Tacx Fortius - Page 2

Rudy · #16 12-05.-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGM|EX

I have had my Fortius for about 1 week already and have had nothing but problems. It worked for about 2 days. I must say when it works it is great. Real Life Videos are very good, software is great and easy to use. My problems started with calibrating my tires. I had a carbon rim tubular and for some reason it would give me errors everytime I tried to calibrate. I switched to a clincher and for some reason it start working. I was getting some slipping on the climbs from the Real Live Videos and decided to switch to a Conti Trainer tire. I changed my tire on the clincher rim and the trainer has not worked since. To me it appears it is the power box that everything is connected to. With the box connected I cannot pedal without the brakes locking on me. The calibration menu is greyed out and I can't use Real Life Video's.

From what I'm finding Tacx support is very bad, probably the worst of any company I have seen. I found someone with the same problem as me and is waiting for seven weeks for replacement. For me this does not work. Winter training will be half over before I fix this. My next two days are dedicated to getting a replacment part fast from the US service center or some answers. If it takes too long for replacment I will have to return this trainer. I wish I can keep it but I need to "Train", not troubleshoot.

I have just about concluded that I'm going to wait until they fix the Fortius problems, although I haven't received mine yet. I'm struggling on my mag trainer (Tacx Swing) which is soooo boring/hard.
Until next Winter, when they've fixed the issues, I will be purchasing one.

AGM|EX · #17 12-05.-2005

Just so you guys are informed the Tacx US service center has agreed to send me a whole new unit to replace mine. They are unsure of the problem since it is such a new trainer. I should be getting the replacement next week. Hopefully I will be able to do some real training during the holidays with my Fortius.

pilotgoddess · #18 12-06.-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGM|EX

I have had my Fortius for about 1 week already and have had nothing but problems. It worked for about 2 days. I must say when it works it is great. Real Life Videos are very good, software is great and easy to use. My problems started with calibrating my tires. I had a carbon rim tubular and for some reason it would give me errors everytime I tried to calibrate. I switched to a clincher and for some reason it start working. I was getting some slipping on the climbs from the Real Live Videos and decided to switch to a Conti Trainer tire. I changed my tire on the clincher rim and the trainer has not worked since. To me it appears it is the power box that everything is connected to. With the box connected I cannot pedal without the brakes locking on me. The calibration menu is greyed out and I can't use Real Life Video's.

From what I'm finding Tacx support is very bad, probably the worst of any company I have seen. I found someone with the same problem as me and is waiting for seven weeks for replacement. For me this does not work. Winter training will be half over before I fix this. My next two days are dedicated to getting a replacment part fast from the US service center or some answers. If it takes too long for replacment I will have to return this trainer. I wish I can keep it but I need to "Train", not troubleshoot.

This is not good!!! I got my I-magic Fortius and the steering frame the other day (after a 1 year back order) and I got the hardware set up, but now I am having a software issue. I've followed the directions to the letter and I've downloaded the software upgrade. Installed and uninstalled numerous times. However, every time I plug in the USB cable I get an error:

"One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it."

Does this mean the little blue box that attaches to the handlebars is bad? I've had the big power box on for about 7 hours while I fuss with this and it still isn't warm. So, is the power box bad?

Hearing that Tacx support is less than helpful is not improving my mood.

grrrrrrrrrr........If it weren't snowing I'd go terrorize the countryside on my motorcyle......being as I'm too damn out of shape to be on the bicycle. :-(

Any suggestions?

Dee

Billsrunning · #19 12-06.-2005

Geesh,

You'd think they could get this right after all the delays in getting it out the door. Now after reading your tale of woes I'm glad I was not contacted to make my purchase. Thats terrible and really disappointing. I suppose maybe it would be best to wait a yr or so to let them get the bugs out.

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGM|EX

I have had my Fortius for about 1 week already and have had nothing but problems. It worked for about 2 days. I must say when it works it is great. Real Life Videos are very good, software is great and easy to use. My problems started with calibrating my tires. I had a carbon rim tubular and for some reason it would give me errors everytime I tried to calibrate. I switched to a clincher and for some reason it start working. I was getting some slipping on the climbs from the Real Live Videos and decided to switch to a Conti Trainer tire. I changed my tire on the clincher rim and the trainer has not worked since. To me it appears it is the power box that everything is connected to. With the box connected I cannot pedal without the brakes locking on me. The calibration menu is greyed out and I can't use Real Life Video's.

From what I'm finding Tacx support is very bad, probably the worst of any company I have seen. I found someone with the same problem as me and is waiting for seven weeks for replacement. For me this does not work. Winter training will be half over before I fix this. My next two days are dedicated to getting a replacment part fast from the US service center or some answers. If it takes too long for replacment I will have to return this trainer. I wish I can keep it but I need to "Train", not troubleshoot.

mrowkoob · #20 12-07.-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billsrunning

Geesh,

You'd think they could get this right after all the delays in getting it out the door. Now after reading your tale of woes I'm glad I was not contacted to make my purchase. Thats terrible and really disappointing. I suppose maybe it would be best to wait a yr or so to let them get the bugs out.

Bill

I hate to say I told you so....

Billsrunning · #21 12-07.-2005

OK! I hate to ask this on the Tacx Fortius forum but are the bugs pretty much worked out of the i-Magic system or is it still buggy too? I was especially discouraged to learn that Tacx support is lousy. I have no interest or time in fixing and/or debugging so is i-Magic system a safe alternative?

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrowkoob

I hate to say I told you so....

xavier · #22 12-19.-2005

The fisrt shipments arrived. However if you did not pre order you will be out. Next shipment we are told is in Jnauary and prety regular then. So best to order and just wait to receive. Do shop around as prices are not all the same (no pric efixing - yet). Here I offer for $949.95. Price seems we will keep at that as there seems to be nothing poining to an increase to our price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billsrunning

Well, this question is a surprise to me as I have been waiting since last March for the highly tauted vapor-ware Fortius. I specifically asked if I got the available I-Magic system could I upgrade to Fortius and was told there was no upgrade path. I am still waiting for Fortius to become available anywhere in the U.S. If anyone knows when it will become available or where it is now available in the U.S. please let me know.

Bill

pilotgoddess · #23 12-19.-2005

OK, got the program running. What a kick in the pants!!!! So much better than staring out the window or watching TV. An hour goes by before I know it. I think I'm going to upgrade the RAM in my laptop to make it run just a bit better. The computer is about 4 years old, so its either upgrade it or buy a new one.

The only issue I have now is the Real Life video. I've downloaded both of the i-magic/Fortius software upgrades (can't remember exactly what version I have now). When I installed the RL video, I got an error that says I need to unload the upgrades and be back at Fortius version .05. HUH???? The original veresion was 1. something.

Until I figure that one out, I'm stil going to enjoy the VR trainer. Its getting easier to steer. I only hit the curb or crash into a tree when I try to take a corner too fast.

An upgrade I'd like to see is being abe to coast without pedalling. After a few seconds of not pedaling, you coe to a stop. And I want a female biker with brown hair. If its supposed to be me out there, I certainly don't want to be blonde. :-)

Dee

Phil Stone · #24 12-20.-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotgoddess

The only issue I have now is the Real Life video. I've downloaded both of the i-magic/Fortius software upgrades (can't remember exactly what version I have now). When I installed the RL video, I got an error that says I need to unload the upgrades and be back at Fortius version .05. HUH???? The original veresion was 1. something.

Dee

Dee just ignore this message that appears when the version of the Fortius menu on the DVD is older then the version you have on the PC. The second box with the green letters is the one you need to install the Real Life Video either onto your hard drive or allow you to ride it from the DVD player. If you do not see this dialog box (with the the Real life video marked in green text) then navigate to the DVD open the video folder & click the videoinstall.exe.

For those in the US that worry about support Tacx has two service centers in the US which will look after you (address is in the support section of the Tacx site). Tacx also has a forum with about 1000 members where many questions can be answered (link on my site).

pilotgoddess · #25 02-07.-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Stone

For those in the US that worry about support Tacx has two service centers in the US which will look after you (address is in the support section of the Tacx site). Tacx also has a forum with about 1000 members where many questions can be answered (link on my site).

Thanks!!

God, I love this thing!! Indoor training has never been so much fun. I'm looking forward to getting some more videos. And I discovered that I can 'create' my own route on the iMagic. Kinda cool, now I can start on one route, and then just ignore the arrow and go where I want to go, and save it when I'm done. very nice. But I've noticed that you can't just go tearing off into the countryside. Gotta be on a road/trail. Same with the RxR tracks.

And when I don't feel like steering, I pop in a DVD and go to Catalyst. I've created a couple of profiles there too.

As far as I'm concerned, it was worth the year wait and the $$. Although I did get a bad USB cable with the kit. Had a couple spares and used one of them. (That was the cure for the computer not recognizing the hardware)

Can you tell I'm having too much fun with this machine?!

mikem · #26 11-10.-2006

Just helped set one up for a friend who runs a bike store. Thing is mint!

Phil Stone · #27 11-14.-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotgoddess

Thanks!!

God, I love this thing!! Indoor training has never been so much fun. I'm looking forward to getting some more videos. And I discovered that I can 'create' my own route on the iMagic. Kinda cool, now I can start on one route, and then just ignore the arrow and go where I want to go, and save it when I'm done. very nice. But I've noticed that you can't just go tearing off into the countryside. Gotta be on a road/trail. Same with the RxR tracks.

And when I don't feel like steering, I pop in a DVD and go to Catalyst. I've created a couple of profiles there too.

As far as I'm concerned, it was worth the year wait and the $$. Although I did get a bad USB cable with the kit. Had a couple spares and used one of them. (That was the cure for the computer not recognizing the hardware)

Can you tell I'm having too much fun with this machine?!

We got a lot of new stuff on the way, We just attempted last week to put online a major upgrade to Catalyst/Real life video Ver 1.33 but its been pulled due to a silly error message that pops up if you have a certain run file (very strange bug). It should be back in the next days. This will allow you to change the difficulty of the terrain, select multiple sections of a RLV or Catalyst file & stitch them together to do for example hill repeats on a hill that you can see (huge motivation factor if you can see the top!). HRM export & information boxes that will eventually be made for most of the RLV collection so you know where you are or perhaps can get training advise etc later on. ErgoVideo (video of riders with a power 'watts' based profile) & a whole new MTB based VR terrain are released this week & we have about 5 new RLVs on the way before Xmas & probably another ErgoVideo & maybe a narrated citytrip round Rome in the early New year.

mikem · #28 11-14.-2006

Are there plans to incorporate cyclocomputer data so rides can be replicated on the trainer?

Phil Stone · #29 11-14.-2006

Yes actually you can do this now via the link on www.tacx.com you need Polar data to do a direct import or you can convert by pasting text data.

mikem · #30 11-14.-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Stone

Yes actually you can do this now via the link on www.tacx.com you need Polar data to do a direct import or you can convert by pasting text data.

Cool, are there plans for importing GPS data like Garmin?

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