Manufacturers are trying to make indoor cycling as realistic as possible. New functions and devices are constantly being developed for this purpose. Be it imitation of the virtual incline as with the Wahoo Kickr Climb or an imitation of the substrate such as Roadfeel on the Taxc Neo Smart 2. What's missing? A steering function that can be used to orientate your own avatar on the road. Zwift users have been able to steer with the Elite Sterzo Smart for some time now and thus co-determine the position of their avatar.
There is now a steering system for Wahoo RGT that can be operated via the app or with the new Wahoo Kickr Steer. Tactical manoeuvring of your own avatar on the road and in the driver's field, for example in a race or a group ride, is intended to make the driving experience in the RGT world more realistic. Example manoeuvres are:
- Tighten up a bend to make up one or more places
- Saving energy in the centre of the field
- Setting the pace at the top
In conjunction with the Race Radio in the RGT Remote app, riders can act tactically together and improve group dynamics.
How to steer with Wahoo RGT
Steering with the Kickr Bike
The Kickr Bike has thumb buttons on the handlebars. Now you can strategically determine the position of your own avatar in the virtual cycling environment of RGT, perhaps this will decide the outcome of the next indoor race?
Steering with the new Kickr Steer
To accompany the new steering function, Wahoo is launching a new product on the market: the Kickr Steer. The Kickr Steer enables steering by thumb pressure. A smartphone and the RGT Remote app are also required. More about the Wahoo Kickr Steer read further down in the article.
Steering with RGT or the RGT Remote app
RGT can also be controlled without Kickr Bike and Kickr Steer. On the smartphone or tablet, the position of the avatar can be changed using the arrow keys on the display of the RGT Remote App or RGT App. You can also use the keyboard to align your avatar on the road - the correct keys for this are A and D.
The Kickr Steer
With the Kickr Steer, Wahoo utilises the sensors built into the smartphone. In simple terms, it is a specially designed smartphone tray that can be tilted using thumb pedals. Pressure on one of the pedals tilts the tray and thus the smartphone. The sensors in the mobile phone register the tilting movement and the RGT Remote app steers the avatar.
How to mount the Kickr Steer on the handlebars
The Kickr Steer is mounted on the handlebars just like a mount for navigation devices and fits standard handlebars (31.8 millimetres). There is currently no mount for aero handlebars. The required Allen key is included and is clicked into place under the platform. So it is always to hand. The pressure surfaces are variably adjustable: width, angle and height or depth are flexible. A suitable position can be found with a little trial and error. The Allen key required for this is also included and is well hidden on the underside of the Kickr Steer.
From Kickr Steer to sat nav mount in just a few seconds
Practical: If you alternate between indoor and outdoor sessions with the bike mounted on the indoor trainer, you don't have to keep changing mounts. The Steer holder can be converted into a Wahoo holder using a click mechanism. The change is done in a few simple steps.
Garmin users have also been taken into account: There is a suitable adapter. To do this, two screws are loosened once, the sat nav holder is replaced and the screws are tightened again.
Wahoo Kickr Steer in test
TOUR had the opportunity to try out a Wahoo Kickr Steer even before it was published. There were two test tracks at RGT. Tempelhof Airport Workout was my choice. I rode a few laps, steering my avatar to the left and right, cornering all the way round the outside and all the way round the inside of the bends, and taking serpentine lines on the straights. Deliberately, of course. I initially set the sensitivity to movement to 5 out of 10 but quickly increased it to 9 or 10. This meant that less tilting of the Kickr Steer was enough to manoeuvre my avatar. I quickly got the hang of it and was able to control its position quite precisely.
The following argument speaks in favour of investing in a Kickr Steer from our first test: with increasing effort, pressing the thumb paddles is easier than releasing one hand from the handlebars to hit an arrow key on the display or A or D on the keyboard. On the other hand, the price of just under 100 euros and a part that has to find a place in the home when not in use speak against it.
With today's release of the steering function in Wahoo RGT, it can be used on all RGT routes. A test in a virtual bike race will follow soon.
Wahoo Kickr Steer at a glance
- Why do I need the Wahoo Kickr Steer? No tapping on arrow keys to align the avatar in Wahoo RGT but intuitively by thumb pressure
- Do I have to reach round to reach the thumb pedals? The thumb pedals are accessible in both the upper and lower links - in other words, there are two pressure surfaces on each side, one for the position in the upper link and one for driving into the drops.
- Which handlebars does the Kickr Steer fit? On standard handlebars (no aero handlebars)
- Does the Kickr Steer have to be swapped with the sat nav mount if I alternate between indoor and outdoor riding? No, the Steer mount can be converted into a Wahoo mount in just a few simple steps - it can also be converted to fit Garmin navigation devices.
- How much does the Wahoo Kickr Steer cost? 99,99 Euro
Wahoo X and Wahoo Kickr Steer prices
- Wahoo X: 149 euros/year (includes the virtual cycling world RGT and the training software Wahoo Systm, formerly The Sufferfest)
- Bundle consisting of Wahoo x & Kickr Steer: 199 Euro
- Wahoo Kickr Steer: 99,99 Euro
Also new at Wahoo: Kickr Race Mode
In addition to the new steering function, Wahoo has introduced the new "KICKR Race Mode". The new mode utilises the WiFi and Direct Connect capabilities of its indoor trainers. Standard trainers currently transmit power at 1 Hz. Transmission is up to ten times faster in Race Mode and can therefore provide advantages in decisive race phases. Race mode is available on the Kickr WiFi and will soon also be available on the Kickr Bike. Anyone who trains indoors on an older Kickr can upgrade: The Kickr Dircet Connect WiFi adapter is required. So you don't have to buy a new Smart Trainer, an adapter is enough. Cost: 85 euros.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
