FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — At Eurobike, Wahoo Fitness is demonstrating a new device that raises or lowers the front end of a bike on its newest KICKR trainers to simulate climbing or descending when used with software like Zwift.
The $599.99 KICKR CLIMB is designed to work only with the latest versions of Wahoo's KICKR and KICKR Snap smart trainers. Because the bike's rear dropouts must pivot around that trainer's axle for the climb simulator to work, use with older KICKRs or other trainers would damage the bike.
The CLIMB can simulate climbs up to a 20 percent grade and descents of as much as -10 percent.
"The world we ride in isn't flat, which is why we believed the indoor riding experience on the KICKR should follow suit," said Wahoo Fitness' CEO, Chip Hawkins. "And as we continue to keep Wahoo at the leading edge of innovation in this category, we're proud to quite literally take structured climbing workouts and virtual course rides to the next level."
The company said the grade changes create a more immersive virtual riding experience while also engaging climbing muscles and improving pedaling technique to enable the rider to become a more efficient and powerful climber. In addition to reacting to grade changes from external sources like Zwift, TrainerRoad or from pre-loaded routes on Wahoo's ELEMNT and ELEMNT BOLT GPS cycling computers, the KICKR CLIMB can be locked so that it only responds to commands received from the bar-mounted remote, enabling the rider to manually adjust the grade with the press of a button.
The KICKR CLIMB supports a wide range of modern hub configurations, including quick-release, 12x100, 15x100, and 15x110 thru-axle hubs.
More information at www.wahoofitness.com.
