[Closed] Anyone use a 'wattbike' to train?

I use one during the week at the gym - like a turbo, boring as hell for just churning the legs but add some structure, intervals at threshold etc and you'll see the results. A couple of high-intensity interval sessions will probably deliver better results too.

Yep, i use one when im offshore. They can be very dull, just like any other training aid, but if you hook it up to Zwift, Trainer road etc it gives you structure and incentive to give yourself a good beasting. Your fitness will improve quite noticeably...as leat in my experience.s

Used one when I was on rotation offshore, just kind guessed at a workout, did 6mins gentle spin to warm up, 12 mins hard (say 80 rpm & 80% max hr), 6 mins easy, 12 mins harder (85 rpm and 90% max hr) 6 mins rest then 12 mins even harder (90 rpm and 95% max hr) then 6 mins warm down. *figures might be a bit off. Definitely felt the benefit when I was back home, thought I was going to get fat doing that job so was pleseantly suprised I managed to get fitter!

Have one here at home. Took advantage of the 0% offer last year on a reconditioned one.
Pretty addictive and will increase your fitness levels if used correctly. Currently use it for power workouts- 10 sec intervals etc.
Use it more in the winter in the evening etc when the weathers bad and I don't fancy going out.
Have a look on their website for workouts etc

Used to use one lunchtimes at work gym, Sufferfest vids on a tablet mainly. No different to a turbo though I found the q-factor a bit wide compared to a road bike, and obviously the standard saddle is a bit "generic gym bike".

Best used with an old set of cycling shoes + spds, rather than the toe straps.

I using one several times a week in the gym. I have just downloaded the WattBike App and am working my way through it to see what works. It seems to set unrealistic power outputs but otherwise is okay. Very handy to have a system that connects direct to the bike and HRM which delivers a session and also records all of your stats.

The power output, leg balance and 'peanut' graph are really useful additions over a simple turbo trainer and are good for pedalling technique off the bike.

Great when it is raining too.

Dogsby

Thanks all, @Dogsby, i have seen the app. Will it hook up with Garmin Connect? I have an ant+ Garmin xt920 tri watch that i was going to use. The metrics in the app look good, but i was hoping to integrate...

I use one at workout sessions with Rolling Dynamics in Chessington (shameless plug for mates company!). I find them the best of the turbo trainer world especially with regard to peddling technique / smoothness training. The L/R balance and pedal stroke analysis are the best features for me.

Fantastic training tool. Surprising depth of data if required. Q factor on later generation Wattbike is better.

Best are the Giant ride right coaching Wattbike developed for powerfit. Massive adjustment range including handlebar width

breninbeaner, I have not managed to get the two to connect so I use my Garmin watch at the same time and keep GC up to date that way. Interestingly the calorie consumption on the WB app is higher than GC.

Downy

Ok thanks. I will use my garmin at the same time. Im assuming the garmin recognises the powermeter capability?

As a bit of an experiment to help them develop a course specifically for cyclists, I did an 8 week course at my local gym, 1hr per week, purely weight training. 3 min test on watt bike week 1 and 8.

Weights were quite light, squats, lunges, hamstring kind of stuff and I was quite surprised to find I gained 8% increase in power output for a 10% decrease in max HR.

It has convinced me that instead of slogging away on the turbo or watt bike for hours there's better gains to be made for much less time in the gym.

Wow thats a great increase. What 'level' was your fitness before you started the program? Were you a regular gym user? Structured program?