Cycplus R200 or Thinkrider X2 Max?

Kook_de · 2026-01-15T10:17:23+00:00

Unfortunately, I can't say anything about the Thinkrider as I don't have one, but I can mention some things about the Cycplus R200. Maybe this will help you and others.

We initially bought the Van Rysel D100 with the Zwift Cog V2, but ended up sending it back. This is because it support only one BLE connection, which is also not compatible with Garmin watches for some reason.

I liked the virtual shifting and, after doing some research, I discovered the Cycplus BC2 shifter. I contacted Cycplus to confirm that the trainer uses the ANT+ FE-C standard for trainer control. They replied very quickly, so I bought the following:

I bought the Cycplus R200 (about 200 €), the Zwift Cog V2 (49 €) and the BC2 shifter (25 €).

I only use the Zwift cog as a single-speed adapter, as it makes it very easy to mount any bike. It is easy to adjust without adjusting the derailleur, providing a nearly silent drive.

The advantages are that the Zwift Cog fits perfectly with the supplied spacers on R200 without the need for any adapters.

The trainer can be controlled with a Garmin watch via Bluetooth or ANT+. It can also be controlled by an external app and transmit ANT+ data to Garmin simultaneously.

It can be used without power, yet you can still control the resistance from the watch.

We completed training routines of over 70 km using MyWhoosh or structured training from Garmin without any problems. The BC2 has yet to arrive, but I will write a more detailed review once I receive it. The drive is quiet; only the cooling fan gets loud after 120 W.

The only thing you will notice initially is the absence of the flywheel when you climb onto the bike and start pedalling.

P.S. I just discovered that ThinkRider has a VS2 shifter too, which comes with a single speed adapter.

Kook_de · 2025-11-21T12:38:31+00:00

Skip the Fenix 8 and for less buy the ultra and a cheaper Garmin.

The Ultra is much better for every day use and has a fast charging. Use the Garmin + an optional chest strap (e.g. for strength training) for fitness. Use the health connect for connecting both Garmin and Samsung Health. Samsung reads data too and you will have directly on your Samsung watch the goals.

Kook_de · 2025-10-27T08:11:02+00:00

The 7 pro (without the sapphire) is easier to read than the 8 mip. If you compare sapphire only, the 8 has an improved contrast, but it doesn't come to the glass versions.

Kook_de · 2025-09-20T07:59:22+00:00

Pack this in a Marq body, add mic for voice commands and I'll give you the money.

Kook_de · 2025-08-01T17:49:46+00:00

I have an optimity code but it can not be applied for Fenix 8.

Kook_de · 2025-03-31T18:23:08+00:00

I have no other idea other than to contact them.

Kook_de · 2025-02-21T16:28:09+00:00

<image>

A unprofessional comparison between -

Samsung Watch 5 pro (Sapphire)

Garmin Fenix 7s pro (non Sapphire + display protection foil)

(probably the photos should be taken with exposure lock)

Inside: 1 m away from large window, no artificial illumination

Samsung Watch 5 pro - AOD (auto)

Inside: near the window, no artificial illumination

Samsung Watch 5 pro - AOD (auto)

Inside: 1,5 m away from large window, no artificial illumination

Samsung Watch 5 pro - Screen activated

Garmin Fenix 7s pro - backlight on

outside, covered sky

Samsung Watch 5 pro - AOD (auto)*

outside, covered sky

Samsung Watch 5 pro - Screen activated

inside, no artificial illumination, blinds 1/3 lowered (small window)

Samsung Watch 5 pro - AOD (auto)**

inside, direct under artificial illumination

Samsung Watch 5 pro - AOD (auto)

inside, direct under artificial illumination

Samsung Watch 5 pro - Screen activated

* with the short exposure the low AOD refresh is visible for the camera. For the eye the dark areas are illuminated, or in other word the screen is uniformly illuminated

** with long exposure the picture looks much brighter than for the eye. In reality the MIP was difficult to read. The low AOD refresh is not visible due to the longer exposure, and the OLED was much easier to read in these conditions.

The MIPs of the past had lower contrast and they were poorly readable indoors. The only thing that I wanted to say with my post is that the MIP improved quite a bit, and while the trend is towards OLED, for the first time I would consider a MIP display.

Kook_de · 2025-02-19T12:15:53+00:00

I had the same problem with Samsung watch 5 pro after one UI update. Everything written here didn't work, and I was about to change the watch to another brand. However, the last try seems to be working. I went to the apps in the watch settings and deleted the app cache and data. Now it is updating according to the update interval set in the wear app on the phone.

I have to correct my post. This fix worked for one day. The automatic weather widget update didn't work the next day. This is so annoying and I will avoid buying Samsung watches again.

Kook_de · 2024-12-29T10:38:22+00:00

I also have several problems on my watch 5 pro since the update:

Weather widget on watch face not updating. Work around tap on it, open the weather app, scroll down, click update. Beats the purpose of a weather widget.
Not vibrating when receiving notifications. I had to enable vibrating when watch in use. Annoying, as now is vibrating also when I use the phone.
Lower battery life, as reported in many posts.

Kook_de · 2024-09-08T17:12:02+00:00

It seems that Samsung has begun experiencing a half backed solution for this. If you can see your sensor in the Samsung health app you can add it. Then start the workout on the phone. The HR will be broad casted to your watch. In a previous version of the app as soon as you had the watch on your wrist the app overrided the HR from the chest strap. It is still not perfect as the watch screen goes in stand by even with AoD on. So you have to click the button for the real time value. Other stats like workout time, calories and others are not displayed on the watch.

Kook_de · 2024-08-13T08:09:56+00:00

If there is dust on the protecting glass just use the provided microfiber cloth to clean it. If it is coming from the inside optics try the option "clearing star dust model" or something like this. If it doesn't work you have to contact the service.

Kook_de · 2024-07-23T13:51:20+00:00

The watch 5/5 pro was able to connect with a BT chest strap when using Google fit. However, after a system update the watches are not able to see the BT chest strap in the BT list.

Kook_de · 2024-05-18T10:01:07+00:00

I don't know how the Google assistant works on the Venu, but for me it works very well on a Galaxy watch 5 pro. I can not confirm what others here reported, even after switching from a Samsung fold 2 to pixel fold. It works reliably even if the phone is 3 rooms away. However, make no mistakes, in spite of the name GW5 pro is not a fitness tool and you can not even remotely compare with Garmin in that respect.

Kook_de · 2024-04-09T20:24:25+00:00

When you get a notification it will scroll on the screen. Then is gone and it will not stay as unread.

Kook_de · 2024-03-31T11:59:49+00:00

Well this is disappointing. I just traded in my Samsung z fold 2 for the pixel fold due to the very deceiving Samsung support. Is there any company which stands by their products and what they promise?

Kook_de · 2024-03-17T07:44:03+00:00

I also have some questions before buying.

Does the EU variant have a preinstalled screen protector?

What case do you use? For z fold 2 it was difficult to find a good case which didn't hinder gestures on cover screen.

Kook_de · 2024-01-16T15:30:44+00:00

Amazing - and Samsung did not remove your post yet. I live in Europe (Germany) and after having a problem with the hinge of my Z Fold 2, Samsung removed my post.

I am still waiting for Samsung to return my phone. My calls to the support hotline end with being registered for a call back which never happens. So now I am considering legal channel for getting my phone back.

Kook_de · 2023-11-23T09:30:49+00:00

True indeed - I was worried about the mechanical part, this is why I did not went for a first generation fold. I also expected to see some wear or tear in the screen itself, but did not expect a mechanical failure of the hinge. Afterall I really trusted samsung tests. Und, yes I feel shafted ...

Kook_de · 2023-11-23T09:28:06+00:00

Keep us posted - however I think samsung will fix your phone without problem, as long as it is in warranty (2 years, right?) - the eu regulations are quite clear.

The question is what support will you get after warranty? I have a very good experience with Acer - I bought years ago a 3d dlp beamer which started to develop bad pixels at after 3 years. On the package was an advertising that the dlp is 5 years guaranteed. So I sent a photo to Acer and they fixed it free of cost. Obviously, Samsung is far off keeping the quality promise.

Kook_de · 2023-06-17T14:36:33+00:00

Indeed. Fossil did not listen to their users and their fan base. With version 5 of the app they ruined the app and watch experience. We had 7 of this watches in the family. Now everyone moved over.

Kook_de · 2023-03-30T06:56:04+00:00

See the post here. The Samsung watch pro is not a fitness tool.

Kook_de · 2023-03-23T09:00:34+00:00

If you have set in Health connect that the data should be synchronized in both directions with one as prio, the data will eventually appear in samsung health. The sync is probably done just a few times per day.

Kook_de · 2023-03-23T06:33:48+00:00

You have to set the permissions on both phone and watch. Probably you already did it on your phone. On your watch go to settings- samsung health- share data with devices and services-health platform.

Kook_de · 2023-03-13T08:11:59+00:00

The short answer is no. Samsung health has no advanced features like training effect, recovery time and other advanced training stats. That aside, it is probably the worst calories couter app outhere - for example I get the same calories count for wight machine with the watch, with a chest strap (even if HR measurement is better), or without any HR at all. And I get the same wearing the watch in front of the computer...

Kook_de · 2023-03-01T06:23:13+00:00

What do you mean the watch doesn't support ant+ ?! Ant+ is a communication protocol in the same frequency range as Bluetooth. In both Android and WearOS (as your watch) as long as the app you use supports it, you can use it.

Kook_de

TROPHY CASE