Who believe this will ever happen with anything!
If it was, it would be the death of the company. They must sell new things! Nothing must last too long. It must break!
The way they set cadence (via power pulses) works, but is possible to “fool” with our variation in power delivery, and particularly when we are extra smooth. Hard to beat a real sensor when you want the most accurate data.
Smart trainer companies are taking us for granted and we should demand more at $800+ price tags. I just had my Saris H2 fail after approximately 160 hours of use. Every email outreach had you waiting 24+ hours for a response. When Saris agreed to fix the trainer, they asked that I pay (~$110) to send it back and be out a trainer for about two weeks while they fixed it and shipped it back to me. Saris markets themselves as reliable and durable?
Luckily I purchased this trainer from REI. They took the trainer back with no questions asked!
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We need to demand more from these companies selling very expensive equipment.
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Support retailers like REI with customer friendly policies.
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My Kikr actually came with a cadence sensor, that was the 2018 kickr.
Neo seems spot on, one legged pedalling obviously messes it up though!
Depending on the specific Neo model, they can measure cadence differentiate. Some use the power pulse method (1). The 2T (and 2?) actually use sensors to count the pedals as they pass the trainer frame. So the experience may differ by model.
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Ah, I read the part about returning all the accessories, it didn’t mention cadence sensor so I “forgot” to return it, never gave it any thought when the warranty replacement turned up without one and never returned it when I returned the warranty replacement…
That said, no idea where it is now! The good part about the power wave sensing is you don’t jump on the bike and then faff around because the cadence sensor battery is flat 
I pre-ordered an Elite Direto when they first were introduced to the market. I have been using it for 3.5-4 hours per week since purchased. (Coming up on 4 years, I think? Maybe it’s been 3.5 years…)
It has never been an issue, and “just works” as one would say with the following caveats:
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I always train in the small ring, and mid cassette.
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Temp in room is consistent, so I find the unit never seems to need calibration. When I do a spin down, it’s always within normal limits of the manufacturers number written on the bottom of the unit (stupid place to put that number, but that’s for another thread). I would never think of adjusting the belt tension on this thing.
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I always unplug the unit after use…if you leave it plugged in, when it powers up, it goes into a “bad state”m and won’t transmit data via Bluetooth or ant+.
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I connect via Bluetooth. The ant+ connection is unreliable.
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I never use powermatch on Trainerroad. From time to time, I record a session on my garmin which is connected to my quarq powermeter, which allows me to check difference between the Direto powermeter and quarq. It’s always within 2-3%.
Simply put, all of these smart direct drive trainers have their quirks, and you have to figure them out through internet research and trial and error. Perhaps I’m just lucky, but after figuring out my trainer’s quirks, and working within their boundaries, mine “just works”
My inexpensive, old wheel-on fluid trainer is slowly getting noisier. I’d like to pick up a replacement before it gives up the ghost and stay with a simple trainer like it. One feature it has that I really like is a resistance lever to select from 5 different resistance levels so I can vary resistance between gears on the bike. The only option I see for that in a name-brand trainer is the Mag+ from Saris. What do you think, would a mag trainer be a step back from a fluid trainer, or would that likely seem comparable?
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And I suspect most people have had a similar experience. I can’t remember which marketing guru said it, or the exact quote, but it was along the lines of ‘if someone likes something, they’ll tell their friend; if they hate it, they’ll tell everyone’. But while there are too many stories of failure on all brands for it just to be a complainers’ conference, it’s also worth remembering that most units will ‘just work’ for their design life (3-5 years I’d guess).
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3-5 years would be tolerable. 18 months isn’t really. Over a month since my neo was received by Garmin. Still waiting…
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I have told everyone I know I love my Hammerhead Karoo and I have only bitched on here about my Kickr and my Neo. Not because I want to ruin those companies, just because I want to find something that works.
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The Lemond Revolution trainer was supposedly bulletproof. It’s a wheel off dumb trainer though. If I come across one cheap I’ll buy it. I’m surprised there is no market for something like this.
It’s GPLama’s favorite:
Yeah, and some good sound proofing too. That thing is a jet engine for noise level. 
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Can you elaborate on why you wouldn’t use PowerMatch to preserve your trainer? My H2 was working flawlessly. I decided to start using PowerMatch with my Favero Duos and about three weeks later the BT/Ant radio gets fried. I’m not saying it was PowerMatch because I don’t see how it can fry something, but now you got me paranoid 
Sorry if I made you paranoid. I think your situation is purely coincidental.
I just feel like powermatch has never worked smooth for me (quarq powermeter… old unit which is ANT+ only.)
My ANT + connection has never been that good, and hence the Direto was always working overtime to “keep up”, and match my quarq. I’m Only speculating, but perhaps the endless non stop re-calibrating during powermatch is, ultimately, a problem. No scientific data to back this up, though.
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There is no “recalibrating” happening. All that is happening is that if the power target is 200w, PM looks at the power shown by your power meter and adjusts the trainer resistance up or down to hit that power target, according to your power meter.
That’s a gross oversimplification, and I can’t say I know the fine details, but it is not “calibrating” the trainer or power meter. PM does look at the differential between both devices, and the latest one uses some more advanced math to try and make the experience better. But its not something that is likely to harm either device.
Calibrating was a poor choice of wording by me. I agree, the trainer is adjusting resistance. All the constant adjusting may be a problem (probably not, but just my own personal conspiracy theory).
FWIW, I’m a dedicated Trainerroad subscriber for about 6.5 years, and don’t mean to blame anyone or anything for screwing up a trainer.
I would recommend Trainerroad more to friends, except I don’t want them getting faster than me, LOL.
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As far as adjusting the trainer, that’s all connected to ERG mode. Power Match is another add-on, but ERG is the king.
It’s possible that the constant tweaks could lead to more “wear” vs something like Resistance or Standard mode that set a single setting and let’s the rider handle via cadence and shifting.
It’s an interesting question for sure.
My Direto has been bombproof. Except for one belt replacement. Easy to replace, and easy to recalibrate.
That Direto does look quite good, and cheaper than the Tacx or Klikr.
Seems to use a £15 washing machine belt so readily available and even if they did fail regularly, no problem having one in stock so looks like my gripe about maintainability is covered.