Wahoo Kickr und Systm: the bike trainer and training platform pass my test with flying colours
19.1.2022
Translation: Katherine Martin
The Wahoo universe is full of products which promise to make structured training possible. I tested the indoor bike trainer «Kickr» in combination with the platform «Systm». The verdict? Training with it is smart, yet exhausting.
A few weeks ago I switched from my previous bike trainer – the Suito-T from Elite – and stashed it away in a corner. These days, I’m riding the current model of the **Wahoo Kickr ** which has taken my old bike trainer’s spot in the garage. This is the fifth version, or v5 for short, of their bestseller. And instead of Zwift, I’m using Systm as a training platform. It belongs to the American corporation Wahoo, which has its headquarters in Atlanta. In 2019, the company acquired «The Sufferfest» and renamed the platform in autumn 2021.
Kickr instead of Suito
So let’s dive in. Wahoo's Kickr, like Elite's Suito-T, falls into the direct drive trainer category. With this type of trainer, the rear wheel is removed and the chain is mounted directly onto the bike trainer’s casette. This kind of technology prevents slack in the tyres, regardless of your speed or performance level. Or put simply, the wheels don’t spin, which makes the ride feel more realistic. The bike trainer market is bustling with manufacturers offering different technologies, with prices ranging from super cheap to super expensive. I’m pedalling my way through digital landscapes in the upper price bracket on my Wahoo Kickr.
So far, so good, even if the Kickr does prove a little annoying to start up. The culprit for that is the plug. This bike trainer comes with a Schuko plug, which means I need something like this in addition:
If you ask our own buyers at Galaxus, they’ll tell you that an adapter plug should actually be included as standard. In this case, it wasn’t. There’s not much to say about the assembly of the bike. The Kickr is compatible with a 12 × 142 and 12 × 148 thru axle as well as the 130/135 mm standard quick release. Technically speaking, I should be able to set up my Giant Revolt 0 in a jiffy.
Should. Since I have two left hands and apparently no fine motor skills, the assembly is a bit of a faff. The thru axle doesn’t fit, regardless of the adapter. But after a few curses and several attempts, it somehow works out. The Kickr also has to be adjusted to the size of the wheels. To do this, a corresponding knob on the middle arm of the roller trainer is turned to fit the desired wheel size.
After a bit of fiddling, I eventually manage to set up the bike.
On quiet soles and stable feet
Wahoo says the Axis supports are designed to improve the Kickr's ride feel by mimicking the side-to-side motion of an outdoor bike ride. The supports allow for up to 5 degrees of movement on either side, and the Kickr can respond more naturally to changes in pedalling speed and body position. A set of these supports, each with three adjustment points, is included on delivery.
The medium cap is built in as standard for riders weighing between 63 and 81 kilos. The smallest is suitable for riders wighing up to 63 kilogrammes, the largest for 81 kilogrammes and over. For me, the pre-installed middle cap does just the job. The Kickr is stable and the ride actually feels more comfortable than Elite's Suito-T. Overall, the movements feel more natural, more «real» – especially when you’re in the saddle.
Besides a gentle whirring sound the Kickr's belt drive makes for an almost silent ride. Hopefully my neighbours will appreciate that. With a maximum of 2200 watts of resistance and an accuracy of +/- 1%, a gradient of up to 20% can be simulated. For comparison, the legendary 13.8 kilometre ascent of the Alpe d'Huez complete with 21 hairpin bends is on average 7.9% steep. At its steepest, the gradient reaches up to 14.8%.
Another plus point is the Kickr’s automatic calibration. This allows for continuous, precise performance without much messing around with manual controls. Yet another positive: when I download the Wahoo Fitness app on my Android phone, I get the Systm workout platform for 60 days free of charge. After that, the structured training will cost me either $14.99 a month or $129 for a year.
You can get the lowdown on things like technical data, supported devices and information on bike compatability here.
Systm instead of Zwift
The Wahoo ecosystem is growing exponentially. Neben smarten Rollentrainern, Velocomputern und Zubehör wie Bergsimulator oder Headwind runden die Amerikaner ihr Angebot mit der interaktiven Trainingsplattform Systm ab. You might know it by its previous name, «The Sufferfest», already.
The first thing about it that stands out is its appearance. Während ich auf Zwift durch eine bunte Comicwelt radle, die mich an «The Sims» erinnert, begleiten mich auf Systm reale Bilder bei meinen Trainings.
4DP instead of FTP
Systm, like The Sufferfest, is based on the concept of Four Dimensional Power (4DP). Wahoo says that the test, which determines your fitness level, is designed to go beyond a simple FTP test. The latter are said to be imprecise and not suitable for improving your fitness in a targeted way. Your 4DP profile is determined during a one hour workout, and is one of the first sessions you should do with Systm in order to use it efficiently.
Here’s what the test examines:
- Neuro-muscular power (NM), which is typically used in sprints, but is also important at the level of neuro-muscular coordination.
- Maximum aerobic power (MAP), which is determined by riding for several minutes at high levels until exhaustion.
- The functional threshold power (FTP), which shows the level of performance an athlete is able to maintain for 60 minutes.
- The anaerobic capacity (AC), which describes the power beyond the aerobic threshold.
After the test, I’m assigned a rider type according to my strengths and weaknesses. In total, there are six different types:
- Sprinter
- Attacker
- Pursuiter
- Time Triallist
- Climber
- Rolleur
Systm has deemed me a pursuiter. While I lack the kick of the sprinter, and probably don't have the diesel-like power of the rolleur, the pursuiter in me seems to have pretty decent maximum aerobic power. According to the 4DP analysis, riding for five minutes at my absolute limit suits me down to a tee. Systm then creates a training plan tailored to my strengths and weaknesses. With just a few questions, I can determine what my goals are, how much time to invest in training each week, and whether I would like to integrate other elements such as yoga, mental training, or strength training for core stabilisation in addition to the bike training units.
I decide to go for mental and bike training. Sometimes the focus is on improving neuro-muscular performance, sometimes on increasing maximal aerobic power – for example during the aptly-named interval training programme, «A Very Dark Place».
Verdict on the training platform Systm
So, Systm or Zwift? Both platforms have their advantages. Systm could only dream of having a community like the one to be found on Zwift. Other than a few patches, you don’t get to reward yourself by unlocking new equipment either. Overall, Systm seems to be less game-like than Zwift, and to require more training discipline.
What appeals to me more about Systm is the focus on structuring the training clearly. In this respect, the platform, unlike Zwift, also offers other, more unusual sub-programmes than just cycling and running. Yoga, mental training or weight training widen your options. Here, more importance seems to be placed on creating an individual analysis of your strengths and weaknesses, with each workout being designed with this in mind.
Scheduling the individual workouts is a bit fiddly. Although I can freely choose the start date, the sessions are then automatically distributed over the week, meaning I can’t specify individal training days during the week. That’s not to say that the sessions can’t be moved. It’s just that you have to do it one session at a time – rather a lot of click work for a two-month training plan.
The verdict on the Wahoo Kickr bike trainer
The Wahoo Kickr has won me over so far. The frame is stable, and the experience of riding it is top-notch. On top of that, it’s quiet – an important point if you don’t want to strain your relationship with your neighbours. Not only that, but the various other products in the Wahoo range allow you to create a self-contained training world.
The missing adapter for the Schuko plug irked me, but maybe that was just an unfortunate coincidence. In any case, our buyers have assured me that they’ll get to the bottom of the issue and make sure that an adapter plug will be delivered with the bike trainer in the future.
Last but not least, there’s one thing that never changes – whether it’s Wahoo or Elite, Zwift or Systm, smart or otherwise: I still need to do the pedalling myself.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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