| Wahoo KICKR CLIMB |
 |
| £529.99 |
| BUY NOW FROM WAHOO |
PLEASE NOTE: I was gifted the Wahoo KICKR CLIMB by Wahoo to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.
My name is Justine, I am an avid runner and co-run an Instagram account @girlsreallyrun with my close friend Vicky.
I have recently incorporated turbo training into my weekly training schedule as a way of maintaining fitness as my running is limited by a degenerative hip condition.
I feel very fortunate to have discovered indoor turbo training in the current era of smart turbo trainer set ups and have the Wahoo KICKR MOVE to pair with the KICKR CLIMB.
Gone are the days of a basic roller and desk fan. The equipment has become much more sophisticated, making for a much more immersive experience for the rider.
Wahoo have released a number of new innovative products to make the ride both more enjoyable and realistic, which means you can simulate that outdoor riding experience from home. One of their latest products is the KICKR CLIMB.
ABOUT THE WAHOO KICKR CLIMB
The KICKR CLIMB replaces the front wheel of the bike. The bike axel is mounted on the KICKR CLIMB bracket and once paired with your training app, it will rise and fall with the ascent and descent with your chosen training app.
It boasts an impressive range of +20 and -10%, which for most indoor training apps is more than enough.
The KICKR CLIMB really adds to the indoor training experience. Whilst the Wahoo smart trainer takes care of the resistance to simulate hill climbs and descents, the position change that the KICKR CLIMB simulates, really adds to the experience. Like with riding on the road, you are much more able to rise out of the saddle and get into a proper climb position once the gradient begins to change and mimic that of the gradient in the app.
At first it feels quite strange as the front of the bike rises and falls, but before long, it feels natural and really boosts the overall indoor training experience.
It definitely encourages more movement in and out of the saddle and engages different muscles as you would expect if you were to ride outside. This extra workout specificity should hopefully transfer to outdoor riding (once the weather improves!).
The additional movement that the KICKR CLIMB has allowed for me personally is key. The less fixed in place I am, the less singular joint loading I am experiencing and the longer I can ride in and out of the saddle without discomfort.
FEATURES
- Real-time grade changes, up to 20% incline and -10% decline
- App controlled or manual control with tethered remote
- Quick connectivity through direct proximity pairing
SET UP
The Wahoo KICKR CLIMB is so easy to set up with direct proximity pairing via remote.
I literally had to remove my front wheel, select the appropriate quick release adapters for my hub which then are fitted on either side of the unit.
Then it’s merely a case of mounting the fork of my bike to the adapters on the KICKR CLIMB base and inserting the quick release skewer.
The KICKR CLIMB has a curved base which at first glance made me question the stability and a bit nervous to climb on the bike. However, so long as the base is positioned correctly, it is actually very stable once you are on the bike.
In order to ensure the KICKR CLIMB is in the correct base position, once, properly fixed to the front axel of the bike, gently raise the bike by the handlebars and allow the KICKR CLIMB to gently rock back and forth until it finds its’ centre. Then gently return the bike to the ground. The unit is designed to always return to the correct centre of gravity (when set at a 0 incline).
Then, once in place, it was just a case of connecting it to the Wahoo app and pairing it with the KICKR CLIMB. This was very easy. Once plugged in, it was immediately visible in my Wahoo app connected devices alongside the KICKR MOVE.
Every time I plug the KICKR CLIMB and MOVE in to the mains, they are both immediately available in the app under “Connected Devices”. They are also immediately available to connect to on Zwift.
KICKR CLIMB BASE ADAPTER
PLEASE NOTE: If you are using the Wahoo KICKR MOVE smart trainer, you will need a KICKR CLIMB base adapter for the bottom of the unit, as the back-and-forth motion that the KICKR MOVE generates could lead to damage of the base of the unit. This can be found here.
COMPATABILITY
The KICKR CLIMB will work with any bike with a standard hub.
- Supported Hubs: QR, 12x100, 15x100, 15x110
- Compatible with 2017 and newer Wahoo smart trainers, including:
- KICKR V6 Released September 2022
- KICKR V5 Edition released August 2020
- KICKR 2018 Edition released July 2018
- KICKR 2017 Edition released August 2017
- KICKR CORE: Edition released July 2018
- KICKR SNAP: Edition released July 2017
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- KICKR CLIMB unit
- Quick-release adapters (12x100, 15x100, and 15x110 hubs)
- Power cord
- Control switch
FEATURES
The big sell of the KICKR CLIMB is the automation with your chosen training app and the simulation of ascents and descents seamlessly with the in-game elevation.
However, the KICKR CLIMB also comes with a retractable control switch which you can fix to the handlebars. This allows you to manually adjust the height or even lock the desired height in place and override the in-game elevation.
CONNECTIVITY
The KICKR CLIMB is very easy to pair with your Wahoo smart trainer. Once your smart trainer is registered on the Wahoo app (free to download), you can then pair it with the KICKR CLIMB so that they work in unison.
You can then access your connected devices in the app and control all of your Wahoo apps in one place at the click of a button.
I have experienced zero connectivity issues or set up issues which is amazing being a busy mum that is always cramming in sessions in and around my busy schedule.
The KICKR CLIMB also automatically completes software updates when online.
SIZE
Dimensions: 25.75" H x 5.1" W x 7" L
Max User Weight: 250lbs // 114 kg
The KICKR CLIMB is a fairly big, heavy unit and does mean that ideally it would work best if set up and let in situ as opposed to packed away after each use. This is fine for anybody looking for a semi-permanent set up, but I would imagine this would be a bit of a pain to set up for every use.
VALUE
The Wahoo KICKR CLIMB retails at £529.99.
This is obviously a considerable expense when coupled with the need for the smart trainer for the rear of the bike to pair it with however, if you are looking to simulate that more realistic riding experience and adopt a more natural position in the saddle when climbing and descending during a turbo session.
Something to consider before investing is the fact that the KICKR CLIMB is only compatible with other Wahoo smart trainers (and only models after 2017 at that).
CONCLUSION
The KICKR CLIMB is a great addition to an indoor trainer set up. The additional ability to incorporate more realistic bike movement and positioning during those indoor sessions (particularly in wet winter months) can only be a positive.
I would definitely recommend the KICKR CLIMB to anybody looking to up the realism of those turbo training sessions, incorporate more natural movement in and out to the saddle and enjoy a more immersive experience.
| Wahoo KICKR CLIMB |
|
|
| £529.99 |
| BUY NOW FROM WAHOO |
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions you would like to ask about the Wahoo KICKR CLIMB, please get in touch.
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