The trusty stationary bike is probably the most ubiquitous fitness device found in homes and gyms across the world. From its early conception by Francis Lowndes in 1796 (called the “Gymnasticon”), to Schwinn releasing its first stationary bike for the home, the Exerciser, in 1965, minor tweaks have been made to improve it. Yet much about it has remained the same for decades.
This is something that Wattbike, based in Nottingham, England, is seeking to change. Wattbike was developed in consultation with British Cycling and is the first static bike endorsed by this governing body. Aesthetically, it looks sleeker than most other indoor bikes. However, it is the technology that really makes a difference.
The Wattbike Performance Monitor (WPM), which is positioned right in front of the rider’s eyes when he or she is ready to begin pedaling, is the hub of the bike. Performance data points include duration, average speed, distance, cadence, average heart rate, and the power average generated.
Wattbike also offers a tool which can analyze a rider’s pedaling technique in detail. The “Polar View” is able to show the balance between a rider’s left and right leg, the force applied to the pedals and where exactly this force is applied within the pedal stroke. To maximize the data collected, a rider just needs to take a few minutes to set the bike up fully, including syncing a heart rate monitor. The WPM is also able to talk to other ANT+ wireless technology, such as cycle monitors and smartwatches. Following each workout, a rider get a summary, which is stored within their profile and easily accessible from the WPM at a later data for future comparison.
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Coupled with the WPM is the Wattbike powerapp. Using the app enables riders to view session data in real time on Apple or Android devices and all session data can be stored for free in Wattbike’s online cloud storage facility, the powerhub. Riders can also connect the Wattbike to most other popular fitness apps like Strava, Zwift and The Sufferfest and all that is required is a smartphone with Bluetooth connectivity.
While an unprecedented wealth of performance metrics can be measured, Wattbike is also able to mimic the feel of riding a bike out on the road. It is able to achieve this by combining air and magnetic resistance with advanced technology to mirror steep climbs or flat out sprints that professional riders face.
Due to the wealth of performance information and also the level of realism it offers, Wattbike has been used by a number of professionals within cycling including gold medalist Joanna Rowsell-Shand and also the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body of the sport. Stephen Roche, Ireland’s first and only Tour de France winner said that it is the “best thing I have found in my long career that is so close to riding on the road.” Even those outside the world of professional cycling have also been highly complimentary of Wattbike too, with Nic Gill, a coach on the New Zealand rugby team calling it “the most precise, high quality, personalised training tool I have found.”
However, Wattbike is now rolling out increasingly to gyms and also hotels. In the U.K., the Anytime Fitness and Virgin Active chains have added Wattbike to its gyms around the country. Meanwhile, most recently, the company also signed a partnership deal with the Hilton Hotels, which will enable guests across the Americas to use Wattbike. The company also counts the British Army as a customer too.
Wattbike costs £2,250 ($2,739) to buy and a wide range of customizable add-ons and accessories are available for a rider at additional cost, including floor mats and comfort saddles.