Wanted to move to a direct drive trainer and was ready to pull the trigger on a Lemond Revolution. Then there was interbike and the Wahoo Kickr. I previously had a computrainer and sold it because it seemed like I spent more time tinkering, calibrating, and setting up the system than riding it. Some of that was because I am a MAC user, some of it because I hated the warm up calibration, and some of it, go ahead an laugh, was because I enjoy riding spinervals for my indoor training and computrainer really didn’t help much with that. Anyway, spent the last several years on a Kurt Kinetic. Wanting to change to direct drive because of fit of my new frame on the KK. I have a power meter on my bike, so having power is not a requirement. The question is, wait for the Kickr, which may or may not be out when promised, and may offer a lot of cool technical stuff, most of which I will probably never use, or buy the simple, now available Lemond Revolution only to wish months later I had all the cool stuff I never use?
From what I’ve read, a big advantage for the KICKR is that it’s much quieter. The Lemond is cheaper, though, and if you don’t mind cranking Troy on 50 maybe it can work for you. I recall reading the Lemond has an incrementally superior road feel. Could be wrong on that point, though.
The LeMond is toast. It offers nothing…and is dead
I have the lemond. It is amazing in terms of road feel, but the wahoo looks pretty compelling too. I’d wait, try both out, and then make the call.
I have the lemond. It is amazing in terms of road feel, but the wahoo looks pretty compelling too. I’d wait, try both out, and then make the call.
+1
Another option is to wait, and then check which is better value for money: a used Lemond (I’d say $300 tops) from people upgrading to the Kickr.
You have the luxury of waiting, since you already have an excellent trainer anyway.
+1 wait
I have Lemond, and I love it compared to my previous training. But it is loud. It is not a deal breaker for me, I just accept it. But when I do ride with videos…I can’t really hear crap, its all mostly just visual distraction. I would have to turn up the volume so high that it is not reasonable since I ride in the garage. The last thing I need is some neighbors coming by to see what I am doing with super loud video and loud fan, etc. I know some use headphones, but I don’t like to ride with them on.
I would see how the kickr ends up working out. I am curious as to how the plugged in issue works out. I am not sold yet on needing to have it plugged in all the time. Plus, I also have a quarq so, I don’t need another PM. Still, it is very interesting and I would wait to see how people like or dislike it. Then decide which to buy.
The revolution sux. Get something else. It’s just too noisy.
The Kickr looks awfully neat, but for me it has a ton of stuff I’d never so much as look at. I have had so many trainers it’s insane. In point of fact my very first trainer was called the Houdaille Road Machine which is what LeMond copied for his Revolution. Have had various wind, mag and fluid trainers in addition to rollers and a ComputTrainer.
Yes the LeMond is loud, but I wear over the ear studio quality headphones and can’t hear the trainer at all so that is a non issue to me. The feel is perfect for me. I do ~ 90% of my rides indoors during the week due to time constraints and wouldn’t trade my Rev for anything. If I were to do a Wahoo it would be for the noise component only, but since I’m a bit of a stereo/audio geek I would have my headset on anyway hence pushing me back to the Rev. As far as neighbors or family not being able to tolerate the noise, I guess if you live in an apartment it could be bad for neighbors. As far as my home goes I have it in my living room and when my girlfriend is upstairs she barely hears it. When I put the Rev in my 3rd bedroom with the door closed she can’t hear anything so I don’t think it’s that bad from what she tells me. Put it to you this way she was on a conference call earlier in the week while I was 30 feet away in the extra bedroom on the Rev and it wasn’t an issue.
Only you can answer the ? of ‘will I use the toys’…might be best to wait!
The Kickr looks very nice indeed, and I think if I were t get one of these direct drive trainers right now it would be the Wahoo.
Dcrainmaker is tryin to get one to review for his trainer comparison article. Wait and see if he gets one and if everything is worth the extra $$.
Why the move to a direct drive trainer? All you’re adding is potential headache and more complexity to an otherwise ideal indoor training setup.
KK + powertap is as simple as sweet as it gets. Setup and go. Quiet. Smooth. No damage to the bike.
The Wahoo’s got potential, but it’s untested, redundant for your powertap (duplicates its function) and costs more money to acquire a new one.
Or is this just upgraditis? If it is, that’s cool, but admit that you’re really in it for a new bike toy than the training function.
you’re stupid
you asked for it. i have nothing to add about the trainers
Why the move to a direct drive trainer? All you’re adding is potential headache and more complexity to an otherwise ideal indoor training setup.
KK + powertap is as simple as sweet as it gets. Setup and go. Quiet. Smooth. No damage to the bike.
The Wahoo’s got potential, but it’s untested, redundant for your powertap (duplicates its function) and costs more money to acquire a new one.
Or is this just upgraditis? If it is, that’s cool, but admit that you’re really in it for a new bike toy than the training function.
Wahoo untested? It has already got the ST seal of approval that it has killed the computrainer? I guess Roger has his resume already updated and looking for a new job. :o)
.
i can see the appeal. Not having to either put a trainer tire on your wheel…or eroding your normal tire much faster would be nice. Especially in the early season when the weather is really iffy (cold and rain is a no go for me).
i can see the appeal. Not having to either put a trainer tire on your wheel…or eroding your normal tire much faster would be nice. Especially in the early season when the weather is really iffy (cold and rain is a no go for me).
Except that per DCRainmaker, it’s much more of a pain to hook up your bike to it than it is to a regular trainer.
i can’t imagine it is much more of a pain than changing a tire…or just leaving an old bike semi-permanently mounted to it (with the advantage of still having power right??).
to each his own.
Nah, it easy to put on after you do it a couple times.
I’m able to take it on and off without touching the chain. No more dirty hands :).
I would get neither, I’d get these (video here). The best indoor training system bar none. Simplicity and total realism. I have no connection to the company, just love the trainer.
Kickr all the way.
There was a rumor at interbike that Lemond fitness is dead. Sold for parts, gone.
Wahoo is an up and coming company. The open software aspect of it is really exciting.
It also feels really good and is super quiet. I plan on using it as my main trainer.
that looks cool. I’ve often wondered if rollers would be more comfortable than regular trainers…simply because you move a lot more. I find that the trainer is far less comfortable than being out on the road…and I think that’s because regular trainers don’t move much. it doesn’t seem to matter if i ride my road or tri bike on the trainer…either option is less comfortable than out on the road.