A friend from work picked up a used spin bike from a gym and asked how she can get it to show distance and speed on her Garmin watch so she could record the workouts. She’s a runner and has no bike. This is basically her first bike and she’s realizing she loves it.
I told her maybe we could figure out a magnet speed sensor on that big wheel? And then she’s at least got something. And then also she’s now seen Zwift… So maybe the same method and tell Zwift it’s a normal bike on a dumb trainer?
Get separate speed and cadence sensors, about $15-20 for generic ones on eBay, or up to $80 for Wahoo. Make sure to get ANT+ and Bluetooth capable to work with any device.
Cadence could probably work with a magnet, but the magnetless ones are easier.
For speed, on that I think a magnet version would work. Probably just glue a magnet to the wheel. Then figure out the diameter for speed.
I’m familiar with that bike and the real problem she is going to have is that a speed/cadence sensor will provide meaningless data. You adjust resistance on the bike by turning the big red dial which forced friction pads against the wheel. Unless you know the force being applied by the pads to the wheel the wheel speed has no correlation to any real world speed or distance measure. In fact because it is a single speed (with a free wheel) cadence and wheel speed are always directly related unless you are spinning out so getting both is totally unnecessary.
I hate to say it but the only solution I can think of is a pedal based power meter. And for the cost I would never actually recommend a power meter over selling the spin bike and getting a cheap turbo and entry level bike.
for 69$ she can get the powercal, basically a heart rate belt that broadcasts (ant+, ble) both hr and “estimated” power; nowhere as accurate as vector pedals, but at least she can zwift without breaking the bank
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I was in a similar situation with my wife. Couldn’t make Zwift work so we did the Peloton app. I just bought a cadence sensor and subscribed her to the Peloton App. Just tell her to Google DIY Peloton Bike. Not Zwift but the cheapest option.
Basically converts HR to power. It’s not great by any means, but it is “functional.” And the best part is that it doesn’t actually require any parts on the bike.
If you wanted an option that would work on/with the bike itself, I think pedal-based powermeter would be your only option. I believe most of them use standard pedal threading.
What kind of cranks are on there? There is a Stages version just for spin bikes that may or could work. That would work nicely with zwift actually. Otherwise the pedal base power option. Single side would probably be just fine to save money.
What kind of cranks are on there? There is a Stages version just for spin bikes that may or could work. That would work nicely with zwift actually. Otherwise the pedal base power option. Single side would probably be just fine to save money.
Not sure at the moment. But anybody have a link to a Stages crank arm that would fit on that spin bike? That might be something she’d do.