Kinetic Power Computer
Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at
6:30 am
- 13 Function
Product Description
Kinetic PC Power computer for measuring wattage during training.
Tagged with: Computer • Kinetic • Power
Filed under: Bike Trainers
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
If you buy any trainer I would recommend this computer to train with. It is easy to operate,gives instant information,not hard to setup and works well. It is particularly useful if you track your workouts.
Rating: 5 / 6
I concur with the reviews that describe this device as shoddy and poorly manufactured. However, I want to add that it is totally a misrepresentation to describe this as a “power computer.” It doesn’t really compute power. What is does is take your speed and run it through a simple equation that derives your “power” as a function of your speed. If you are expecting a device that does anything but give you a rough approximation of your power output by placing your speed into a quadratic equation with some regression coefficients derived from who-knows-where..this isn’t it. Very deceptive product description..good thing it’s cheap.
Rating: 1 / 6
After reading the reviews, I expected this to be terrible. Admittedly, the zip ties which came with the unit crumbled to dust before I could attach it which drove me half nuts, but I had some in the garage and used those. It’s probably not as good as a $300 unit, nor is it as well made as a $300 unit, and it’s likely not as accurate as a $300 unit, but it serves my purpose. It allows me to track my training to the extent that I, as a somewhat serious but modestly talented leisure cyclist, need to track it. And guess what … it doesn’t cost $300.
Rating: 3 / 6
I bought this unit despite the mixed reviews because it’s the only reasonably priced device that I could find that can actually measure my power output (in watts) with my Kinetic Pro trainer. And it does work as advertised.
However… like others have stated, Kurt used the cheapest components they could find to build this thing. The spoke magnet on mine worked loose after the second workout and had to be retightened. You’ll have to supply your own cable ties. The ones that come with it are junk and will break if you tighten them enough to hold the sensor to the bike frame. The worse part is the battery compartment. I had to fiddle around for 20 minutes to get the battery to stay put in the battery well long enough to snap the cover back on. It took four attempts and the use of a dental probe to re-position 3 the flimsy metal contacts that surround the battery. I’d say there’s a 50/50 chance that you can insert the battery successfully without breaking something. And this review is from someone who is pretty adept at working with mechanical/electrical devices.
If you can put up with having to finisse this thing while you install it, it does work. And I didn’t find it particularly challenging to use. The buttons are of low quality and have a loose feeling but, on my unit they work as described in the manual. No real problem. If you can operate any other bike computer, you shouldn’t have any problem operating this one.
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