As the digital cycling world continues to grow and evolve, indoor training is no longer just for the cold months or rainy days. Platforms like Zwift, smart trainers, and the accessories that are developed to make indoor training more lifelike, are transforming how we train and bringing competition to the digital world. KOM Cycling‘s new Full Motion Rocker Plate, the RPV2, helps you move with your bike by adding fore/aft movement to their already popular RPV1 Rocker Plate. And if you have an RPV1, you can turn it into an RPV2 with an upgrade kit.
Rocker plates come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, but the overall goal is to help your bike and trainer setup become less static. Other than Kurt Kinetic, most trainers lock your bike into a static position, which is not how you ride outside. You can rock your bike side to side as you sprint, and there is even front and back movement when you stand or put down more power. Rocker plates allow a certain amount of side-to-side movement, and some, like the RPV2, offer front and back movement as well. This helps reduce stress on your joints and allows you to engage your core, as you would riding on the road. From someone who has ridden a few centuries on Zwift, this movement is very much welcome on multiple hour long trainer rides.
The original KOM Cycling RPV1 Rocker Plate uses inflatable balls to support side to side rock, providing 13 degrees of movement. The balls are adjustable to provide more or less resistance to make it easier or harder to rock on the plate. The tuning allows you to create the experience that is most comfortable for you, and can be tuned for different riders and equipment. From there, they took the dual platform system and added a third deck that is attached by three roller bearing tracks to create the RPV2. These tracks allow for up to 9″ of movement front to back, giving the RPV2 a more realistic feeling when you jump out of the saddle to climb or sprint.
The plates themselves are made from EO Luaun multi-layer solid boards for durability. The bottom has rubber grips to keep you in place when attacking, but also will protect your floors. They have an anti-skid treatment on the top to keep you secure when climbing on and off the bike in cycling shoes. There are thirteen slots cut into the top board to help you mount many popular trainers with velcro straps, even the Wahoo KICKR Bike, or other accessories like Elite’s Sterzo Smart steering block. Just keep it under 425lbs, and you’ll be all set.
The RPV1 or RPV2 is a rather large piece to add to your pain cave, and probably best to keep it in place once set up. At 64″ long, 11-34″ wide, 6″ tall and 66 lbs (3.75″ tall and 42lbs for the RPV1), it’s not something you’ll just tuck in a closet. Chances are, if you are interested in a rocker plate, you probably have a dedicated training area that you are riding in.
Because they built the RPV2 off of the original model, RPV1 owners can purchase an upgrade kit that includes the third deck and additional hardware to convert their rocker plate to an RPV2. At $449 ($399 during the preorder period for existing RPV1 owners), it’s a cheaper option to upgrade than to buy the new model. They estimate it will take you about 10 minutes to install the third plate, and you’ll be on your way for your next ride.
To round out your trainer experience, KOM Cycling also offers an Indoor Trainer Display Cycling Desk. The desk is large enough to hold your laptop or table, has two cup holders, and a lip on the front to hold your phone. They also offer a front block and trainer tire for wheel-on trainers.
While there are other rocker plates out there with front and back movement, but it is hard to beat KOM Cycling’s RPV2 at $799.99. We’ll have one on the way to put time in on. Look for a full review coming later on this year, along with a few other products from KOM Cycling. At the time of writing, you can preorder yours now and be one of the first to get a RPV2. Expected ship date is early May.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
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