CompuTrainer vs The Wahoo Kickr

I’ve had a CompuTrainer since 2007, and I’ve been WAITING for it to crump so I could get a Wahoo Kickr. That happened on Saturday.

For the uninitiated, a CompuTrainer is a bike trainer which is operated by a computer interface. Attach the rear wheel of the bike to a flywheel on a sturdy steel frame. The resistance of the flywheel is controlled by the computer. This electronic connection provides a extraordinary range of versatility to the indoor bicycle rider. Over the two decades of its existence, an entire ecosystem has built up around the CompuTrainer. The core company has produced numerous videos of Ironman and other race courses. The videos are synced to the trainer, which makes the riding easier or harder depending on whether the road pictured is going up or down. Many other courses have been configured to power the trainer, without the video interface. The CT’s own software enables one to ride against his previous performances, or an idealized goal, represented by the “Metal Man” (a silver avatar who never tires, and always goes the speed or power level you set him at.) The sensors are nuanced enough to record left and right pedal power. Third party developers have written software to enable both the recording or production of individualized training rides. It has become the gold standard for bicycle trainers.

So if it’s so great, why would I want a new machine? Well, the software seems to be stuck in the 90‘s. The is zero recognition by the CT team of how the world has change over the years. The internet? Someone else had to write the software to operate the CT via the Web. Wireless (eg, Bluetooth and ANT+ communication protocols)? To much bother. User friendly visual interface or instructions? No way.

All those wires (there are four outlets on the head unit alone, sending data back and forth from the computer to the flywheel/resistance unit) mean more chances for breakdowns due to wear and tear. And CT refuses to acknowledge the presence of Mac OS; I had to buy a cheap little PC just to run the thing, after I got tired of trying to use Parallels on my Mac. So Saturday,  when the CT connections started going on the fritz, two hours later I was at REI getting their display model (online sites have it listed as backorder, no other stores in the Seattle area had one) into my car. I used it yesterday for the first workout.

Here are the reasons I chose the KICKR over the CT (remember, coming from one who’s used the CT for 7 years, and the KICKR for one day):

• Price – 30% less
• Ease of use. It took me oh, maybe six months, to figure out how to use the CT effectively. It took me ten minutes to get the KICKR up and running an FTP interval workout.
• Wireless. The reason my CT died was due to its  use of wires, wires, wires to communicate from flywheel/resistance to head unit to computer. The connections loosen, the wires fray, etc. Over the course of seven years, I went thru at least 4 different wires, got my head unit connections repaired once to the tune of $250, and repaired the power transformer once myself. KICKR, OTOH, uses Bluetooth and ANT+ to communicate, and can do both simultaneously, sending BT to my iPad, and ANT+ to my Joule head unit!
• Open design of the KICKR software, meaning lots of 3rd party apps are/will become available to aid in its use. CT is a to harder to sync up with other systems.
• CT is run out of a hole in the wall in Seattle, by a couple of engineers who were innovative about 20 years ago, but have not upgraded their systems since then. It looks like something out of the MS DOS era, only working with Windows PCs. KICKR connects to iOS, Android, and both Mac and PCs.
• KICKR does not use the rear wheel. Since I do my winter training on my TT bike, this saves both the rear hub and tire wear.
• While CT has a lot of bells and whistles, like Spinscan for R/L power differences, the “metal man” to race against the clock or your previous self, race course videos, etc, etc, I found that I did not end up using any of them I have the CDA, AZ, and Kona videos, and only used them twice – never even put in the Kona video. If you do want that kind of stuff, KICKR will use the Kimomap app to provide it.

The ONLY positive I see in the CT over the KICKR, is: it weighs less, so it’s easier to move around as I set up my system on the upstairs deck.

So I’ve got my new trainer, and it works without problem. I can only hope my legs undergo a similar rejuvenation.