24 Hour Fitness did not have the bike computer for the “Schwinn AC Performance Indoor Cycling Bike – 2021 with Carbon Blue”. Therefore I have been unable to measure speed and cadence when using the spin bike in their classes or otherwise. This was one of my pet peeves since I am used to riding outdoors and have found this information to be valuable when training. (Plus I am an engineer like that…numbers are always good to have.)
It was until I started looking at options did I wonder down the path of using the Garmin Speed and Cadence Sensor 2 I originally looked at the bike computer for the spin bike; however, that came at a cost of $300+ which would require me altering the bike AND would require way more time to add and remove every time I sent to spin class.
After purchasing the unit, I added the cadence sensor but discovered that the speed sensor’s rubber cover would not stretch around the hub without breaking it. The cadence sensor worked without a hitch, plenty of clearance and my Garmin Fenix 6 Pro picked it up without missing a beat.
After thinking about it overnight, I realized that I could use really thick rubber bands to loop around the rubber cover and attach it to the hub. When the next class rolled around, I was able to adhere the speed sensor and pair it as easily as the cadence sensor to my Fenix. The next stumbling block was getting an accurate wheel diameter size since I was indoor and unable to use GPS to determine wheel diameter.
I had tried a number of variations for wheel diameter….maybe I should take geometry again to figure out basics. Nah, that is what Google is made for. After a few searches I ran into the following video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Cv0bL3M98 Interestingly enough, this is the only video or real reference that I could find which gave explicit instructions on doing this. Even Garmin blogs do not cover how to do this despite a few asks or mentions.
Measuring wheel circumference was fairly straight-forward. I used a inch based measuring tape and rolled the wheel around measuring it carefully. I then added 10mm since it was inch based on the measuring tape was loose, came up with 1450mm. 10mm=0.39″ and 1450mm=57.09″ in circumference. The 1450mm circumference is 18.17″ in diameter which is roughly what it measured out to be. I chose not to use the measurements the author of the YouTube video used since I had no idea if the wheel circumferences would be equal nor was I able to find anything online which mentioned. Also, I say that is roughly what the diameter measured out since the hub got in the way of me using a direct measurement of diameter and subsequent conversion. (I used to floppy kind that you see people measure body parts, ie waist is a common place to measure with it.)
One of the problems you are going to experience is replicating the ride outside. Sure you can adjust the resistance of the spin bike and assume that x% grade is equal to the resistance you can adjust to on the spin bike. This is an assumption since there is no direct way to actually measure this.
More to follow on indirect measurements of actual performance indoors and mapping those to outside activities.
BTW, I have had a good amount of success with informational articles based on experiences. Particularly those with triathlon training, Garmin Fenix 6 vs. Suunto 7
Running in the Heat: Tips for a Safe and Effective Workout
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