Looking to buy the Wahoo Kickr
pestian
Posts: 2
HI,
Lots of threads on its use etc. I'm struggling at a more basic level I'm afraid.
Late 30's and I mainly ride Mountain Bike XC Endurance (12hr/24hr races). I put a fair number of road miles in to keep going as well and enjoy sportives etc through the year.
I have done a number of visits now to the Human Performance Unit in Colchester and seen a good return on the investment, but the time for power based training has arrived. As I want flexibility to training with power on Road and MTB the Wahoo seems to tick a lot of boxes. Would love to have had a bike mounted solution but not viable at the moment. Maybe at my next iteratian of mid life crisis……
Anyway, all the talk of bluetooth 4.0/Smart, Ant+ etc is leaving me very confused. Then hooking up to Trainerroad, Sufferfest, Strava etc. I need some noddy explanations at what I need. Firstly, I know I need to buy the Wahoo trainer!
1. I have a Garmin Edge 800. Can I connect this to the Wahoo? This is what I use on my current trainer. I take it that I will be able to read power based on an ANT+ connection but not be able to alter the settings?
For that I would ned to use one of (I have these in the house to use) iPad3, iPhone5, Samsung Galaxy S3, Macbook Pto Retina Display (2013 model). Which ones work and which ones are best? Do they connect directly or do I need some kind of dongle/USB connector as well? Could I use one of these instead of the Garmin?
How does the connection to Strava, Sufferfest, Trainerroad work. Reading the sites it seems to imply that the trainer will 'adjust' itself to replicate the resistance I would feel in these applications. How does that work? Sufferfest are just MP4 videos for instance?
I know I'm behind on my tech understanding, but before shelling out the best part of £1000 on a Wahoo I'd like to t least know I could set i up and use it rather than realising I have a whole load of other investment as well (dongles and the like). What is the true cost?
Thx
Ian
Lots of threads on its use etc. I'm struggling at a more basic level I'm afraid.
Late 30's and I mainly ride Mountain Bike XC Endurance (12hr/24hr races). I put a fair number of road miles in to keep going as well and enjoy sportives etc through the year.
I have done a number of visits now to the Human Performance Unit in Colchester and seen a good return on the investment, but the time for power based training has arrived. As I want flexibility to training with power on Road and MTB the Wahoo seems to tick a lot of boxes. Would love to have had a bike mounted solution but not viable at the moment. Maybe at my next iteratian of mid life crisis……
Anyway, all the talk of bluetooth 4.0/Smart, Ant+ etc is leaving me very confused. Then hooking up to Trainerroad, Sufferfest, Strava etc. I need some noddy explanations at what I need. Firstly, I know I need to buy the Wahoo trainer!
1. I have a Garmin Edge 800. Can I connect this to the Wahoo? This is what I use on my current trainer. I take it that I will be able to read power based on an ANT+ connection but not be able to alter the settings?
For that I would ned to use one of (I have these in the house to use) iPad3, iPhone5, Samsung Galaxy S3, Macbook Pto Retina Display (2013 model). Which ones work and which ones are best? Do they connect directly or do I need some kind of dongle/USB connector as well? Could I use one of these instead of the Garmin?
How does the connection to Strava, Sufferfest, Trainerroad work. Reading the sites it seems to imply that the trainer will 'adjust' itself to replicate the resistance I would feel in these applications. How does that work? Sufferfest are just MP4 videos for instance?
I know I'm behind on my tech understanding, but before shelling out the best part of £1000 on a Wahoo I'd like to t least know I could set i up and use it rather than realising I have a whole load of other investment as well (dongles and the like). What is the true cost?
Thx
Ian
0
Comments
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if you want Power, why not a Stages on the MTB/Road bike? cost is not much more than the Wahoo - and will give you power "in the field" as well as indoors on the trainer
yes your edge will connect to the kickr
have you any experience of trainer road with your current turbo? monthly cost is sub £10 and all you need is a ANT+ USB dongle (£25) and a Cadence/Speed sensor (£30)0 -
Hi,
I have bee using a Kickr since August last year with TrainerRoad and Sufferfest Videos. FTP has increase 36% in that time, using the trainerroad and sufferfest programmes.
I use a late 2013 MacBook Air. KickR, Wahoo HR & Wahoo Cadence all connect directly to the Mac using built in BT. Yours will be the same. Also used the Wahoo Segements apps on I pad mini again connecting directly to devices using BT, again your iPad will behave the same.
I have the garmin 810 but this is used on the road only not sure why you would connect it to the wahoo. Everything is log via the TrainerRoad software on the mac, HR, Cadence, Watts, etc. Then it's uploaded to the TrainerRoad website, I also download the file of the completed workout and then upload it to strava, just to keep all my rides in one please.
Buy the KICKR directly from Wahoo via there website. Wahoo HR and Cadence sensors can be found all over the place including Apple stores.
The trainer road software controls the KICKR so if you open a training ride on the software where the watts require will automatically increase and decrease to follow the programme. With sufferfest it's the same find the training ride within the trainerroad software and then drag and drop the sufferfest mp4 into the software window. It's all then synced up automatically and the video will track to the training programme.
Cost wise you are looking at:
£1000 KICKR
£50 - £80 for the HR and Cadence sensors
TrainerRoad subscription $89 per year
then any addition sufferfest videos you which to buy
You don't need the extra sensors but I find them very helpful.0 -
I have used TR all winter, now I am back on the road I am missing the data so I would seriously put that money on a power meter:)0
