Any watt bikes about?

mallorcajeff

Looking to buy a watt bike as been off the bike for six solid months and really need to get back into it but need a watt bike for the spare bedroom. Anyone know any would prefer the pro.
Thanks

poppit

Contact Wattbike direct, they sometimes sell refurbished ones.

giropaul

Hi Jeff - you may remember me: you gave me a lot of good advice about getting to Mallorca by ferry last year.

I got a refurbished Wattbike from Wattbike earlier this year. Great company to deal with, and the refurb (actually ex-demo I think) was as new. After-sales are also great.

If you are still in Mallorca I'm not sure how one would get there, but I'm sure that they would be helpful - they may even have an agent as gyms are increasingly buying them.

The only other advice I would give is to get some good workout plans; I go to local classes, run by a very experienced bike rider, 3 or 4 times a week, and I've learnt that it's important to work to a plan, and one that changes every week as well. That plan is about specific, timed power level efforts - doing "steady state" riding would not, in my view, get the same results. Happy to let you have my thoughts once you get one - I've still got your contact details I think.

If you are in the UK now, the Wattbike website now has details of where gyms etc have them, and I personally would go for classes as well as using my own - it's easier to do an hour with others around you, even if (as they should) everyone has their individual power zones.

giropaul

http://wattbike.com/uk/search?q=spain

Spanish distributor

DeVlaeminck

I use wattbikes a lot in the local gym but what I would say is for the money you could buy a power meter, garmin and set up a dedicated bike on a decent turbo like a Kurt rock and roll. I think I'd rather go that route than have my own watt bike.

As far as classes go - well I take the point about motivation but I reckon for most people if they are serious about getting bike fit rather than generally fit then they'll want to work to their own programme rather than whatever the class is doing that day. Even if the classes are very good what are the chances that they are doing what you want to be doing that time of year and that day - of course if they are all to the good.

Matthewfalle

We've just had a few delivered so will be starting to use them - are Wattbike specific training plans available over the 'net or are any plans ok to use on them?

mallorcajeff

Thanks paul for your input, unfortunately due to circumstances i have no relocated back to the uk and am living in freezing essex hence why i want a road bike. Ive got a mountain bike, scott addict, a shiv tt bike but want a watt bike as this weather is no good for no matter bike i have! Ive become a tart it would seem.
Thanks for the info i have emailed watt bike and see what they can come up with. Many thanks and hope your keeping well
Jeff

DeVlaeminck

Matthewfalle wrote:

We've just had a few delivered so will be starting to use them - are Wattbike specific training plans available over the 'net or are any plans ok to use on them?

Just use any plan - obviously they tend to work better with plans with lots of shorter 60-90 minute sessions which tends to imply more higher intensity stuff rather than 5 hour rides unless you enjoy sitting on a wattbike for that length of time.

giropaul

Matthewfalle wrote:

We've just had a few delivered so will be starting to use them - are Wattbike specific training plans available over the 'net or are any plans ok to use on them?

There are Wattbike plans on their website, but equally they do also offer Wattbike "expert" courses as well, so instructors can formulate programmes for people they coach. The classes I do are booked solid (13+bikes) in advance, and with waiting lists, mostly by people who compete either as cyclists or triathletes, so the programme seems to suit them. It alters all the time, with varying focus on leg speed, power etc. Everyone who has attended over the couple of years the classes have been going has improved significantly, power and race results, so it seems to work.

As for Wattbikes v Power meters - for me both have a place, but I think that the zone numbers are most accurately set on the Wattbike.

I'm also very pleased to have the Wattbike in the current weather - roads around here are far too dangerous with black ice - and likely to be so for some days.

Dippydog3

I replaced my Turbo with a Wattbike this autumn. I prefer it, but its quite a lot more money of course.

On the upside its permanently set up so I can use it to warm down after rides. this is good for me as I live on a steep hill so normally get home pretty pumped up. If you are a data geek its perfect.

poppit

We've put 31 Wattbikes into the new Derby velodrome, 29 in a studio and 2 in the gym. Hopefully they'll be well used!

stueys

I got the idea of wattbike when the cost of power meters was high, but now that a decent VR turbo and power meter can be had for less than the cost of a wattbike doesn't that make a better option?

Not knocking wattbikes, I've two mates with them who both rave about them. Just think the recent downward shift in power pricing has changed the landscape a bit.

DeVlaeminck

Yes you could certainly get the same functionality cheaper - the only thing a wattbike does better is it is probably more adjustable if more than one person is going to use it.