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IB15: Kinetic Smart Power Trainers debut w/ free (and paid) app-based Sufferfest training

Written by Tyler Benedict
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Kinetic RoadMachine Smart and Rock-n-Roll Smart cycling trainers with Bluetooth power meter data

Last year, Kinetic created the stick-on InRide system to let any of their trainers pair with the InRide app to calculate your power output. Now, they’ve started shipping two of their best trainers with the “power meter” preinstalled. The Kinetic Rock and Roll Smart and Road Machine Smart will both come with the Bluetooth sensor transmitter already on board and a magnet in the roller. Since they know the resistance of their fluid unit, they know how much power is needed to spin it at any given speed. The sensor on the back measures speed, does come calculations and transmits that information as power to their InRide app.

They’ve also upgraded the InRide app dramatically, adding a tiered subscription model that goes from Free up to $25 per month with in-app streaming of The Sufferfest’s training videos, all with the ability to push the data up to your big screen TV…

Kinetic RoadMachine Smart and Rock-n-Roll Smart cycling trainers with Bluetooth power meter data

The InRide pod, which is what you’ll find on their new Smart models, is also sold on it’s own for $75 ($130 with Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitor) and will retrofit to any of their Road Machine, Rock and Road and Power Trainer models.

Kinetic RoadMachine Smart and Rock-n-Roll Smart cycling trainers with Bluetooth power meter data

If not preinstalled, the magnet presses into a hole on the roller and the pod uses double stick tape to attach to the base. Just line up the line with the magnet, then pair it the app.

Kinetic InRide smartphone app with power measurement for cycling trainers

The InRide app is a free download on iTunes and shows power plus basic data like speed and distance from just the pod. Add a Bluetooth cadence sensor and heart rate monitor grab that data, too. While it looks basic, what’s particularly impressive is what’s included for free:

kinetic-fit-inride-cycling-app-and-training-plans

While the training plans are limited in the free Core level, they’re still there and you can create your own workouts. Upgrade just a bit and you’ll get the ability to throw your data onto the big screen via Apple TV and Chromecast. The upper two levels add competitions and rewards. Once your session’s over, you can share the data with Apple Health, Google Fit, Strava, Training Peaks, MapMyFitness and more.

It’s worth mentioning that with the InRide pod, you can also see power data in TrainerRoad and other smartphone trainer apps.

Kinetic RoadMachine Smart and Rock-n-Roll Smart cycling trainers with Bluetooth power meter data

The Rock and Roll Smart retails for $569, just $20 more than the standard model making it a cheap way to get InRide if you’re looking at new trainers anyway.

Kinetic RoadMachine Smart and Rock-n-Roll Smart cycling trainers with Bluetooth power meter data

The Road Machine Smart runs $409, the standard one (which we reviewed here) runs $369. Both are available now.

KurtKinetic.com and Kinetic.fit
Tyler Benedict
11,282 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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John
John
9 years ago

Kinetic is calling these “smart” trainers, and I guess they’re entitled to make up whatever definition of “smart” they want, but these are really nothing more than their last generation trainers with the inRide power estimation units preinstalled.

Which seems pretty lame, compared to the next generation of actual “smart” trainers from Bkool/Tacx/Wahoo/etc. that provide resistance based on a programmed power level you set with your bike computer/smartphone app/Mac/PC, so the trainer provides a steady level of power resistance based on whatever workout you’ve programmed.

With an actual smart trainer, if you’re doing 250 watt intervals you get 250 watts of resistance for that duration no matter what gear you happen to be in.

With the Kinetic inRide you only get a power readout, it’s up you to get to — and maintain — 250 watts for each interval.

Also interesting that Kinetic hasn’t added ANT+ support, especially since there’s an actual ANT+ FE-C standard for trainer control from Garmin, etc. computers. The rumor is that Kinetic is going to a proprietary Bluetooth protocol, where app developers would have to pay Kinetic for access to their SDK if they want to connect with the inRide data. Pretty much the polar opposite of where every other trainer manufacturer is today.

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BikePacker
BikePacker
9 years ago

Someone is a tri-geek….^^^^^^^^

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Pit
Pit
9 years ago

I have the kickr and the Kurt road machine. Imo the best combo is the road machine and a real power meter. The kickr watts are too high and the resistance changes are annoying. It’s a better feel to just shift into a higher gear on a liquid trainer.

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John
John
9 years ago

I agree that it’s better to use Kurt Kinetic with a real power meter. KK overestimated my FTP by a full 55 watts compared to my Stages power meter. It’s not even close to real power, differences between power meters aside. Also, I had many connection issues between the KK trainer and InRide (the Bluetooth connection would fail to hook up or would drop when doing the spindown calibration). I gave up on it.

As a standalone fluid trainer it’s solid but will run out of resistance if you want to stand on a compact chainset (50/12 highest gear).

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CDG
CDG
9 years ago

@John,

“Also, I had many connection issues between the KK trainer and InRide (the Bluetooth connection would fail to hook up or would drop when doing the spindown calibration). I gave up on it.”

I had the same issues. I tried a few different Bluetooth devices, changed the battery, tried re-syncing, and even went back and forth several times with folks at Kinetic, but could never get the InRide to maintain a stable, consistent connection. So…I have one connected to my trainer, that is essentially a paperweight…

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Pedals
Pedals
9 years ago

And still not Android compatible, eh?

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Jason from Kinetic
Jason from Kinetic
9 years ago

I want to clear up a few things, and I apologize for the lengthy response. First, with regard to our proprietary SDK (software development kit) – our development team has indeed written a proprietary SDK, and with very good reason. The current open BLE spec does not meet our requirements, there are both stability and accuracy issues. It also does not define a calibration process, something that is critical to our sensor and app. We have made this all available to the third-party developers that had been working with us previously, as well as to some new partners like Zwift. (at no charge) Openness is not inherently positive, especially when the current open standard does not meet your development requirements.

We absolutely embrace openness with regard to data ownership, privacy and control. We will continue to allow our riders to take their workout data to whatever platform they want: Strava, MapMyFitness, TrainingPeaks, Garmin Connect or any other platform that works with the open FIT file definition.

With regard to the connection issues with the inRide sensors, we have addressed that with new firmware on the sensor pods. (all of the new trainers come with the updated firmware) We will be replacing sensors with the old firmware at no charge. (if you have an inRide now, you have the old firmware unless we have replaced it in the last couple months) Everyone using one of the old sensors will receive a notice through the inRide app shortly. If you are having problems you can also submit a customer service ticket through the app now for an exchange.

Finally, we will be launching the Android alpha version very soon. (before the snow flies here in Minneapolis) Sign up for notification here: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.kinetic.fit

The Kinetic Smart trainers provide the best hardware and software required for someone to get started on power-based training at a fraction of the price of the electronically-controlled trainers.

Thanks,
Jason

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