29er fully on Kickr Core Zwift One. Compression and height

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1

Hi all,

Newbie here. I just set up my Kickr Core and have 3 questions

1 I noticed that my rear axle is now 3 cm’s lower then with the rims in. Is that a problem?

2 I find that with the fully in locked position it still has a bit of sag especialy when sprinting. Is it OK to pump up the suspension to minimize this?

3 What’s the general opinion on a carbon fully on a direct drive trainer in terms of durability and usage?

Thanks in advance.

Regards Gijs

2

Hi @Gijs_van_Erp welcome to Zwift forums.

Shuji at Zwift HQ here.

You should check that you have adequate clearance around the rear brake and also that the cassette, chain, and rear derailleur do not touch the trainer. Mountain bikes have bulker swingarms and suspension pivots vs a road bike which can interfere with a direct drive trainer. Smart trainers are designed around 700c road wheels whose axles sit lower to the ground vs fatter 29” mountain bike tires, so “3 cm lower” would be expected. Also check your bike company’s website for known incompatibilities with trainers.

This is a question for the company that makes the front suspension. Some lockouts mechanisms will truly minimize travel, while others - not so much. Either way, don’t exceed the preload pressure range provided by the manufacturer.

It’s also possible your suspension fork is overdue for service. Seals wear out. Valves need cleaning and oil needs to be changed. Please consult a shop specializing in suspension service before you overpressurize your fork.

Carbon vs metal is less of an issue when using a mountain bike on a smart trainer. It’s more about potential places where the frame might contact the trainer vs a road bike.

3

Thanks for the quick reply. The bike mounts perfect on the KICKR core. As I have the Swift one version I don’t have a cassette and more then enough clearance. I was just wondering if I should elevate the trainer 3cm or not?

The shocks are recently serviced and as I weigh 80kg it will be long before I overpressurize it. The lockout is quite good but I saw that it still travelled a cm or 2 after sprinting. So I will give it a try.

Good to hear that lateral forces won’t be a problem.