Wahoo launch Kickr Headwind 'smart fan', plus the new Kickr Core and revamped Kickr trainer

Wahoo's mission to have you covered from every angle on indoor training sessions has took another leap forward with the release of the £199.99 Kickr Headwind, the first cycling-specific fan. It can be controlled via an app, ANT+ or manually, with wind speeds of over 30mph. Wahoo have also launched the Kickr Core, an entry-level version of the flagship Kickr, and the latter has also seen some subtle refinements for 2018.    

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While a 200 quid fan might seem pretty extravagant taken at face value, this ain't any old fan, say Wahoo. It's fully controllable via ANT+ and Bluetooth devices, and the wind speed can even be adjusted based on your power or heart rate zones (Wahoo's Tickr HRM strap is compatible); the harder you work the more cooling the fan produces. 

It's got buttons on the front for manual adjustment too with four speeds in total, but of course it will really come into its own with third-party apps such as Zwift or TrainerRoad, both of which are compatible. The Headwind weighs 5.4kg and has a wheel so it's fairly easy to cart around, and you can also roll it straight onto Wahoo's Kickr desk. With both wheels eliminated from Wahoo's direct drive trainers and Kickr Climb, all your data taken care of and now a fan up front, it seems we just need a Wahoo bike to complete the set... 

Kickr Core

Wahoo have also launched a slightly simplified version of the Kickr, the Kickr Core. This is direct-drive so still sits above their wheel-on Snap trainer, but has a couple of trade-offs compared to the flagship Kickr to bring the price down to £699 - competing directly in the space of the Tacx Flux and Elite Direto. It's fully compatible with all Wahoo's newer products such as the Climb and Headwind, and the max power is 1800 watts compared to the updated Kickr's 2200W. It doesn't come with a cassette, but aesthetically and connectivity-wise the Core retains most of the features of Wahoo's top end trainer.   

Kickr 2018

The Kickr 2018 is definitely more evolution than revolution, looking almost identical to the '17 Kickr but with a few subtle changes. Firstly the disc brake clearance has been increased and it's thru-axle compatible out of the box, in keeping with the ever-growing popularity of disc brakes. Wahoo have also increased the size of the flywheel for an improved ride feel, and have also improved the noise pollution further - they say it's now virtually silent. As mentioned before the maximum power is 2200 watts, up from 2000W on the 2017 Kickr. The price is unchanged at £999. 

See Wahoo's website for more info; you can buy the new Kickr now with a shipping estimate of July, and the Headwind is estimated to ship out mid-August. There's still no date for the Kickr Core at the time of writing.