The Revbox from New Zealand, is billed as the latest development in the field of stationary training systems for cyclists and triathletes.
RevBox notes that it is taking a different approach to rear-wheel less indoor trainers. It is positioned as the only indoor trainer on the market to ‘operate with extremely low inertia, due to a lack of centrifugal mass. This generates the required tension from air resistance alone.’
RevBox adds that this system has been used in indoor rowing machines for decades and is recognised worldwide as making real gains in strength and endurance training.
Hit the fan
The heart of the Revbox is the fan. This has nine blades, measures about 24 inches in diameter and is made from aluminium. Revbox stresses that the fan has very low inertia which means there is no heavy flywheel to push the rider along. As a result, a ride on a Revbox requires continous pedalling – and, if pedal stroke has any flat spots, ‘you will know from the variations in the sound that the Revbox makes.’
Revbox’s founder, Managing Director Philipp Schacht, has a distribution deal for his product with Belgian bike manufacturer, Ridley. The German-born and raised Schacht said the Ridley deal was a natural progression that would allow it to sell Revbox in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain and Austria.
The Revbox Erg was designed, engineered, and is assembled in Christchurch, New Zealand. Retail pricing is US$1000/€900/£650/AU$1400 with all units shipped direct to consumers for the time being.
The RevBox has a speed/cadence sensor and there’s an available mobile app, which currently only allows for downloading to TrainingPeaks, with additional software platforms planned for the future.
The Revbox Power App is another important step for the developers of the Revbox Erg as they work towards establishing it as ‘the best wind braked, low inertia cycle trainer in the world’. Going forwards, the team behind the stationary cycle trainer are excited that Revbox Erg users will be able to use the Revbvox Power App to read power, speed, cadence and heart rate along with other training relevant information to get most out of their Revbox Erg training sessions.
The first release of the Revbox Power App will only be available for Android smartphones and tablets – with plans to include Apple iOS in September or October. The Revbox Power App will also work with earlier versions of the Revbox Erg and sensors will be available from Revbox New Zealand from late August.
The standard version of the Revbox Power App can be downloaded for free from Google Play and the sensor kit will cost NZ$199 purchased directly from the Revbox Erg website.
The Lotto Soudal Pro Tour Team from Belgium, individual time trial world champion Linda Villumsen and German sprinter Andre Greipel are three examples of athletes who use the Revbox as part of their year-round training programme.
Top IRONMAN triathlete and now coach Gina Crawford, said “From the first time I jumped on the Revbox for a big gear interval set, it was amazing. I had a pretty decent trainer, which I was pretty happy with.
The Revbox really does take it to the next level. It is a low inertia trainer, which means that unlike other trainers which give you some assistance in your pedal stroke, the Revbox does not – so you have to work in every part of the pedal stroke.”
Crawford continued, “Being low inertia I can warm up quickly and then get straight into the really beneficial part of a workout. I can dictate exactly what I need so I am then able to train efficiently, wasting no time biking to the hill I need and running out of time for my main training set.”
She stressed that age group athletes who are ‘time poor’ and can often only fit an hour in for a bike session during the week can get a very specific and targeted sessions completed using a Revbox.
www.revbox.co.nz
www.coachginacrawford.com
