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<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
@TurboTommy I'd be interested in what you think of the WattBike Atom when you get it and start to use it in anger. I can't afford/justify just a power meter for my Boardman, but if I do come to replace the BKool Pro then it would be either a direct drive turbo or something like the WattBike.

I've used training bikes before in gyms and they didn't feel like riding a real bike so be interesting if these are better.

Maybe next year I'll move to a more realistic 'power' trainer so that @bobinski can keep up with me on Zwift :laugh: Demotion from Cat B to D will be almost certain :cry:

Wattbike's are a little different to gym bikes Whorty as you can adjust the fit to replicate your own bike. They're used by lots of pro athletes for this reason.

In your case if you have the budget for an atom I'd probably recommend you spend the money elsewhere. If it was me I think I'd be more tempted to upgrade my bike and buy a mid range turbo trainer.
 

AAAC 76C

Large Member
Location
LIVING THE DREAM
Wattbike's are a little different to gym bikes Whorty as you can adjust the fit to replicate your own bike. They're used by lots of pro athletes for this reason.

In your case if you have the budget for an atom I'd probably recommend you spend the money elsewhere. If it was me I think I'd be more tempted to upgrade my bike and buy a mid range turbo trainer.

Looks like there is a lot of indoor VR Trainer competition on this year which will impact introductory prices.
Keep your ear to the ground and and an eye on reviews before jumping in.
 

<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
Yeah I agree. Seems like lots of the big players are bringing out new machines. I'd be very surprised if the wattbike came down much in price anytime soon though. The demand for the atom is already pushing the wait list back further and further. It'll be for the others to be competitive with the pricing line wattbike have drawn in my opinion.
 

bobinski

Legendary Member
Location
Tulse Hill
@TurboTommy I'd be interested in what you think of the WattBike Atom when you get it and start to use it in anger. I can't afford/justify just a power meter for my Boardman, but if I do come to replace the BKool Pro then it would be either a direct drive turbo or something like the WattBike.

I've used training bikes before in gyms and they didn't feel like riding a real bike so be interesting if these are better.

Maybe next year I'll move to a more realistic 'power' trainer so that @bobinski can keep up with me on Zwift :laugh: Demotion from Cat B to D will be almost certain :cry:

I look forward to that Carl:biggrin:
 

theboxers

TheBoxers on Cycle Sim sw
Yeah I agree. Seems like lots of the big players are bringing out new machines. I'd be very surprised if the wattbike came down much in price anytime soon though. The demand for the atom is already pushing the wait list back further and further. It'll be for the others to be competitive with the pricing line wattbike have drawn in my opinion.
There was a Tacx setup, like the Atom, styled on the Neo, previewed at one of the bike shows. DCR was told 2.5-3k Euros for it when it launches next year. His reply was apparently "that's too much". iirc

Wattbike have stepped into a hole, where no one else is, with a very competitively priced offering. Yes it's £1500, but if it is as good as, or very close to, a neo/kickr + bike setup it'll seem cheap. It's up to everyone else to decide whether they want to play at that price point.
 

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
The advantage I can see to the atom is a complete bike trainer package. The downside is what to do with it when you're not using it, where you can pack away a turbo trainer. If room is not required then atom looks good
 

bobinski

Legendary Member
Location
Tulse Hill
The advantage I can see to the atom is a complete bike trainer package. The downside is what to do with it when you're not using it, where you can pack away a turbo trainer. If room is not required then atom looks good
The only other downside I can see is getting it into a loft or leaving it in a shed or garage. Otherwise it seems a no brainier for the reasonably well heeled cyclist looking for probably the best trainer.
 

<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
The advantage I can see to the atom is a complete bike trainer package. The downside is what to do with it when you're not using it, where you can pack away a turbo trainer. If room is not required then atom looks good

Yes this is actually part of the reason I went for the atom Andy. I want a specific space for it rather than moving my commuter bike to and from that space. I'm lucky I have enough space to dedicate a room to it (well that and other bits and bobs) so I won't need to pack it away. Another factor being the missus can potentially use it (she doesn't own or want to own a bike at the moment).

Wattbike have a very good rep and early reviews report it's worthy of the wattbike name so fingers crossed!

In terms of quality of ride it seems the neo is still the best machine so both have their pros and cons.

I'm really hoping I'll be able to use it on bkool too but we'll have to see about that.
 

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
You will be able to use it Tommy on any platform from what I've read. I suspect that it will be disadvantaged on Bkool against the pro units. Hopefully it has the full analytics of the original.
 

<Tommy>

Illegitimi non carborundum
Location
Camden, London
You will be able to use it Tommy on any platform from what I've read. I suspect that it will be disadvantaged on Bkool against the pro units. Hopefully it has the full analytics of the original.

Yeah that's what I meant bud. I'm not sure we'll ever see a day when all things are equal in bkool land!
 

Whorty

Gets free watts from the Atom ;)
Location
Wiltshire
Wattbike's are a little different to gym bikes Whorty as you can adjust the fit to replicate your own bike. They're used by lots of pro athletes for this reason.

In your case if you have the budget for an atom I'd probably recommend you spend the money elsewhere. If it was me I think I'd be more tempted to upgrade my bike and buy a mid range turbo trainer.
Thing is, I can't justify a new bike as there is nothing wrong with the Boardman. I could possibly justify an upgrade to the turbo (hence direct drive or WattBike) but I'm good with the bike. If I got a new bike I'd be getting myself a Single Speed to replace the one I used to have in London that was nicked by some scumbag.
 
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