GOOD GEAR RATING — 10/10 STARS

Summary: My husband used the Wahoo KICKR MOVE to train for his first IRONMAN 70.3, and it made a huge difference during the winter months. The trainer allowed him to get in solid training sessions at home or even at the fire station, especially on days when he couldn’t fit in a long outdoor ride. It was a game-changer for maintaining consistency in his training, even with his unpredictable schedule.

PROS 

  • The KICKR MOVE’s fore-aft motion lets your bike move naturally for a smoother, more realistic ride.
  • It operates nearly silently, so you can focus without the noise.
  • The new 8-inch (20cm) fore-aft motion adapts to changes in your riding pace for extra comfort.
  • It also allows side-to-side movement and has adjustable AXIS feet for added stability.
  • Wahoo products are FSA/HSA eligible, so you can use your health savings for this investment.
  • Easy setup!

CONS 

  • It’s costly. The Wahoo KICKR MOVE retails for $1300.
  • It can take some getting used to if you’re unfamiliar with the fore-aft motion.
  • While small, it does take up some space in your home (most notable if you don’t have a garage or training space).

When my husband decided to train for an IRONMAN this year, I thought it would be a simple routine of running outside and biking a few miles every day. Little did I know that preparing for the race would require hours of training and a significant investment in gear. For reference, he was training for the IRONMAN 70.3, which is about half the distance of a full IRONMAN. It comprises a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run.

“Since my husband is a firefighter with an unpredictable schedule, the Wahoo KICKR MOVE was the perfect fit for his training. “

Since my husband is a firefighter with an unpredictable schedule, the Wahoo KICKR MOVE was the perfect fit for his training. It’s easy to move from our living room, where he can ride while catching up on college football, to the firehouse gym. That flexibility is crucial — if a call comes in, he can quickly hop off the bike and head out, which would be much harder if he were miles away from the station. The KICKR gives him the convenience and reliability to train on his own terms.

Read on for a comprehensive review of this trainer! 

About Wahoo Fitness

First, a brief intro on Wahoo as a brand. Wahoo Fitness is revolutionizing the way people train, whether you’re a cyclist, runner, or someone simply looking to level up their fitness. The company was founded in 2009 by Chip Hawkins, an engineer and lifelong athlete passionate about simplifying training technology. Hawkins started Wahoo in Atlanta, Georgia, with the goal of creating tools that make workouts smarter, more effective, and easier to integrate into daily life. What began with a single product — a bike speed sensor — has grown into a full suite of innovative fitness tech, including the KICKR smart trainers, ELEMNT bike computers, and heart rate monitors, as well as their all-in-one training app, SYSTM.

“Wahoo Fitness is revolutionizing the way people train, whether you’re a cyclist, runner, or someone simply looking to level up their fitness.”

What I love about Wahoo is how their products just make sense. They’re easy to use, work seamlessly with apps like Zwift and Strava, and actually make training fun — yes, fun! Their KICKR smart trainers, which I’ll review below, feel so realistic you’ll forget you’re cycling indoors. Plus, they’re perfect for anyone balancing a busy schedule but still wanting effective workouts.

Whether you’re aiming for a new personal record or just want a smoother, more enjoyable ride, Wahoo’s gear is there to cheer you on every step (or pedal) of the way.

What is the Wahoo KICKR?

The Wahoo KICKR is the ultimate indoor cycling companion, designed to bring the thrill of outdoor rides into the comfort of your home. Whether you’re new to cycling or a seasoned rider, the KICKR makes training seamless and intuitive. It’s incredibly quiet, smooth, and precise — giving you the sensation of riding on real roads, even when logging miles in your living room. Compatible with apps like Zwift and TrainerRoad, the KICKR lets you join virtual group rides, explore scenic routes, or crush structured workouts, all while keeping you motivated and engaged. It’s like having a personal trainer, a cycling studio, and an adventure buddy rolled into one.

“Whether you’re new to cycling or a seasoned rider, the KICKR makes training seamless and intuitive.”

The KICKR also makes it easy to fit training into your life, no matter where or when you ride. Its compact design and quick setup mean you can create a professional-grade cycling experience in your living room, garage, or even a spare corner of your apartment. If you like to mix up your environment, the KICKR’s portability makes it simple to move from room to room or even take on the go — which I’ll discuss more below. Basically, it’s all the benefits of outdoor cycling, without worrying about weather, traffic, or time constraints!

A Wahoo indoor bike trainer is set up on a wooden floor next to a rug.
A bicycle is mounted on a Wahoo KICKR indoor trainer in a living room. A football game is playing on a wall-mounted TV.
The Wahoo KICKER MOVE brings the thrill of outdoor rides indoors for easy and portable training.

As for specs, this review is specific to the Wahoo KICKR MOVE, a smart trainer that offers exceptional performance with features that include 2200 watts of maximum power output and a maximum simulated grade of 20%. It includes innovative fore-aft motion and side-to-side movement for a more realistic riding experience. It also features an option to prevent fore-aft movement and lock KICKR MOVE into place.

“It includes innovative fore-aft motion and side-to-side movement for a more realistic riding experience.”

With power accuracy within +/-1% and seamless connectivity via ANT+, Bluetooth, WiFi, and Direct Connect, this trainer syncs with devices, too. The KICKR MOVE is easy to set up, comes with an 11-speed cassette (with a 12-speed option), and is compatible with various bike types (we used it with the BMC Team Machine R01 road bike), providing ultimate versatility. Oh! And all Wahoo smart bike trainers and smart bikes come with a trial to Wahoo X, giving you access to SYSTM, a comprehensive collection of structured workouts and training plans, tailored towards your fitness objectives.

Trying out the Wahoo KICKR MOVE for IRONMAN training

The Wahoo KICKR MOVE arrived in a large, well-packed box — definitely too heavy for me to carry up to our apartment alone, so I called my husband for help. He eagerly ran downstairs to grab it, bringing it up on his own. Once inside, the setup was surprisingly straightforward. The KICKR MOVE comes mostly pre-assembled and the box includes the following: AC Power Adapter, Quick Release Skewer, Disc Brake Caliper Spacer, 1.8mm Cassette Spacer, Drive Side Adapter for 130mm and 135mm QR, Reversible hub spacer for 130mm and 135mm, Non Drive Side Adapters for 12×142 and 12×148, Drive Side Spin Cap for Thru Axle and AXIS Stiff and Easy Feet.

Cardboard box with a blue panel inside showing a QR code, labeled "Scan to Set Up," a diagram, and the instruction "Pull to Open.
A person is riding a stationary bike in a living room, wearing a cap, sleeveless black top, and shorts. A TV is on, and the room is decorated with a white couch and wall art.
The setup was easy. We attached the bike, calibrated the trainer, and connected it to the apps in just a few minutes.

There wasn’t much to do except attach the bike, calibrate the trainer, and connect it to the apps. In just a few minutes, everything was ready to go — simple, clear instructions made the whole process stress-free and quick.

“In just a few minutes, everything was ready to go — simple, clear instructions made the whole process stress-free and quick.”

In my husband’s words, the first ride was epic (ha). He rode for an hour, logging around 20 miles just to get the feel of the trainer. Over the course of a few months, while he trained, he’d often set it up in the living room to ride before work or when he just didn’t want to do all the prep to ride outside. “Riding outdoors requires a lot of work in terms of driving to the location, pumping up your tires, putting on sunscreen, etc.,” he notes. “The KICKR really allowed me to maximize my training when I only had an hour to get a ride in.”

Other considerations

The Wahoo KICKR MOVE is a solid investment with a price that reflects its top-tier features and performance. While it’s certainly not the cheapest option on the market, the brand regularly offers sales, so it’s worth watching for discounts. Wahoo also provides a 30-day customer satisfaction guarantee and offers additional warranty coverage for added peace of mind. For those looking to manage the cost, the KICKR MOVE is HSA/FSA eligible through Truemed, and flexible payment plans are available via Affirm.

“The Wahoo KICKR MOVE is a solid investment with a price that reflects its top-tier features and performance. “

What stands out most, though, is Wahoo’s customer support, which truly impressed me. Known for being responsive and helpful, their team is always just a phone call or email away to assist with setup, troubleshooting, or any questions. Their commitment to addressing concerns quickly makes the entire experience that much smoother, ensuring you get the most out of your new trainer.

So, is the Wahoo KICKR MOVE worth the investment? 

The Wahoo KICKR MOVE isn’t the cheapest gear, but it’s definitely an investment worth making, especially when you consider all of the other investments you make into your bike, running shoes, wetsuit, etc. After using it regularly, my husband was able to log countless indoor miles while managing his busy, unpredictable schedule. And guess what? He successfully completed his first IRONMAN 70.3 with a great bike time (a 20 mph pace!).

“After using it regularly, my husband was able to log countless indoor miles while managing his busy, unpredictable schedule.”

The KICKR MOVE was a key part of his training regimen, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone serious about cycling or triathlon training, whether you’re training for something big or just want a solid, durable trainer to use day in and day out. 

Plus, if you’re not quite ready to commit just yet, you can always check it out in person at a Wahoo retailer to see for yourself!

Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of Feelings Not Aside, a Substack newsletter with 6,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.