Wahoo Fitness

KICKR CORE Smart Power Trainer

Amazing Value

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Weight:

null

I've used a Wahoo Kickr Core for a few years, and without a doubt I'd recommend it as the trainer to get if your serious about indoor training. I pair mine with both Zwift and Trainer Road. Communication with these programs for ergonomic training is intuitive and nearly instantaneous. I'd recommend getting an Ant + dongle for your computer if you're using a program like one of these - Bluetooth can have buggy connection with the Kickr, but Ant + will reliably stay connected. The resistance ramps up smoothly with the Kickr Core, and it doesn't have a high floor (some trainers won't handle power under 100+ watts well, which can get in the way of warming up and cooling down). This is the main difference between the Core and cheaper competition. Higher end trainers come with easier ways to store the trainer, or rocker plates to simulate better feel. That's great and all, but for the money you get the best value with the Core. I suspect most people aren't sprinting hard enough to need the higher resistance curve on more expensive models, too.

Too complicated

Learned while reading and studying assembly guide - other parts "sold separately" were needed to attach road bike. Made the decision to stick with riding on the road rather than indoors instead of buying and spending money on other pieces of equipment.

Love wahoo, but not this

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Height:

6' 4"

Weight:

225

In short it seems like 50/50 people either love or hate this trainer. I purchased this as I have loved all my other wahoo stuff, however this trainer started malfunctioning the first day I set it up. The watts and speed were wildly off and at 230 watts I couldn't even turn the pedals and my FTP is well over 350. I did the spin down several times and I tried to calibrate over and over. I did a bunch of research the next day and tried several adjustments, advanced spin downs etc and the same results. Oddly it seemed to work right for about 10 minutes and then suddenly it would become impossible to pedal. I did more research the next day and it sounds like the Core has issues with some sensors getting shorted out via static electricity. I watched seven videos and read lots of forums and it seems like this might be the strange issue. I watched a video where the CEO of wahoo describes this issue, and to there credit he said they would replace these. Once again Competitive Cycle was awesome to work with and sent me a return label with no hassle. They have been great for any issues I've ever had, and none of them have been their problem, but they stand behind what they sell. I ordered the wahoo kickr power 5 from them as from the research I did it seems they (wahoo) addressed the issues they had with the previous kickr power and the Core. Will let you know how that one does. To be fair, I have several friends who have had great luck with their Kickr Cores and love them.