Tacx (Garmin)in FORGE Ride.
NEO, FLUX, FLOW and VORTEX Smart: how to connect a Tacx to FORGE Ride, with slope and ERG mode.
What it speaks,what the game controls.
Tacx trainers have spoken FE-C over Bluetooth for a long time, and FTMS with recent firmware. FORGE Ride takes FTMS if it’s there, otherwise FE-C: either way, slope and ERG work. Update the firmware with Tacx’s official app.
| Model | Type | Protocol | In the game |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEO · NEO 2T · NEO 3M | Direct drive | FTMS or FE-C | Slope + ERG |
| FLUX · FLUX S · FLUX 2 | Direct drive | FTMS or FE-C | Slope + ERG |
| FLOW Smart · VORTEX Smart | Wheel-on | FE-C (or FTMS) | Slope + ERG |
Four steps.
- 1
Update it once
Open the brand’s own app on your phone, connect the trainer and install the latest firmware. Recent firmware adds FTMS, the standard FORGE Ride prefers.
- 2
Close the other apps
A Bluetooth trainer talks to one app at a time. Close the brand’s app, Zwift or any other game on your phone and computer, or turn their Bluetooth off.
- 3
Wake it up
Plug it in and turn the pedals for a few seconds: most trainers fall asleep and stop advertising after a few minutes without moving.
- 4
Connect in FORGE Ride
On Windows, open FORGE Ride: it finds the trainer by itself and remembers it. In the browser (Chrome or Edge), CONNECT, then pick it in the list. The label shows the name and the protocol, for example “KICKR CORE · FTMS”.
It doesn’t show up
Pedal to wake it, check that no other app holds it, and that your computer has Bluetooth (a USB Bluetooth adapter does the job). Keep the computer within 2–3 m of the trainer.
The resistance doesn’t change
Check the label: with FTMS, Tacx FE-C or Wahoo, the slope controls the resistance. “Power only” means the trainer sends watts but takes no orders: update its firmware. The trainer difficulty in SETTINGS scales how much of the slope you feel.
It drops in the middle of a ride
FORGE Ride reconnects it by itself and takes back control of the resistance. If it happens often, move the computer closer, or plug a USB Bluetooth adapter on an extension cable near the bike.
The power seems off
If the brand’s app offers a calibration (spin-down), do it once the trainer is warm (10 minutes of riding). In the browser game, the sensors panel also has a power adjustment (±10%).
