Been thinking of getting an indoor stationary bike. Well now the wife wants one.
But her requirements are kind of the opposite of mine. She wants to be able to get on, turn it on and go. Get Cal burn, time and distance, HR (though she would be okay wearing her garmin) no apps, no software or systems to boot into or log onto.
In the stages line the SC3 would meet her requirements, but I think fails mine of a smart bike, I could do zwift or some other virtual riding type stuff.
The Stages Solo looks interesting… but OUCH on the cost. Not sure how fast or easy it is to just get on and ride.
the SB20 is on sale at $1900 right now, so seems to be a good value, but I would need to add some monitors / phone. And I don’t think there is a way to have one of them just kind of come on and display the basics she wants.
My original post was going to be how easy is it to set up an SB20 to meet her requirements?
But I am open is there some bike out there that does both? Easy quick simple display, but also more smart bike stuff if you want it?
If she has a Garmin, one option would be a present “course” she could start from the Indoor Ride mode. That’s probably one of the lower friction options with a smart bike. Otherwise, there’s a few very simple apps that you could use on her phone/a dedicated old phone that could do the same job. Nothing is going to be as simple as the standalone spin bikes, but as you’ve seen the spin bikes aren’t really designed for Zwift/TR/etc.
I have a stages SB20. My wife rides it even without a Garmin, and I ride zwift. If your wife is middle of the road, there is a simple stages app that shows you all those basic values that you mentioned. And there is a surface in front of the handlebars for a phone, plus a tablet holder. And it’s built like a tank. Looks like it will last a lifetime.
Her Garmin is a forerunner 35 so not much connectivity.
But I think if i get some form of a tablet (recomendations? not an Apple family) and put the stages app on that, I might be okay. I think I am going to give it a try. Worst case they have a 60 day return policy, but I can’t imagine what a pain that would be to return.
Her Garmin is a forerunner 35 so not much connectivity.
But I think if i get some form of a tablet (recomendations? not an Apple family) and put the stages app on that, I might be okay. I think I am going to give it a try. Worst case they have a 60 day return policy, but I can’t imagine what a pain that would be to return.
I’m a very heavy of the SB20, which I purchased after a significant amount of research. It is bomb-proof, highly accurate and reliable, and extremely easy to use and adjust. I’m over 35,000 miles of use on Zwift, along with lots of use on other platforms, and never a problem.
We are not an Apple family, either. This said, I recommend either a refurbed Mini or entry iPad for use on Stage’s tablet holder. It’s convenient, will run any of the major apps that you’d want (I run Zwift’s Companion app on mine), and an iPad’s resolution is going to be better and the experience more consistent than you’ll find with most reasonably affordable Android tablets.
FWIW, I paid a lot more than current sales price, and I still think that I got a great deal.
Best Buy (and maybe a few other places) have the last gen iPad on sale for $250 through today. Overkill for the basic apps and I believe sufficient for Zwift.
Best Buy (and maybe a few other places) have the last gen iPad on sale for $250 through today. Overkill for the basic apps and I believe sufficient for Zwift.
Would love to know what your mutual experiences have been a month or so in. Your situation sounds similar to mine, without the specific ask from my wife (she’s been trying to figure out a go-to quick workout option). I’d be replacing a dedicated bike on a direct drive trainer, so there’s not a ton of motivation (besides the new shiny thing) on my end.
The SB20 is a tank - very happy with mine so far. I use mine for Zwift on Apple TV, but using a smartphone or iPad mini should suffice. I never use the Stages app, but it probably displays what your wife would want.
Any problems with powermeter matching/similar to your race bike powermeter?
There appears to be an inherent power reading issue with the SB20 cranks, for some its not apparent and they match pretty closely, for some it could result in a substantial over/under reading.
Over on the trainerroad forums and the SB20 FB group, there are some very intelligent users who have done some really deep analysis on the cranks and there is something up with the way the cranks read, depending on however you pedal, how you are seated and the cleat placement, the crank length selected etc. There was talk about it could be an issue when they are factory calibrated on the wrong crank length at manufacture. Its been interesting to read, but its over my head - but the more you read, it definitely feels like there is an issue for some.
I’ve had a right crank replaced due to it overreading compared to the left crank last year and at the moment, they are within 5w of my Assioma’s
So for me, at the moment I feel I can trust the bike to give me the right feedback in terms of training compared to my outdoor bike.
Personally, I don’t have a way to compare the power on the SB20 to my bikes. I have Power2Max pm’s on three bikes - no pedal power to compare with. I do have RPE and HR and I’d say things are very similar when comparing power on an outdoor ride along with HR/RPE to an indoor ride on the SB20. It could be off by a few watts, but I feel it’s very close based on my riding.
If you’re all Zwift and have a TV getting an Apple TV to run Zwift is a better fit than an iPad (and cheaper). The iPad is a good option if you don’t have a TV/can’t make the set up work with a TV (since it’ll run Zwift and be the screen on the built in tablet holder).
I have the SB-20 and love it. It helps to have a set of hand trucks to get it into the house. Like others have said it is bomb proof. I have a very minimal set up now with just the stages app on my phone. Works fine. Try to set up TV and swift soon as work backs off a little.
If you’re all Zwift and have a TV getting an Apple TV to run Zwift is a better fit than an iPad (and cheaper). The iPad is a good option if you don’t have a TV/can’t make the set up work with a TV (since it’ll run Zwift and be the screen on the built in tablet holder).
This is a good and accurate summary. Apple TV is probably the easiest, most problem free way to go.
