Cycle ergometers (CE) allow for the measurement of work and power during exercise. The Wahoo KICKR is an electronically-braked CE commonly used by coaches and athletes for exercise testing and training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Wahoo KICKR CE for the measurement of power. METHODS: 12 recreationally active college students completed 3 separate workout sessions with 2 sessions on the Wahoo CE and 1 session on a mechanically-braked Monark CE. The order of sessions was randomized and counter-balanced. Seat height, handlebar height, and handlebar reach were also matched across trials. During the exercise sessions oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were continuously measured. Following a 10-minute warmup, subjects completed an incremental exercise test consisting of 4, 5-minute stages starting at a work rate of 50 watts (W) and increasing by 50 W with each stage up to 200 W. Cadence was held at 71.5 revolutions per minute for all stages and trials. Validity was assessed by a dependent sample T-test comparing the first Wahoo session to the Monark trial. Reliability was assessed by a dependent sample T-test comparing the two Wahoo trials. RESULTS: HR and VO2 data across all trials and stages are displayed in the table. Both VO2 and HR were slightly lower when comparing the Wahoo to the Monark, but VO2 and HR were consistent when comparing the two Wahoo trials. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the Wahoo KICKR may slightly overestimate the work rate, particularly at higher workloads, but it is a consistent and reliable device. Based on these findings, coaches and athletes can have confidence incorporating the Wahoo CE into training programs and fitness testing.
50 W (n=12)
100 W (n=12)
150 W (n=12)
200 W (n=7)
VO2
HR
VO2
HR
VO2
HR
VO2
HR
Wahoo 1
12.3
± 1.4
101
± 17
17.6
± 2.3
118
± 17
24.6
± 3.5
145
± 18
34.2
± 5.2
160
± 11
Monark
13.7
± 1.6
102
± 14
19.5
± 2.0
122.8
± 18
27.1
± 3.4
152
± 20
38.1
± 6.9
167
± 14
Wahoo 2
12.3
± 1.5
98
± 9
17.6
± 2.6
118
± 11
24.3
± 3.4
144
± 12
34.5
± 4.6
161
± 10
Validity
P-value
0.004*
0.605
\u3c0.001*
0.009*
\u3c0.001*
0.028*
0.011*
0.140
Reliability P-value
0.886
0.848
0.990
0.131
0.434
0.317
0.472
0.886
*p \u3c 0.05
All values represent mean ± S
