First Impression: Kurt Kinetic Road Machine

For the past couple years I've been riding a hand-me-down trainer from my oldest brother, and it's done its job pretty well. But this year I put a good amount of time on the bike and feel I really improved a lot. Mostly in terms of raw power. So when I've been getting back on the trainer more lately, and doing some high intensity training sessions, I had been feeling I wasn't getting everything out of the session. With winter approaching, long hours and hard sessions on the trainer looming, and my wife and her bike coming home too, it was time for an upgrade. 

I spent a good amount of time doing research and mostly reading in-depth  reviews from all over the place, getting the most information I could about specific trainers and what people are riding. Especially those who focus primarily on biking and getting in great training. I spent time on slowtwitch, beginner triathlete, and performance bike, reading reviews and specs. Also asking a few people first hand what their thoughts were. 

Getting a very road-like feel and being able to adjust the resistance were the two big features I was looking for. Being able to store it, longevity and having it be somewhat mobile were also some things I had in mind as well. Keeping those things in mind, I was continually lead to the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. So I placed my order, and two days later (thanks to being an Amazon Prime member shipping was free) the trainer was at my door and I couldn't wait to jump on it.

                                    

The setup was cake. Out of the box there's the stand, the drive that the tire from the bike attaches to, and a few other small pieces to put on. There's also a training skewer so you don't need to worry about ruining your own. They also put in the warranty info and mail-in registration and a training dvd. It took me less than 10 minutes to setup, and I was ready to spin.

I threw my bike on the trainer and got to it on a 2-hour session, working all over my training zones to see what I could put in. I could really crank hard and never felt anything shimmy or feel like I was pushing too hard. Sprinting, climbing, and being in aero position, I felt completely comfortable pushing it. I can probably add more resistance for a harder workout, but I'll continually work on that as I get more used to it. But, my first impressions are that I love this trainer! It has everything I can ask for out of a basic standalone trainer. I am completely satisfied after one session that this trainer will give me all the gains I'm looking for and I'll be able to get everything I want out of each session, so long as I put in the efforts.

If you're on the market for a solid trainer and ok spending a little money to get something that is going to give you all the power you're looking for, this is it. There are other trainers out there that may be similar, but I can personally say this one is great. Especially with how highly adjustable it is for multiple bikes. Whether you're on your road, triathlon, or mountain bike, adjusting the settings is extremely simple. Check it out for yourself and do some research learning what puts this one at the top of my list.

-Dave

Comments

[Chris M.]

Hello,
Thanks much for your impressions of the Kurt Kinetic (Road Machine)... Very helpful. I've been going through the decision process (mag vs. fluid, etc.), & have decided that either CycleOps (Fluid2) or KK Road Machine are the best bet for performance (@ reasonable price), quietness, stability, resistance, etc. From all that I've read, the Kurt Kinetic seems to have the edge, so I'm moving forward with a KK. Reading about your experience helps to confirm that impression. Thx again...Chris.

[Dave]

Chris,
Glad I could help you with making your decision on which trainer to go with. After looking through and reading so many opinions about trainers, this seemed like the sure bet for me. And after some great efforts on it, I have no regrets. Good luck with your training.
All the best,
Dave