ELITE AVANTI – SMART TRAINER
First look at this new Smart Trainer from Italy
by Alex Sabin
I remember the first more “serious” year of training on the bike. It was the end of 2019 and after a summer in which I participated in a few mountain biking competitions here in Romania, the “bug” was already starting to catch me. I was not a naturally competitive person, as I always liked to pedal to explore, to visit new places, and to get there by my own strength. I was born in the hills that lie at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, and so exploring the vast and beautiful landscapes was a part of me – of who I am. Cycling was for me a means to find my way about the world and to find adventure!
However, after only a few initial mountain bike competitions, I started to like this feeling as well. I begin to think ‘hey, this is kind of cool, too!’ Yes, the feeling of fighting with yourself, challenging yourself and adapting to the various conditions and to the mountains and… to train for your dream – the dream of winning! Yes, training is essential and because winter was coming too, it was important for me to continue my training. So, my coach, George, gave me his trainer – my very first. An Elite FORCE, which I found again in recent days, after 6 years. When I look at what has happened and what I’ve achieved in those 6 years, it was kind of nice.
Now, 6 years later, and after many km, both outside on the roads and trails and in the virtual world of interactive trainers, I can already look back at many places on the podium. After more or less pleasant moments, there’s only one thing that has remained constant for me – indoor and Elite training. Yes, Elite is a brand that means something to me. It’s been with me at various times along my short journey to date.
Getting ‘smart’ with Elite interactivity
Thankfully, starting this year, I have the chance to test and train again on Elite devices, and I’m more than excited about it. Yes, as a writer and editor here at Pedalnorth, and as a recognized mountain bike racer here in Romania, I’ve been sent a new Elite indoor cycling set-up to try out long term and to see how their latest AVANTI smart trainer can benefit a cyclist and mountain bike racer like me.
Arriving recently and being quickly unboxed, the first thing I notice is the simplicity of the device and how intuitive it is to install. Simple and efficient; things that are increasingly rare lately in other devices. It’s a good start and a big “well done” to Elite. We’d all rather be riding than struggling with instructions!
The AVANTI trainer from Elite comes with all the necessary adapters too, and you can mount both your road racing bike or your mountain bike. Hey, one bike is never enough – remember that! In my case, I chose to install my mountain bike, because my main event is the mountain bike marathon and I prefer to get used to the position and feeling on the mountain bike. Being able to do so and to work on many aspects of my training is vital, and thankfully the AVANTI trainer from Elite is spot on.
Indoor training for outdoor results
Indoor training for me was also the best way to recover from my opponents in the competition. There are 5-6 years difference between me and the rest. It took a lot of drive and determination, discipline and passion. I had some catching up to do. Indoor training is very beneficial, and not just for me, because everything happens in a controlled environment. The pedalling is constant and training plans can go very smoothly. I can focus on small details such as pedal action, watts and stamina, and the AVANTI replicates the hills for me, up to 18% and it has a built-in power meter too. Everything I need to replicate the riding in the nearby hills! In addition to this, at least in the winter period, safety also intervenes. On snow, wet roads, on those tricky winter days of rain and snow, it’s not that much fun. Add to this the dangers and the indoor trainer is a vital tool for me. In addition, if you ever have the feeling that time passes too quickly…. Try cycling for at least an hour indoors 😀 – you’ll soon know what I mean!
Indoor workouts have gained more and more popularity and so have virtual tour apps. There are so many options to choose from, and thankfully the Elite AVANTI smart trainer works with them all – the choice is up to you. Through these applications you connect with blue-tooth to your chosen Elite devices and you can have an outdoor experience in a virtual environment – voila! The AVANTI works with Zwift, Trainer Road and a host of other applications, as well as their own My E-Training by Elite, which has some great videos of well-known road climbs and other routes.
I’ll be honest, though. I wasn’t a fan of virtual tour apps initially. They are for me, more old-fashioned. I just prefer to listen to music, podcast or watch something light while pedalling away! However, thankfully the Elite AVANTI set-up came with some additional devices that I think bode well. In this case, the Elite STERZO SMART, which is a front wheel lock that allows you to steer the front wheel left and right, thus imitating pedalling outside and adding some interest to proceedings.
Elite by name, Elite by nature!
Yes, Elite as a world-leading indoor interactive trainer brand comes to the rescue with a complete setup to make indoor training just right, at a very high level. Whether you are a simple amateur or a professional rider, the AVANTI and the STERZO is a great indoor cycling option for you. ELITE ZONA is also part of the Elite ecosystem and came for me to test, alongside the AVANTI. Elite ZONA is a controller that gives you full control over your workout and training plan, without using apps or software. You get control over a bunch of modes; workouts based on power zones, w/kg, mechanical resistance and pre-programmed settings. It’s also easily installed anywhere on the handlebars or bicycle frame. I’ll be writing about the Elite ZONA in more detail, in a future blog.
For now though, there are no more excuses 🙂 – it’s time to ride!
You recall how I was telling you at the beginning, that one of the things I really love about the Elite Avanti smart trainer is its manoeuvrability. For a person who travels quite often, divided between several places; a lightweight, manoeuvrable and simple to carry device is essential for me. I can also take it to races in the car, using it for warm-up and post-race. Yes, in a short space of time, I have discovered that the new Elite Avanti is my best friend. Very easy to pack and to store, and easy to setup and control my training with. Again, there are no more excuses. Regardless of whether you are away or not, the Avanti makes cycling and training easy. The smart trainer is your friend for life 😀
I’ll be writing more about training on the Elite system, how easy I find out through the racing season and how it helps me develop my performance. For now, though, thank you Elite and Pedalnorth.com for the opportunity to work with such an awesome brand. It feels incredible to return to the Elite ecosystem, and to see how it can help me to develop as pro mountain bike racer, at home and abroad, racing my mountain bike in the epic mountains of Romania!
