Wattbike Atom

Author
Discussion

louiebaby

10,651 posts

191 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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Mannginger said:
Took the plunge and ordered yesterday. 6-8 week waiting time currently so it looks like they're selling well.

Now I need to work out how to use my steam-link so I can run it from my PC to my TV in my man-cave!
There will be quite a few of us interested to know how it all turns out. thumbup

sma

107 posts

135 months

Saturday 9th December 2017
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Anyone got theirs yet? I've been given a revised date of 18/12 now, early Christmas present I hope.

ALawson

7,815 posts

251 months

Saturday 9th December 2017
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My mate ordered on last week and was told fifteen weeks!

bagusbagus

451 posts

88 months

Saturday 9th December 2017
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lol 1.5k to do useless pedaling in your bedroom





Mannginger

Original Poster:

9,059 posts

257 months

Sunday 10th December 2017
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Mine arrived yesterday but haven't had the chance to unbox etc due to being out all weekend. Clip pedals and saddle arrive today (I want to use the same saddle as on my bike) so will get it set up tonight.

Bigger box than I thought - 45kgs as well!

ALawson

7,815 posts

251 months

Sunday 10th December 2017
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bagusbagus said:
lol 1.5k to do useless pedaling in your bedroom




Useless is a bit strong, it's 2 degrees here and 50mph winds. Don't many will be heading out on the Club run this morning.

Mannginger

Original Poster:

9,059 posts

257 months

Friday 22nd December 2017
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Bike arrived a couple of weeks ago but I've been away with work for a bit, finished for Christmas yesterday so got it un-boxed and set up this afternoon. Only had a quick dabble so far, spent most of the time sorting the Zwift and apps out so it's not quite fitted right for me yet but so far I'm really pleased.

It's nice and quiet, easy to adjust and everything syncs well. I bought a similar saddle as my bike and SPD-SL pedals in order to try to make it as much like my bike as possible and so far so good.

I've only done about 8-9km on it whilst faffing but overall I'm very pleased and also really impressed with the Zwift app, that's quite cool the way it automatically updates "virtual rides" onto Strava, complete with mapping and the resistance of the bike adjusts for the hills (although I think you need to be in "manual" mode for that on the bike as it got a bit confused in constant rpm mode).

So the delivery delay was longer than expected but let the winter training commence...I've got a lot of weight to lose!

Marwood79

209 posts

187 months

Saturday 20th January 2018
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Any updates from owners on this? This type of kit is exactly what I am looking for for year round fitness with Zwift or BKOOL.

As I've not yet used a TT with my real bike I might not get so miffed with the shifting delay many have complained about.

I also suspect there may be a v2 come the autumn with various upgrades... but I don't know if I have the patience to wait that long!

How are you owners getting on? Worth the outlay?

Mannginger

Original Poster:

9,059 posts

257 months

Sunday 21st January 2018
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Still really enjoying mine. I got used to the small lag on gear changes quite quickly so don't really see it as an issue. I love the instantaneous connection with Zwift and my garmin HR monitor, really easy which is good for a lazy bugger like me!

I can't say if it's worth the outlay V a traditional TT as I've never used one but for me I'm really pleased with it and much prefer it from a looks and ease of access basis

Marwood79

209 posts

187 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Useful thanks. Think i'm going to go for it and get in the queue... currently 10 weeks!

I can't see any of the bikes pending 2018 being better value for money.

Besides Zwift + avatars etc can anyone recommend any video-realistic apps where you can ride actual famous routes that will interact with the bike (I.e. resistance matches gradient)? I intend to try most of them but working on a shortlist.

ALawson

7,815 posts

251 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Marwood79 said:
Useful thanks. Think i'm going to go for it and get in the queue... currently 10 weeks!

I can't see any of the bikes pending 2018 being better value for money.

Besides Zwift + avatars etc can anyone recommend any video-realistic apps where you can ride actual famous routes that will interact with the bike (I.e. resistance matches gradient)? I intend to try most of them but working on a shortlist.
I am using Bkool with a normal TT using PM to connect to Bkool, I believe Bkool can control a TT in ERG mode.

They have a fair few videos of the normal big climbs.

If you are on iOS try FULGAZ apparently that is good.

Marwood79

209 posts

187 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Thanks!

anonymous-user

54 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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www.rouvy.com

www.bigringvr.com

both feature good videos of famous climbs and other routes

ParanoidAndroid

1,359 posts

283 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but wondered how people are getting on with the Wattbike Atom? Thinking of taking the plunge and whilst it’s not cheap I think I’d use it more than I do having to faff around with my turbo. Also looks to be compact enough for me to stick in the house (I could fit in my study) rather than being relegated to the garage.

Interested in people’s thoughts if you have one.

Thanks!

ALawson

7,815 posts

251 months

Sunday 14th October 2018
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Had one delivered yesterday, set up was easy and I am on a 14 days Fulgaz trial. Getting to grips with it but apart from not syncing the HR properly it works pretty well.

I will explore some of the hub stuff later today if I get chance.

The gears work well and it isn't very loud, so mine may well move from the garage into the house once I get the wife on it.

I found that the resistance on gear mode got significantly harder when changing gears at the same time as grade changes. Lots of information on the Facebook group for the owners. I a man planning on keeping it but there is a 30day trial.

anonymous-user

54 months

Sunday 14th October 2018
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A tack neo smart bike is in the offing too

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/07/tacx-neo-bike-...

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/244942-tacx-laun...

But not for a little while yet if Sigma's dispatch date is to be believed

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Tacx/Neo-Bike-Sma...

ShortShift811

533 posts

142 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Had my Atom for 3 months - upgraded from a BKool Pro as both the wife and I cycle. I'm taking my training more seriously and the Atom meant no need to for us to faff about swapping bike son the turbo, no maintenance etc.

The Atom gets a thumbs-up from me, but you do need to be realistic in your expectations. It links brilliantly with Wattbike's own app (which has some useful workouts) and TrainerRoad. using it with Zwift I found there's something of a lag in the bike reacting to gradients and gear changes, but I'm sure this can and will be ironed out with firmware updates.

I also find short, high cadence, high power sprints tricky across all platforms - the Atom simply doesn't give me the resistance I need quickly enough for say a 30 sec, 500W effort, so I end up spinning out at a low resistance for the first 15 - 20 sec. Again I'm hoping some kind of firmware update will address this, but it's a common complaint.

Endurance and climbing sessions are brilliant on whatever training platform you choose. I especially like some of Wattbike's replicated climbs of Sa Calobra, Alp D'Huez etc.

The pedal stroke feedback is really good too. Once you're used to the way a Wattbike works, you can really improve where you're putting power down through your stroke.

The Atom has its limitations, but is a really good piece of kit for keeping fitness up and working on weaknesses when weather / time / whatever means you can't get out.

ALawson

7,815 posts

251 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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I did Sa Calobra on Fulgaz last night using the beta version which has been tweaked for the Atom. Only issue was on gradients >10% the cranks could/do lock up. As someone who can happily put out 250w at 40-50 cadence up 20-25% gradients in the real world this was a little worrying, although this is my first smart turbo / trainer. I am going to tweak the scale factor from 100 to 75% and see if it makes any difference.

Or I may just try the hub version of Sa Calobra and see if it is any different.

The Fulgaz video even on Standard quality was very good even on an ipad screen. You can tell the gears are out a little when you see the other cyclist on the video and the cadence/gear speed they are doing relative to you (obviously you don't know these details for the person who did the filming).

Mannginger

Original Poster:

9,059 posts

257 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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I've had to move abroad and left mine in the UK until I get back but other than not using it enough it was working well. I preferred using it with Zwift than just the normal Wattbike software most issues I had were with getting my table and zwift working together properly rather than the Atom which was pretty plug and play


lauda

3,475 posts

207 months

Friday 5th July 2019
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Took the plunge and ordered an Atom last night. My reasoning was that I’d like to do some more structured training as I’ve plateaued over the last year or so and it would be good to have something in the garage for when the weather is really terrible or I’m alone looking after the kids and can’t get out.

My wife has also started cycling recently so I managed to convince her that she’d enjoy using it too...

I’m interested to see what my power numbers are and also how inefficient my pedal stroke probably is. I’ll report initial impressions next week after it’s been delivered and I’ve had a play with it.