New Wahoo ROLLR Trainer spotted at ITT Worlds

Interesting that it seems to be designed as a warmup device, but yet is such a large frame (even if it does fold) Hardly seems to be very transportable in that regard.

1 Like

Yeah, it’s possible they did a minimum viable product to get the overall function in place. The article mentions, as many of us have, that they do not have great look of packed sized for travel or storage. It all could change if/when they offer an actual consumer product.

No doubt…but man that looks awfully close to a “finished” product. :man_shrugging:

1 Like

Rollr really looks like either a stationary solution to succeed the Kickr Snap, or like a enthusiast/ pro level mobile warm up device.
People taking part in several TTs a year or Hill Climbs will probably like the simplicity of it not requiring to remove any wheels. Especially in the age of the disc brake that’s a plus.

DC Rainmaker’s review is up….

2 Likes

Ray’s review hits the nail on the head, as I see it….this seems like an extremely niche product. It is more expensive than some smart trainers, it is not very portable and doesn’t have built-in power measurement.

The best thing I can come up with is that it makes it easier to use the same bike / power meter indoors and out. :man_shrugging:

1 Like

Just gave the dc article a quick skim. The price is the real holdup for me, otherwise I would order asap. $400-500 for it and I wouldn’t even think twice.

Yeah. Interesting approach by wahoo. I can see people liking the little bit of movement with the rear tire and the ease of getting the bike on and off. I just assume that’s only critical if you have multiple users with different rear skewers so swapping out might be harder. But I had a cycleops fluid 2 trainer for years and it’s not like it look more very long to get the wheel locked in.

Do you seem power meters becoming more or less common? I see them as becoming more common for sure on ~enthusiast bikes, whether that means they are included on new bikes or are more accessible aftermarket.

I think it will be rare that someone goes to the effort of starting indoor training (and getting a trainer etc), but does not have a power meter on their bike.

I completely get this for pro applications, especially TT.
The bikes have a PM anyway, and you usually don’t want to screw up your set up shortly before a race (hit the RD out of position, squeeze the brakes inadvertently etc.).
But the fact that it’s three times the size of the Feedback Sports Omnium makes it not really relevant for anyone who doesn’t want to bring a Team Truck.

2 Likes

I’m not seeing the issue with it’s size (when folded), but enough people have mentioned it that it seems to be a real concern.

I wish that Wahoo went for thumb screws instead of phillips head ones for the 2 that are needed to secure the front and rear portions. Should be an easy retrofit though and it would allow for easier takedown.

Would also be nice if the perpendicular legs on the front wheel support folded in, and there was not as much of a stub sticking out of the rear roller section too.

(pics from DC)
I

Lack of 650 road wheel compatibility seems like a miss on Wahoo’s part though, even if it would affect only a smaller # of people. I wonder what type of compromise would have occurred to make it work with 650 wheels too (spacing of the rollers etc).

Also, I wonder if the front even needs to be so wide? I get that having it be a triangle is stable (two points in the front and one in the rear at the rollers).

However, I wonder how tippy it would be if the front was just like the end support of a hitch rack for example. It seems like the bike would want to stay upright nonetheless (and they could advertise any instability as a “feature” that encourages smooth pedaling :))

I was on a call yesterday with one of the two biggest hosting companies of fitness data (not sure how to phrase that precisely, but we’re talking many millions of customers), and they noted that over the past 2 years, the % of users with power meter data has doubled.

3 Likes

Sometimes Wahoo seems really schizophrenic with their design and pricing. To me, the original Bolt was perfectly priced, and just worked. Their other trainers (bad releases aside) also seem to fit on the good design/well-priced spectrum (happy Snap user for years).

Then they have products like this one that misses the mark on small design/functional elments that keep it from being great, and price it way high. See the Headwind as another example. Sometimes I think someone there thinks Wahoo is the cycling Dyson…

Yeah, I was surprised, it’s SO CLOSE. On my wife’s TT 650 bike, it just won’t go short enough, and then the arm doesn’t quite get low-enough to be really stable.

1 Like

Is there any obvious reason why a simpler front wheel support wouldn’t work?, vs the design they have now?

Just mocked this up with a storage stand and a Velcro strap (the orange thing).

I could see something like this being attached to the long bar that connects the front to the rear roller unit.

Seems to meet the requirements for holding the bike up while not in use, as well as preventing it from jumping out of the trainer when being ridden. Perhaps it would not have a firm enough hold though and be too much like a conventional set of rollers?

Makes sense to me… people want power and it has become a part of the conversation so to speak. Even if one isn’t using it strictly for intense training regimens, having power #s is just another thing to add to one’s IG post after a ride etc.

Agreed 100%…but that is a niche of a niche.

Also agreed 100%.

Let’s see… Strava or Garmin? :smiley: