dmanthree

Just took a look at the new product by Wahoo, which is (sort of) a set of rollers that's "smart," but must be combined with power meter pedals to really work in Zwift, or anything else. Just wondering who it's for?

PeteHski

"Wahoo says the Kickr Rollr “makes the ideal warm-up platform before events or big training sessions”. We expect to see Wahoo-sponsored professional teams using the Kickr Rollr to warm up before time trials and key road races throughout 2022 and beyond."

This^

PeteHski

It's basically a glorified wheel-on trainer, but probably less stressful on your expensive frame.

gthomson

I saw that today as well and thought i wonder who would buy that? I know some people are hugely into rollers - not something I would get into but to each is own.

PeteHski

The more I look at it, the more I like the concept. Super-quick to set up (probably it's major USP), more stable than conventional rollers and less stress on the frame compared to a conventional trainer.

But on the other hand it's pretty expensive for what is really not THAT much different to a wheel-on trainer. Obviously needs a power meter on the bike too. So I think it's a niche market in the trainer world. I can see how pros would like it for a quick warm-up on their race bike. A few seconds to clip in the front wheel and you are off!

dmanthree

OK, but that doesn't sound like a big market to me, I guess. Will be interesting to see how it sells.

PeteHski

Yeah I doubt there's a big market for it. Could create a good marketing presence at pro races though. Could it be a viable alternative to a conventional trainer? Probably not after reading Rainmaker's review. An alternative to traditional rollers? Maybe for a few people.
It looks quite nice to ride for a steady-state Zwift session.

unterhausen

I think they were embarrassed that their sponsored riders were using the feedback sports omnium before/after races. This is probably better than the feedback in that you don't have to take off the front wheel

rm -rf

Before clicking through, I wondered how this could work. My Kickr can have high starting resistance for a short time, which could be bad on a set of rollers. Oh. The front wheel is locked in place.

This is extremely easy and fast to mount and unmount for a warmup, nice. But is there electric power available at local races? Maybe your vehicle has 120V AC?

DC Rainmaker's review, starting at the "Road feel and realism" section. Interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG3BziTojIA#t=5m8s

unterhausen

That's a good question about power. It could certainly generate its own power, but that would be a departure for wahoo

himespau 

DC Rainmaker basically says its for folks who don't want to potentially dirty their hands taking off a wheel or two to put their bike on a trainer (or maybe for multi-bike households), but only if they have power meters on all their bikes.

Polaris OBark

He said it would be ideal for his wife, who falls into that category and has a power meter, but it is incompatible with her 650b wheels.

When I first saw this, I got all excited, but the reality is that it quite highly priced for what is almost a "dumb" trainer if you don't have a power meter.

OTOH the Feedback Sports thing is extremely highly priced considering it basically doesn't do anything; maybe that informed the pricing. (I spent about an hour on one trying to avoid hypothermia when my kid was racing.)

himespau 

I actually ride on the full-sized Sportcrafters rollers (they make the Feedback Sports omnium, and this has the same overdrive progressive resistance roller - but full width) and a fork stand for my zwifting currently (using either powertap hub or assioma duo pedals). I bought it long ago planning to ride the rollers properly, but laziness and then later knee surgery that made me afraid of falling kept me from ever doing that. When I first heard of these (and their higher resistance than the Elite Nero), I briefly got excited and thought it might be time for me to finally get ride of the fork stand and have a truly realistic riding experience (my rollers are mounted on a home-built platform that has front to back motion), but these aren't real rollers. Plus the price is much higher than the couple hundred bucks I paid for my current setup (back before Zwift was a thing).

dmanthree

That's the kicker; how many actually have power meters on their bikes? It's a nice product, but I can't see this selling in quantity.

Barry2 

of the six I rode with Saturday, four had power meters.
it just depends on the group you hang with.

Barry

himespau 

I actually have 2 on my current bike. Assioma pedals and a wheel built up with a powertap hub. Not intentional though. I had wanted the pedals but didn't have a reason for them. When I got hit by a car and my bike wrecked, I got some for the replacement build (10 months later, still waiting on insurance to reimburse me, but that's a different story). Then, when I went to build up some wheels for the new bike, the best hub available in my parts bin turned out to be a powertap hub that I'd forgotten about (even had spokes of the perfect length to lace the rear to my new rims - not the front for whatever reason).

PeteHski

I think these days most people using high-end trainers would have a power meter on their bikes as a matter of course. So I don't think that's a big issue given the price point. The bigger issue is justifying it instead of, or in addition to a high-end direct drive smart trainer. Having read Rainmaker's review it doesn't look quite capable enough to replace even a mid-range direct drive trainer for serious indoor training, or even their own wheel-on trainer for that matter. So that leaves you considering it only as an additional weapon, which then starts to look a bit over-indulgent!

If it was cheaper, I would be tempted just to have something I could throw my bike on for a quick pre-event check or casual spin. But not at this price.

bbbean 

Looks to me like they'd be good for traveling to races or for seriously space limited riders who want a wheel on trainer. I don't see them as competition for either "real" rollers or a wheel-off smart trainer, but they have their spot.

bbbean 

If you're in the market for a smart trainer, there is an excellent chance you already have a power meter or you're in the market for one.Lack of power meter really isn't a bar to entry for the smart trainer market.

himespau 

If they really wanted to capture the "traveling to races" market, making it rideable without power would be ideal. I supposed for the day before or after the race in your hotel if you don't want to find an outdoor ride, it'd work.