The Kickr Bike can replicate inclines of up to 20 per cent, and descents down to 15 per cent. Thanks! I’ve logged 5,300 miles in the game on a variety of smart trainers, so I have a decent feel for the options out there. Like the Kickr smart trainers, the Kickr Bike will hold resistance eerily smoothly (okay, there is a smoothing algorithm employed here) during workouts. The smart bike, referred to as Stages Bike externally, is an electronically controlled indoor bike with an outdoor feel, comprised of outdoor handlebars with brake levers and button shifting, standard saddle attachment, infinite adjust fit, tablet and phone holders, 2 USB charging ports, left/right power meters, and all the trainer control capabilities of any smart trainer on the market. The primary difference is that smart bikes are cyclist-focused, wattage-based tools designed to integrate with third-party software like Zwift, TrainerRoad, and FulGaz. Plus, all that tech is pricey – a dedicated smart indoor bike will set you back at least £1,500 and a lot more for the latest crop of machinery. If you’re growing to love cycling in the great indoors (particularly given the current. Don't miss out on MBUK – get your next 3 issues for just £5, Get the next 3 issues of the UK's number one cycling magazine for just £5. The Wahoo Kickr Bike is the coolest, most engaging option because of the interactive tilt, the best-in-class shifters, and the overall feel of the bike when using it for free riding and ERG training. It builds up Wahoo’s well-proven smart trainer tech from the regular Kickr, but swaps the belt-drive system for an electromagnetic design capable of handling 2,200 watts. Pros: Excellent stability, good leg clearance, integrated tablet holder, Cons: One (170mm) crank length, no accessory tray or USB charger, Allen bolts required for many adjustments. Riders in search of a dedicated indoor bike have more options than ever. Over the past three winters I’ve tested a couple dozen smart trainers, and this winter I tested four smart bikes: The WattBike Atom, the StagesBike, the Tacx Neo Bike, and the Wahoo Kickr Bike. Real bike feel. So in some ways the company had a leg up on the competition for building a smart bike. Again, the design has lots of adjustability and simulation features like virtual shifting, gear ratios and descent simulation. Smart bikes were a thing at last year’s Eurobike show, with models launched by a host of well-known cycling brands. Resistance is controlled via a handlebar-mounted remote, plus it has wireless connectivity for use with third-party software. For example, I came up 1cm short in trying to replicate my position on a 56cm bike with a 120mm stem. The main downside to the Kickr Bike – beside the price – is that it is the least stable of the four smart bikes. Watch the video below to see how to get started on the bike. If you’re growing to love cycling in the great indoors (particularly given the current coronavirus restrictions), maybe it’s time to consider a dedicated smart bike. They combine the measured and dynamic resistance of smart trainers with the convenience of a dedicated indoor bike. The TrueBike is a neat-looking option from Dutch brand TrueKinetix. Gear indication in Zwift isn’t available yet, but is coming, we’re told. He was into gravel before it was even invented, riding a cyclocross bike across the South Downs and along muddy paths through the Chilterns. Standing on a pivoting frame, the saddle and bar position have a wide range of tool-free adjustment to suit your riding style and bike fit measurements. Stages has the best frame clearance of the four bikes, thanks to the seat tube design that sits behind the rider instead of between the legs. The Stages Smart Bike is the brand's first attempt at the smart trainer bike for the recreational cyclist — it has a freewheel so you can coast and drop bars instead of the cow horn spin bike … They will measure your power output and, if you want it to, automatically adjust resistance, whether that’s to match the incline of a virtual road on Zwift or so you hit the required wattage in a structured workout. This means you can easily swap to your preferred bars and saddle to fine-tune it to match your outdoor bike. Pros: Best-in-class shifters for function and ergonomics, unique +20/-15 interactive tilt feature, forgiving ERG interactivity, Cons: Least stable and most expensive of the bunch. You’re not going to knock the thing over, but it’s not too hard to initiate a little rock. As with the Tacx Neo, shifting feels crisp. SRM says the SmartIT can simulate up to 1,400 watts. Stages Dash M50/L50 Firmware History. The initial WattBike had a large resistance dial akin to a gym bike. Also like other smart bikes, the Atom is heavy at 44kg. About the Stages Smart Bike The Stages Smart Bike brings together Stages Grand Tour winning power meter technology with its indoor training bike expertise, to create an exercise bike that offers the ultimate home training. The stability, fit, adjustability, shifting, and accommodation for tablets and phones vary greatly. Stages has the best frame clearance of the four bikes, thanks to the seat tube design that sits behind the rider instead of between the legs. Its flywheel-free design will provide resistance of up to 1,500 watts and simulate gradients of up to 15 per cent up or down, with 22 gears and connectivity to Zwift and other training packages. This dual-sided power meter provides readings with an accuracy of within +/- 1.5%. Livestreaming the ~53km Dust in the Wind route on Zwift as I continue to tick off the 67 route achievement badges. Unlike the spin bikes you might see in a gym, the latest generation of smart bikes are designed with dedicated cyclists in mind, so you can expect accurate power measurement, a highly-adjustable position, variable (and automatically-controlled) resistance and road-like feel. Smart bikes are the latest category of interactive training tools. Training apps provide a much more engaging and immersive indoor ride experience, often with a video or virtual simulation of outdoor terrain. Stages is 100% cycling focused in everything we do. Also, there is only a single bottle cage and, due to the moving nature of the bike, nowhere to put your tablet or phone. 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