The Elite Justo, priced at Rs99,990, offers improved ride feel, power accuracy, and quieter operation, directly competing with top smart trainers like the Wahoo Kickr V6 and Tacx Neo 2T.
The Elite Justo is the Italian brand’s latest flagship smart trainer.
With upgraded specs and a new high-end design, it competes directly with the best smart trainers on the market, such as the Wahoo Kickr V6 and Tacx Neo 2T. Elite says the Justo offers improved ride feel, better power accuracy with automatic calibration and quieter operation.
These improvements don’t come for free, however, with the Justo costing at rs99,990.
The Justo comes almost fully assembled from the box. You only need to attach a flywheel cover, cassette (not included), and the correct axle adapters, and you are on your way. This is a little more hands-on than other trainers; the Wahoo Kickr is almost ready to ride out of the box.
ELITE JUSTO FEATURES
The Elite Justo offers a variety of freehub and axle adapter options but requires separate purchases for specific drivetrain compatibility and does not include a cassette.
The Justo ships with a Shimano HG-compatible freehub by default, but options for Campagnolo 9- to 12-speed, SRAM XD and XDR, and Shimano Micro Spline are available separately.The Elite Justo arrives with adaptors for 142x12mm thru-axles and 130/135x10mm quick-release skewers, but riders with bikes that have different axle standards will need to purchase adaptors separately.This is most likely to affect owners of mountain bikes with Boost or Super-Boost rear spacing, although some older disc brake road bikes and gravel bikes may also need something different.
Though disappointing that the trainer does not come with a cassette, with so many different drivetrain choices currently available, it doesn't make sense to include a part that might end up being the wrong choice for many owners. Elite also offers free hub bodies at an additional charge.
FEATURES
The Justo features a +/- 1% claimed accuracy rating, which means you will get accurate data, Elite also added auto-calibration to the Justo, which makes getting accurate readings even more effortless. There is no need to perform a manual spin-down. All of this leads to a more immersive and simple indoor training experience. The ability to get on and ride without fussing with settings is a big plus for me.
The Justo features what Elite dubs Flex Feet. Not too dissimilar to those found on the Wahoo Kickr, the feet add a slight amount of flex when riding. This makes the bike feel slightly more natural under pedalling forces. I wouldn't say it adds a realistic ride feel, but it certainly creates a more comfortable indoor experience. Elite includes a set of feet for fine-tuning the flex based on weight or personal preference. Happily, a front-wheel riser block is included, which helps keep the front wheel level and stable while riding. And, Elite confirms that a direct connect adaptor is coming and should be priced roughly the same as Wahoo's adaptor.
CONNECTING AND RIDING
As with most smart trainers, the Elite Justo can communicate with smart devices via Bluetooth, ANT+ and ANT+ FE-C.
Conveniently, the Justo can act as a bridge for devices such as heart rate monitors, incorporating the data into its own stream to your connected device.This can be set up in Elite’s MyETraining app (available for iOS and Android), and can be helpful if you use an Apple TV or an older ANT+ heart rate monitor that isn’t compatible with Bluetooth devices.
RIZER
The Elite Rizer simulates +20% climbs, -10% descents, and offers patented steering functionality.
The Rizer consists of an upright that the fork mount moves up and down, and a platform supported by four spaced-out feet.It communicates wirelessly with your smart trainer and whatever device you’re running your training apps on, to offer real-time varying gradients.
Elite says the Rizer simulates climbs up to +20 per cent and descents down to -10 per cent. That's exactly the same range as the Wahoo Kickr Climb.Elite also touts the device’s “newly patented” steering functionality, which will allow steering in apps that support it via Bluetooth and ANT+ FE-C.
For many riders, the Rizer will not be an essential accessory, but I've found that it adds another layer to indoor training. Imagine riding a bike path for 2-3 hours on a road bike with no grade changes. Not only will you get bored, but it also feels tiring sitting in one position. Now, think about riding rolling hills and varied terrain. It is much more engaging and gets different muscle groups involved. For rs84,000, that's what the Rizer brings to the indoor.
Elite says the Rizer will also work with those Wahoo trainers that are compatible with the Kickr Climb, including the latest Wahoo Kickr v5.The Rizer is designed to accept any road (or gravel) bike, and adaptors are included for quick-release skewers and the common 12mm and 15mm thru-axle sizes.
The responsiveness isn't sensitive enough to subtly move about the group. But in some scenarios, I found it helpful (like staying centred in a pack during a large group to maximize draft). The downside is as the group dwindles, it becomes harder and harder to stay in a draft without constant input. This replicates the real world, but it can feel a bit much if you're trying to zone out and watch a Netflix show.The Rizer is also said to simulate the “micro movement” of your handlebar for a more realistic, immersive riding experience – your bar won’t be rigidly fixed in place.Elite's new device can be controlled on a basic level using buttons on top of the upright, or you can use a dedicated app available for both Android and iOS devices.
At rs84,000, the Rizer is roughly rs26000 more than the Wahoo Climb.
ARIA
The Elite Aria fan links to various cycling tech, adjusts up to 50KPH winds, and features carbon air filters.
The Elite Aria fan is seemingly the smartest of smart trainer fans out there today, linking to a wide assortment of indoor cycling tech – be it power meters, smart trainers, heart rate sensors, and even body temperature sensors. All of it automatically controlling the fan speed/intensity up to nearly 50KPH winds, and all of it adjustable to your bodily whims. It has carbon filters to theoretically clean the air being blown towards your face. The Aria is priced at 31990.
Overall Rating
- Cutting-edge technology with dual communication protocols (ANT+ and Bluetooth)
- The realistic and smooth ride feel simulates outdoor conditions effectively.
- Quite expensive, which might be a deterrent for some potential buyers
- The initial setup and calibration are complicated.
- Users often need to rely on third-party software or apps.
Together, the Justo, Aria and Rizer offer one of the most immersive and engaging indoor riding experiences, especially when paired with. The Justo is a worthy competitor to the Wahoo Kickr V6 in every way but one: It lacks built-in WiFi.
Is the setup worth it? In my opinion, yes. If you are trying to decide between these two trainers, WiFi is probably a feature you will want.The Rizer brings unique features with the combination of steering and gradient simulation in one unit. While its price will be a factor for many, a Justo combined with a Rizer is still a lot cheaper than a product like a Wahoo Kickr Bike.
Elite added many new features to the Justo, making it a competitive high-end smart trainer offering. Things like auto-calibration, multi-channel Bluetooth, heart rate, and cadence bridging for Apple TV users combine to bring Elite back into the conversation as a legitimate competitor to Wahoo. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the Justo is rs8350 bucks cheaper.
