Based in New Zealand, newcomer Revbox has developed a premium training solution for cyclists to work on improving both fitness and form. While roller-based wind trainers have always had a reputation for being loud and less effective, this chain-drive revision takes away almost all of the negatives and ends up with the benefits of a low-inertia trainer. Plus, being light and relatively compact makes the Revbox Erg a great solution for pro cyclists, like Lotto Soudal who have just inked a 5-year deal to train with it.
Find out how Revbox appeals to them and to cyclists of all levels after the break, plus pricing…
What makes the Revbox Erg work is that the light air-braking blades and lack of rollers or heavy gearing creates an unlimited range of resistance with very low inertia. This gives a controlled training environment that allows the user to perceive changes in power output and tempo much more easily to help build strength and smoothness. While many trainers seek to reproduce a road feel (with accurate reproduction of the feel of coasting), the Revbox goes the other way to try to build pedaling form and optimize fitness by highlighting inefficiencies.
The Revbox low-inertia solution builds smooth muscle action through the whole pedal stroke by listening to the changing sound of the trainer and feeling the change in resistance. This precise and repeatable feedback makes for effective targeted training, allowing efforts to be methodically reproduced.
By utilizing a standard cassette and the complete drivetrain of a standard bike, plus the fan whose resistance increases with rotational speed, the Revbox offers almost unlimited resistance range. (A 53/11 gear ratio, at a cadence of 50rpm corresponds to an output of 500 watts; and at 90rpm requires 1800 watts!) Different drive ratios are also available optimized for juniors or others seeking lower speeds/intensities. The road and mountain friendly Revbox itself weighs just under 9kg, and with the quick release legs removed is effectively the width of your dropouts (130/135mm) at its widest point.
Starting in January pro team Lotto Soudal will start using the Revbox Erg trainer, including German sprinter Andre Greipel. Revbox sees this partnership with Lotto Soudal as a “huge endorsement about what the Revbox Erg can provide as a stationary cycling trainer” and looks forward to continuing to develop with such top level input.
The Revbox Erg was designed, engineered, and is assembled all in Christchurch, New Zealand. Retail pricing is $1000/900€/650£/AU$1400 with all units shipped direct to consumers for the time being. Update: Revbox has secured a distribution deal with Ridley bikes for cyclists in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, and Austria to have easier direct access through the dealer network. An integrated Android app was launched earlier this summer (with iOS maybe another month out) to read power (calculated), speed, cadence while training, based on sensors on the trainer to help get the most out of a Revbox Erg session. It also connects to heartrate monitors, tracks speed and distance, and is designed to upload data to TrainingPeaks and other online training sites.
Lots more info about the trainer, especially the science behind the use of low-inertia training can be found on Revbox’s website.