Wahoo kickr Snap vs Core. What works best with an S40 ?

[Niall]

I’m looking to get a smart trainer to maintain my Cruzbike fitness through the winter. I understand the differences and relative merits of wheel-on vs direct drive for diamond frame bikes but was wondering is it the same when mounting an S40? Should I go for the wahoo Snap (wheel on) or the wahoo Core (direct drive)? Your comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.

ps I use TrainerRoad and have a Wattbike for my main cycle training and the big efforts, this additional smart trainer is to ensure I don’t lose my recumbent fitness over the winter.

 

[ak-tux]

I’m looking to get a smart trainer to maintain my Cruzbike fitness through the winter. I understand the differences and relative merits of wheel-on vs direct drive for diamond frame bikes but was wondering is it the same when mounting an S40? Should I go for the wahoo Snap (wheel on) or the wahoo Core (direct drive)? Your comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.

ps I use TrainerRoad and have a Wattbike for my main cycle training and the big efforts, this additional smart trainer is to ensure I don’t lose my recumbent fitness over the winter.

Hi,
I have tried both on my S40. I currently own a Wahoo SNAP acquired secondhand. The core was briefly borrowed from a friend to compare the power numbers. They both work as expected. However, if you can afford the Core, I strongly recommend it.

The KickR Snap has some problems.
1. The power accuracy drifts(compared to my crank power meter) as the workout progresses. (I think it does not have temperature compensation). Mine starts within 3% of my power meter readings. Then it gradually drifts to +10% (+20 to 30watts)off after 30 minutes of riding. Probably my unit is faulty. It's frustrating as it gets harder and harder to stay in the correct zone.
2. You need to perform spindown calibration before every ride. Which should be preceeded by a 10 minutes warm-up.
3. Your tire pressure must be constistently topped up otherwise it can slip or give noticeably inaccurate power readings.
4. The quality control of the build is wanting. The unit can make some strange ratling noises sometimes. (Probably becuase mine was secondhand) .
5. It wears out the tire unless you get the trainer specific one

As a workaround I use it inconjunction with my crank based power meter (Using power matching in TrainingPeaks and Zwift). This way, KckR SNAP does the ERG mode and SIM modes beautifully.


The KickR Core Direct drive, on the other hand, was super! The power numbers were consistently within 2% of my crankbased power meter. Very quiet and smooth rolling throught out the session.

Below is a Dual Power Recording(in IndieVelo/TPvirt) for the SNAP. You can see the power drifting.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I have no experience with the Kickr Snap but have used wheel-on trainers before and did not like them. Tire slip, tire wear, inaccuracy, you need to put the other wheel on a block to compensate for the height ... Basically the majority of people that I know have started on a wheel-on and within a year or two moved on to direct drive. Hence you see many wheel-on trainers on ebay and in many cases you can get them for free through local buy and swap sites or charity shops. However as you already have a Wattbike for serious training and just want something to get your recumbent 'kick' indoors, the wheel-on option can be a very cheap option if you pick one up 2nd hand. But if you are willing to spend a bit more, I would go for the direct drive. I would certainly advice against buying a wheel-on new. The Kickr Core is about 2 1/2 times the price of a new Kickr Snap but for that you get a massively better experience and if you add in that you really should buy a dedicated tire for it, you'll soon find out that the saving on the Snap is false economy. My 2p

 

[Niall]

Thanks for the info. The Snap is heavily discounted at the moment but from what you say, perhaps I can see why. I’d find those issues deeply frustrating so nope, I’ll follow your recommendation and go for the direct drive trainer. Thanks.

 

[LarryOz]

I greatly concur with the above statements - note - the only thing that is a "little pain" is that if you have disc brakes on your S40 (or V20), you will have to remove the caliper from the front fork (unless Wahoo has changed their setup). This is not really a big deal, unless you are constantly moving the bike on and off the trainer. The KICKR which is a higher priced version that allows different wheel sizes used to have enough room for the disc brake caliper. But I have an old one, and when I saw the the newest one - it looked more like there would be interference - just so you know what to look out for.

 

[Always-Learnin]

If I may interject… You might want to check out dc rainmakers comparison on his website and/or YouTube channel. Detailed, informative, and thorough. You won’t be sorry.

 

[Always-Learnin]

I have the v6 Kickr with my disc brake 2021 S40 on it. All I had to do was remove the handle for clearance. Use it daily.

 

[Niall]

If I may interject… You might want to check out dc rainmakers comparison on his website and/or YouTube channel. Detailed, informative, and thorough. You won’t be sorry.

Will do, thanks. dc rainmaker always does excellent, impartial reviews.

 

[Veresia]

For the Cruzbike S40, I'd lean towards the Wahoo Core (direct drive) over the Snap. I’ve used both types of trainers, and direct drive tends to feel more stable and consistent, especially for longer sessions or when you're dialing in specific workouts. Since you're already using TrainerRoad and have a Wattbike for the big efforts, the Core should keep your recumbent fitness on track without compromising accuracy. The Snap could work too, but with the S40's setup, you might find the direct drive a bit smoother and more reliable for maintaining fitness over the winter.

 

[Niall]

Thanks for the comments and advice. I’ve ordered a Wahoo Core (direct drive) today, it should be delivered by the end of the week.