Establishing the bike fitness instructor took just 10 minutes, and after connecting my phone to the handlebars and firing up the Peloton app, I was off to the races.
Compared to a Peloton
Was my DIY workout bike going to offer me the $2,000 Peloton experience? No, obviously not. For a fraction of the rate, it worked much better than I expected.
When I was pedaling as quickly as I could, the fitness instructor kept the bike steady and I just observed some wobbliness. The resistance knob had choices ranging from 1 to 6 but didnt notice a huge difference in between the highest and most affordable settings. I have a feeling the issue couldve been solved by tightening the screw on the fitness instructor controlling how carefully it presses up versus the back wheel.
There were other small hassles to my setup, like the lack of a water bottle holder, however at the end of the day, I wasnt anticipating the heights of high-end from my $120 option.
While cycling outdoors is on the lower end of the coronavirus danger spectrum, getting an indoor stationary bicycle has absolutely become a more attractive prospect these previous few months. In the video above, I choose to construct my own stationary bicycle rather than spend over $2,000 on a Peloton.
Bike fitness instructor to the rescue
I borrowed a bike from a friend and currently had a smartphone, so all I required was a bike fitness instructor. I chose this $116 alternative from ProRide since it had decent reviews, included a phone holder and the color was Lifehacker green.
G/O Media may get a commission
Was my DIY workout bike going to provide me the $2,000 Peloton experience? The trainer kept the bike stable and I just saw some wobbliness when I was pedaling as quickly as I could. I have a feeling the issue couldve been resolved by tightening up the screw on the trainer controlling how closely it presses up against the back wheel.
If you currently own a great bike and have a cycling app you like, an inexpensive bike trainer might be the money-saving service you require to exercise from the convenience and security of your house. I cant promise youll recreate the health club experience, but I can ensure youll break a sweat.
