Wahoo Kickr Rollr Smart Rollers Impressions: Genius or Daft?

[@jayhoughton4174]

I think it’s a great idea, you don’t have to take your wheel off and although the front wheel is held still the back wheel can still move around like on the road. So basically just throw your bike on it and get a resistance/ swift work out, and take the bike out on the road the next day when the weather is better.

[@MSRWorkshop]

No removing the wheel, or smashing the back I. A clamp, I really like this. Looks so quick and easy

[@J88HNT]

Great wheels. I have the same. If you're wondering what wheels they are, they are the Winspace Hypers!

[@davidleonard3716]

Love the idea so much easier than taking rear wheel out every time you want to put your bike on the trainer. Normally would ride through winter if weather is reasonable but after a week of being really windy and gales this could work to keep legs turning.

[@MerlinMan1579]

Just get a rear wheel on trainer.

[@mrskeltal3281]

Also it only takes seconds to whip the wheel off and put the bike on a direct drive trainer. Its certainly no more messing about than this solution.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

I like this option because I have two bikes that run different cassettes and not having to fiddle with swapping cassettes and hub bodies is appealing. I have a Wahoo Kickr trainer that I literally have not used in the 2+ years I've owned it because it a hub body isn't available for the version I have to fit a Campy 8 spd cassette.

[@markproulx1472]

This trainer is the answer I’ve been looking for. My bike is unusual in that its rear hub is a135 mm x 12 mm through axle. The KICKR won’t accommodate it. Since I already own power-measuring pedals, the absence of power measurement from the trainer is not only inconsequential, it frees up enough money to enable me to buy a new set of wheels.

[@anthonybaxendale887]

Would like to see this made as a normal set of rollers with the power meter fitted. Having the front wheel supported seems to defeat the point of having rollers ☺

[@StellaHulliet]

{{3}} I completely agree with you! Having the front wheel supported does seem to defeat the purpose of using rollers. I think the Wahoo Kickr Rollr Smart Rollers would be much more practical and effective as a set of normal rollers with the power meter fitted. It would provide a more authentic riding experience. By the way, have you heard of the freebeat Morph 2-in-1 e-Bike? It's a new crowdfunding project that offers a unique blend of indoor and outdoor cycling. The most outstanding feature is that it can be charged during indoor rides. It's definitely worth checking out!

[@wheeliehunter6937]

Not having to change axles and set ups between mine and my wife's bikes makes this an instant win.

[@MerlinMan1579]

The purpose of rollers is freedom of movement with an unrestrained spinning front wheel as an aid to improving technique. With a restrained front wheel, what’s the point….I actually have no idea what this thing is supposed to do. For a warm up I’m just taking my fluid rear wheel trainer to the race. What were they thinking?

[@tomrachellesfirstdance7843]

Bit of an odd product, I always thought a lot of people used rollers just for the ease and the ride feel getting learning how to get better balance. Also That front wheel flex cannot do your wheel much good, Being locked in two places like that ?

[@georgesadallah3341]

Roller Trainers have the feel of riding on the road with the rock back and forth. This device does not have the ability to rock . I agree with you that the target market is very pointed to a small segment. Good Luck Wahoo Roller.

[@migzl8919]

I wonder if the pressure on the front wheel can cause long term damage to the wheel. 🤔

[@migzl8919]

Just saw you address this in your video, it’s a pass for me, can’t put a nice set of carbon wheels on it to have the front mechanism damage those wheels

[@alainpfammatter8224]

I agree with you David. Great first look video 👍

[@davidarthur]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ronnedal]

The benefit I find in rollers is that it engages small muscles that you use to keep the balance that won't engage with a fixed trainer. So I use a combination of both. But I can't see the use for this product. I'd be surprised if they'll still be selling this in 2 years.

[@julioquinonez4818]

They are still selling it :)

[@ronnedal]

Haha! Cheers! Well played!

[@timbob.]

I’ve watched a few reviews of this product now and I’m still slightly at a loss about what this is really for. It looks fairly massive, it’s just about as heavy in comparison to other smart trainers, it’s noisier than direct drive, it seems to do less well at ERG mode so not great for structured training, you require a separate power meter which many regard as an expensive option (although admittedly getting much more common). I just don’t know what wahoo was trying to find a solution for other than being quite easy to put a bike on and off, but that also requires having the space to leave this large unit setup all the time. Feels like the product is a better idea than it offers in reality.

[@MattSwain1]

Imagine the scenario where you have one bike and regularly switch between indoors and outdoors and aren’t comfortable on regular rollers. You don’t have to drop your wheel in and out, you don’t have 2 cassettes to maintain or a dirty outdoor bike to bring indoors, and you can literally put your bike on this an be riding in 10 seconds. Just because it doesn’t fit your use case doesn’t mean it’s not right for anyone. Granted, I do think Wahoo missed a trick, it should fold or something to make it more portable but I absolutely see why it could appeal to some people (even though I’m not one of them)

[@richjones2767]

If you wanted rollers, surely you'd get the Elite smart rollers which are actually rollers, this is more of a wheel on trainer/roller hybrid thing. Bit weird, not sure it's going to sell heaps.

[@lcooperdesign]

I have a Kickr Snap, and as another wheel-on trainer this looks to be a proposed alternative to that. I'm not sure it can be called an upgrade, especially as they state it "relies on calibration of external power metre" and so you need to have a power metre in your pedals, whereas the Snap can gauge power itself. Paying more for less (much more if you don't already have a metre in a crank or the pedals). The only advantages I can think of over the Snap are: that you won't need to change your rear QR skewer in order to be "clamped" in as is the case with the Snap, plus the accompanying creaking therefore won't be an issue either, and finally there's a potential footprint saving (if the widest part is narrower than that of the Snap). I'd also be concerned by the forces being applied to my front dropouts + wheel axle what with the wheel being locked in place like that whilst I rock my bike side to side during a sprint on Zwift. You might argue the same with the clamp implementation of the Snap but there's lots of play in the mechanism so I can confirm this isn't an issue. That also begs the question, is there a danger of my rear wheel slipping out? Also, the grip on the roller seems entirely dependent on the rider's weight, no chance of wheel slippage? In summary, I'm yet to be convinced a) who this is for and b) what it solves or improves upon?

[@grahambowes756]

Interesting as I'm just looking a smart trainers, the Kicker in particular. Which I still think would be better for me. Plus taking up less room. Does the new Rollr always have to have power, or can it be used for warm ups without it. Thanks for a great informative AV as always.

[@zyante1]

I’d use this vs my trainer that I don’t use at all. I could put my bike off and on easier and still have some of the casual ride feel I do. I ride outside but not inside because I hate attaching the bike.

[@nickjacobsss]

I really like this idea, but the front clamp definitely seems like it could cause damage over time

[@DennisNowland]

I'll stick to my wattbike atom second generation. It's just a no frills but solid piece of kit.

[@williamgalbraith3830]

Wich smart trainer do you use David ? Look forward too them carbon wheels review on tcr 😜🔥🔥🔥

[@davidarthur]

I've been a long time Wahoo Kickr user, I bought the mk 1 I reviewed many years ago when at road.cc and it's been my go-to since then. But I'm currently using a new Stages bike which is seriously impressive and I'll do a video on it soon. And there's a video on the wheels coming soon too!

[@galenkehler]

I really don't understand this product, but it'll be really interesting to see who ends up buying and using it.

[@andreweeley5095]

Great informative & honest vid as always. I have 'normal' rollers & am thinking of getting a smart trainer. Having seen this & not owning a power meter there's no chance of me buying the Kickr Rollr, I just don't see why you would really - I'll save my pennies & get the Kickr!

[@Michael-cj9uo]

The Kickr Snap is like half the price of this and has a power meter.

[@318ishonk]

Where would you get the 240V power sorce from when you want to use this trainer mainly for warming up before a race / TT? That's the killing argument in my view for this product. Traditional Rollers or the Tacx Bushido are lightweight and need no external power source, which makes them much more handy in my view (for the purpose of warming up).

[@krisgoose]

Dare you to "remove the stabiliser" when the resistance kicks up to a 10% gradient... David's face > wall

[@weekenderfam7965]

like the idea, but you can’t really rock the bike. So I guess it’s mostly for a feel thing? if the front wheel bottom holder has a pivot to let it swing side to side, and the top holder/clamp is wider and also flexible, and maybe have some kind of elastomer on each side to provide some kind of lateral support/cushion so when you rock the bike it is not going to fall.

[@yonglingng5640]

Rocker plates exist in the market (check out RideNow and KOM Cycling), so you can mount this on one and still be able to rock your bike.

[@thebrowns5337]

Using rollers must give more of a core workout than this or more traditional indoor trainer styles? Question: can you use mild gravel/cx tyres on rollers (if you only have one set of wheels with those tyres fitted)?

[@jerryjin3427]

Idk but the stabilizer’s clamp seems it could damage the carbon wheel by rubbing it?

[@j.ballsdeep420]

I'm more concerned with the flex left to right for the axel and weight at bad angles. Just seems very sketch no matter what

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

Not for me. Still using a Cateye CS 1000 from the 90's with Raleigh Cronos from 1993(damaged headtube from a crash) .Only use it when weather is bad,or too busy to get outside for a ride. Traditional rollers are tricky to learn,but improve your skills more than these devices. I would not like to do standing or max efforts on the Wahoo and break a fork or wheel with that flex ! What were they thinking? Daft.

[@amylite]

This would benefit households with more than one bicycle and more than one gear set that want to use a trainer. We have a Saris M2 and we have to get different axles do use the trainer. This would be easy just to swap bikes with no hardware changes. 7:18

[@v2rv]

Recently purchased Feedback Sports Omnium rollers for warming up before races. Paid 350€ and it's a lot more compact than Rollr. Confusing value proposition indeed.

[@askmeaboutmattweiner]

Isn't the answer to all the questions proposed at the end to just use a kicker snap? It's the cheapest, smallest, and most convenient full smart trainer and you can keep the wheel on.

[@Dali6266]

A question not related to the Kickr trainer. I noticed you have Winspace Hyper 50 wheels. Are you able to please provide some feedback, good and bad. Regards

[@mrGTD170]

What is the advantage over a kicker snap or any other turbo trainer?

[@mattstorey7683]

That is ludicurously expensive considering the other options and the limited use cases of this product

[@seniorbrusko]

Review of Winspace wheels coming up? :)

[@aaronedwards5020]

Combine the kickr rollr and the kickr climb into one package and wahoo can take my money.

[@roamingwolfpack]

Niche product for sure, and that front wheel wobble IN the forks is concerning. I can see a high effort creating a crack in a carbon fork. It's a pass for me though as I have an older 26er as a dedicated trainer set up. Works just fine!

[@jelissitah]

Guter Rollertrainer für alle die nicht nur Treten möchten

[@Circletakesthejake]

I'd really like something with better feel like i'm riding the bike outside- this it?

[@colinvanwijk5731]

Why not give the front wheel a bit of room in that clamp? It will still prevent you from falling, but not flex the wheel?

[@davidarthur]

I tried that but the front one flops from side to side and it’s not that nice

[@samuraioodon]

Wear down rear tire long run and the stabilizer front wheel looks like a concern…

[@ProfessorSteez]

I do almost all of my riding outside (15000 km/yr), but the few days where I set up the Kickr I just stick to rides where I’m doing only zones 2, 3, or 4. Is this suitable for that?

[@markymahusay4760]

it still works even without power meter?

[@Jason-xc6xm]

Would you consider using a turbo tyre for this? or would your standard tyres be okay for use?

[@davidarthur]

If you plan to do lots of miles a turbo tyre would be a sensible choice

[@HULKBIGHEAD]

I wished they added a roller to the front of the road bike unit. That really throws this so called indoor roller out the window.

[@user-zt5yf1gw4n]

See thats better no issue balancing

[@Tetters100]

Very expensive warm-up/down option ..... but very very cool indeed

[@vanakes]

Is this better on the knees?

[@Popcorn_Rider]

Will you be reviewing the Winspace wheels?

[@davidarthur]

Yes

[@mathiasjohansencellist]

How are the hypers?

[@primaire7]

No strong buying point without a powermeter. Roller is for balancing practice, powermeter built hub-based trainer is for stable/robust training, and roller-based stationary trainer is for budget. This one doesn't have any competitive point over above three.

[@brody5211]

What is that lovely green bike 🚴.?

[@tongpocalypse151]

Initial impression = wow! But the fact that it doesn't have a built in power meter and it's not a true roller = meh. Guess I shouldn't knock it until I've tried it, but I'm having a hard time visualizing what this thing gives me over a Kickr Core.

[@chuckylee1865]

How are those winspace?

[@allenpearson5659]

Suitable for TT ie Tri bikes?

[@outdoor75]

I have Elite Nero smart rollers and absolutely love them, I think the wahoo isn't really a roller in the proper sense. Your bike should be able to move freely as if you are riding on the road. The elites feel fantastic with the freedom to rock side by side up a climb out of the saddle. The noise is acceptable, unless you are sprinting on them then they are a little noisy. On Rouvy you really get lost in the riding especially if using a projector. Good try by wahoo but I think elite beat them to it

[@GrouEEf]

Since when do you ride the Winspace Hypers?

[@davidarthur]

Since a while! Review coming soon

[@dionisiuskusuma1462]

Can you use it without electricity just like a regular roller though?

[@davidarthur]

You can but it’s an expensive basic roller setup then

[@dionisiuskusuma1462]

@@davidarthur well, some of us can afford this and sometimes compete in an amateur competition where electricity to power this thing up isn't available to anyone

[@ketle369]

No balancing kind of defeats one of the main benefits of a roller - training balance and all the smaller muscles in your body.

[@ProfessorSteez]

Balance isn’t relevant on an actual bicycle where inertia is what keeps you on the bike lol

[@ketle369]

@@ProfessorSteez Looking forward to your - "My first time on rollers - No balancing issues." Video. Please post link in kommentarry feeld!

[@ProfessorSteez]

@@ketle369 That’s my point, do you have balancing issues on the road too or just the rollers? Inertia is at work every time you ride on the road. Unless you’re racing on the rollers the balancing aspect has no real benefit that you can’t train on the road. I’ve ridden rollers for years and can spin @ 150 rpm on flat pedals. If you’re using rollers for “training balance and all the smaller muscles in your body” you’re using them for the wrong reasons.

[@BadP0tat0]

That is why I preferr Elite Nero smart rollers. Those are actuall rollers (front wheel roller and no support) that allow you to play in Watopia :)

[@j0404t]

@@BadP0tat0do these rollers wear the tire out?

[@MarcBesancenot]

First 😬 now I watch it ^^

[@trekmadone936]

Must used indoor tyres?

[@yonglingng5640]

Best to, regular tires will wear out faster.

[@w.1929]

Man, that front of the bike is taking a beating! No way this product is for me.

[@LouieBaLLz]

Imagine how mad you'll be when you try a standing sprint on this and your front wheel/fork snaps.

[@mancello]

It's a solution in search of a problem.

[@8paolo96]

can't really see where to use this, if you dont want to remove the wheel just use a wheel on trainer, at least you have a proper erg mode and a lot more resistance, if it fixed this can't even be called roller, it's just a trainer with another design

[@woolfel]

as a warm up rig, it's interesting. But not for training.

[@ozgurinsan]

why do we always spend more money to cycle ?

[@harrie974]

I don’t understand the point of having rollers with a fixed front. In this way it’s just a wheel-on trainer, but bigger, louder, more expensive, no power and the risk of damaging the front wheel.

[@craigherriot4026]

Gimmicky IMHO.

[@hectorkidds9840]

I wouldn't put my bike on that, lots of load on front wheel and forks, and twist through frame. That and rear tyre wear. Nope. I'll stick with a wheel off trainer for 99% of training, and rollers for the 1% of the time when I feel brave.

[@miguelsuarez1511]

I don't get it. Instead of giving you the best of both worlds (rollers and smart trainers) it seems to me it does exactly the opposite.

[@drapetomaniack]

🤷🏾‍♂️ Why does this product exist?? It gives NONE of the advantages of a traditional roller since the front wheel locked in place.. and it takes up MORE space than a stationary trainer... WHY?? Makes not sense to me.. AT ALL!!

[@Michael-cj9uo]

Can't see the point in this at all, especially at the price point. No idea how you can call it affordable? It costs more than the Kickr Snap and most Cores online just now. If it cost the same as rollers then yeah but nah, waste of time.

[@insanegixxerdude486]

I think this product is going to be a flop. For the price your better off with the kickr core. I’m concerned with the flexing of the front wheel. I can see fatigue from the spokes in the nipples failing. Also the noise is off putting.

[@alpercino2172]

Ha ha ha. Rollers for rank amateurs. Expensive ones at that. Best rollers, Tacx galaxias. Floating system and you can sprint out of the saddle. No wear on tyres.

[@iancarson8614]

having seen the front wheel flex, i'm out

[@fisharefriends598]

Affordable…l. It’s more exp then my bike

[@RoadHardened]

This is a pointless product. I don't see where it fits in with their current products or why someone would buy this over the regular kickr or kickr snap. They could have at least made it wireless so you could use it to warm up on raceday? Isn't that the point of having rollers over a direct-drive trainer? The rollers also don't seem wide enough that you could balance on them without the stabilizer.

[@micycledalgleish2005]

What a useless piece of junk, kudos to you David for trying to make this fit anywhere in the indoor/warm-up sphere of training. But we all know what you really think.

[@antoniop1968]

DA, you sound like a salesman. "Niche product" is sales speak for expensive. For me, a bit more than necessary. I'll stick with old fashioned trainer and the city roads.

[@michaelk.920]

The term niche product has nothing to do with price.

[@lenkomsa1399]

Daft

[@piotrwojcik1756]

No thanks I'll rather stick to my kickr

[@bigbywolf6510]

Too expensive

[@ulaev]

thank you... but NO.

[@Malcom2345]

That stress on the front end and wheel is not good. These sort of trainers also hammer rear tires. Tech that didn’t need to be reinvented imho. 👎

[@darylv49]

Expensive, noisy, too heavy to be portable and only simulates up to 10% gradient….. just don’t see the point! 🤦🏽

[@charlottevslife]

I have a horizontal drop out on my TT bike, which means I hate having it on a turbo, I have my own power meter and I don't use ERG mode on zwift coz I don't like it. I think this will be perfect for me.