# Controlling Smart Trainer without WahooX **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [May 20, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108 "2025-05-20T21:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KeepYourPowderTri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/keepyourpowdertri/32/13804_2.png) [@KeepYourPowderTri](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/KeepYourPowderTri)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/1 "2025-05-20T21:44:10Z")
I’ve cancelled my subscription for the outdoor season as I usually do (and may not resubscribe next winter with everything going on!) One thing I’ve never found is a free app to write a basic workout and use it to control the trainer for those one off wet days … I currently use the standard wahoo app but manually have to change the power for each interval! There must be a better way? Are Zwift / Trainerroad / WahooX really the only way options or is there a simpler app out there for one off occasions! ---
**Author:** ![KeepYourPowderTri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/keepyourpowdertri/32/13804_2.png) [@KeepYourPowderTri](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/KeepYourPowderTri)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 9:11am UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/3 "2025-05-21T09:11:26Z")
Amazing, thanks for the suggestions. I’m not familiar with either but I’ll download Trainerday and give that a try! “The fastest workout creator on the planet” sounds promising. Do you know if the workouts can be uploaded to strava once completed? ---
**Author:** ![KeepYourPowderTri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/keepyourpowdertri/32/13804_2.png) [@KeepYourPowderTri](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/KeepYourPowderTri)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/4 "2025-05-21T10:13:27Z")
I can create and save a workout on my Trainer Day desktop but when it appears in my App it says I need to upgrade subscription to actually allow me to ride it! Am I missing something or can I strangely create but not ride new workouts in free mode? ---
**Author:** ![mgboehmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/mgboehmer/32/1397_2.png) [@mgboehmer](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/mgboehmer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/6 "2025-05-21T22:54:32Z")
You can use the Wahoo app to control your trainer for free with many other third party workout builders. Some offer limited free use like building a workout today but not in the future, but if they sync to Wahoo it’s free to execute them. ---
**Author:** ![DameLisa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/damelisa/32/8327_2.png) [@DameLisa](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/DameLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/7 "2025-05-22T17:30:43Z")
You can also build workouts on Garmin Connect. But then youd need a Garmin to control the trainer. Tho you MAY be able to export yhe file and upload to your Wahoo and run or from there… ---
**Author:** ![Shaned1972](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Shaned1972](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Shaned1972)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/9 "2025-05-22T18:32:57Z")
I use Final Surge to make up workouts for my running, I don’t use it for my cycling but it’s free and should sync with quite a few Wahoo Head Units. You could also try Intervals ICU which is also free if you want it to be but maybe if your new to it you might find making the workouts a bit harder than Final Surge but in its favour Intervals ICU does study your training readiness and fitness whereas Final Surge doesn’t. It might be good to look at both. ---
**Author:** ![mgboehmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/mgboehmer/32/1397_2.png) [@mgboehmer](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/mgboehmer)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/10 "2025-05-22T21:13:18Z")
> [@DameLisa](#): > > Tho you MAY be able to export yhe file and upload to your Wahoo and run or from there… Unfortunately this wouldn’t work, they have not responded to our requests to do some syncing, so a workout built in Garmin can’t come over to Wahoo at this time > [@JohnK](#): > > Am I right in thinking the Wahoo app and Elemnt range computers are only able to control Wahoo brand trainers? (which the OP may or may not have). Nope, any modern smart trainer will work with Wahoo app, just like Zwift, Rouvy, etc ---
**Author:** ![DameLisa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/damelisa/32/8327_2.png) [@DameLisa](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/DameLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/12 "2025-05-23T04:53:16Z")
Yep I control my Wahoo Trainer with my Garmin ---
**Author:** ![KeepYourPowderTri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/keepyourpowdertri/32/13804_2.png) [@KeepYourPowderTri](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/KeepYourPowderTri)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/13 "2025-05-27T14:37:28Z")
I use Intervals.icu for workout & fitness tracking but didn’t know I could create workouts! Also not familiar with Final Surge so thanks for the suggestions. I also use Garmin Connect and have a Garmin head unit on my bike, are you saying I can create a simple workout eg. 30/30s and then control my Wahoo Kicker from the Garmin to automatically action the workout?? ---
**Author:** ![mgboehmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/mgboehmer/32/1397_2.png) [@mgboehmer](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/mgboehmer)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/14 "2025-05-27T15:18:51Z")
Yeah, if you make your workouts and set up the app authorization to send those plans to Wahoo you can do them right in the Wahoo app PLAYR today. 100% you can use a Garmin headunit to control your KICKR (or even a Wahoo headunit, the bell on the ROAM is so much fun 😹 ) ---
**Author:** ![DameLisa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/damelisa/32/8327_2.png) [@DameLisa](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/DameLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/15 "2025-05-27T16:53:16Z")
> [@KeepYourPowderTri](#): > > are you saying I can create a simple workout eg. 30/30s and then control my Wahoo Kicker from the Garmin to automatically action the workout?? Yes. Easily. Enjoy. Dont be like me and have the wrong FTP set in Cinnect and then use % of FTP for the target. And also, if you set a zone range, it’ll hold your power to the top of that range. Its better to set an absolute target. The ra ge is better for outdoor workouts. ---
**Author:** ![KeepYourPowderTri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/keepyourpowdertri/32/13804_2.png) [@KeepYourPowderTri](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/KeepYourPowderTri)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/16 "2025-05-27T16:53:36Z")
I’ve created a workout on Garmin Connect and sent it to my Edge 520 which is paired with my Kickr. I’ve set a custom power for each element of the workout but instead of controlling the Kickr like ERG mode, the resistance in the pedals is fluctuating up and down from easy to impossible to turn. What am I missing! ---
**Author:** ![DameLisa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/damelisa/32/8327_2.png) [@DameLisa](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/DameLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/17 "2025-05-27T16:56:46Z")
Somwtjing else connected to your trainer? Like SYSTM in the back ground? Garmin not set to the right mode? ---
**Author:** ![KeepYourPowderTri](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/keepyourpowdertri/32/13804_2.png) [@KeepYourPowderTri](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/KeepYourPowderTri)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/controlling-smart-trainer-without-wahoox/29108/18 "2025-05-27T17:21:56Z")
It seems SYSTM was open as I’d been trying something through that earlier. It seems to be running now, although 200W strangely felt harder than usual when testing but maybe that was perception! I’ve knocked up a basic sweet spot workout to trial it properly … here goes!