March 22, 2023 6 min read
Static bike trainers provide a convenient way to improve your fitness and training, but could your current set-up be letting you down? A static bike trainer might not provide all the benefits of a smart bike from Wattbike, which are designed to improve every area of your cycling performance. Discover all the ways your trainer can’t compete with Wattbike today.
Table of Contents:
A static bike trainer is a stationary indoor cycling set up, which attaches to your road bike to allow you to cycle in one place. These types of indoor bike trainers can vary massively, depending on the model or specification you opt for.
A smart bike can be much more advanced than a static bike trainer. Rather than requiring your road bike, they have a permanent bike structure, so you can begin pedalling straight away. The Wattbike Atom smart bike has advanced technology, accurate data collection, and is compatible with a number of indoor cycling apps to help you reach your performance targets.
Turbo trainers are a style of static bike trainer which slots onto your road bike. There are two types of turbo trainer:
When comparing a turbo trainer to a smart bike, the differences vary between these two types. However you’ll find they both come up short against a smart bike if you’re looking to improve your cycling or fitness.
This type of static bike trainer involves a network of cylinders you place your road bike on, which rotate as you pedal, allowing you to cycle on the spot. When comparing bike rollers to a smart bike, you’ll find they can’t provide as much insight into your training as you might like, which is why you’ll be looking to upgrade.
While your static indoor trainer can provide many benefits, it might fall short on some key areas of your training. Here are some of the ways your static bike trainer is not providing the very best for your needs:
Static bike trainers vary in their technology - which means they can’t all replicate the data of your ride the way a smart bike does. Smart bikes like the Wattbike Atom can capture your performance data as you ride. That way, you can keep an eye on which areas of your ride need improving. Whether you’re looking to improve your VO2 max or improve your cadence. This means you’ll get more from your training session than you might with another static bike trainer which doesn’t assess your performance in such detail.
Controlling the resistance is an important part of indoor training. A resistance trainerthat puts you in charge, like the Atom or Pro/Trainer means you have more control of your cycling workout. Increasing the resistance means you have to put more effort into your ride, so you can adjust your technique to whatever your training for. Whether you opt for electromagnetic or air resistance, a static bike trainer which offers adaptable resistance will offer more training benefits than one which doesn’t.
Even the keenest indoor cyclist may find it unmotivating to think about training with a static bike trainer. Connecting the road bike, then cycling on the spot for hours staring at the same wall can be dull. It might mean you shorten your rides or even skip the session altogether. Alternatively, the Atom smart bike can connect to multiple indoor cycling apps, which means you’re connected to your own workout data, real-world routes, and even share your rides with fellow indoor cyclists.
Picture this: you’re itching to complete a session on your static bike trainer. You get to your bike and remember the outdoor route you cycled at the weekend. Your bike is dirty, caked in mud, and definitely not suitable for dragging over the carpet to your indoor cycling set-up. A smart bike leaves your road bike for outdoor use, and means you have an indoor set-up ready for your cycling workout whenever you are.
Your road bike is at risk each time you use it with your turbo trainer or roller. Your wheel and tyre could get accidentally damaged, whether you have to remove it or not. If you’re worrying about damaging your road bike, then a smart bike is the clear option for you.
Wheel-on turbo trainers work by having the rear wheel rub against a cylinder which spins from its contact with the tyre. Sometimes, the wheel can slip against the roller, which means any power reading isn’t accurate. The Atom smart static bike has a ±1% range of data accuracy, so you know your ride stats are a real reflection of your performance.
Direct drive static bike trainers require you to connect the trainer to your road bike’s chain and cassette. This means you have to remove your rear wheel and connect it up to the power metre on the trainer. They can be more reliable than a wheel-on turbo because of the lack of wheel slippage, but they can still be fiddly to connect. Smart bikes are ready to ride when you are, with minimal set-up required.
It’s time to upgrade that static bike trainer and get the most out of your workout. Say goodbye to wasting time connecting your road bike and say hello to enhanced indoor cycling, with real-road technology and a ±1% range of data accuracy.
Static bike trainers are a great way to include cycling into your exercise regime. Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, or train for a sportive, they’re a great option. The benefits of indoor cycling with a static bike trainer or smart bike include:
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