If you are like me and are a semi-serious cyclist who wants to spend some quality time in the saddle throughout the winter months in order to be ready for road racing season, then the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is a superb option for you. Three full turns of the knob. Its the last trainer you will ever need to buy. Ive got thousands of winter miles on one of these (with TrainerRoad). Thats it. If you're in hotels near a plug, it's probably the perfect trainer for that. It has a few kinks, but nothing that doesn't have a workaround or can't be easily ignored. It put up with all the abuse I could give it and it is still working to this day just as effectively as it did the day I took it out of the box. All in all, this is what you would expect from this sort of trainer. The only area we wish were different is in power. Its shape is also great for taking it around. No two riders are alike, and the same could be said for indoor bike trainers. The Kinetic's versatility here makes it one of the best bike trainers for taking out on the road and just getting it shifted from place to place in your home. I also have the inRide pod and thats a bit more meh (its plagued with reliability issues and calibration uncertainties), but when you get it working it does provide you with Power, Speed and Cadence that are pretty accurate and its nice that its all coming from the Trainer, meaning you dont have to have all those gadgets on your bike as well. We did also have a few power drops. We hope future models can dial it in a little more. It's pretty darn easy. Overall, the trainer is great, and its a fraction of the cost of a connected trainer and doesnt require a wall plug to get all the features. This is consistent with most other tire drive trainers. If thats all your after, the Kinetic Rock and Roll | Smart 2 or Kinetic Road Machine | Smart 2 are great choices. That's pretty good for such an affordable tire drive trainer. The power feature is pretty bang on (Ive compared it against a strain gauged power meter) and the speed sensor is accurate as well. I could get my tires to slip a bit on the first explosive jump, but thats happened on every traditional trainer Ive tried. Totally rock solid. Been using it for years and it still performs as if it were new. Shouldn't. But there is a way to simplify the buying process: Figure out the one must-have feature that would make or break a purchase and then narrow your choices down from there. SPINERVALS is a registered trademark owned by Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc. and used under exclusive license. Most of the time, if you want to get this type of realistic training experience from an indoor trainer, you have to shell out a few thousand dollars for something like the Tracx Fortius or a virtual reality trainer. Had I not had one I likely would have ponied up for the Wahoo Kickr instead of getting the power pod. If you already have a fluid trainer and youre thinking of upgrading to an interactive app-controlled trainer, check out this article featuring tips and information on upgrading. NP, IF and TSS are trademarks of Peaksware, LLC and are used with permission. The first is the physical design, where we consider how practical and user-friendly the trainer is. It's the ideal weight for a tire drive trainer. It fits 22 through 29-inch wheels, so just about any frame will work with it. Resistance is more than adequate. But with the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine, you can get the same type of realistic ride for much less (I paid about $350 for mine new on Amazon, but you may be able to find it for less either new or used). As course terrain or training session requirements change, so does the trainer's resistance. Now with the ANT+ capability, you can pair to multiple devices and have a backup in case one of the other protocols is down on your training platform, as happened recently with Zwift and Bluetooth. As we've mentioned, the frame is pretty darn solid. Then you'll just unfold the legs of the trainer, throw the new skewer they provided onto your bike, set the bike up in the two clamps and tighten those, then tighten the resistance unit up against your tire, open your training program, plug the trainer in and pair your machine to your device, then you're rolling. The mat is thick, soft and awesome. And, because the resistance unit and flywheel are heavy and dont sit centered in the frame when folded, it tends to want to fall over. Ive heard a lot of people say that trainers wear out tires. The benchmark for fluid trainers. Ive had a KK trainer for years, and its great. It's not bad for that, but you'll need a power source to get any decent use out of it. The Road Machine | Control is a little less exact than the direct-drive trainers, but it's still within 5% and close enough to get you rolling and competing. But many of the bottom end fluid trainerssuffer from the same problem: over time, they eventually develop leaks, at which point they cant be repaired and have to be replaced. New Kinetic Road Machine 2.0 Fluid T . At least, not until TrainerRoad figure out the spin down calibration issues with the inRide. Looking for the best bike trainer available today? It has a road-like feel and has held up to multiple users over the past 8 months with nary a scratch on it.Id recommend it to anyone looking for a premium unit thats quiet, stable and durable. You can even pull the resistance unit off and throw it in your suitcase or vice versa, depending on how big your case is and how well you can strap everything down. Pictured above is the most taxing step in setting up the Control - tightening two knobs. With Kinetic fluid power trainers, youll control the effort level by speeding up or slowing down. One of the big factors many are won over by the Road Machine is itspatent sealed chamber filled with thermodynamically stable silicone fluid and a roller that is virtually connected to the impeller via a magnetic coupler. The price is on high end of competing fluid trainers, but it comes with a larger stock flywheel than most, seemed a bit quieter than others Ive tested and a good brand history to back it up. At some point, you might decide you like the Road Machine Control so much and that you're having such a good time with it that you want to take it out traveling so you can maintain your fitness or warm-up before a race. It's a versatile, affordable, simple-to-use trainer. These app-controlled trainers will adjust the resistance to simulate terrain changes in pre-set workouts or on virtual courses while you focus on spinning and staying smooth. It's sufficient to simulate good road inertia but not too heavy to force you to lock your wheel down and slip every time you accelerate. Battery pulls, followed by bad data on a workout, over and over again, and they act like theyve never heard your issue before. The flip side is the spin down. In my opinion, a stationary bike stand is way better than using one of thosestationary gym bikes or taking a spin class at the gym because they allow you to pedal some miles using the actual bike or bikes you will be using on the road. The models have improved slightly with the new flywheel that can take the add-on bigger weight, slight change to the frame, and the new and improved knobs. 130mm, 135mm compatible || Thru-axle available for 142mm and 148mm through CycleOps. But keep in mind, this is just rolling. They also can be set up and used practically anywhere, including in front of your television in your living room (my preferred training spot!). I didnt notice any resistance loss from heat, likely thanks to the 80 huge fins. The trainer is the cake, and their accessories are the icing that make it extra delicious. High quality fluid trainers, the Kinetic Road Machine Model is the perfect trainer on which to do your Spinervals Cycling workouts! Anyone on just about any bike can get rolling without any special tools or special skills required. The fluid resistance unit is church mouse quiet. It drops in the middle of workouts, refuses to pair for no apparent reason, and will not do a spindown. Its 12-pound flywheel is the right balance for this trainer. But its pretty mush the same super reliable, killer workout, Road Machine that has made these legendary. Quick and easy maintenance tips for your stationary bike trainer. Trying to work with Kinetic support has been a challenge as well. From intervals to threshold work to recovery spins the Road Machine offers a wide range of workout options. We love that this option provides the simplicity of a tire drive trainer with some smart control features you typically find in premium direct drive trainers. Those of us who run ANT+ didn't notice. Ive given up and just use VirtualPower on TrainerRoad. It retains the cost and simplicity of a standard tire drive trainer but adds in the smart control features of a higher-end direct drive trainer. It's still a good idea to do it every week or two. Why: Whether you want to take your trainer to a race to warm up or just move it into storage when its not in use, moving these machines will be easiest. Well review that separately. Try storing a stationary bike in the back of a closet or pulling it out of your trunk to warm up before a race. How do I insert the rear skewer into my bikes rear wheel? This product is one of the easiest smart trainers to set up and offers great performance for the price. Assuming you have a speed sensor, you can already figure out your power output they already publish a power curve chart: It keeps me engaged in my cycling year-round, regardless of weather. A towel works, too, as long as the trainer isnt sitting on it, which could let it slide around under hard effortsbut a mat fits under the complete trainer and wheel block, which prevents any scratches on your floor. Plus, the price is relatively affordable as its still not out there in the league of virtual trainers, or even its more pricier sibling, the Rock n Roll Trainer. Kinetics been making trainers for 18 years and we still have a hard time picking just one. Snow and ice outside? There is no trainer that more accurately replicates an outdoor ride indoors thanks to our precision-calibrated fluid resistance unit. I already had an older Kinetic RM tho. I mean, whos going to see the thing besides you, anyway? Why: The former will wirelessly transmit your ride data to training apps like TrainerRoad and Zwift. The accuracy problems mostly come about in brief spots here and there where you need big shifts in power or you're doing a lot of close competition with other riders where a few watts really will make a difference and get you dropped (or your buddy). @Jack the jr, dont forget the Single Speeders. The bag is nice, too, and fits the wheel block, tire and other bits neatly for travel or storage. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Kinetic sells one that will work on just about any tire drive bike trainer the Kinetic Traxle. You don't need any special tools or expertise to operate it. If youve got an extra wheel and cassette laying around, its highly advisable to use the trainertire or any old tire youve got laying around. So far this year my highest is 196rpm. The imprints left on the mat measure30.25 (77cm) for the feet, and the rear ends base is a bit more than 11 (28cm). Tire drive trainers can usually be broken down into a U-shape with a bulky resistance unit at the center. You're going to have a hard time beating the winner of our Top Pick for a Smart Control Tire-Drive trainer, the Kinetic Road Machine Control. GearLab is reader-supported. Being a smart control trainer, you can interact with training programs like Zwift and others. Great! We recommend Kurt Kinetic Bicycle Trainers for your indoor training. Now, as anybody who has read a few of my reviews and articles, I train a LOT. A similar knob is used to push the roller into the tire. The Road Machine Control pairs with devices using Bluetooth Smart and ANT+. They make the Traxle thru axle adapter ($49), which we did not test but should work with any standard trainer and most bikes thanks to three different thread pitch options. There's not much to it, and we like it that way. The Road Machine | Control is an affordable workhorse worth considering. It has a real, road like feel and handles enduarance as well as intervals like a champ. The Rock and Roll, which sways with your movement, is still their top model, but its $200 more and it doesnt pack down easily for travel. Spin on in and check out the details. Paired up with TrainerRoad, it provides an great platform to train and the winter and be ready for the spring and summer. https://kurtkinetic.com/technical-information/kinetic-power-tech/. Is cycling going to help me improve my sex life? A quick intro to the different types of stationary bike trainers, How to setup a bike trainer stand (VIDEO). BUT, I would be remiss if I didnt mention the color: its an awful shade of lime green! If you put your phone down for a little while, you should be able to go from an unopened box to rolling in 20 minutes - tops. It's slightly offset by the fact that your bike is locked into the frame of the trainer, so it's super stable, now sapping away some of the road noise you're used to feeling. | Stationary Bike Stands, Pingback: Another awesome fluid bike stand: the Cascade Fluidpro Trainer | Stationary Bike Stands, Pingback: The BEST 5 stationary bike stands to buy in 2015! The only part of the package that has been disappointing is the inRide pod. This measure looks at the physical and practical aspects of moving a trainer around the house and taking it out on the road. They also sent their heavier Pro flywheel that attaches to the existing model to add about 12lbs, putting the total rotating mass at 18lb (8.16kg). But after cranking down on the knob so that the roller is firmly against the tire, I no longer have that problem. If you use a thru-axle, you'll just need one that fits into the cups on the trainer frame's fasteners. Copyright 2022 Bikerumor, All Rights Reserved. Out on the road (virtual road, anyway), we were quite happy with the dependability of the communication across devices. And, hes totally gone down the NFT rabbit hole. Its ramp seemed to mimic real world riding closely (they say its matched perfectly)and would get hard enough to simulate cranking up a hill when using a big gearcombo. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. And my Road Machine is undoubtedlyone of the best out there on the market for training in front of the TV! If you want more of a set-it-and-forget-it-experience where the trainer controls your intensity level automatically, check out Kinetic Rock and Roll | Control and Kinetic Road Machine | Control. It doesnt generate a lot of noise like Mag indoor trainers and wind trainers. It costs a few $$ more, weighs slightly less, and has been realigned to ensure it fits up to 29 x 2.4 tire sizes. In fact, with technology advancing at a scary fast speed, it can sometimes feel like there are too many optionsespecially if youre new to the sport. The 6.25 pound flywheel that comes with it has a coast downtime from 20 mph of only 15 seconds. Plus, it has a 2-1/8 inch roller the largest in the industry which provides a wider surface area for your bikes back tire. I just wish theyd get around to updating the inRide to support ANT+ in addition to Bluetooth. At 55.9dB, the Road Machine | Control is among the quietest trainers available. Let us know! The oversized roller makes solid contact with the tire without needing a ton of pressure. So, come on!). Youll want to change that tire for a slick training tire for maximum noise reduction and to keep your loved ones and neighbors from throwing hard objects at you! 4 - "On The Road" Virtual Reality Cycling), UltraConditioning 1.0 - Ultra Leg-Strength Builder. I would still be using it except Ive made it a point to commute by bike every day, and that gets me 34 miles round trip each day. Why: It has a super low barrier to entry. For that reason, Kinetic has a lifetime warranty on the frame. That's especially true if you tend to do a lot of endurance riding. Worth considering. We didn't find any issues, nor could we find problems from other users. 130mm, 135mm || 142mm and 148mm adaptors available through Kinetic. But I can honestly say that I didnt experience any problems whatsoever with the Road Machine. Its 12-pound flywheel also does a great job of simulating the road. What possessed the designers to choose this particular shade of green is beyond me. The Road Machine also has 80 cooling fins to help dissipate that heat. Or, you can use any Bluetooth or ANT+ speed/cadence sensor to send the data to services like TrainerRoad, Zwift and others, which can use the data to predict power output, let you race virtually and myriad other things. | Stationary Bike Stands. I purchased a KK Road Machine in the fall for winter training, and it has been outstanding! Consider: Kinetic Road Machine, or Kinetic Road Machine | Smart 2. The best practice is to warm the machine up for 10 minutes, then you can do a quick calibration, and you're off to the races with more accurate data. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Affordable, simple to set up, easy to take on the road, great control for a tire drive trainer, Resistance unit is just a bit bulky and heavy, manual drum adjustment, lower responsiveness. Kurt Kinetic claims that their accuracy is +/- 3%, but we found that it was usually off by 5-10 watts between when rolling around between 100 and 200 watts (and fewer watts at 50 watts and more watts at 250 or 300). DeskCycle 2 review: the perfect desk exerciser to keep you fit at your desk! (And half the time, I use my indoor trainer in the wee hours of the morning when nobody else is around anyway. Not only does it grip pretty well on the roller, but itll save your more expensive tires. How can we improve GearLab? Theres not really a lot I can sat to dissuade you, as this is a GREAT trainer. They also note that you can do a calibration on a cold trainer and bypass the warm-up; just shoot for 6 seconds instead of 7 in the calibration. You'll get all the training you need with the Road Machine | Control. But that doesnt mean it cant be darn good, and there are ways of makingit talk to your devices, after all. As you go up hills, you'll feel your trainer adjusting to meet that simulation, and as you come back down the other side, you'll feel it drop off. For this measure, we primarily look at two aspects of design. Kinetic suggests that you ought to do a quick calibration every time you ride, but saving your previous calibrations in your training program could be enough for you to bypass calibration every time you ride - basically, if you don't suspect your numbers are off. A narrower base can make it so the trainer rocks a bit under extreme efforts, particularly for taller riders whose centers of gravity are higher, but not this one. It'd be nice if it could operate all the fancy stuff (we mean power and data) off of the energy you put into the drum and then just turn off 5 or 10 seconds after you stop pedaling. The Road Machine ($379) comes with slotted standard skewer cradles andstandard skewer and a promo code for a free month of TrainerRoad. You get smart data and resistance control. I bought one of these for the winter season and love it, using it with TrainerRoad. Our biggest concern here is what we've raised elsewhere in the review, and they're about what you'd expect for an affordable mid-level trainer. Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves finding new travel adventures to share with his family and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter. Other than that, rock solid bit of kit and works perfectly with TrainerRoad. The resistance unit was unchanged, though, which is fine because its stellar. The second is the technological design, where we consider things like software performance and how well the trainer is integrated into 3rd party apps.