Summer riding season is on its way out in the Northern Hemisphere, but that doesn’t mean you need to put your fitness on hold until next spring.
Indoor cycling provides a great way to maintain and even increase your fitness during the months when it’s dark and cold, and no brand offers a more comprehensive range of indoor cycling products than Wahoo Fitness.
There are hardware options to suit everyone, from the more budget-focused Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 to the brand’s flagship KICKR BIKE PRO smart bike.
It’s all supported by the Wahoo app – one of the most comprehensive indoor training apps available.
What’s more, Wahoo is now partnering with Zwift. You can purchase the KICKR CORE 2 Zwift Cog and Click, which provides virtual shifting from your handlebar, with a single cog at the rear.
That combination of hardware and software means Wahoo Fitness offers a full ecosystem to take care of all aspects of indoor training and make it much more entertaining.
You're covered, whether you’re dipping your toe into the water for the first time or following in the pedal stroke of Wahoo’s supported women’s and men’s pro teams, including EF Education-EasyPost and Lidl-Trek.
Let’s take a closer look at Wahoo’s full range of indoor training products and how they work together to help keep you riding – and thriving – through the winter.
Combining hardware and software to make you a better rider
Wahoo’s products span the hardware needed to take your riding indoors and the software to get the best from your time in the saddle. Along with its Zwift partnership, it's a one-stop shop for all things training.
If you’re new to indoor cycling, choosing a smart trainer or smart bike that gives you a realistic ride experience will make it more enjoyable. And if it’s more enjoyable, you’re more likely to stick with it through winter.
If you already have a trainer, linking it up to the Wahoo App indoor training environment will enable you to find workouts and training plans to boost your fitness, work on your strengths and weaknesses, and monitor your performance gains.
After all, one of the main benefits of indoor cycling is the ability to embark on a structured training programme to achieve your training goals – and regardless of your ability or how much time you have, there’s something for everyone.
The Wahoo app even has training plans for specific cycling disciplines, including road riding, mountain biking, gravel, cyclocross, triathlon and e-sports.
On top of that, the Wahoo app offers off-bike workouts and activities, documentaries and other inspiring content to keep you motivated and add variety to your off-season riding.
Zwift, meanwhile, offers many worlds for virtual riding, whether you’re following a training plan, joining a group ride or entering your first virtual race.
How to choose a Wahoo smart trainer
Wahoo first made its mark with its KICKR direct-drive smart trainer in 2012 and it continues to innovate, adding new features. In September 2023, it introduced the KICKR MOVE to expand the smart trainer line-up to five models.
In fact, Wahoo’s latest range includes smart trainers for all budgets.
The ‘smart’ part of the name refers to a trainer’s capability to vary the resistance you pedal against in response to commands from a training environment such as the Wahoo app, which we’ll explain more about below, or an indoor cycling game. The most popular of these is Zwift.
Wahoo offers two wheel-on trainers alongside its three direct-drive models. The ‘direct-drive’ part means your bike is connected to the trainer via its rear dropouts / thru-axle and chain, so you remove your rear wheel, rather than the tyre forming the connection.
Here’s a quick overview of the key features of each Wahoo smart trainer, to help you find the right model for your riding needs and budget.
Wahoo KICKR MOVE
There are three aspects of a realistic ride experience: speed of response to input, the weight and inertia of the trainer’s flywheel and the degree of movement possible.
As Wahoo’s latest flagship smart trainer, the KICKR MOVE focuses on all three. It enables forward and back movement of your bike by up to 20cm as you adjust your effort level, as well as up to five degrees of side-to-side movement via its Axis feet.
Your bike can move much more naturally as you ride, rather than being held in a static position, so it's more like riding outdoors.
The KICKR MOVE’s flywheel is among the heaviest available, which means it mimics the inertia you feel when riding outdoors. It can simulate uphill gradients of up to 20 per cent and downhill of up to 10 per cent, for realism when riding a road in a training app such as Zwift.
There are a wide range of connectivity options, including a WiFi connection into your network, and a Bluetooth connection to the computer, tablet or phone running your training software.
- Buy if… You want the very latest smart-trainer technology, with Wahoo’s most advanced features to improve comfort and realism
- Price: £1,149.99 / $1,299.99 / €1,299.99
Wahoo KICKR
The original KICKR smart trainer was launched over a decade ago – and it helped revolutionise the indoor training experience.
The Wahoo KICKR is now on its sixth iteration, attesting to the continuing evolution of Wahoo’s ground-breaking direct-drive trainer.
The large flywheel and responsive resistance unit of the original continue, for a realistic ride feel, but Wahoo has added WiFi support to the V6 model.
In addition, the latest ERG Easyramp feature means if you're interrupted during a session, the KICKR restarts you at a lower resistance, so getting going again is much easier.
Wahoo has also added compatibility with thru-axles and disc brakes, making its trainers the natural choice for riders of the latest road bikes.
- Buy if… You want a top-end indoor training experience, without the flagship price tag of the Wahoo KICKR MOVE
- Price: £899.99 / $1049.99 / €999.99
Wahoo KICKR CORE 2
Wahoo’s KICKR CORE is an icon of smart indoor training, with the original trainer offering features found on trainers twice the price.
The new KICKR CORE 2 follows this trend, adding premium features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, ‘Race Mode’ and sensor bridging to the mid-market.
Wahoo says it offers best-in-class ride feel, integrated cadence, virtual shifting and the perfect balance of performance.
The KICKR CORE 2 offers a reliable, immersive training experience at a competitive price.
Wahoo have made the trainer easier to assemble with colour-coded legs and built-in assembly instructions.
It also features a spec good enough for all but the strongest riders, with a maximum power output of 1,800 watts and a claimed power accuracy of +/- 2 per cent.
- Buy if… You want a feature-packed direct-drive smart trainer that won’t break the bank
- Price: £499.99 / $549.99 / €549.99
Wahoo KICKR ROLLR
Perfect for those who want to jump on and ride without removing their rear wheel, the KICKR ROLLR delivers a smooth, stable experience with zero hassle – simple to set up and convenient.
The KICKR ROLLR features a unique wheel-on design, now with an onboard power measurement – essential for structured training.
If you have another power meter, Wahoo’s Power Meter Connect feature enables you to pair it to the device for consistent overlap with your road-based efforts.
The design is ideal for cyclists new to indoor training, focusing on ease of use, fun and fitness. It also folds up neatly for storage after you’ve used it.
While riding on rollers usually takes a lot of concentration, the locked-in front end enables the bike to move freely while ensuring you don’t fall off.
- Buy if… You want the convenience of rollers without the risk of falling off
- Price: £549.99 / $699.99 / €599.99
Wahoo’s smart bikes
If you have the space, Wahoo’s smart bikes have a few advantages over a trainer: there’s no setup required each time you ride, there’s the adjustability to duplicate your outdoor bike’s ride position and gearing or fit multiple riders, and you can save your 'real' bike for outdoor riding.
Wahoo has two smart bike options – the KICKR BIKE PRO, which will tilt to simulate uphill and downhill gradients, and the more affordable KICKR BIKE SHIFT, which omits the tilting mechanism.
Wahoo KICKR BIKE PRO
The Wahoo KICKR BIKE PRO is Wahoo’s flagship indoor cycling experience offering +/- 1 per cent power measurement and can replicate resistance up to 2,500 watts.
The Wahoo KICKR BIKE PRO shares much of its tech with the KICKR trainer, including its high-inertia flywheel and responsive, accurate resistance.
It enables you to mimic your outdoor bike’s shifter layout – whether that's Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo – and your gear ratios, for a realistic ride experience.
The KICKR BIKE PRO’s tilting mechanism simulates real-world climbs and descents when you’re riding a course on a training app, engaging the muscles you’d use in a climb outdoors, for even greater realism.
It features a five-point adjustable fit, including: stack reach, setback, saddle height, and frame height, enabling you to set up the trainer to your desired measurements or match your real-world bike.
Wahoo has also given the KICKR BIKE PRO an all-new set of premium touchpoints, with a Fizik Aliante R5 saddle and Solocush Handlebar Tape wrapped ergonomic handlebars.
- Buy if… You want a best-in-class indoor training bike with a realistic experience
Price: £3,499.99 / $3,999. / €3,999.99
Wahoo KICKR BIKE SHIFT
The Wahoo KICKR BIKE SHIFT provides a more affordable alternative to the KICKR BIKE.
Unlike the KICKR BIKE PRO, there’s no tilting mechanism, and the maximum resistance available is a little lower at 2,200 watts. Needless to say, that’s more than enough for the vast majority of riders, including most pros.
Features such as configurable shifting and quick adjustability are carried over from the KICKR BIKE. A new drive system is designed to provide fast resistance changes and even quieter running.
- Buy if… You want a ready-to-ride indoor training bike
- Price: £2,199.99 / $2,499.99 / €2,499.99
Accessories to help you go the distance
As well as its comprehensive range of indoor training hardware, Wahoo sells the accessories you need to enhance the experience.
The Wahoo KICKR CLIMB adds even more realism to your indoor training, by raising and lowering the front of your bike in response to changes in gradient. It’s compatible with the majority of KICKR trainers.
Riding indoors can be hot work, but the KICKR HEADWIND fan provides a variable level of airflow at up to 48km/h. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your trainer and vary its output with your speed or heart rate.
Wahoo also sells heart rate monitors, and speed and cadence sensors, as well as the KICKR DESK for your computer and the KICKR MAT to keep your floor sweat-free.
What about the Wahoo app?
The Wahoo app includes the option of a subscription-based service, which gives you access to Wahoo’s suite of training software. There’s a wide range of indoor and outdoor workouts and training plans offered, developed by top cycling coaches.
Wahoo’s 4DP fitness profile goes beyond the cyclist’s favourite, the FTP test, to look at other aspects of your riding, such as all-out sprinting, to help tailor your training to meet your riding goals.
A subscription in the Wahoo app also offers pro-ride simulations, documentary content on famous locations and insights into the pro lifestyle. Off-bike content includes mental training, yoga, and flexibility and strength training.
The Wahoo app works alongside Wahoo’s comprehensive range of trainer hardware and accessories to provide you with a full set of products to support your indoor cycling this winter.
