Wahoo Kickr feedback?

Turby Wright

I'm looking into getting Carol a new trainer (she burned her old one out from too much power!) and wanted to know what you guys think of your Kickrs. From what I've read this seems to be the way to go. Can it be hooked up to a TV screen? Also, which apps are best and are any providing real courses (ie Ironman Tour de France etc). Thanks for the input!

Chris Ciannella

I've had the kickr for over a year and it's great. I use trainer road with it, but there are a lot more apps you can use with the kickr. Can it be hooked up to a TV - I don't think so. What I do sometimes is hook my computer to the TV, where I can see my sufferfest videos on the tv vs. my computer. You can't go wrong with the kickr

Al Truscott

Main reason for a Kickr is to pre program resistence. So the machine is set at the power level prescribed for intervals, and shifts automatically for warm-up, recovery, different zones. Basically a CompuTrainer for 21st century. Using Trainer Road, with EN workouts, literally no effort is needed in setting up the programming.

The trainer is operated from a smart phone, tablet, or computer. If you're running a Sufferlandria video off of ztranerRoad, for example, your can send the image to a large screen, via Apple TV, or Google Play.

Apps which control the Kickr include its own free app, trainer road, Kinomap, (both of these can integrate videos) and PerfPro.

The Kickr sends and receives signals via both Bluetooth and ANT+ meaning you can use usual head units from Garmin, Joule, etc to capture and analyze data files

If youve used a CompuTrainer, this is similar, but far easier to use.

Brad Marcus

I bought my wife one over the holidays. I've been using a Cycleops Powerbeam Pro for the last couple of years. Since my wife and I both train and our second trainer outside of the powerbeam is really not great, we needed to upgrade it anyway. After researching a bit, I thought that the Wahoo was the way to go. So far, it's been great. The initial setup was super easy vs the powerbeam, which I remember I had a lot of difficulty with from the onset. My wife is the primary user so far and doesn't use the capabilities that I would,but she is not as tech savvy and has had no problems at all...easy set up,easy operation, etc. As mentioned, works seamlessly with TrainerRoad and Al's recommendation of using AppleTV or GooglePlus makes sense.

The biggest difference between the Wahoo and older tech like Computrainer, Powerbeam, etc is its ability to use Bluetooth and ANT to link with other technology where with the other systems, you are confined to just using ANT. the Wahoo gives the ability to link with mobile devices much easier and the system is more streamlined.

jfields74

I just got mine a few weeks ago. I'm using mine with trainer road also which is great. It took me a few rides to get it all figured out and setup. I'm using the kickr for power in ERG mode, my quarq for cadence, and my HR all via ANT+. It is definitely worth the money.

Juan Vergara

Best trainer i EVER had !!!!

Todd Bray

I have owned a KICKR since October of 2013 and love it! I can't imagine there is anything better in the marketplace and would highly recommend it!

wdjacobs

I, too, have a Kickr and have zero complaints. The thing is amazing! I use it with Trainer Road but Wahoo makes an iPad app called Segments that allows you to ride any Strava segment in the world. Since most courses out there are Strava segments this seems like a good way to ride "real" courses. I haven't tried it yet but I'll report back when I do.

Marc Tanguay

Same great experience with the KICKR.

I live in SoCal, and should probably be out on the road 100% of the time.  But, using the KICKR, I can get in a great workout in 1 to 1.5 hrs, with no traffic stops, and I can ride before or after work in the dark so that I don't skip a workout.  The KICKR cassette drive, high quality build, and fast response on ERG mode are what seems to set it apart from some of the other trainers.  Having both Bluetooth and ANT+ may be useful for some, though I just use Bluetooth to connect to iPad or PC/Mac.  I've had CycleOps Fluid and Kurt Kinetic trainers in the past.  They work well.  But KICKR rates highly compared to the others.  

Have tried all of the computer and smartphone apps to control and simulate.  TrainerRoad is my preferred.  A really big plus for TriainerRoad is that all of the EN OS, IM, HIM and test workouts are built in once you validate your EN membership.  Big thanks to the EN members and coaches that got that going!  Irrespective of outdoor conditions, I really like the KICKR to run the bike threshold tests on.  Perfectly controlled environment, and great to see the remaining time in the interval to push yourself.

My typical setup is to place the KICKR out on the back patio, with a tripod stand and I use an iShot G7 ipad/tablet mount.  Still get some fresh air, right!  Biggest benefit is that you've done exactly the prescribed workload.  The KICKR is expensive.  But, riding the EN workouts over TrainerRoad, makes it justifiable if you want a high-end trainer.

Trish Marshall

I have a fluid trainer now, but used to train a lot on Computrainers when I got into this sport. I still do a group ride once a week on them. My question is this...I have never used erg mode on the computrainer and doubt I would on the kicker. I am attracted to riding like a computrainer with courses and variety of terrain with some of the apps, and saving riding my race wheel which I've been riding pretty much non stop for four years. It's a zipp 808 with a power tap.

Good investment? I get my local team discount which will make it just over $900 for the unit.

Trish Marshall

PS...I'm super tech challenged and have been told its pretty easy to set up and use. True? (think of me as a 5 year old who was NOT raised on an iPad!)

jello4

I am with everyone else and I am very happy with my Kickr, certainly easier to use than the CompuTrainer with 98% of the functionality. The only thing the Computrainer has that the Kickr does not is SpinScan, as near as I can tell. The benefit of not buying tires and messing with tire air pressure and computrainer pressure on the tire far outweighs that for me.

Bomber

I've had two trainers.. The KICKR is by far the best.

I've probably put in more miles with my 1 year old KICKR than I did with the old one (which I had for about 10 years)

KICKR, TrainerRoad and Netflix is my prefered combo.

Al Truscott

Posted By Trish Marshall on 27 Jan 2015 09:28 AM


PS...I'm super tech challenged and have been told its pretty easy to set up and use. True? (think of me as a 5 year old who was NOT raised on an iPad!)

It took me six months to begin to get comfortable with the CompuTrainer. With the Kickr, it took me ten minutes. And that included setting it up and putting my bike on it. BUT, since it is basically controlled thru an app on a smart phone or tablet, you have to be willing to negotiate thru that thicket. The software involved is 10,000 times more user friendly that CompuTrainer software, IMO. But then, I've had an iPad for 4.5 years.

It's as easy as figuring out how to use, say a Garmin pace watch or a garmin head unit for cycling.

Trish Marshall

Thanks Al! I have "sort of " figured out the watches and head units. I use them, but am not a super data geek like some here on EN! I think I can convince my shop to set it up and let me ride it there so I have a basic idea of what to do. I already use trainer road which I find pretty user friendly.

I hope you're healing up well friend!!!

Trish Marshall

So, I have ridden my kickr (love the ride quality compared to my old trainer!) and have a question for those who may ride a power tap.

I rode my wheel to get power metrics and realized when riding the computrainer I just used my garmin 500 as my whip with the proper data. The spread is anywhere from 25-30 watts between them.

Using the kickr is tougher to figure out. No other way to measure data obviously, as my wheel is off the bike. My shop guys said 20-22 watts higher than the power tap. Rode it twice and while I know I'm at higher watts than the beginning of OS, my hr was a full 10 beats lower in the tempo section of the Thursday ride.

Sooo, should I just adjust my ftp in Trainer road from 185 to 207 and wait to retest, or does anyone have any input on the spread between a pt and a kickr that may be different?

Thanks for any info you all can share!

Al Truscott

As always, there is no proven formula for transposing power #s in one set up to another. You should just re-test. The 5/10/20 test in Trainer Road is a great workout in place of an FTP workout. Of Course, being in Jan OS, you have a test next week, so you could just wait. Adding 20-25 watts to your FTP might be fairly accurate, given my personal experience when I went from PowerTap/CT combo to Kickr two months ago; my FTP went from 212 to 238. And I also had been noticing lower HR #s for the same power output, even @ the new, tested FTP. The Kickr *seems* somehow "easier" than the CT/rear wheel combo. But, then, when I took my wheel off for the Kickr, I noticed that the bearings were tight, and had the shop replace them. Rolls much smoother now!

Trish Marshall

Thanks Al. I think I will just retest next week with the rest of the OS peeps and grab all the mojo. I am not a fan of testing...ever. Of course, today's ride is 2x18 and might wish I was testing instead!