1up vs. KK...why such a difference?

ccrnnr9 said:

..... I always feel that my legs are driving so much harder on the 1up. ..... It seems that the KK feels much more like actual riding where as the 1up feels much more like a strength workout.

Nick,
I don't have experience with the 1up, but it sounds like you're describing the difference between the fairly large/heavy flywheel on the KK to a trainer with a lighter flywheel. The flywheel helps carry momentum around the pedal stroke and smooth out the dead spots which makes the KK feel pretty smooth. I have an older off brand fluid trainer that feels more like the weight lifting you describe where each leg stroke is like a pulse of strength not a continuous low. KK even makes a Pro model with a much bigger flywheel or an even smoother road like feel.

As for the power differences and discrepancies between your measurements and their published charts I can't say since I don't know anything about 1up or their technology. I know my KK and the KK power to speed curve agrees quite well with my PT hub. I do have to make sure the roller pressure is just enough to minimize tire slip without being cranked down too tight. That effects the speed to power curve a bit on my unit.

I wouldn't worry about having to bump up a cog to work the range you're interested in or worry about exceeding the power range on the KK unit. If the KK is as much smoother as you say then I'd go with that unit, riding a jerky trainer lacking a big enough flywheel is no fun at all.

-Dave

Ok thanks for the feedback. I just feel like I'm always grinding it out on the 1up. It is unfortunate because I like the unit in many ways such as how much quieter it is than the KK but on the other hand I do not enjoy the feeling of always feeling like I am mashing my way through gears. My only worry is that I will eventually "outgrow" the KK in that resistance will one day not be enough. Is this a legitimate concern? I can't see this happening with the 1up because the resistance feels so high.
~Nick

I am experiencing the exact same thing with the 1Up. I do not have another trainer to compare it to but was thinking of trying some out at the lbs. I have been doing Spinervals workouts on the 1Up and it always seems that the people on the disc are maintaining a higher cadence far more easily than I am. I wanted to try another trainer to compare resistance. I checked the resistance setting on mine and found that it was set for more resistance, 3 ballbearings in outer position. I moved them to the inner position, but honestly I don't know if I notice much of a difference. You should open up the resistance unit. it is very easy to do and check the ballbearing settings. Have you tried an other brands of trainers?

ccrnnr9 said:

... My only worry is that I will eventually "outgrow" the KK in that resistance will one day not be enough. Is this a legitimate concern? ....

Nick,
According to Kurt, the Road Machine has a functional power range of 20 to 3000 watts. That's what they say on this page describing the design of the RM: http://www.kurtkinetic.com/history_fluid_machine.php so unless you're superhuman you won't outgrow the Road Machine.

Personally I've topped 1100 watts on mine in sprints, but I hate sprinting on trainers because of the annoying wheel slip.
-Dave

daveryanwyoming said:

Nick,
According to Kurt, the Road Machine has a functional power range of 20 to 3000 watts. That's what they say on this page describing the design of the RM: http://www.kurtkinetic.com/history_fluid_machine.php so unless you're superhuman you won't outgrow the Road Machine.

Personally I've topped 1100 watts on mine in sprints, but I hate sprinting on trainers because of the annoying wheel slip.
-Dave

Ya I read that out their website, I was just worried that this was something at the highest resistance with a cadence that no one could hold. Anyways, I think I prefer the KK so I will keep it. I really wish 1up would develop a new trainer based on the same principle with a much larger flywheel. Like you said earlier, I think that is the reason for it feeling so strange. On the other hand, maybe it is just the way the resistance unit is structured that it makes the feel that way.
~Nick

P.S. I have check the resistance on mine and it is on the lowest setting.

Just to be clear....

You don't get to pick a resistance on the KK. You get what it comes with, and the resistance increases the faster you go.

It attempts to model real life. They have found the best fit to their power curve, and they tell you what it represents.......I forget it all, but it's basically an average guy on a 1% grade (going up).

You won't outgrow it, unless like an earlier poster said, you are superhuman, and even then, I don't think you could.