2024 Wahoo KICKR CLIMB Review – Zwift Virtual Grade Simulator – What Will Be In Climb 2?
2024 Wahoo KICKR CLIMB Review
Sore bum? Do you want to precisely prepare for the rigours of your next ‘A’ Race? Or maybe you just want to spice up your Zwift experience a little? Wahoo’s KICKR Climb grade simulator could be a useful, fun but expensive addition to your training arsenal.
KICKR Climb was launched in 2018 and attracted mixed reviews at the time, made more concerning by several reports of its internal belt shearing during heavy use.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A fun traing toy with several serious uses
Price - 50%
50%
Apparent Accuracy - 95%
95%
Build Quality & Design - 90%
90%
Features, Including App - 80%
80%
Openness & Compatability - 50%
50%
73%
Wahoo KICKR Climb Review Summary
Wahoo KICKR CLIMB is an interesting toy. But it also gave me some tangible comfort benefits from changing saddle pressure points and probably also training benefits from riding in different positions.
I only considered the product because I write about sports tech. I will continue to use it but wouldn’t have bought it at the current price levels even when discounted.
We need to look at three compatibility areas: bike frames, smart trainers and training platforms.
KICKR Climb is widely compatible with modern road bikes and includes adapters to support the following hubs: QR, 12×100, 15×100, 15×110. Several older Trek, Giant, Canyon, Cube, Argon, Cannondale and other frames are not supported, so you should check here especially if you have disc brakes.
However, CLIMB is NOT compatible with all indoor trainers. It’s only compatible with Wahoo KICKR trainers and these models in particular the 2017 and newer KICKR, KICKR CORE, and KICKR SNAP. KICKR MOVE also requires a Base Adapter
There is a more nuanced explanation when it comes to saying which training platforms it works with. KICKR Climb is invisible to all platforms and is seen only as part of your Wahoo KICKR smart trainer. Thus, when your KICKR Trainer is paired with any app, KICKR Climb will respond to any raise/lower command from the app via the KICKR Trainer. Thus it works in the virtual worlds of Zwift and MyWhoosh but also lets you follow your own course profiles with apps like Rouvy.
Q: Why is KICKR Climb only compatible with KICKR smart trainers?
A: The two reasons for KICKR-only compatibility are that the rear axle must pivot, secondly the software limitation is that CLIMB can currently only pair invisibly with KICKR smart trainer.
Wahoo KICKR Climb – How it works
CLIMB requires a dedicated power source. The one supplied has the standard Wahoo connector plug BUT the charging block is unique to CLIMB. So CLIMB only works with the charger supplied not the one you already have for your KICKR Trainer.
CLIMB is paired to and controlled by the KICKR Trainer, check the WAHOO smartphone app for pairing (notthe ELEMNT app). An internal belt mechanism moves your front forks up or down as required. It is not designed to be a digital steering device but the Base Adapter does compensate for the forward and backward movement caused by KICKR Move and your ‘steering’. Plus your side-to-side movement when you are out of the saddle moves the entirety of the CLIMB from side to side (by design).
Both manual control from your handlebars and the ability to lock the incline position are easily possible.
CLIMB can simulate grades of up to +20% incline and -10% decline. Kickr Snap is restricted to +13% / -15%, and KICKR Move to +20% and -8%. The actual grades can be further limited by the wheelbase of your bike, scaled by the app you use to control CLIMB and by using the base adapter (required for KICKR MOVE that’s why it’s -8%).
As part of the gradient simulation, CLIMB will cause your bike to pivot on the rear dropout (rear axle). More precisely your rear axle MUST pivot, otherwise there will be physical wear.
Wahoo KICKR Climb – Setup
It’s simple to set up without following instructions. Perhaps the only tricky bit is determining the right adapter for your forks and then remembering to set the correct wheelbase. Pairing to KICKR should be automatic and silent using Direct Proximity Pairing. Use the Wahoo smartphone app to ensure CLIMB is linked to your KICKR Trainer and then update the firmware if needed. (Home > My Sensors) Even though later KICKRs update firmware automatically over WiFi, I assume you always have to update CLIMB manually from the Wahoo app.
Check your wheelbase on the Geometry Geeks site, it will almost certainly be different from the default value in the app. That shouldn’t be a massive problem but means that the gradient you experience is slightly incorrect. I set my wheelbase to 976cm in the Wahoo app.
It’s also relatively obvious how to attach the Base Adapter when using in conjunction with KICKR MOVE. However double check it’s on perfectly, otherwise you will find that the Base Adapter tilts the front of the bike left/right.
Do not use “rocker plates”.
Wahoo KICKR Climb – how the buttons and LEDs work
Perhaps the most important setup tip is that before each ride you should reset the grade to neutral by double-pressing the black button then raise your handlebars, pulling the CLIMB off the ground. This allows CLIMB to find its natural position when you put it back down and only takes a couple of seconds.
Press the centre button to move the blue light to the right, you’re now in automatic/app mode.
Perhaps you want to fasten the button on your handlebar? Press the button again and you have full manual control, pull out the entire button mechanism and fasten it to your handlebars with the strap that is on the underside of the button. The button remains connected to CLIMB via a flexible cable.
The Wahoo KICKR CLIMB Ride Experience
It seems odd to mount a bike on CLIMB and see it with no wheels. Once you get over the visual hurdle you might be concerned about the robustness of CLIMB. Can it really support your weight? Will it damage the forks if I inadvertently steer or tilt the bike from side to side? Answer: All is good.
Four things stood out to me when describing the ride experience—the responsiveness and smoothness of the gradient change, noise, ride comfort and muscular training benefits. Let’s cover those now…
Does Wahoo KICKR Climb Make a Noise?
There is a slight whirring noise that you can easily hear when riding. It’s not at all intrusive and, in any case, many of the gradient changes you experience are slight and happen quickly so the ‘noise’ occurs for a split second. It’s not an issue at all, I’m only mentioning it for completeness and after a short while, like me, you probably will no longer notice it. Should you take the CLIMB through its entire range from -8% to +20% then, yes, you’d notice it!
Wahoo KICKR Climb Base Adapter and Power Block
Is Wahoo KICKR Climb Comfortable?
KICKR CLIMB makes the ride experience more comfortable. You engage muscle groups differently and your saddle pressure points subtly change.
Used alongside KICKR MOVE (and the AXIS Feet) and KICKR MAT (or any padded surface), I would say it’s the most comfortable indoor bike training experience I’ve had for many years.
Does Wahoo KICKR Climb Have Any Real World Training Benefits?
It is possible to use apps like Rouvy to mimic the gradient changes of your next race if you can grab a GPX file and include elevation changes in it. I’ve done that sort of preparation a few times in the past for course familiarisation (without CLIMB) but on reflection, I don’t think it added much to me and my preparation although I thought beforehand that it would be useful. I won’t use CLIMB in that scenario, that’s just me though.
However, there are real training benefits from the altered ride position. When you get above 10% the whole ride feel is quite different. You are using different muscles and in different positions. This was the one area that markedly differed from my pre-use expectations. The physical experience of the gradient when using CLIMB is quite stark compared to real-world gradient changes, the change seems more noticeable probably because we cycle indoors in a more controlled and less changing environment than the outside world. When riding outside and experiencing a change in gradient, perhaps we have certain expectations and subconsciously alter our ride positions. On the KICKR CLIMB, it was more like “Ooh wow, yes this is a different feel.”
I suppose you could specifically target training at above 10% if you had a trip planned to the mountains for example. That would probably be a good idea.
Don’t get me wrong the feel IS realistic just more noticeable than on the road. Hopefully, I explained that properly.
How smooth is the Gradient change with KICKR CLIMB?
It’s smooth and realistic. There are no jarring movements or sudden stops/starts that you notice.
Wahoo KICKR Climb Base Adapter for MOVE
Is KICKR CLIMB Responsive?
It takes 4 seconds for the CLIMB to go through its full range of motion either up or down. Both are the same. It takes approximately 2 seconds to go from the neutral position to 20% so that’s about 0.1 seconds per 1% gradient change.
The question of responsiveness is a trickier one to answer as you are perhaps not always exactly sure what gradient change is being responded to on the app nor do you necessarily know what lag there might be from your connection or other non-CLIMB factors.
For me, the bottom line was that gradient changes felt natural and in line with what I was seeing on the screen. That said, sometimes the onscreen display might have been constant at, say, 7% for a minute but CLIMB made several small adjustments in that timeframe. I guess that CLIMB was doing what it was being told to do but the app was showing a rounded gradient value.
Does the novelty of a changing gradient wear off quickly?
Yes, it does wear off quickly. I would say that in the positive sense meaning that the changing bike positions quickly becomes ‘normal’ and you don’t think about it just like when on the road.
Others will say it is an unnecessary gimmick.
Is it possible to get gradient changes in structured workouts?
However, it is not possible to set the gradient in a structured workout from TrainingPeaks, although you can make manual changes to the gradient. I assume this is generally the case elsewhere.
Alternatives to Wahoo KICKR CLIMB
You could buy a discounted rocker plate for $/100 but you wouldn’t get the incline
Perhaps instead you could buy a cheap multi-position riser block for $/£20 like the one I have from Saris. They have 3 height positions and the blocks are precariously stackable to achieve greater gradients (I’ve never tried that…looks scary!)
Elite RIZER is a steerable alternative that will work with any smart trainer but is more expensive.
Perhaps the Wahoo BIKE is even an option. It’s significantly more expensive but if there are two or more cyclists in the house who have different front axles/hubs and gears, then the faff of changing cassettes (for the turbo) or adapters on the CLIMB is replaced by one bike for everyone. It’s not as crazy as it sounds if you want to avoid hassles.
Wahoo KICKR Climb Futures
I can’t see this being a popular enough product to warrant future upgrades by Wahoo.
The tiny amount of intermittent noise could be removed but that’s not necessary. The speed of movement could be faster but I suspect that would then become unrealistic.
CLIMB could become battery-powered to help portability but that seems pointless and, in any case, probably requires a decent amount of electrical oomph (hence the different power block) and so is probably an impractical aim.
Really, it’s only compatibility that can be improved. Like this…
compatibility with non-Wahoo trainers
compatibility of KICKR MOVE with the base adapter
compatibility with the few incompatible front forks that exist
compatibility with structured workouts (probably required changes in the source 3rd party software and in the FIT file standards)
compatibility with rocker plates
addition of cobble/road noise feel
addition of steering
wireless handlebar control or control from the Wahoo ELEMNT
greater range of motion. Say to 25%
I don’t see a sufficiently large need for any of those changes to be made, except for the road noise and steering omissions. Wahoo needs to mimic the downhill motor effect on the TACX NEO as currently the downhill virtual experience offered by Wahoo is not realistic – but that is independent to how an updated CLIMB 2 would work.
Wahoo KICKR Climb Review – Take Out
I’m a surprised convert.
I thought CLIMB would be an interesting toy that I quickly got bored with. It’s not. I love the extra comfort that makes a material difference in my enjoyment and ability to pedal for longer durations.
I also quite like the real-world feel of physically changing gradients. It must have training benefits though I could easily live without this It’s a nice-to-have benefit.
KICKR Climb is however very expensive. I wouldn’t get one were I not a tech writer. For me, I would see personal value at the £200 level but the £350-400/$450 level seems a fair enough price.
Wahoo KICKR Climb Price, Availability & Discounts
Wahoo KICKR CLIMB is widely available and is periodically included in Wahoo bundles with a discount. From time to time CLIMB is discounted by 20% but check you are not getting a refurbished unit. Wahoo does not have an Amazon shop and prices on Amazon can easily be higher than the RRP/MRSP.
You can also find CLIMBs in good condition on secondhand sites like eBay. However, be mindful that early CLIMB models might suffer from the weakness that caused snapped belts around the time of the original launch and you would be out of warranty if you bought one of those secondhand.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A fun traing toy with several serious uses
Price - 50%
50%
Apparent Accuracy - 95%
95%
Build Quality & Design - 90%
90%
Features, Including App - 80%
80%
Openness & Compatability - 50%
50%
73%
Wahoo KICKR Climb Review Summary
Wahoo KICKR CLIMB is an interesting toy. But it also gave me some tangible comfort benefits from changing saddle pressure points and probably also training benefits from riding in different positions.
I only considered the product because I write about sports tech. I will continue to use it but wouldn’t have bought it at the current price levels even when discounted.
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