Kinetic Rock n Roll Trainer w/Road Resistance Unit
"Road feel" is what just about every indoor trainer chases in some fashion. It makes sense, as most of us prefer riding outside. Most companies use a weighted flywheel along with some kind of magnetic or fluid resistance to give you that elusive feeling. A few use a computer program to create the magnetic resistance. Only Kinetic by Kurt employs a resistance unit and frame designed to mimic the natural movement of riding out on the open road. They put both parts together in the Rock and Roll Trainer. Kinetic answers the resistance issue with their Road Resistance Unit. The roller itself is the first part of the solution. It's made of stainless steel and is 2. 5in (6. 35cm) in diameter, which is a good bit larger than much of the competition. The larger roller means less wear on your tire and it reduces the temperature of the spinning elements. The right side has a 6. 25-pound (2. 84kg) flywheel, the heaviest around, which is what gives the feeling of momentum when you're spinning up to speed, holding speed, and slowing down. On the left side is a unique two-part resistance unit, which is the heart of their system. The resistance unit is unique as it's made of two parts. The first is the driver made of a small flywheel embedded with six rare-earth magnets. The other half is a completely sealed cast-aluminum fluid chamber that is bolted to the housing containing the driver. The fluid chamber contains an impeller with corresponding magnets. As you ride, the magnets in the driver spin the impeller through medical-grade silicone fluid to provide the resistance. And since there is no drive shaft entering the fluid chamber, the Kinetic design eliminates a common design weakness of most fluid-resistance units. Of course, the system builds heat; your energy has to go somewhere (in this case friction). However, the fluid acts as a coolant and the chamber has 80 cooling fins on the outside that act like radiator fins. It's impossible to overheat the chamber or reach a point...