Stationary bike with smart access

[david k]

Hi all,

I don't want a turbo, tried but didn't like them.
However I am considering an exercise bike which maybe others in the house could use

I would like to use rouve or similar smart app, which stationary bikes have this feature? Looking for budget bike for us all to use rather than anything special

 

[oldandslow]

You need a fairly high-end trainer for those services, or a "real" bike fitted to a trainer.

The issue is that they need something that will transmit (over Bluetooth or Ant+) readings on (usually at least) power, cadence and speed (of the rotating tyre as obviously you aren't actually going anywhere), plus heart rate. Basic exercise bikes sold to the non-cycling public as home equipment don't output those things, but rather have integrated screens of one kind or another. Those sold to cycling enthusiasts for use in the winter/whatever do.

You don't absolutely have to have a high-end trainer. I've been doing Zwift ever since Covid on a "dumb", "wheel-on" cycle trainer, using an old bike fitted with cycling sensors for the above metrics. But the one thing you can't use is a low-end general-market exercise bike.

Here's what Zwift say - the page links to another about trainers, but also covers the tablet/laptop/other device on which you're going to run the software. Competitors such as Rouvy will have similar pages.