Review of the Elite Nero Smart Roll Trainer

The Elite Nero smart bike has nearly all the features needed to satisfy both purists who prefer a natural pedaling feel and enthusiasts of new technologies and apps like Zwift or Bkool. It features three old-school rollers but with resistance that automatically adapts to the intensity changes dictated by the software—ensuring a high-quality indoor workout with a realistic feel.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr

The use of roller trainers is almost as old as cycling itself. Used for warm-ups, cool-downs (primarily on the track or in cyclocross), or even indoor training on days of very bad weather, the roller trainer—consisting of three rollers connected by one or two belts, though it requires maintaining balance—helps develop fluidity and smoothness in the pedaling motion, even if the most basic models lack the ability to simulate muscular power. Simple, easy to transport and set up, this type of indoor trainer sometimes requires shifting gears and using very high gear ratios to provide just enough resistance.

=> SEE ALSO: Yoann’s Video Tips—The Benefits of Roller Trainers

In recent years, other models have appeared on the market—heavier, more stable, sometimes offering very high resistance, and perfectly securing the bike for a true indoor workout. And along with them have come software and apps that are all the rage—either for their technical sophistication and the quality they bring to training, or for their fun factor, as is the case with Zwift. And it’s thanks to the connectivity between the indoor trainer and the software or app that all of this is made possible—even if, from our perspective, something is missing in terms of “handling” with these devices. Not to mention the stress placed on the bike—and the frame in particular—when high intensities are applied to the pedals while part of the machine remains completely stationary. It’s hard to know exactly how things stand on that front, even though some brands, like Canyon, claim there are no issues with their bikes, for example.

Unless your goal is simply to become an e-sports champion, however, using a home trainer isn’t an end in itself. The point is to provide an alternative way to train indoors due to bad weather, after dark, or simply a lack of time. With a roller trainer, you have an excellent tool for maintaining or improving your pedaling technique, learning fluidity and a “smooth” pedaling motion, and working on your balance by engaging your entire body—just like on the road, in fact. And when that same roller trainer offers some resistance and connects to modern apps, you get the best of both worlds, so to speak. That’s why we believe the Elite Nero is one of the very best machines currently on the market.

=> SEE ALSO: 8 Home Trainer Workouts

Key Features of the Nero

Compared to other roller trainers on the market—which, it must be said, aren’t really in high demand anymore—the Elite Nero has several features that make it a top-of-the-line machine.

First of all, the Nero is what’s known as a Smart Trainer, meaning it can pair with a computer, tablet, or smartphone to connect to software or apps via ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart. Cela veut dire que sur Zwift ou sur Bkool par exemple, la résistance magnétique variable est contrôlée et ajustée automatiquement, simulant de manière interactive le terrain ou tout entraînement planifié (si le mode ERG est activé), de la même façon que les home-trainers à entrainement direct dont on parle habituellement. Sauf qu’ici le vélo n’est pas maintenu, et que même en plein effort il vous faut rester concentré pour rester en équilibre. Comme sur la route en fait, même si ici elle ne fait que 34 cm de large.

With two 2.7-kg flywheels in each rear roller and connectivity, the Nero offers a truly natural pedaling sensation and simulates gradients of up to 7%. It can provide resistance up to 1,350 watts at 60 km/h. This means that on virtual routes, for example, steeper gradients aren’t simulated, unlike the riding speed. In short, you won’t need the smallest gear ratios with the Nero (the 39×23 was enough for us during long sessions), but you can always generate more power to try to maintain a reasonable speed on steeper simulated inclines. As for maximum power, it’s more than enough for most workouts, except perhaps during sprints for the heaviest riders.

D’autre part, le Nero bénéficie de la technologie Elite Quick Motion, avec des pieds « flottants » d’avant en arrière sur presque 3 centimètres. Cela n’a l’air de rien, mais vous pouvez ainsi plus facilement vous mettre en danseuse de temps à autre pendant l’effort, avec moins de risques de « sortir » des rouleaux. Attention toutefois, car l’utilisation du Nero sur un tapis de mousse (pour limiter le bruit par exemple ou protéger le sol) limite le mouvement des pieds flottants à quelques millimètres seulement.

Note that the rollers are parabolic in shape, so they gently guide you back toward the center if you get too close to the outer edge. Because you mustn’t lose sight of the fact that there is some risk of falling on a roller trainer, and that in addition to having to position yourself near a wall or a piece of furniture to catch yourself just in case, you can fall if your movements are too sudden. That’s part of the machine’s charm (along with the technical work involved), but it’s also its limitation: you simply can’t push yourself so hard during an intense interval or sprint that you lose control!

Quite heavy for this type of device (19 kg), the Nero is length-adjustable for bikes with a wheelbase between 944 et 1144 mm. L’un des principaux avantages du Nero est que vous n’avez rien à démonter sur le vélo et que vous pouvez vous installer quasiment directement sur les rouleaux, quel que soit votre vélo : route, Gravel, VTT, à patins ou à disque. Seuls les grands VTT (au-delà de la taille L) peuvent ne pas trouver leur place sur le Nero. Car pour un bon réglage et assurer l’équilibre en roulant, il faut que l’entraxe de la roue avant soit au-dessus ou très légèrement en arrière du rouleau avant.

Foldable for storage, the Nero also features a retractable step to make it easier to mount the bike. Once folded, with the straps released and hanging loose, the bike doesn’t look very polished, with a plastic appearance that doesn’t necessarily inspire confidence in its sturdiness. Nevertheless, during testing, its performance met our expectations. Finally, a word about the length of the power cord. At 1.50 meters, you have a bit of leeway in an apartment, but this is something to keep in mind if you’re riding in a garage, for example.

Fairly Simple Setup

Once the device is in place, simply plug it in to power it up and start the connectivity search. The pairing process with apps and software isn’t very complicated and works correctly. To get started, th‘application Elite MyETraining est utile pour la configuration initiale de l’appareil et notamment son étalonnage. Avec cette application, vous disposez également de séances d’entraînement programmées et différents tests, ainsi que de la possibilité de rouler sur des parcours virtuels ou en vidéos (payantes). Avec le Nero, vous disposez d’un abonnement gratuit d’un an à MyETraining.

Le Nero bénéficie d’un capteur de puissance intégré, forcément nécessaire pour adapter la résistance au terrain virtuel. Même après plusieurs étalonnages, sa précision reste toutefois assez éloignée de la réalité. C’est assez logique si l’on tient compte du fait que la mesure de la puissance n’est ici pas directement liée à la transmission du vélo. En comparaison avec notre capteur de puissance habituel, le Nero indique entre 20 et 40 watts de moins, selon l’intensité. Cette puissance sous-évaluée est un problème sur certains logiciels, avec un rendement virtuel forcément sous-évalué aussi. Notons cependant que la différence est proportionnelle à l’effort et cohérente, ce qui n’influe pas sur les sensations en roulant. Il est également possible de connecter directement votre capteur de puissance avec le home-trainer avec la fonctionnalité Power Meter Link (PML), de manière à assurer plus de réalisme à l’ensemble.

Regardless of the app you choose—such as Elite or Bkool—the Nero can operate in ERG mode, meaning resistance is determined by the app, or in free mode, where resistance depends on the virtual gradient and speed. In ERG mode, if you decide to do 5′ at 200 watts and then 5′ at 250 watts, the device automatically adjusts the resistance. Of course, if you don’t have a power meter, the power output will be underestimated, and you’ll need to take that into account. Ideally, you should even establish a power profile for the indoor trainer, which will likely differ from your road profile.

=> SEE ALSO: Power in Cycling

But that doesn’t matter. What we appreciate here is the device’s responsiveness, regardless of the app, and even that slight inertia, which actually feels very close to reality. When you reach the top of a virtual “climb,” you don’t immediately feel the pedaling get easier; it takes a few seconds, just as it does after a “descent” and the subsequent climb.

The Pros and Cons of Rollers

Training on rollers requires more concentration than on a stationary bike where the wheel is fixed. And this is even more true here if you’re using an app, since you have to process more information while trying to maintain your balance. But that’s obviously the point of the exercise—and what helps you learn to feel comfortable on your bike on the road and pedal smoothly. With the Nero, you don’t just pedal with your legs, and certainly not by “pumping” back and forth between left and right. Your whole body gets involved, at least to keep the bike aligned with the rollers, all while maintaining good form even during a strength exercise. Another benefit is that indoor sessions go by faster this way.

With good control, you’ll be able to accelerate very hard while staying seated—but without losing your balance either.

With a little practice, you’ll learn to stand up on the Nero (which is made easier by the floating frame), first to relax from time to time—since stopping pedaling is out of the question here (or you’ll lose your balance)— and then to pick up speed or overcome certain virtual obstacles. However, don’t expect to sprint out of the saddle, as you might on Zwift. First, the rear wheel may spin a bit on the rollers if you take your weight off it, and second, there’s a real risk of “falling off” the rollers. With good control, however, you’ll be able to accelerate very quickly while staying seated—but without losing your cool either. Those who are more comfortable will also be able to let go of the handlebars from time to time, just as you would with any roller trainer.

Rollers—and the Nero in particular—aren’t designed for high-intensity workouts like those found in gyms (spinning). Some may see this as a drawback, but it all depends on your ultimate goal. If your goal is to enjoy a fun and interactive workout while improving your technique, the Nero delivers the expected sensations and, ultimately, greater enjoyment, offering what the Anglo-Saxons call a realistic “experience.”

In use, with its high-quality components and plastic finish—which seems a bit cheap at first glance—the Elite Nero isn’t too noisy. In addition to the drivetrain noise—which is mainly heard with direct-drive indoor trainers—you’ll also hear the sound of the tires on the rollers. But since the machine doesn’t resonate, the noise remains contained. If you’re climbing virtually—and therefore riding at low speeds—you won’t need to turn up the volume on the TV or your music. If you’re riding fast on flat terrain, the rolling noise will naturally drown out some of the room’s ambient sounds. But it’s still within reasonable limits. Just avoid epic sessions after 9 p.m. if you live in an apartment—you never know how the neighbors might react!

Not perfect, but so endearing

Le home-trainer Elite Nero est un appareil qui réunit les avantages des rouleaux et de leur intérêt pour la technique de pédalage avec ceux de l’entrainement connecté. C’est un outil pour les pratiquants ambitieux et expérimentés (ou qui cherchent à le devenir) qui ne veulent pas avoir à démonter leur vélo et qui recherchent une sensation de pédalage naturelle tout en participant à des compétitions virtuelles sur Zwift ou en faisant leur entraînement par intervalles. Le Nero est également pratique car portable et utilisable sans connexion (avec une résistance moyenne) pour l’échauffement avant une compétition. Évidemment, il peut effrayer les débutants et limiter certaines pratiques extrêmes. Il faut un peu de temps pour être à l’aise dessus, et le manque de précision de son capteur de puissance intégré peut être un problème dans certains cas. Mais, comme nous l’avons constaté sur la route en conditions réelles, c’est l’un des appareils les plus efficaces si vous cherchez la forme. Aussi l’un des plus naturels et des plus ludiques du marché. On adore.