Quite impressed. It's my first direct drive smart trainer, so I really can't compare it to it's current competitors. I used Tacx Flow, Rollers, Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and a handful of others in the past 10 years. This Hammer just blows them all out of the water in terms of realistic road feel and overall performance. Trust me, if you despise training indoors (because you have to due to bad weather) and want to get a specific workout, this is a light at the end of the tunnel. Coupled with Zwift or any other training apps, the time flies because it's stimulating, engaging, and fun.
Set up is easy. Once the preferred cassette is installed, mount the bike on the drive train, plug it in, and set up your devices. The Hammer was recognized by my Garmin 520 and ANT+ dongle quickly. Power output accuracy is spot on as well and very close to what my Stages Power Meter is reading.
The ride: It's very smooth. I can't get over how much more efficient it feels compared to a standard drum-to-tire trainers. At higher watts during out of saddle bursts, the machine is stable and no rocking, tire slippage, smell of burning rubber, etc. Noise level is not bad either.
What's it like with Zwift? Well, it's pretty much built for it. Suffer every climb and feel every effort being put into it (Amazing) - Ride with the pack - Break PR's and achieve KOM glory - Train specifically for a race or simply build - Drop people poaching your workout - Get dropped - Enjoy the virtual world and simulated real world race courses - ALL with realism and in the comforts of your home while the roads outside are covered in ice.
Portability: It's heavy. I do like the handle and clever way to tow the front wheel base. Personally, I think the form factor works well for storage or taking it in a car for travel. Still possible to take it to races and use for warmups, just get a power plug adapter if you plan to use it as a smart trainer. If not, it's fine as a warm up machine as well without a power supply.
Cost vs function: It's expensive. I did not look at the price as if it's being compared to buying an actual road bike. Surely the price could easily get me an entry level read bike. But instead, I looked at it as an investment and as a supplement to my training.
| Brand | CycleOps |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Material | plastic |
| Wheel Size | 29 Inches |
| Team Name | Cyclops |
| Bike Type | Road Bike |
| Resistance Mechanism | Magnetic |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 22.5 x 22 x 12 inches |
| Package Weight | 27.22 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 23 x 13 x 23 inches |
| Item Weight | 46 Pounds |
| Brand Name | CycleOps |
| Warranty Description | Lifetime |
| Model Name | CycleOps Hammer Direct Drive Smart Trainer |
| Suggested Users | unisex |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Saris Cycling Group |
| Part Number | 9810 |
| Model Year | 2017 |
| Included Components | CycleOps Hammer trainer |
| Size | No Casstte Installed |
| Sport Type | Cycling |
