By Simon von Bromley

Published: Monday, 09 January 2023 at 12:00 am

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When the Elite Direto XR first arrived at BikeRadar in September 2020, the world was – as you may well remember – in a pretty rough spot.

As a result, many of us (myself included) were suddenly much more interested in indoor cycling and smart trainers.

The Direto XR was launched as a high-end trainer with a price tag that handily undercut some of its major competitors. It thoroughly impressed me with its performance in almost every area.

Though the majority of non-consumable products go back to manufacturers after we’ve reviewed them, I managed to hold onto the Direto XR so I could continue testing indoor cycling apps, and have since logged countless virtual kilometres on it.

It has become a cherished training tool and a reliable benchmark for other smart trainers and power meters to measure up against. It’s a true High-Mileage Hero.

BikeRadar’s High-Mileage Heroes

High-Mileage Heroes showcases the products that have stood the test of time and become part of our everyday riding.

These aren’t reviews, but rather a chance to talk about the kit we depend on and the products we choose to use when we’re not reviewing fresh gear.

More from High-Mileage Heroes:

• Jack’s Halo TK fixed gear hubs
• Matthew’s Speedplay Zero pedals
• Tom’s Shimano ME7 shoes
• Simon’s Bont Vaypor Classic shoes
• Alex’s ancient and most favourite tools
• Stan’s Chrome Industries Mini Metro bag
• Matt’s Garmin Forerunner 45
• Oscar’s Castelli Gabba 2 jacket

As good as new

I occasionally find it interesting to look back at older reviews of mine and reassess their merits and faults.

With the Direto XR, though my smart trainer testing back then wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now (if I do say so myself), there’s little in the review I would change, even if I might want to add some more detail in a few places.

It performs fantastically, combining accurate data with good ride feel and reasonably quiet operation.

Simon von Bromley / Our Media

The build quality doesn’t live up to that of the Wahoo Kickr in terms of feel, but it has undeniably stood the test of time.

Over two years on from publishing that review, the Direto XR still performs as well as it did the day I first set it up.

It’s a little grubby now (mainly from accumulated wax that has flaked off my chains) and some of the stickers are peeling off.

But I’ve climbed many virtual mountains, done countless HIIT sessions and Zwift group rides, and performed more power meter tests than I care to remember. It hasn’t skipped a beat.

Simon von Bromley / Our Media

Power meter benchmark

Aside from its obvious function as a tool for exploring the virtual roads of Zwift (other indoor cycling apps do exist, but Zwift is my current favourite), one of the Direto XR’s most valuable traits has been its accurate and reliable power measurement.

As someone who also reviews power meters, having a trustworthy benchmark to compare new models against has proven its worth many times over.

I’ve compared the Direto XR’s data to at least 10 different power meters in the past two years. I can confidently say that if the data from a new one doesn’t match up with the Direto XR then things aren’t looking good for the power meter.

Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media

It does lack an auto-calibration feature, but I also tend to find once I’ve done a spin-down calibration, I generally won’t need to do one again unless I move the trainer or there’s a significant temperature swing.

Of course, as with most things, it’s not perfect in every area.

One thing I’ve discovered since my original review is that, like the new Elite Justo, the Direto XR struggles with cadence accuracy under periods of sustained high resistance, such as when riding up long virtual climbs like Alpe du Zwift.

Once you know this, though, you can simply take it into account.

Simon Bromley / Immediate Media

All you need?

Though it has since been superseded by a newer model (the Justo), the Direto XR still delivers practically everything I want from a smart trainer.

The latest models have larger flywheels, are a bit quieter and some have even gained the ability to connect to the internet.

The Direto XR nevertheless remains very competitive in terms of basic performance, so if you see one at a good price it’s still well worth your consideration.

Simon von Bromley / Our Media

Likewise, I’ve tried accessories such as the Elite Sterzo steering block, the Elite Rizer and Wahoo Kickr Climb gradient simulators, and the Wahoo Kickr Headwind smart fan, but all of these things still feel pretty gimmicky to me. I couldn’t see myself spending my own hard-earned cash on them as things stand.

The Direto XR connected to a good app makes for a simple but excellent indoor cycling setup.

The fact that I can keep returning, professionally, to a consistent and reliable benchmark also continues to prove its worth time and time again.

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