in real life).
What actually happens:
The resistance felt in the pedals when entering the positive gradient is immediate, which results in an unnaturally abrupt resistance change in the pedals. The change is so abrupt that it's very difficult to change gears properly.
I've only noticed this with the Direto-XR-T, and not other interactive trainers when riding on Zwift.
I'm starting to suspect it may be an issue that could be fixed with a firmware update?
However, I've noticed when riding on courses that have undulating terrain (like Titans Grove) that the trainer's resistance doesn't seem to take the rider's current speed inertia into consideration when switching from a negative to a positive gradient.
On other trainers I've used (like the KICKR), the resistance felt in the pedals gradually increases after coming out of a negative gradient and starting to go up a positive one as you slow down. The Direto XR-T on the other hand immediately sets the positive gradient's resistance when you enter it resulting in what feels like hitting a resistance wall.
Example:
Let's say I'm going down a -5% gradient and pick up speed going 60 km/h. The course then comes out of the negative gradient and goes up a small 200 m 5% positive gradient.
What I expect to happen:
The resistance felt in the pedals when entering the positive gradient should be negligible due to my speed's inertia. The resistance should then gradually increase as my speed slows down, so that I have time to react to the resistance change and shift accordingly (like what happens when riding in real life).
What actually happens:
The resistance felt in the pedals when entering the positive gradient is immediate, which results in an unnaturally abrupt resistance change in the pedals. The change is so abrupt that it's very difficult to change gears properly.
I've only noticed this with the Direto-XR-T, and not other interactive trainers when riding on Zwift.
I'm starting to suspect it may be an issue that could be fixed with a firmware update?