PROTOCOL SUPPORT
Heart rate monitor plus protocol-compatible smart trainer.
Zone Pedal runs locally on your iPhone. You need one Bluetooth heart rate monitor and one trainer that exposes a writable FTMS or Tacx FE-C over BLE control path for HR-adaptive resistance control. Supported steady rides also need enough low-power headroom above the trainer's minimum resistance.
What You Need
Zone Pedal reads heart rate over Bluetooth, controls protocol-compatible trainers directly from your phone when the trainer has room to respond, and keeps all workout data local unless you choose to export a summary to Apple Health.
Bluetooth HR Monitor
Standard Bluetooth heart rate monitors are the target input. A chest strap is recommended for lower latency and steadier readings. Aerobic Threshold Finder and DFA alpha1 threshold analysis require a chest strap transmitting RR intervals.
FTMS Smart Trainer
FTMS is the primary control path when the trainer exposes a writable control point for real-time resistance changes.
Tacx FE-C and CPS
Some Tacx trainers expose FE-C over BLE instead of FTMS. Cycling Power Service telemetry can improve ride feedback, but CPS alone cannot receive automated resistance targets.
Older ANT+ only trainers are not the target configuration for the App Store release.
Trainer Protocol Expectations
Zone Pedal auto-detects FTMS, Tacx FE-C over BLE, and CPS at connection time. The table below is a protocol guide, not model-by-model hardware certification. Except where developer testing is named, rows reflect the Bluetooth protocol the trainer is documented or advertised to expose.
| Trainer | Protocol | Control Expectation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wahoo KICKR (2018+) | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS family, including KICKR Core and KICKR v5/v6. Not a Zone Pedal ride-test certification. |
| Wahoo KICKR Snap | FTMS | Protocol expected | Wheel-on trainer advertised with FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Wahoo KICKR Move | FTMS | Protocol expected | Same expected protocol family as KICKR. Not developer-tested. |
| Tacx NEO 2T | FE-C + FTMS | Developer-tested baseline | Prior developer rides verify the BLE/trainer-control baseline for this setup. Other NEO variants still depend on exposed Bluetooth services. |
| Tacx Flux S / Flux 2 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Tacx Vortex Smart | FE-C | Protocol expected | Older Tacx FE-C path expected when FE-C over BLE is exposed. Not developer-tested. |
| Garmin Tacx NEO Smart T2800 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Current generation advertised with FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Elite Suito-T | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Elite Direto XR | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Elite Zumo | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Saris H3 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Saris MP1 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Motion platform with FTMS trainer component expected. Not developer-tested. |
| Kinetic R1 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Kinetic Smart Control | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Zwift Hub | FTMS | Protocol expected | Standard FTMS expected. Not developer-tested. |
| Zwift Hub One | FTMS | Protocol expected | Same expected protocol family as Zwift Hub. Not developer-tested. |
| Stages SB20 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Advertised FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| Saris H2 | FTMS | Protocol expected | Previous-generation trainer advertised with FTMS. Not developer-tested. |
| JetBlack VOLT | FTMS | Advertised protocol only | FTMS advertised; not developer-tested. |
| Kinetic Road Machine Smart | CPS | Read-only | Wheel-on with CPS only. Zone Pedal reads power but cannot set automated resistance targets. |
Status meanings: Developer-tested baseline = prior Zone Pedal ride evidence exists for the named setup. Protocol expected = the trainer is documented or advertised to expose the needed Bluetooth control protocol, but the exact model has not been certified by a Zone Pedal ride test. Read-only = power data only, no automated resistance targets.
CPS Limitation
Trainers that only support Cycling Power Service (CPS) — such as some older Kinetic Smart models — can connect to Zone Pedal and transmit power data, but cannot receive automated resistance targets. Zone Pedal's HR-adaptive control requires a trainer that supports FTMS or FE-C.
How to check your trainer
Open your trainer's app (Wahoo, Tacx, Elite, Saris) or search your model on DC Rainmaker's reviews. Trainers advertised as "FTMS compatible" or "works with third-party apps" via Bluetooth are the right candidates, but Zone Pedal still needs to discover a writable FTMS or FE-C control path at connection time. If your trainer only says "ANT+ compatible" without Bluetooth, it will not work wirelessly with an iPhone.
Not sure about your trainer?
If your trainer isn't listed above, check whether it advertises FTMS compatibility — or reach out and we'll help confirm the protocol expectation.
[email protected]