Updated on January 4, 2012
Where are my Proform Tour de France Trainer Shifters?
Well ever since Bruce posted his review of the Proform TdF trainer we’ve had a bunch of comments about the Shifters. Since I have gotten my trainer a few weeks ago I have been through a series of events that lead me to believe not every revision of the TdF trainer has these shifters. Let me say — I am pretty happy with this purchase. The only complaint I have is that it’s not obvious on the website that some training plans are for running, and I did my first 2 workouts to a running workout — and I was wondering why I was at 20% grade for 3/4 mile. (Treadmill workout) That – and you need a fan in front of it.
So my bike arrived in good shape and on the last piece I put on (Left pedal) I stripped the threads. I also managed to push the headphone jack into the computer and didn’t (at the time) realize you could access the computer from the back.
When I went to the customer service site I looked up Model PFEX01311.2. This search returned these results:
This leads me to believe that there have been at least 3 “versions” of the 2011 TdF bike. Seems like the shifters, the packing strategy, as well as the offer with a free heart rate monitor and mat are newer features.
Below are some pictures of the shifters and the heart rate monitor that works with my model (heart rate monitor is a Polar T31.)
I hope this helps some of our readers who have been asking what they look like.
Many thanks for the pictures, the console is newer for sure. Looking at the manual I think the seat design may have changed as well. If you get a chance post a pic of your seat bracket. The one that came on the .0 version is very hard to get tight enough to stay put. Might be worth upgrading to the new seat post if it will accept any type of seat.
I have finally reached someone on the Customer Care service line for Proform/IconFitness today. The Polar T31 heart monitor transmitter that I purchased separately does not work with my console even though it is supposed to do so. I will be receiving a new console, which is currently backordered and it will be the end of the month (January) before I can receive it.
I have just completed a conversation with someone else in sales. This person informs me that my model (PFEX19810.4)cannot be retrofitted for the handlebar shifters. She advised me that was a feature added to the newer (than mine)models. Even though I have an unexplained single wire with a 4 pin connector coming from the handlebar tube, she says it is just an extra wire. It makes more sense to me that my model is wired for the handlebar shifters but she says that isn’t the case.
I pointed out that their website is woefully short on information and that customers, who had received their models in the same time frame as I did were getting models with the handlebar shifters. Of course, I ordered mine in September and didn’t get delivery until November…
So, there you have it. Another piece of the puzzle.
– Zeke
No documentation- on what the triple crank is does nayone know? 48-38-28
You are 100% correct there have been three versions.
V1.0 was the 1299 introductory priced version released early 2011
V1.1 was released after the 1299 version and retailed for 1499 and some change depending on when you bought it
V2.0 Generation 2 was effectively released yesterday Jan 13th and I’m so mad.
Here’s why I called and spoke with a pro form rep and worked a deal to buy the bike just last Thursday. Bike arrives in it’s nice pretty box and sure enough when I’m getting ready to open the box my phone alerts me to a new email from ProForm. How nice to find out the Generation 2 series the latest one in your pictures would have been shipped to me at the exact same price point of the one I got had I just waited 2 days. I already have an email into the sales rep telling him I plan for him to ship me a new one and take this one back because this is insane. I find it hard to believe the sales rep didn’t know what was in his own pipeline and channel especially just a couple days from a product launch.
For the latest in my ongoing frustration, see my blogpost of 01/29/12 at http://gr8smokieszeke.blogspot.com. The “fun” continues…
Are you sure about that release date for V2.0? I got my TDF bike the last week of December (2011), and while it didn’t include the heart rate monitor or floor mat, it DOES have the new console and the handlebar shifters. Maybe they were shipping V1.0s and V2.0s at the same time and I just lucked out?
I would love to give you a review of the trainer, unfortunately, I have had for one month and not been able to ride it because a set of four bolts were incorrectly inserted when it was constructed at the factory and they need to be replaced but it is virtually impossible to get the service department to get the technician (who came out to diagnose the problem and ordered the new bolts) out to fix it. So, one month after it was delivered, it sits, while the worst service department in the history of mankind gives you a run around that is truly disgraceful.