Fourl months after the KICKR v5’s initial release, Wahoo has finally released a firmware update to address low flywheel speed power inaccuracies.
This issue was mentioned in initial reviews by Shane Miller (GPLama) and DC Rainmaker, and although it’s a bit of an “edge case”, the power inaccuracies definitely caused concern, especially since the new KICKR was touted as being Wahoo’s most accurate KICKR yet.
What was the issue exactly? The KICKR, like most quality trainers, uses a flywheel to mimic IRL inertia. When that flywheel was moving very slowly, power would be overstated.
The majority of KICKR would probably never be affected by this inaccuracy, as it only occurred when flywheel speeds were very low – think riding in your small ring in front, and one of your easiest gears in back. (This is a rare thing on Zwift, given that most people ride around 50% or lower trainer difficulty and don’t do ERG workouts in super-easy gears.)
But if you were climbing a steep hill at 100% trainer difficulty, or doing ERG workouts in your small front ring and near the top of your cassette, your power was definitely overshooting on the old KICKR v5 firmware.
DC Rainmaker has put together a nice video comparing accuracy between the old and new firmware. See it below, and be sure to update your KICKR v5 firmware via the app!
UPDATE Jan 1, 2021: Looking to purchase the KICKR v5?
They’re in stock right now at Wahoo, for the first time in weeks!
Get it here >
wpDiscuz
