Simulated indoor climbing is a technique as old as indoor training. Way back in the day when telephone books still existed and indoor training technology was in its infancy, we used to stick a couple of copies of the Yellow Pages under the front wheel. Propping up the front wheel shifts the angle of your body and puts it into a position more like the one you engage when climbing, slightly adjusting which muscles are being used and where you sit on the saddle.
Thankfully, indoor training technology has become much more sophisticated and now we have the Wahoo Kickr Climb. The Kickr Climb, which costs £530/$700, raises and lowers your bike to match ascents of up to 20% and descents of -10% when paired with a Kickr Smart Trainer. It can connect with third-party indoor training apps such as Zwift to adjust in real-time to terrain changes, making the virtual course you are riding feel more realistic. But perhaps more importantly, by altering the bike’s position enables a natural shift in your pedalling cadence and engages climbing muscles. The same party tricks is also available via the Wahoo Kickr bike (pictured).
