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The Tacx Forius virtual reality bicycle trainer uses your racing back to create an indoor bicycle trainer which is connected to your computer to create different virtual reality effects. The back wheel of your racing bicycle is placed into a solid frame with a roll pressed against the back wheel. The roll is connected to a generator which provides resistance and delivers the power you generate back to the electric grid and actually saves you money on your electricity bill. The resistance is changed by the computer program to create part of the virtual effect. The Tacx Fortius has controls on the handle bar and a sensor to measure the peddle rotations. The controls are connected to the computer which provide the information of the different sensors (speed, gradient, distance, paddle rotation, …) and visual shots of the route.
 
The Tacx Fortius bicycle trainer offers the following training opportunities:
- Catalyst Training based on power, gradient or heart rate, the power, gradient or heart rate levels can be predetermined in a training schedule or can be changed with the controls on the handle bar.
- Real life video Cycling along famous routes based on actual video recordings and resistance that is in accordance with the actual gradient of the route. The control on the handle bar allow you to select different views and different information on the computer screen. The following routes are available:
Belgium: Ardennes MTB ride, Lombardy Tour: Namur to Revin, Tour of Flanders;
France: Giant of the Provence , Alpine Classic 2007, Mont Ventoux, Alpine Classic Marmotte;
Italy: Giro del Mortirolo, Milan San Remo, Passo del Gavia;
Germany: The Grossglockner;
The Netherlands: Amstel Gold Race;
Spain: The Pyrenees Stage, Mallorca Tour;
South Africa: Cycling in Capetown;
USA: Iron Horse Classic, Heart of Evergreen, Aube Valley Ride.
- I-magic Fortius Cycle on a virtual track where the resistance is in accordance with the gradient. Different views can be selected and speed, distance, heart rate, peddle rotation, power are displayed on the screen. The basic software comes with a number of routes where different lengths can be selected, additionally cycling in a Velodrome and extreme ATB are available. The I-magic Fortius works with an optional steering frame which allow you to steer in order to follow the course. The software provides some support in steering and navigation but steering is required to get on the right track. The steering is a very good accessory because it allow you to stay concentrated and cycling will get less boring than cycling with Catalyst and the Real Life video.
The I-magic Fortius also allow you to add a competitors to make it even more realistic. It also possible to add your previous run as competitor which is a good target when you strive for mprovements.
Information during the training
During your training the Taxc provides you with the following information:
- Cycled time
- Speed
- Cycled distance
- Generated power
- Gradient of the route
- Peddle rotation
This information is stored and can be analysed after the training with the Tacx analyser tool.
Conclusions
The Tacx Fortius virtual Reality trainer is a very usefull training tool, not only for the winter period when outsite training is difficult or not desirable but also during the rest of the year for specific training exercises such as hill training when there are no hills around for example in the Netherlands.
There are two resolvable drawbacks: 1) it is difficult to stay motivated, especially when cycling alone it will get a little boring and 2) you will get it really warm. The motivation can be resolved by cycling with more people or use a big screen (projector). The I-magic Fortius training option is hardly boring because you have to stay concentrated to streer in the right direction, just like cycling outside.
The heat problem can be resolved by placing the Tacx Fortius outsite or in front of an option of an open window with a fan, preferable with a remote control so you cab adjust it while cycling. Make sure that you buy the fan in the summer because they are hard to get in the winter time.
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