Kinetic Power Computer *Wired
Friday, July 16th, 2010 at
8:34 am
- Fits Model: Wired
Product Description
Kinetic PC Power computer for measuring wattage during training
Tagged with: *Wired • Computer • Kinetic • Power
Filed under: Bike Trainers
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Power computers are useful monitoring exercise activities in order to gauge progress in strength and endurance. Since I had a Kurt Kinetic trainer, I figured that the power computer would maintain similar high standards of quality. It was just the opposite.
The installation was quite simple, and took about 10 minutes to accomplish. Since one would never have the intention of leaving this on one’s bicycle, it should have been made as a clip on device. Once it was installed, it worked properly for about 10 minutes. The buttons would operate in a variable fashion, the device would arbitrarily turn off and then on again, resetting all the variables, the speeds would arbitrarily jump around randomly even when pedaling at a constant speed, and it would spontaneously do unpredictable activities. I never was able to have it stable enough for even a single work-out episode and it never gave me even a single item of useful information during the work-out.
My advice to Kurt Kinetic
1) Take this device off the market immediately. It’s bad for the reputation.
2) Since you measure only distance with your back wheel device, and that in an indirect fashion, you could get that information exactly by measuring the rotation of your resistance flywheel. The monitor device should be mounted directly to the flywheel and thus obtain exact distances traveled by the bike.
3) The monitor should attach to the bike in a clip on/off fashion to facilitate easy removal of the bike from the trainer.
4) The display need not have so much useless information. It should have only two alternating information screens
a) speed, exercise time for day, total power consumed for day, total distance gone for day. This screen should be easily resetable to zero for each workout.
b) speed, actual time, instantaneous power d(e)/d(t), accumulated total distance. This screen should be more complex to reset to zero.
Rating: 1 / 6
This computer is a remarkable piece of junk. Everything on it is the cheapest possible grade. The magnet broke in my hands when I tried to install it. I used the magnet from an old Cateye computer. Even the plastic zipties were dried and snapped. The reset button on the computer itself sticks in the “in” position. The mounting bracket doesn’t hold the computer firm enough so when you press the display button the computer goes flying off the bike. The battery only lasted 3 months. The display turns rainbow colors at about 60 degree F. BUT, you get wattage and all other vital info for your workout–so you NEED this thing. My Kurt kinetic rock-n-roll trainer is bomb proof. I love it. However, this computer is the biggest hunk of junk I’ve ever used in my life. Everything about it is of the lowest quality–but you need one, so buy it. Kurt Kinetic should tar and feather the guy who thought it would be a good idea to put their name on this thing. It is just shameful.
Rating: 1 / 6
Very cheaply made. Readout is small. Buttons are loose. Wires are flimsy. Shocking contrast in quality when compared to the Kinetic Road Machine trainer I bought it with. Should be included free with a $275 trainer in my opinion. But it works, just not worth 45-50 bucks. Be careful installing it as to not pull out the wires or crack the plastic tab that locks the computer on to the mount.
Rating: 2 / 6
Let me first say that this is a $40 rear wheel mounted cycle computer that estimates power output. Real power meters cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Keep that in mind because this item seems to be made very cheaply. And also remember that this computer only estimates power on the trainer, it is not a power meter. It will not accurately estimate power on the road. It depends on knowing the power curve of the Kinetic trainers to estimate the wattage. So, as the title implies, although it looks cheaply made, it does work. It does display all the usual functions: time, speed, distance, power, and the average/max for each applicable function. For me, I use it because I needed a rear wheel mounted computer for the trainer and I couldn’t afford a real power meter. I would’ve liked to pay a little more for better construction though.
Rating: 3 / 6
At first I would agree… seemed like junk. However, everytime i called kurt kinetic they were extemely helpful and shipped me a new one. mine kept “shorting out” and losing the display and info then might or might not come back on. after i receive the 3rd replacement i saw that the use of an extention cord had been eliminated and a solid wire from computer to pickup was used instead. that was it!!! my computer works perfectly now! for 50 bucks you cannot go wrong!! it is extemely accurate and matches wattage with the other much more expensive offerings ie power tap etc. great service from KK!!
Rating: 5 / 6