Wahoo makes some of the most sophisticated cycling trainers out there, allowing you to simulate real world riding while training at home or at a gym. Only problem is, setting one up requires you to take out the rear wheel of your bike, making it a hassle if you want to use your regular bicycle for your indoor training, since you’ll have to put the wheel back in order to use it on the road. The new Wahoo KICKR ROLLR eliminates that requirement while retaining much of the feature set that’s made their smart trainers popular.
If you’re not familiar with bike rollers, they’re basically a drum platform that you can ride a regular bicycle on, with the drums spinning as your wheels move, allowing you to pedal while staying in the same place. While they’ve long made for a convenient way to train on a bike, they’re usually more difficult than stationary trainers, all while restricting you to riding at a steady pace, since you can only ride at the speed the size of the drums will allow (the bigger the drums, the slower you can go). That’s not the case for Wahoo’s version of the classic roller.
The Wahoo KICKR ROLLR is designed to span the entire length of your bike, with a stand that clamps to the front wheel and a pair of rolling drums for the rear, allowing you to pedal similar to traditional bike rollers while holding the bike in place, so you don’t just easily slide off the platform. It has adjustable length between 58 to 67 inches, so you can tailor it to fit the exact wheelbase of your bike. To get started, all you have to do is set it to the desired length, clamp the front wheel to the stand, and place the rear wheel on the roller – that’s it, you’re ready to ride with no tools, no adapters, and no calibrations necessary.
According to the outfit, the dual rollers on the rear allow for a more natural experience that better simulates outdoor riding, while side borders reduce the chances of the rear tire slipping, no matter how much power you’re putting to the pedals. The gripping stand out front, on the other hand, can accommodate tires up to 2.1 inches thick.
The Wahoo KICKR ROLLR operates much like a traditional roller without power, so you can use it to train before starting a race. Once plugged in, though, it engages a 10.5-pound flywheel and electromagnetic resistance, with the ability to adjust the offered resistance when connected to an external power meter. Do note, if you don’t connect one, it will strictly offer constant resistance while broadcasting speed metrics. It works with the Wahoo Fitness app, where you can get guided instructions on using the device, while facilitating its use with compatible sensors and accessories via ANT+, ANT+ FE-C, or Bluetooth. Other features include LED indicator lights, wide compatibility with third-party apps, and, of course, native compatibility with the outfit’s own sensors, training accessories, and bike computers.
The Wahoo KICKR ROLLR is available now, priced at $799.99.
