Smart trainers

[Arrie421]

Hi all!

Any opinions on Wahoo Kickr Core? Worth the price tag? Or will a Giant Cyclotron Mag do the trick?

[ChrisF]

Arrie WELCOME to the Hub.

 

There are a couple of threads about indoor trainers ... it is winter after all. 

 

This one may be of use to you - https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/182688-wahoo-kickr-vs-kickr-core/

 

 

I have an old "dumb trainer", the wheel-on-roller type.  It works up a sweat, and can be had for under a R 1000.  You can turn a dial to change the resistance, or just play around with the gearing .... either way it is a long slog with absolutely no outside stimuli .....

 

From R7k to R10k there are various "smart" versions of the wheel-on roller trainer.  In the classifieds section you can pick up some of these between R3k and R5k ....  I have friends that use it, and who sear by it.  Personally I just dont like that horrible humm of the wheel on the roller when you apply some power.  Practically it also means swopping out tires or having a spare rim with a trainer-tire on it.  Looking past the wheel and the hum, these can link to Zwift and similar software which opens a world of interactive "gaming"  (YES, Zwift promotes itself as a gaming platform).  Apparently the smaller flywheels do impact on the "real feel" of these units, with fair room fro improvement.

 

You are effectively looking at R15k and up for a "direct drive" smart trainer, such as the Wahoo Kickr Core, and the prices keep climbing with some costing more than R20k.  But now you need to be a serious athlete, and you have to look at the maximum power values etc to justify the extra costs .... And I know some pretty active athletes that are more than happy with their Kickr CORE models.  You could get the Zumo fro less ... https://bike-addict.co.za/products/elite-zumo-smart-trainer

 

A quick google shows that ALL outlets show the very same "recommended prices" for the Wahoo products.  You need to speak to the people in store, or email them to get better prices .... Apparently there will be more specials here on Monday - https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/182686-cwc-online-what-would-you-like-on-sale/

 

Ask away and see if you get lucky .... (I certainly DID)

 

 

 

Is it worth the price tag ?  Uhm, YES (especially if you get it at a very decent discount...)  The way it interacts with Zwift is way more than just a graphic to keep you entertained !  You better watch that screen, because when the top right corner says the gradient climbs you WILL feel it !!

 

 

 

A few things to consider (and I am still very much in the learning curve, so others may well correct me!) :

 

- The trainer itself it the first expense

- You do need (or should I say you are well advised) to get an Ant+ dongle with an extension cable (from R500 to R1k...)

- you may also want to buy a cadence sensor (if you dont have one on your bike used on the trainer), another R900

- you will need some air flow over you, most likely (hopefully) you already have a fan at home

- You could use a towel on the floor, but a rubber mat is recommended (you sweat a LOT during longer rides!)  This could be another R1k

- You will need some sort of PC/Laptop/AppleTV to link to Zwift or similar ... I am using a basic NUC PC, and it is okay .... sure a better PC with a better graphics card may well deliver a slightly better image ....

- Screen .... are you using the TV, computer or dedicated screen ?  My dual-screen desktop has been reduced to a single screen ... 

 

 

I just got my setup running, and the next step is to tidy up the installation ....  Only time will tell if it will become an expensive clothing rack, or if I will get my moneys worth .....  

[Arrie421]

Thanks ChrisF!

If you think you are learning try me...

Thanks for the input.

Lets see if the luck is on my side as well...

[ChrisF]

Arrie this is what my system looked like on Saturday ... screen on a chair while testing and setting up the system ...

 

 

Fair bit of sweat later this is V1,1 of my setup ....

 

 

The fan felt too strong, but after 15 minutes I had to get off the bike to set the fan directly onto me !!

 

Rubber mat on a tile floor sounds like an over kill .... after the first 10 minutes I started seeing sweat droplets on the tiles !!  Time to start using that towel ...  I may just put a towel on the floor as well for the sweat ... I now fully appreciate why people use a rubber mat over a carpet, as that amount of sweat cant be good for the carpet ...

 

 

The micro size of the NUC PC is perfect for the job !  Okay, one would have to put it next to a high end pc with a proper graphics card to see the difference in graphics quality ... for me this system works good.  I use reading glasses, but the font is large and clear enough that I can follow the data without my glasses    The graphics is smooth.  The Ant+ unit just behind the front wheel works perfectly

 

 

Nice to be able to get the screen out the way when having friends over for a braai ... 

[Slowbee]

Can confirm what Chris has said.

 

The kickr is a breeze to set up and use.

 

I did not go the whole route with a PC. Just used a table to watch movies and it just simply works!

[madmarc]

I recently moved off a TACX Flow trainer to a Kickr Core - Must say i'm fairly happy with it other than the fact its been replaced once and soon again for the 2nd time, due to a flywheel noise that both have.

 

I use trainer Road and with the TACX i was using the virtual power, now on Kickr on ERG mode its certainly taken training to a new level for me.

 

Setup is very easy, I use a Gen 2 Ipad with a 30 pin ANT+ dongle. the only problem i've experienced is if i flip to another app while training (eg, to change the music on Spotify) the trainer loses connection on the TR app and the session pauses, flipping back to the TR app should auto start the session but it struggles to find the trainer again (HR and Cad off my Garmin Sensors connects immediately) I'm still trying to work out if this is an app or a trainer issue.

 

I would recommend the new Core to anyone investing in a smart trainer

 

In addition you cannot fault Wahoo support. Up to now they have simply replaced my trainer without question - we'll see what they have to say about the problems on my 2nd unit

[Joe De Beer]

I use a powerbeam pro with a separate rim with a training tyre on. I cycle with Zwift and manage everything on my iPhone. The powerbeam and cadence link with iPhone and the Apple Watch contributes the heart rate. Only extra equipment I needed was a adapter so my iPhone could link to an old monitor I had.

[Christian van Zyl]

Hi all!

Any opinions on Wahoo Kickr Core? Worth the price tag? Or will a Giant Cyclotron Mag do the trick?

Hello Arrie, 

 

Welcome to BikeHub! 

 

One of the most important factors to consider is local Support. I'm one of the Wahooligans working on the Wahoo brand in South Africa and our support lines are always open should you have any newbie or more complicated questions.

 

Our head of customer services Wahoo Sean is a wealth of knowledge and can be contacted on 0876541940

 

or reach out by mail to support@wahoofitness.co.za 

 

Hoping to get you on a Wahoo product soon

 

Your local Wahooligan

 

Christian

 

 

[Dexter-morgan]

Just buy the Kickr! core or normal one.

[Rocket-Boy]

The fan thing in the winter can be a pain, you dont want it on when you start because its too cold but later you want it going flatout.

I dont have my smart trainer anymore but if I did I would connect a Sonoff basic to a fan and just turn it on and off as needed from my phone.

Might be a worthwhile idea if anyone isnt a fan or warming up in the cold with a fan blowing on you.

[Vetplant]

The fan thing in the winter can be a pain, you dont want it on when you start because its too cold but later you want it going flatout.

I dont have my smart trainer anymore but if I did I would connect a Sonoff basic to a fan and just turn it on and off as needed from my phone.

Might be a worthwhile idea if anyone isnt a fan or warming up in the cold with a fan blowing on you.

Also dawned on me that the Sonoff route is the most sensible route to take.

 

Gonna buy a big Floor Fan and hook it up.

[RobertWhitehead]

Is the Wahoo Kickr Core worth the price tag of R15k? Can you afford it without altering your lifestyle? If the answer is yes then have at it  . The direct drive experience is first prize when it comes to the indoor experience. 

 

You do not need to sit and stare at the wall the whole time, you can subscribe to stuff like: Sufferfest, Zwift, Rouvy Trainer Road, Fulgaz and the list goes on and on. 

 

For me personally: I will not get a direct drive, solely because I'm a bit of a tight @ss and can not see myself spending so much money on something that's effectively a training tool  . To me it just becomes a gadget thing and an unnecessary expense, I mean bear with me here for a sec and allow me to explain.

 

So you decide to take up cycling and you hear from a couple of friends that the "new" craze is 29ers so now you head out and because you do not know everything you head to you local bike shop. Upon arrival you tell yourself that you have 'x' to spend. So you enter the store and here's the break down:

 

• Bike - you go for the budget amount of 'x'

Now the sales person tell you, o ya but you'll also need: 

• Helmet
• Glasses
• Bib
• Shirt
• Shoes
• Cleats if you're brave to take it up off the bat
• Saddle bag
• Camelbak
• Top tube bag
• Gloves

Now he tells you, o but wait, the most convenient thing will be if you go tubeless off the bat - yes we can easily do it for you - more cash. O but wait the standard tires are not tubeless and they're only tubeless ready and they don't last that long so how about we put a set of nice new tire on for you whilst we're at it?

 

•  Now the sales person is on a roll and he just piles more stuff into your cart, stuff like a GPS and new grips for more comfort and and and.....

So now your head spins and you end up spending a huge amount of cash over and above your original budget amount. Why? Because the sales person convinced us (we all go through this) that we need all of this crap just to be able to train. Gone are the days when you can get away with a gym membership, noooooo you need all this other stuff as well  .

 

The above applies to an indoor trainer as well, why do you want to spend R15k on the direct drive and then another R10k on the climb thing and then another R4k on the fan thing that keeps you cool and also gives a more realistic ride experience? On top of that you need a Ant+ dongle, a HR strap with the Ant+ sensors and a cadence sensor just to be able to fully enjoy your 45 min a day on the trainer. 

 

Do you need all those gadgets to be able to train?  Definitely not! You can get yourself an entry level smart trainer, you can even go as low as a Satori Smart with a Ant+ dongle. You can then get yourself a subscription to one of the third party apps and all in all it would've set you back around R2500  .

 

Yes, it's fantastic to have a direct drive and you can have the wind blowing through your hair whilst indoors but will all of those added extras make you stronger and or a more well rounded cyclist? 

 

Popcorn is popping away in the background as I may have opened a can here 

[shaper]

Is the Wahoo Kickr Core worth the price tag of R15k? Can you afford it without altering your lifestyle? If the answer is yes then have at it  . The direct drive experience is first prize when it comes to the indoor experience. 

 

You do not need to sit and stare at the wall the whole time, you can subscribe to stuff like: Sufferfest, Zwift, Rouvy Trainer Road, Fulgaz and the list goes on and on. 

 

For me personally: I will not get a direct drive, solely because I'm a bit of a tight @ss and can not see myself spending so much money on something that's effectively a training tool  . To me it just becomes a gadget thing and an unnecessary expense, I mean bear with me here for a sec and allow me to explain.

 

So you decide to take up cycling and you hear from a couple of friends that the "new" craze is 29ers so now you head out and because you do not know everything you head to you local bike shop. Upon arrival you tell yourself that you have 'x' to spend. So you enter the store and here's the break down:

 

• Bike - you go for the budget amount of 'x'

Now the sales person tell you, o ya but you'll also need: 

• Helmet
• Glasses
• Bib
• Shirt
• Shoes
• Cleats if you're brave to take it up off the bat
• Saddle bag
• Camelbak
• Top tube bag
• Gloves

Now he tells you, o but wait, the most convenient thing will be if you go tubeless off the bat - yes we can easily do it for you - more cash. O but wait the standard tires are not tubeless and they're only tubeless ready and they don't last that long so how about we put a set of nice new tire on for you whilst we're at it?

 

•  Now the sales person is on a roll and he just piles more stuff into your cart, stuff like a GPS and new grips for more comfort and and and.....

So now your head spins and you end up spending a huge amount of cash over and above your original budget amount. Why? Because the sales person convinced us (we all go through this) that we need all of this crap just to be able to train. Gone are the days when you can get away with a gym membership, noooooo you need all this other stuff as well  .

 

The above applies to an indoor trainer as well, why do you want to spend R15k on the direct drive and then another R10k on the climb thing and then another R4k on the fan thing that keeps you cool and also gives a more realistic ride experience? On top of that you need a Ant+ dongle, a HR strap with the Ant+ sensors and a cadence sensor just to be able to fully enjoy your 45 min a day on the trainer. 

 

Do you need all those gadgets to be able to train?  Definitely not! You can get yourself an entry level smart trainer, you can even go as low as a Satori Smart with a Ant+ dongle. You can then get yourself a subscription to one of the third party apps and all in all it would've set you back around R2500  .

 

Yes, it's fantastic to have a direct drive and you can have the wind blowing through your hair whilst indoors but will all of those added extras make you stronger and or a more well rounded cyclist? 

 

Popcorn is popping away in the background as I may have opened a can here 

There again you can save the R2500 and just use the wattbike at the gym, unless you are too tight to have a gym membership which is pretty much free with medical aid these days 

[ChrisF]

The fan thing in the winter can be a pain, you dont want it on when you start because its too cold but later you want it going flatout.

I dont have my smart trainer anymore but if I did I would connect a Sonoff basic to a fan and just turn it on and off as needed from my phone.

Might be a worthwhile idea if anyone isnt a fan or warming up in the cold with a fan blowing on you.

 

YES !!!!

 

Fan is too cold at start-up ....

 

After 5 minutes to clothes start coming off ....

 

After 10 minutes the sweat starts dripping .... Now you NEED that fan !!

 

 

 

Once thought it cant be "that bad" and continued riding without the fan .... nearly had heat stroke after 30 minutes !!

 

 

I now have a remote to switch on the fan.  (helps to know a sparky where I can buy stuff at cost price)  

[ChrisF]

Okay .... these infernal things should come with a warning label !      

 

 

When you are "out there" and the hills get too steep or too long you can get off and walk ....      

 

 

Darned trainer wants to be peddled all the way to the TOP .....   

 

 

 

Dammit ... at this rate the thing might actually improve my fitness levels.   

 

 

 

and I could do all of that after a 13 hour shift, without even going out in this Cape storm.