I don’t have a wattbike, but would have LOVED one and the space to have it!!
I say loved as I now have a Tacx Neo T2 and it’s blooming marvellous. I wouldn’t swap it, even if I had the space (and money).
The handling on it is incredible, it’s hard to describe but it kind of sways as you ride. You can also set it to mimic road surface (although I have this switched off), so it’ll vibrate if you are riding over cobbles on Zwift. Previously I couldn’t stand to spend much more than an hour on my rollers or dumb trainer (despite ALWAYS following specific sessions). The pressure build up was awful. I’ve comfortably knocked out 4 hour (in one go) endurance rides on my Tacx with no issues (using exactly the same bike).
As long as you and DH have the same speed cassette on your bikes (you have to fit a cassette to the turbo) you’ll both be able to use it. Although I’m sure there’ll be workarounds. It takes me less than 2 minutes to unfold my trainer, take the back wheel off my bike and fit it on the turbo. With a wattbike I think it may take longer as you’d need to adjust the saddle height, saddle position, bar height and bar position between you and DH. I’m sure once you get used to that (and keep a note of the settings) it’d be equally quick though.
I use Zwift with my turbo. I’m following one of the pre-determined workout programmes on it. It’ll adjust the power output/ tension according to the zone I need to be training in. It’s very clever! Much easier than when I used to train with rollers and a power meter as it takes the effort and thought out of it.
Free riding is fab too. The trainer adjusts the tension to mimic the gradient your cycling up and down. If you use the Tacx app instead I understand you can upload your own local rides in and it’ll programme the trainer to mimic the gradients. It also gives you a selection of famous climbs like Ventoux and plays a film of a rider eye view as you cycle up (it obviously adjusts the tension to mimic the climb). A wattbike would do all this too. What I’m trying to say that with a wattbike or decent smart trainer there is plenty available to keep you entertained and engaged. I’ve not even covered the group riding, racing or game play aspect of Zwift either. Zwift is very addictive!!
I only bought the Tacx in January at the beginning of the bad weather. The long term forecast looked grotty. I’m not a fair weather cyclist at all. But I won’t go out if there’s a risk of ice. It ended up being an incredible investment as there were at least two solid months when I’d have hardly been able to ride outside. My fitness would have gone down the toilet without it!! I’ve knocked out thousands of miles on it now. Obviously I’m riding outside a lot at the moment too… but sometimes life is so busy (especially in the school hols) or I have no childcare, so it’s just waaay easier to hop on the turbo. I’ve done a lot more riding than I would have done without it (and I race, so I’m super dedicated). You don’t have to be as committed as me for it to be an investment. Given you are already doing a lot of cycling through the summer so have that ‘need’ it’s just a way for you to keep going year round, no matter what!
I don’t have any issues going out riding in the dark (I enjoy it). But if you tend to avoid cycling in the dark, then either a smart trainer or wattbike would also be worth it.
Fortunately I’ve not had to isolate, but I always thought ‘at least I can get my fix’ if I have to isolate!!
If you want to use Zwift (or the Tacx app) there’s a monthly subscription fee (that’s apply if you had a wattbike though). You’ll also need a tablet, or smart phone to run Zwift by (my Tacx broadcasts/ connects to my iPad via Bluetooth). I bought a cheap music stand off Amazon which I put my iPad on.
I hope this helps!!