Wahoo KICKR ROLLR Smart Trainer/Roller Review // Natural, Interactive Bike Training

[@markproulx1472]

I just acquired this trainer. It is just sensational. I have power measuring pedals, so the absence of in-trainer power measurement is of no consequence. It is dirt simple to set up - it took longer to dispose of the box and packing materials than it did to set it up.

[@DesFit]

That’s great that you’re enjoying it. I quite enjoy how it rides as well! Enjoy!

[@ManofSteele41]

Hi Mark, Just curious... have you had any issues with the front wheel flexing? The fact that the front wheel is fixed while the rear end moves around does slightly concern me. Any comments from you would be great!

[@ChristophPapenfuss]

Ride feel is amazing. Just got mine. So much fine to ride and super easy to handle. Thanks for the review.

[@DesFit]

That’s great that you’re enjoying it 👍 Thanks!

[@benwilkinson7894]

I just got mine, do you find it doesn’t work when you sit up as you would riding with no hands?

[@kevinb.jonesphotography4571]

You make the most informative bike videos!

[@DesFit]

Thanks!

[@QueenShanine]

Great review. Interesting device. I’m going to keep my Kickr but Wahoo has my attention but that need of a power meter is an issue though. Nice to see Wahoo expanding their product offerings. Thanks for the detailed review.

[@DesFit]

Sure thing! Thanks!

[@warrensmith8793]

Superlative review! I've been holding off on getting a trainer for years now. I think this combo of roller and trainer is going to be the ticket.

[@DesFit]

Enjoy!

[@PaulKentSkates]

It's just a trainer. It's not a roller.

[@jdsenior74]

Great review Des as always, when new kit hits the market your the first one i go to for a open & honest review, thanks again !!!!!

[@DesFit]

Thanks so much!

[@hardmtnbiker]

This is awesome for those that don’t want the direct connect system. I’m looking at the new Garmin Rally XC pedals now🙂

[@DesFit]

Nice! Great pedals as well 👍 Enjoy!

[@JeyDeee89]

This looks like something made for me. Not a hardcore biker, and i only want to quickly throw my Roadbike on, but still being able to use it for something like zwift. Perfect for some cold or raining days.

[@DesFit]

Super simple to just toss on, for sure. 👍

[@lillysworld979]

Just bought one after seeing your review thanks!

[@DesFit]

Enjoy!

[@laralewis135]

Great video, I think you answered all my questions.

[@DesFit]

Glad to help! Thanks!

[@Jeaglelol]

Great review! I just bought the kickr rollr based a lot on this review. Super happy! Freeride is great and ERG mode is just as good as my Tacx Flux 2. I own only one bike and thats a carbon road bike. Going quickly from inside to outside will be great!

[@DesFit]

Enjoy!

[@JeffRejent]

I would imagine you could use a separate speed sensor and set it up as a dumb trainer in Zwift and just change the resistance through the app or head unit. Like the idea of the rollers but too expensive if bought with any power meters. Honestly it might be a better idea to buy a trainer that has a power meter for the same price.

[@Solarsystem50]

Looks nice. I like the idea of just "plug-and-play" your bike. But I would pay only $450.00 because you have to provide your own power meter.

[@paddyorourke5829]

What a great video all the information you need to know and what you need to know 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@DesFit]

Glad it helped! Thanks!

[@Occamed]

Great review Des, I appreciate the erg caveat, it's where I am at the moment.

[@DesFit]

Ya it’s definitely something to consider. Thanks!

[@sridhar94]

Great review as always Des!

[@DesFit]

Thanks Sridhar! 🙌

[@ewolam]

I wish this roller will work with wahoo climb in future!

[@glendahunt8013]

I think this might have pushed me to give up the Peloton and move over to Zwift. I want this!!!

[@dalogan7290]

you can play peloton and this at the same time, just with the app

[@Martysreviewsandhowtos-p2o]

Desfit- do you know if wahoo udtaed the firm ware to make the ERG mode any better since you firts posted this video? Thank you !

[@robertmilner855]

I dont have a power meter and dont use swift. Can I still use the rollr without. Just put my bike on and go?

[@larryreid8562]

my husband learned to use it holding on in a couple days

[@pamey12]

Man this looks awesome

[@DesFit]

I've been really enjoying these!

[@MKellyC]

Can you track your miles if you’re not using a power meter?

[@marlonm396]

Hi. I just learned about this device and i wonder about tire wear. Thanks.

[@DesFit]

It will be less than a wheel-on bike trainer that applies pressure via a clamping mechanism but you’ll likely still experience some tire wear. Just the nature of anything that contacts the tire. Great trainer though!

[@marlonm396]

@@DesFit , I bought this year a wheel on bike trainer and i stopped using it on the same day due to excessive tire wear. However, i thank you for your comparison. Happy 4th!

[@TKaiser56]

Great video and review! BTW what kind of running shoes are those blue and pink ones you are wearing at the beginning of the video? Thanks!

[@DesFit]

Thanks! Those are the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V1 - discontinued unfortunately 😕

[@GCarnell]

Would love to have for use with my mountain bike.

[@DesFit]

Unfortunately won't work with a mountain bike unless you have small tires, like cyclocross-sized tires 😕

[@GCarnell]

@@DesFit The MTB market is wide open. Seems like a great development opportunity for Wahoo.

[@DesFit]

And really all it would probably take is some reworking of the front angle bracket.

[@johnb5482]

DC Rainmaker sent me here.

[@DesFit]

Nice!

[@brucegelman5582]

Kreitlers are superior.The whole point of rollers is to fine tune your stroke so that the left leg and right leg are exerting even force.And thats how you keep from sliding off rollers.Al Kreitler rollers are made like they will last forever and they do.

[@carrickdubya4765]

If anyone's interested, Wahoo KICKR ROLLR now on sale for Prez Day at $639.99. 👍

[@DesFit]

🤙

[@yelloboy32]

Great video Des. I just got my Rollr and already have a power meter so no issues there. However, I am concerned about burning up my expensive tires if the tackiness is similar to the Wahoo Snap and I don’t want the hassle of needing another wheel to swap out to avoid burning up a good tire which defeats the purpose and ease of just popping it on the Rollr and going. What do you think about tire burn up?

[@DesFit]

I think it's still a valid concern. The primary reason I like this trainer is for ride feel and comfort. I think that you could look at the experience people have with normal rollers and probably expect the same results with the ROLLR in terms of tire wear. Thanks!

[@Mimi-cq4bg]

Any contact your rubber takes is going to wear the tire. Just put on a trainer tire or a cheapie slick

[@SRobinson1485]

Is it ok to use on rouvey and do you have to have a powermeter to use it or can you use without a powermeter

[@dcrunicycles]

Thank you

[@DesFit]

Sure thing!

[@kamilpagaz6460]

Does it work with Garmin computers?

[@Will-ol9lp]

Can one use a mountain bike with 29.6 tires? Great job with the review Thanks

[@DesFit]

Unfortunately not. Thanks.

[@bradbradhombre]

Great review, Des! I’m on the fence about drive trainers given that I don’t want to deal with the annoyance of switching the back wheel all the time. Relative to direct drive, did you feel like setup and takedown of your bike was faster and easier?

[@DesFit]

I’m pretty used to direct drive where it takes me just a minute or two, but this takes mere seconds. It’s incredibly easy and convenient. Thanks!

[@mroozendaal]

It just takes a few minutes to set up your direct when-on trainer.

[@nathando5973]

I have just bought wahoo kickr roller. I don’t use power peadals but when I ride at 60-70 watts it so heavy legs while I see everyone can do 200-250 watts easily. Can you tell me the reason? Thanks

[@therealkevinleee]

could be depending on your bike vs their bike like how big their cog is for example

[@PaulKentSkates]

I don't consider this a roller. It's just a new version of an old school friction based trainer. I have no idea why they make the rear roller so wide if the front gets fixed. I'd be interested if it were a real set of rollers like a better more accurate, more powerful version of a Nero elite type set up. Is it adjustable enough for two people of vastly different size to be able to switch bikes pretty quickly?

[@jeron1847]

Hi Des, great video once again! Currently I am using the smart bikes in my local gym and pairing them with my Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt V2 which works surprisingly great, but I am also looking in some indoor alternatives at home. Where does Wahoo place this product themselves? Them being rollers I expected them to be a more entry level trainer but them costing 799 and the requirement for a power meter makes the Kickr Core (€599 without cassette) seem like a steal to begin indoor cycling. Could you give some advice on the new Rollr vs Kickr Core?

[@DesFit]

From a pure training aspect, a direct drive trainer may be a better option especially with ERG mode workouts. For ride feel though for ride simulation programs I really like the ROLLR a lot. The price with a power meter does bump this up a bit past a KICKR Core (which is a great trainer with just a couple compromises - I have an in depth review of that one too). I don’t think Wahoo intends for the ROLLR to directly compete with their direct drive trainers, more of an alternative.

[@apicharjiratanan4285]

Wow! Time to sell my wahoo kicker core set

[@markproulx1472]

I can’t believe the timing on this product introduction. My bike is extremely odd in that it has a 135 mm long, 12 mm through axle. As such it will not attach to any smart trainer. This new product appears to be the answer to my problem because I already own power measuring pedals.

[@DesFit]

There ya go!

[@kxf2610]

to me this looks more like wheel-on trainer with fixed front wheel....Elite Nero rollers seem better deal if you want interactive rollers and it has built-in PM (aside how precise that PM is)

[@RationalCreed]

So I can’t use it with zwift unless I spend more?

[@DesFit]

The least you would need would be a speed and cadence sensor on your rear wheel, but for the full experience a power meter would be best.

[@Chris_PerthWA]

Wow that looks gooood

[@DesFit]

It’s a pretty great ride experience 👍

[@Circletakesthejake]

I really don't like the trainer feel when riding (feels soulless) so this might be for me as I want something closer to road feel?

[@DesFit]

I just did a nearly 2 hour ride on it today and it was super comfortable and natural feeling. I usually can’t do much longer than an hour and a half without starting to lose my soul.

[@Circletakesthejake]

@@DesFit One part of me loves to hear that but another knows now i need to get a power meter lol

[@sburns514]

So can this be used without plugging it in and just use your computer unit to track miles, speed and cadence???

[@DesFit]

Yes, you can use this without plugging it in but you will need a speed and cadence sensor attached to your bike to track distance.

[@austinportman3622]

How much does it roll without pedaling? I’m a beginner so I have to “cruise” ever so often to adjust or grab a drink, or stretch a little and my traditional trainer would roll for a little bit so I didn’t always have to start from zero like on traditional rollers when I had to completely stop:

[@therealkevinleee]

It should cruise as long as your wheels are moving

[@Catcrumbs]

Something I've often wondered about these smart trainers is why they have to be plugged in. Wouldn't it be feasible to harvest the necessary power from the user?

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

Tacx Neo don't need power supply

[@sneakerjoe23]

Harvest the necessary power from the user? What year do you think this is?

[@Catcrumbs]

@@sneakerjoe23 I think this is a mechanical device that converts work done by the user into waste heat while at the same time requiring mains power for full functionality. There doesn't seem to be any reason why the energy produced by the user couldn't be put to some useful purpose - as is apparently the case with the Tacx Neo. Am I in error somewhere?

[@jaychu3850]

Do you think this will destroy tires like other trainers where wheel meets drum?

[@DesFit]

My thinking is no since it just uses your body weight to apply pressure. With most wheel on trainers where the axle is mounted, there is an applied pressure from the drum.

[@CHRISTIANZEGARRA2018]

How does the trainer feel when going up a climb?

[@DesFit]

It adjusts resistance to replicate the feeling of going up a hill

[@CHRISTIANZEGARRA2018]

@@DesFit Awesome. This is something I wanted to know before buying it

[@King8Matthaias]

Can I use the wahoo cadence and speedcensors combined as a powermeter?

[@DesFit]

Power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors are all different types of sensors that collect different types of data. You'll need a power meter to collect power data.

[@King8Matthaias]

@@DesFit ok, thank you! ps Video is great ;)

[@DesFit]

Sure thing 👍 Thanks!

[@DaveCM]

I've been trying to figure out who this is for. It costs the same as some direct drive trainers, burns up tires like an old tire on trainer (which is cheaper), locks the bike in so it isn't like riding regular roles, and seems to put stress on the front wheel from the videos I've watched of it being used

[@DesFit]

It's a bit more niche use case, for sure. I tend to like it for ride comfort and ride feel. For longer rides I really quite enjoy it. The higher front wheel stress comes with sprints but sprints aren't necessarily fantastic with this.

[@latecheckout11]

the front lock it's a big no no in my opinion. if you use some cheap wheel that may not be an issue but after a while after intensive rides🤔

[@rideordiewarren]

Noise level? Thanks!

[@DesFit]

In the video! 👍

[@rideordiewarren]

@@DesFit I need to stop doing other things whiling watching videos…haha. Thank you.

[@DesFit]

Haha, all good!

[@angellosmalefakis1321]

The one important thing you forget to mention is the wear and tear on the tire! That tire in the rear gets worn out real, real fast. Additionally, you can not use it after you used it on the roller because you are going to get a FLAT asap! Thus, when you have a rear tire dealing with a roller you have a tendency to get flats because of the roller & the tire gets worn, worn, worn down fast! FInally the cost factor. YOU mention that it costs over 1K? It is NOT worth the money. Get a traditional roller better for a 1/4 of the price. That is what the riders in Japan use traditional rollers!

[@james-hb5tu]

you have to use a specific trainer tire like he is which will last so much longer

[@jacklauren9359]

So if japanese riders jump on the bridge without a rope you will do it too? 😂 how stupid are you mate 😊

[@matthewlemin5077]

If, like me, you already have a power meter and only one bike then it is interesting. Quite costly though

[@creativecontent99999]

ordered

[@DesFit]

Enjoy!

[@doomguy2000]

Don't buy any friction based trainers. You will go through tires and heat up where your tires touch the trainer. Save up and buy direct drive train. It's only 100$ difference

[@nickp9994]

Sorry but if the front wheel is in a fixed position they aren’t rollers

[@micheleteso9499]

What the difference from tacs? NOTHING NEW

[@DesFit]

You mean, other than being able to control resistance from a training app?

[@jareou]

Wahoo needs to rethink this idea. Shame attemp at trying to get you to buy a power meter to use

[@DesFit]

I don’t think it’s a ploy to get anyone to buy a power meter, reading power from a roller just isn’t that accurate due to too many variables.

[@trailzrock2]

Interesting that it didn’t come with a built in power meter 🙄😱😬

[@DesFit]

Taking power measurements from a roller system generally aren’t great. I think they could have but the numbers would have been too inconsistent and there would likely be complaints about it. Since accuracy is important with power I don’t think it was a bad decision.

[@trailzrock2]

@@DesFit i agree. But I'm thinking they could have thrown in their new power pedals for a lot cheaper than $1,300 for the package. Maybe $1,000 for the rollers and power pedals. Cyclists are finicky when it comes to pedal choice considering many of us have multiple same type pedal sets for multiple bikes. It would have been a good way for Wahoo to get people to switch to their pedal system 🤔

[@ashaarizainal2859]

I this trainer better because not make your bike frame crack if u overdo..

[@mroozendaal]

This one is going to be a big failure. Not even a powermeter for this price. Also you bouncing like crazy after a sprint. Besides that the noise!!

[@exferd1544]

Kickr rollr < Rick Roll

[@aarondixon7602]

Bummer. Setup looks awesome… except the Speedplay pedals. Fail.

[@DesFit]

Speedplays aren't necessarily for everyone but you can use whatever power meter you'd like 👍

[@JC.SpdRcr5]

$800

[@doxielain2231]

No power meter, expensive, what's the point?

[@DesFit]

Ride comfort and road feel

[@matthewlemin5077]

I already have a power meter and it is great that this is easy to put on and off. Definitely tempted, but it does seem overpriced

[@anermy]

아따 이 아저씨.. 영어 잘하시네