Elite cyclists and fitness fiends relish the adaptability of Wahoo’s KICKR Bike Shift

Read
Culture

Cycling Through The Cold Season With The Ultimate Indoor Biking System

Elite cyclists and fitness fiends relish the adaptability of Wahoo’s KICKR Bike Shift

Jason Harper

10 December 2024

An unseasonably warm fall was a gift to cyclists, keeping them on their bicycles far past the usual too-chilly date in places like the northeast. Outside temps have finally dropped, and bikers have fled indoors to their smart trainers. At COOL HUNTING, we wanted to find the ultimate indoor cycling setup that would get us through the winter in top shapem most closely replicate a workout on a real road, and still fit in a NYC apartment. The answer: The KICKR Bike Shift indoor trainer, coupled with the video-game application Zwift and a few key accessories.   

A smart bike or smart trainer is an internet-linked bike platform or a fly-wheel system that replaces the rear wheel of a bicycle, most often used in tandem with a training app. The combo simulates riding in real world conditions, including infamous Tour de France mountain passes. The trainer automatically alters difficulty as the rider goes up and down virtual hills. The courses are populated by other users worldwide, who you can ride alongside or race in real time. 

The leader of the smart trainers is a brand called Wahoo. We’ve been using their KICKR for almost a decade, though the industry technology progressed to the point that it was time for an upgrade. “The original KICKR was popular with triathletes and early adopters, but now we have a product line that allows a great range of people to ride indoors, in a pain-free way,” says Tyler Harris, Wahoo’s senior product manager of indoors. “Indoor biking is just a much more efficient way to train. You’re not limited by time and day. And it’s safe; you don’t have to deal with traffic. Plus, apps like Zwift create a social construct—just like riding outdoors, you can ride with groups of like-minded people, and talk about bikes.”

Indoor bikers are faced with an initial binary decision: Do you want to use your own bicycle, or choose a smart bike that looks more like a Peloton? Smart trainers necessitate a bicycle; users take off the rear wheel and attach the bike to the web-connected device. The bike sits upright and retains its shifting functionality. The upside is familiarity with your own equipment, the compact size of the trainer, and its relative affordability starting around $500 for the Core. The obvious downside is having to take the bike off the trainer and put the rear wheel back on anytime you want to take a real-world ride.

The other option is a stationary bike, offered as the KICKR BIKE or KICKR SHIFT. They are fully adjustable for riders of almost any size, and even allow you to customize the type of shifting to mimic SRAM or Shimano components. The BIKE, which retails for around $3,800, is the ultimate expression. The frame will physically tilt up or down to simulate inclines and descents, and an integrated motor runs the flywheel on descents, mimicking the sensation of coasting down a hill. The newer SHIFT lacks the integrated tilt function and flywheel motor, but is some $1,000 cheaper. Both models are incredibly quiet (unlike our old smart trainer), and work perfectly in the virtual environments of Zwift. The trainers also integrate with other apps, including those offered by Wahoo. And while Zwift and Wahoo are different companies, it should be noted, they work together symbiotically.

We also added two accessories that transformed our experience. The first was simple—the Cycling Desk Stand, an adjustable-height table that tucks under the front wheel, with cut-outs for your phone and tablet, and anything else you want within arms reach. Simple, but something we wish we’d invested in years ago. The second is the KICKR Headwind, a Bluetooth fan. Tucked under the desk and facing the rider, it can be set to blow harder as you cycle “faster,” or increase fan speed as your heartbeat rises. File this one under the coolest bit of kit you didn’t know you needed. It adds to the realism of the experience and overall comfort.

Elementally, though, the ease and efficiency of the system brings us to the beauty of indoor training. Choose 30 minutes of tough interval training on a Zwift program—you won’t need to shift, as the system will optimize workout load for you—or do an hour and a half “climb” up a virtual route riding alongside (and against) other riders who may be located anywhere in the world. The floor underneath you will be slick with sweat. As Harris says, “virtual riding allows for structured workouts that make you a better athlete. Or you can approach it as simply a way to get more miles in the off-season. Either way, if it gets you riding, it’s a win.”