3 ms·

There are other machines, like rowing machines, for which an open solution is hard to incentivise, since the machine, the app, and the sensors will all come fro

by Zigurd 6y ago

There are other machines, like rowing machines, for which an open solution is hard to incentivise, since the machine, the app, and the sensors will all come from a single vendor. I'm a little surprised, however, that Peloton, and Peloton-alikes ever happened because cyclists have training devices with open interfaces: Bikes, mounted on smart trainers that have standardized wireless links and protocols, connected to a choice of apps. All it takes is taking the rear wheel off a bike. Or not even that for the most basic trainers, which clamp the rear axle and provide resistance to the rear tire. A fascinating case of a market segmentation that is less susceptible to being breached than one might think.

jasonvorhe 6y ago
I have one of those Tacx trainers where you just put your bike in. It's a hassle. You need to use their own quick release to hold the bike in place. The cord with the gear shifter (which sets the resistance) is always somewhere where it's annoying the rider and the shifting control itself doesn't fit on all handle bars. It's also really noisy. I have been tempted very often to just buy one of these ready to use training bikes because of the frustration of: put some yoga mat cut-outs underneath the Tacx to suppress the vibration of the spinning weight, get the bike from the cellar, exchange the quick release, store the old one somewhere where it's not getting lost, put the bike in place by its rear wheel, place the front wheel in a fixed position, get a fan to put in front of the bike trainer, mount the gear shifter, which clumsily hangs on the handle bar because my handle bar is too big. (It's a standard road bike handlebar) Did I mention this thing was really loud? I'm also sometimes worried about the fixed pressure on my carbon frame but I think that's actually unreasonable.
- kingosticks 6y ago
  But they are quite cheap and they fold away. The next tier up 'wheel-off' trainers are much quieter. But you've still got all that faff (add chain oil to the mix when taking the rear wheel off) of getting the bike upstairs, the wheel off, mat down (for the sweat), positition the fan etc. But I don't have a load of space so a dedicated exercise bike is a complete no. By the way, clip the resistance switcher on the top of your front wheel rather than your handle bars. Fits well there and is out of the way but still reachable.

by Zigurd 6y ago

jasonvorhe 6y ago

I have one of those Tacx trainers where you just put your bike in. It's a hassle. You need to use their own quick release to hold the bike in place. The cord with the gear shifter (which sets the resistance) is always somewhere where it's annoying the rider and the shifting control itself doesn't fit on all handle bars. It's also really noisy. I have been tempted very often to just buy one of these ready to use training bikes because of the frustration of: put some yoga mat cut-outs underneath the Tacx to suppress the vibration of the spinning weight, get the bike from the cellar, exchange the quick release, store the old one somewhere where it's not getting lost, put the bike in place by its rear wheel, place the front wheel in a fixed position, get a fan to put in front of the bike trainer, mount the gear shifter, which clumsily hangs on the handle bar because my handle bar is too big. (It's a standard road bike handlebar) Did I mention this thing was really loud? I'm also sometimes worried about the fixed pressure on my carbon frame but I think that's actually unreasonable.

kingosticks 6y ago
But they are quite cheap and they fold away. The next tier up 'wheel-off' trainers are much quieter. But you've still got all that faff (add chain oil to the mix when taking the rear wheel off) of getting the bike upstairs, the wheel off, mat down (for the sweat), positition the fan etc. But I don't have a load of space so a dedicated exercise bike is a complete no. By the way, clip the resistance switcher on the top of your front wheel rather than your handle bars. Fits well there and is out of the way but still reachable.