Tacx Neo iPhone

Tacx Neo on iPhone — FTMS cockpit, not a map

zCycle Pad is a Tacx Neo iPhone workout app for riders who already own a Tacx trainer and only want the cockpit: live power, ERG, heart-rate zones, and .zwo workouts. It pairs over Bluetooth Fitness Machine Service (FTMS). It is not Tacx Training, not a Garmin first-party plan, and not Zwift. There is no map and no game world between you and the interval.

Platforms are Apple only: iPhone, iPad, and an Apple Watch companion. There is no Android app. Step-by-step pairing for any FTMS box is on pair an FTMS trainer to iPhone.

Which Tacx models

Pairing is protocol-based. If the trainer advertises Bluetooth FTMS and you put it in Bluetooth / third-party mode, zCycle Pad can scan for it. Models this page covers:

  • Tacx Neo and Tacx Neo 2T (direct-drive)
  • Tacx Flux and Flux 2 (direct-drive)
  • Tacx Flow (wheel-on)
  • Tacx Neo Bike (smart bike)

We do not certify every SKU, firmware, or regional variant. If a unit does not appear, email [email protected] with the exact model. The full list lives on compatible trainers — Tacx.

App Store Tacx on iPhone Trainer list FTMS-expected, honestly

Honest lab note — we tested Suito T, not Tacx

The trainer we ride in the lab is Elite Suito T: FTMS power, cadence, speed, ERG, and grade simulation. That is the only unit we treat as lab proof. Tacx Neo, Neo 2T, and Flux are FTMS-expected. We list them because those models are sold as Bluetooth FTMS trainers, and FTMS is the protocol zCycle Pad speaks. We do not claim a Tacx SKU was lab-tested or lab-certified here.

Calibration, spindown, and firmware stay in Tacx or Garmin’s own app. zCycle Pad does not calibrate a Neo. It does not replace the maker’s setup tools. Get the trainer ready first, then open the cockpit. The same rule applies to Wahoo KICKR (also FTMS-expected, not lab-tested) and to Elite’s myETraining on the Suito.

How to pair a Tacx Neo on iPhone

  1. Wake the Tacx. Put it in Bluetooth / FTMS / third-party mode so a non-Garmin app can see it.
  2. Quit other training apps that may already hold the trainer.
  3. Open zCycle Pad on iPhone or iPad (iOS 17+). The longer walkthrough is pair FTMS on iPhone.
  4. Scan. Pair the trainer. Optionally pair a BLE heart-rate strap as its own sensor.
  5. Start a free ride, a heart-rate zone ride, or a .zwo. Starting the ride needs zCycle Plus.

Apple Watch does not pair the trainer. Start the session on iPhone or iPad; the Watch mirrors watts, cadence, HR, and interval cues, and can pause, resume, or end the ride. What FTMS actually is: what is FTMS. The protocol landing is FTMS trainer app for iPhone.

Trainer and heart-rate strap, then Apple Health

zCycle Pad keeps an FTMS trainer and a BLE heart-rate strap on Bluetooth at the same time, then can write the indoor workout plus heart rate to Apple Health. The fair claim is that simultaneous pair, not a lab certificate for Tacx. Lab proof stays Elite Suito T. The same cockpit story is on Zwift alternative and KICKR.

What the cockpit does

Once paired, the phone is the dashboard. You see live power, cadence, speed, and heart rate. ERG mode holds a target wattage. Grade simulation is the other control path. Structured .zwo files turn intervals into successive ERG targets. Completed rides on iOS can export to Apple Fitness / Health.

That is the product. No virtual island. No group ride. If you want a map, that is Zwift’s job. If you want Garmin or Tacx’s own training plans, use their app. zCycle Pad is the third-party workout cockpit after the trainer speaks FTMS.

Not ZYCLE hardware

zCycle Pad is an app by Adam Codes Ltd. Tacx is trainer hardware (Garmin). ZYCLE (zycle.eu) is a different company that makes indoor bikes and trainers in Europe. The names are easy to mix up. We are not affiliated with Tacx, Garmin, or ZYCLE. A ZYCLE trainer pairs here only if that unit advertises Bluetooth FTMS, the same rule as any other box.

Price and local-first

Download is free on the App Store. Starting indoor rides and structured workouts requires zCycle Plus — $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr, with a 7-day trial on monthly. This is not a “no subscription” app. Storefront prices in the app are the source of truth.

Ride history is local-first: the session runs on the iPhone or iPad and stays on the device. That is not the same as fully offline. You still need Plus to start a ride, and you still need Bluetooth to the trainer.

iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch. No Android app. No Wear OS. No Google Play listing.

FAQ

Is zCycle Pad a Tacx Neo iPhone app?

It is a third-party FTMS workout app that can pair Tacx Neo, Neo 2T, Flux, and other Tacx models that advertise Bluetooth FTMS. It is not Tacx Training and not a virtual world.

Did you lab-test Tacx Neo?

No. Lab proof is Elite Suito T only. Tacx Neo and Flux are FTMS-expected. Put the trainer in third-party mode and scan.

Does zCycle Pad calibrate a Tacx Neo?

No. Use Tacx or Garmin’s app for calibration and firmware. zCycle Pad is the cockpit after setup.

Is zCycle the same as ZYCLE hardware?

No. zCycle Pad is the app. ZYCLE makes different hardware. Tacx is Garmin’s trainer line. We are not those companies.

Is there an Android app?

No. iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch only.

Do I need a subscription to ride?

Download is free. Starting rides needs zCycle Plus at $4.99/month or $39.99/year.

Can I keep a heart-rate strap connected with the Tacx?

Yes as a product behavior: trainer and BLE heart-rate strap stay paired together, and the workout can save to Apple Health. We do not claim we lab-tested that on a Tacx. Lab proof is the Suito T.

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