Kinetic Rock and Roll Owners

CleeRider

Hi everyone, I'm close to buying this as my very first turbo trainer, ready for the Winter. I have a couple of questions and would be really grateful to hear from any owners of this turbo...

1. What is the wear like on a normal road tyre (currently Conti 4000s 25mm). I only have the 1 road bike and would like to ride it outside when ever the roads are dry but do not wish to constantly swap tyres.
I see 2 options... simply use my existing wheel+tyre on the turbo, or buy a cheap wheel, cassette and turbo tyre.
Just wondering how many miles I would get out of the existing tyre on the turbo from new.

Also do I need to worry about using my existing chain on the new and existing cassettes? The existing components have done around 1600 miles.

2. The Pro Flywheel - I'm going to start using TrainerRoad and make a record of my progress/improvements over time. Will installing the pro flywheel at a later date skew my data and should I therefore buy it immediately. Does it perhaps make you slower?

Anyone know if a new model is imminent? Or are there any others trainers I should consider?

Thanks for the help.

cerv50

I love my RnR and will help as best as possible with your questions...

I started using my existing road wheel also with GP4000s and within a week it was so squared off that it didn't feel right when riding on the road. I now have a spare wheel with a Kurt Kinetic trainer tyre fitted. It grips the roller so much better and seems good but it was difficult to fit to the wheel though.

Cant really comment on whether your chain will suffer as I train on my winter bike and therefore am not too fussed about chain/cassette wear.

I have only ever used my RnR with the pro flywheel so cant comment but its heavy so must make a difference. Due to its weight it should make turning the wheel over slower I suppose. With regard to your data when you fit the pro flywheel just do another 8 or 20 minute test to get yourself a new FTP to work to.

I have heard there are new models due which is probably why some companies are selling their stock cheaper. I have only ever had this model but a lot of people rate the Road Machine by Kurt.

maryka

Use a turbo tire, or at the very least buy a super cheap tire (I'm using a Vittoria Rubino because I use a 650c wheel and can't get a turbo tire in that size). It's been fine, but I started with a decent road tire and it just got shredded in no time. They heat up too which messes with the speed/power curve so will make TrainerRoad useless if that's what you want to use.

Another thing I did was build a straight-block cassette of 13-22 out of old cogs and some I found at Rose bikes. I found it really enhances the turbo experience being able to shift one tooth at a time. No difference to wear on the chain but I don't put out loads of power and I don't do standing sprints on it either. Get an old road wheel and make it your turbo wheel, put a turbo tire and traight-block (or as near to it as you can get) cassette on it and just swap wheels rather than swapping tires on your regular road wheel.

I spent last winter on the Road Machine which has the same resistance unit and it was fine but I've just sprung for a RnR and it's so much better. I put the pro flywheel on and like it even more, also have a turntable thing to let the front wheel move. The pro flywheel makes it harder to get going but also holds momentum better, which is something to think about if you train by the speed/power curve -- I did a test yesterday comparing the numbers from a powermeter crank with those generated by the speed/power curve and I found if I eased off pedalling the real numbers dropped a bit even though the speed only dropped a little. Much more obvious with the RnR than with the Road Machine. So you need to be aware of that and keep the pressure on the pedals, it's reminds me of the road where you need to keep pedalling hard on a downhill or tailwind if you want to keep the watts high.

I never liked the pro flywheel on the Road Machine as it felt really hard to keep moving, but the bounciness of the RnR makes the whole setup with pro flywheel feel really road-like. I'm quite looking forward to turbo training this winter!

TONY.M

CleeRider wrote:

Anyone know if a new model is imminent? Or are there any others trainers I should consider?

CleeRider, I have no experience with the R&R version but plenty with the standard road machine.

Although the KK trainers used to get somewhat of a bashing a few years back for no apparent reason other than few people had them, more recently they have become recognized as one of the best pieces of kit you will own. Most people who have owned several trainers including a KK will say that it is the best one they have tried and owners tend to stick with them.

In the 6 years I have had mine it has been used extensively and heavily abused. It has had no problems whatsoever and I love it to bits, certainly it is one of the most durable and best made pieces of cycling related gear that I have ever owned. I would recommend a specific turbo tyre as my road tyres used to wear out in time, some people do not seem to have this issue but I would be skeptical in believing anyone who says that there is no tyre wear issue with any turbo of this kind.

The only downsides I have with it is that it is very heavy for a turbo, this is fine in a garage but a pain to transport. Also the welding of the legs and frame is not spot and so the alignment is out on so you may need to use a card or cloth shim to make it sit right, though this is a very easy and quick fix.

The bottom line is that this is a robust and durable turbo which is designed and very capable of hard use and will have a long lifetime.

Like with any Turbo or indoor cycle training you MUST use an appropriate fan even if you do not think that you need it. Turbo Training is a waste without adequate cooling so do not skimp on a quality high powered fan or two, which is even more important than a quality turbo.

I hope that helps a bit.

symo

Awesome,
I have the old RnR that they do not make the PRO fly wheel for
It is still great, not exactly portable for training away from home (looking to buy a small folding one by another brand from the bay) as I live in Hotels a lot. However during the winter this thing is the business for training on.
Never will leak and made out of indestructium.

moscowflyer

If you only have one bike, definitely get a spare wheel. I recently got a RM and have stuck the 'good' bike on it and am using the training/winter bike outside. Bit arse about face but until I get a spare wheel I really cba to keep shifting tyres about, and I feel more comfortable on a turbo for long periods on this bike. I got a Conti hometrainer tyre which has been really good so far, no slip at all. I'd 100% get a turbo tyre even if you're not going down the spare wheel route.

With regards to skewed data, I know that the standard flywheel on KK turbos give as close to 'real power' as they've found, which is based on 110psi and five dials of the flywheel knob. This would probably change when moving to a pro flywheel but as mentioned above, just do a new FTP test and than make sure you keep everything consistent from then on.

Starting to think I should have got a RnR now, although I love my RM at the moment. Vanilla Bikes had the RnR for £300 but have just sold out. There are new models coming shortly I've been told but then they're also likely to bring about higher prices than you can get the current models for right now.

Mccaria

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TRK ... bo_trainer

Although that's not the picture of the R&R, it suggests they have stock.

I have both the RM and the R&R. Definitely prefer the R&R for longer workouts, a bit of give for the rump.
You will sweat, even with a fan and this sweat has a habit of finding its way onto the frame and then the chain, even with a frame cover. So if you have just the one bike make sure you clean it regularly. I have a sacrifice bike which is ending its days permanently on the turbo, but I do use the turbo quite regularly so for me it's worth doing it.