Wattbike Users

Anyone a regular user of Wattbike? Some questions:

Solo or class?

Do you use the structured hub sessions or do your own (or instructors) plan on just ride?

If class, to music or not?

Yes, I have one at home (buy it on finance if they still offer it - 0% interest free). So by definition is a solo endeavour and yet to try Zwift. Pair it up with a tablet, Trainerroad, and some audio/visual entertainment. Best home trainer by far, if you have the space for it, IMO. Permanent set-up, so none of the faff of getting a bike in place. Plus very stable and durable and with built-in PM that reads accurately. Also very customisable in terms of fit: both me and my wife use it, and I can adjust the position to mimic road or TT set-up in a few seconds.

There's an interesting place in Winchmore Hill that does group classes if you're north London based. Right opposite the station so easy enough to get to https://www.wattbikesn21.com/

I discovered that the otherwise crappy Everyone Active gym near my flat has Wattbikes, so I’ve started going there for some solo sessions on weeknights.

I’m hoping to get to use some of the Wattbike Hub workouts with them in the near future, but at the moment the firmware isn’t sufficiently up-to-date to connect my phone, so I’ve just done some just ride sessions where I devise my own plan.

As far as the bikes themselves are concerned, I’m happy with the resistance adjustment and the feedback on the display in terms of power, pedalling dynamics, etc., and they seem to work pretty well despite obviously not being well maintained.

I use them a bit in Cadence in Crystal Palace, my partner uses them a lot there.

I think they're pretty good! Generally do a class, and its usually the instructor doing their own thing. Have done the odd session on my own - got a suggestion of what to do from the wattbike website.

Class is usually to music which I like, especially when they seem to beatmatch to the cadence you want. Also quite like it when they put a tour stage on the big screen.

Cheers folks. I'm just getting going, a few learning sessions then did the submax test to set hr/power zones. First endurance today (two bites) everything was mostly green so the test results were in the right place.

Loving the PES analysis on the hub app too.

Wasn't fussed about data before but this is pretty good as so accessible & simple to use.

P.s. there's a clear weakness somewhere, my aopf on left leg is ~125° but on right is ~112°, consistent across multiple sessions.

Anyone know how to export from Wattbike app to Strava?
Sharing is enabled but nothing has come across.
I’ve posted in the Strava thread too.

It should push it automatically once you connect it via the app.

Is there a way to re push it manually?

Not sure if Strava allows imports? If so you could export the session from hub.wattbike.com session page as a .tcx file then import it...

I’ve just got a WattBike Atom at home and am trying to figure out how to use it to train. I did a ramp test and expected it to work out all my various power and HR zones, then offer some tailored sessions to improve. Instead it just spat out some numbers that I don’t really understand. Should I be using a third party service to analyse all this? Can Strava do it?

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MMP can/ is used to work out FTP. Think there is debate how good that is.
If you go to your profile is it updated with this?
Can’t recall if you need to do it manually

Profile stays static no matter what I seem to do.

Ok maybe google MMP FTP calculation

Profile doesn't update automatically. Edit your profile to set your mmp to 318. This will then set your zones in the right places for sessions.

A useful callibration test is the 3min test, has you go uncomfortably but sustainably hard for 3mins, mmp at end should be similar to ramp, if not schedule another ramp test but not too soon.

WattBike Atom

P.s. have you done any of the climbs yet? I was v.excited to find Winnats on the app then gutted they only run on the Atom bikes, not the Pro or Trainer.

Once mmp is punched in it can be toggled between mmp and ftp in the profile settings.

Screenshots for ^

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I did try a couple of climbs. My issue was that WattBike seems to be set up with traditional gears, like 53-39 and 11-28, and you can’t change this, even though it’d only be a software change. So I found myself struggling to turn the cranks at a decent cadence on anything steep. Didn’t feel like good training. Maybe they’ll change it in firmware eventually. Gear changes were also really slow, so when it ramps up suddenly you find yourself really grinding for a few moments waiting for the change to kick in.

I did a training session today and it felt good - heart rate was kinda matching the target one, and I felt really beat at the end but did manage to end. So I think the FTP figure I have in there isn’t a million miles off. I’ll read and learn more about how to calculate it and try to dial it in closer. I think this’ll just be a bit of a learning curve.

@Sparky

How are you getting on with the Atom? Are you using Zwift or any other virtual trainer too?

I just use the WattBike app and pop on some YouTube. Never really dabbled in anything more advanced than the preset workouts. But it’s been great.

Cheers.

I've got one on order - just need something to keep me exercising over the winter but the virtual trainer stuff sounds fun.

After a week of just using the Wattbike app, I finally got it set up for zwift yesterday. So. Much. Better.

The app is okay but it’s so fucking dull. Zwift definitely motivates me to go harder (ooer) and ride longer.

Setup:

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Anyone know how to connect a garmin wearable to a watt bike? Watt bike is in the gym. Thanks !