Yeah my plan is to buy from a local retailer too for extra support. I think that’s a good plan.
As for the maturity of the Kickr power unit, I was under the impression it’s quite different from their Kickr trainers i.e. with motorised flywheel like a Neo. Not that I’ve read of many issues with the drivetrain. Most of the complaints seem to be about dead shifters, slipping seatposts and excessive slop and creaking in the frame. But I like the idea of having some flex in the frame as I find totally rigid exercise bikes are very uncomfortable for longer sessions. One of the reasons I discounted the Stages SB20 and the Neo bike looks very rigid too. Which is odd when their trainers have a degree of built-in flex for that very reason.
I’m still wondering whether or not I should just get a Kickr V5 + Climb package instead of the bike for less than half the cost. I get the feeling it would be more reliable long term, but do I like the idea of a complete standalone bike with all its adjustability and virtual gears etc.
First world problems hey!