Tacx Neo 2t Resistance Issue

Thanks for reaching out!

The NEO 2T is capable of producing a "max" 2,200 watts resistance, but your cadence and physical gear combination determine how this is applied while simulating a climb in the Tacx App.

Does your cadence data appear normal?

I would suggest testing a "Slope" workout in the Tacx App, manually adjusting the grade % and feeling how this changes resistance applied.
For details, see Perform a Manual Workout Using Slope or Power on the Tacx Training App

Please also check the Tacx App's Grade Modifier setting following the steps here: How to Adjust the Grade Modifier (Intensity) on the Tacx Training App
You may need to adjust this setting based on your body weight and riding preference.

I set the trainer difficulty from 100% to 10% now the resistance feels realistic in the lower cadence/watts range but drops out too fast If I pedal too hard and the simulated bike goes 15 km/h at max it is way too slow for how hard I am pedaling. I have a single gear bike on my trainer is this the issue? Or do I have to just play around with this variable until I get it right? Should I put a bike with multiple gears on the trainer?

I have tried experimenting now with a lot of different grade modifiers and 50% results in speed about 25% slower than what I should be going in reality and tension about 50% more than reality but at least now the rides are doable even though they take longer than they should and the resulting stats on Garmin connect are pathetic at least I can grind out all those badges now.

Why can't I post images in this thread but I can in other threads?

You should be able to post images here using the 'Insert' formatting options.

A single speed bike is no issue for ERG workouts where the trainer holds a specific resistance (power) target and no gear changes are required. As a test and for following routes with elevation changes,  I would suggest trying a geared bike.

Some single speed bikes, especially with shorter crank arms, may not allow the NEO 2T to detect your cadence reliably. Please review How Does the NEO 2T Measure Cadence? to see if this applies to your bike.

While following Tacx movies you may see grades upwards of 20%, which may be near-impossible on a real single speed bike depending on how large the gears are. Depending on where in the world you ride, this type of extremely steep grade is not common "in reality."

I biked far more outside than indoors and have a year's worth of rides to look at I know what various grades feel on my bikes including absurdly steep grades partly because I have that as a data field while I am riding and because I look at my rides after. Everything is hills here. There are roads and trails here with 20% inclines. There are hills here I can easily go 70 to 90 km/h without pedaling only have to assume an aero position.

I have separate sensors from my Neo 2T that measure cadence.

Is my 2 by 11 speed trek touring bike a suitable candidate for the gears test?

Sorry for the delay - Yes, I think a traditional 2x11 bike will work much better, and this is the more standard use-case for the NEO 2T.
I'd suggest testing with the NEO's integrated cadence sensor rather than an external sensor to see how this affects your data.

While simulating outdoor riding with the Tacx App can be quite immersive, it is expected that speed and distance will have some discrepancy. Speed and distance data riding indoors is an estimated "virtual" speed calculated using power output and flywheel speed. Being able to change physical gears on your bike typically allows for more efficient power output and higher flywheel speeds, giving a more realistic experience.

I do not doubt your experience, but climbing a 20% grade on a single gear bike may require a lot of power at a low cadence, depending on rider weight, bike weight, rolling resistance and the gain ratio of the gear.

A relatively simple calculation can be done to determine the expected power output it would take to climb a given hill in a certain time - check out:  www.broleur.com/.../