There’s no question about it, investing in the Kinetic Kurt Z Roller trainer will make a big difference in the way you ride. The big factor in convincing you that this baby is for you is that working out on these rollers will make you look like a professional cyclist with superior bike handling skills – and your pedal strokes will become smoother and more efficient.
And yes, within a fairly short time frame, you’re going to notice improvements in your cycling form and pedaling efficiency.
Many cyclists looking to stay in shape over the winter months often dismiss roller trainers because they are daunted by the time and concentration required to master rollers. It’s probably not amiss to say that beginners think that roller trainers are only for the more experienced and skilled cyclist. But seriously, rollers are great for anyone serious about their cycling – and the Z roller from Kinetic (Kinetic are also responsible for the superb Road Machine and very realistic Rock n Roll trainer) is an awesome way to launch your roller trainer career!
Check out the latest and greatest discounts for the Kinetic Z Roller HEREWhat’s to like about the Kinetic Z Roller Trainer?
The Kinetic Z Roller gets it name from its awesome foldup capability – it folds easily and quickly at two points, just like the letter Z. Two hinges are attached on each side of the frame to create the twofold cut; when folded the Z Roller becomes super portable and very easy to transport around, unlike many other rollers on the market. Just so you know, when folded the Z Roller has a height of 8.8 inches, which can easily fit under the bed or inside any closet.
The video below shows just how easy it is to fold up – as well as giving you a quick glimpse into the reasons Kinetic designed this roller trainer.
Setting up the roller is also dead easy, all you have to do is to flip the two ends out and make sure that the four feet along each side are flat on the floor (they help make it very stable). You can lessen the vibration caused by the roller and protect your floor if you set the roller on a training mat like the Kinetic Training Mat that is made up of closed-cell PVC foam. Reducing the vibration will prove beneficial in the long term since it minimizes wear on the rollers.
As with any roller trainer, you have to make sure that the wheels of the bike are in the middle of the rollers to get a smooth and even feel when you start pedaling. If keeping steady is difficult when you start using the roller, we’d advise you to set it up close to the doorway or to a wall, which you can use to brace yourself while finding your balance.
The aluminum drums and steel bearings of the Kinetic Z roller will give you a smooth and almost noiseless performance. You have to concentrate on your pedaling while focusing your eyes forward, the same as when you ride your bike outdoors, but once you have gained confidence in using it and can keep a steady balance, you can move away from the wall and start working on the cadence of your pedaling. You will notice that as you increase your speed, your balance improves and your ride feels more stable.
You could even go pro-like with even more practice, which the Z Roller can certainly assist you with; learning how to ride handsfree ensures that your balance is at its optimum (not at all easy by the way, especially on rollers) and you can multi-task, such as take something out of your backpack.
The Z Rollers Main Features
- The Kinetic Z Roller is equipped with three 3.5 inches x 14.7 inches precision-machined aluminum rollers, and is 11.5 inches high.
- The frame of the roller is sturdy. Having the two hinges on both sides does not affect the steady support it provides.
- The tri-fold design turns the roller to a compact 21 x 20 x 8.8 inches that is portable and easy to store. The two-point connection with the hinges does NOT affect the stability of the rollers.
- It is adjustable to fit bikes with a wheelbase from 38.2 to 43.3 inches.
- Dual-grooved for left or right-side dismount.
- Unconditional lifetime warranty from Kinetic; with careful handling, this roller will last a long time since the repair and replacement of parts from normal wear is covered by the warranty.
What’s NOT to like about the Z Rollers?
The only thing we couldn’t really get out of it was intense resistance. When stamina and endurance training is necessary, you can definitely get some return from this roller trainer, but if you’re after those defining peaks in resistance, I’d have to say go for something like the CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer or the Rock n Roll trainer.
Bang for your buck?
The Kinetic Z Rollers will make you look like a Pro, no question. As with any rollers, it takes practice before you’ll be cycling gracefully and effortlessly. You might not ever have the skills of a true Pro (you might have to resort to virtual training worlds like those from Zwift to actually race with Pros!), but you will certainly look like one…
