The control of the unit comes via smartphone and tablet apps, or indeed a computer, and means it’ll respond to changes in gradient to give that realistic sense of climbing, and can keep you at a pre-set target power output regardless of your shifts on the bike.
It’s also very effective at smoothing out power fluctuations too, resulting in a much easier job of analysing your power lines. No longer are you trying to see averages through spiky traces – if you switch it over to erg mode for a specific interval session, it’ll smooth out your power as you switch between wattages so you get a much more accessible view of your general output. Ideally, this makes it easy to ride at a given target power too, instead of seeing numbers moving all over the place throughout your session.
It’s not likely to be overwhelmed by your power either – the Kickr is capable of simulating 2000w, with a maximum incline of 20 per cent. That’s not just good for the everyday rider, but just about caters for any need of any professional road cyclist too.
The professional-grade machine is used by both the Team Sky and Canyon//SRAM pro teams, in case you needed any further expansion on the Kickr’s credentials, and while you’ll see these units spinning away outside team buses at races, it’s also ideal for enclosed spaces due to its quiet 61-decibel running volume and stabilising arms that retract into a narrow profile for easy storage. You need to be prepared for the 20kg bulk, which helps provide the realistic ride quality, but that only adds to the sturdiness of the unit underneath you as you try in vain to actually put out 2000w.