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Wattbike unveils Atom indoor smart bike Wattbike_Atom_Image_2.jpg

Wattbike unveils Atom indoor smart bike

New model interacts with Zwift and allows pedal stroke analysis
by Mat Brett
Mon, Sep 04, 2017 09:41
5

Wattbike has unveiled a new indoor smart bike called the Atom that’s very different from the existing Wattbike Pro and Trainer that are seen in many gyms.

The Atom has a power range of 0-2,000 watts and a claimed accuracy level of +/-2% across that range. You can manually control the resistance to simulate gradients of up to 25%. 

Wattbike_Atom_Image_13.jpg

The Atom is designed to be used with a tablet or smartphone – a tablet holder, positioned in front of the handlebars, accommodates devices up to a 12.9-inch iPad Pro – and offers 22 gears. You can pre-programme target power to automatically adjust using the Wattbike Hub app, or by syncing with virtual riding platforms like Zwift, TrainerRoad and Sufferfest. 

It is Bluetooth and ANT+ enabled so it can interact wirelessly with third party apps and devices, such as Strava and TrainingPeaks.

Things have been really hotting up in the indoor cycling market over the past few years, especially since the introduction of Zwift.

Here’s how to get started on Zwift. 

Wattbike Hub provides training tools like Climb mode which offers six pre-loaded ascents: France’s Mont Ventoux, Tourmalet and Alpe d’Huez, Mallorca’s Sa Calobra, and the UK’s Winnats Pass and Box Hill. Using Strava GPS and simulations from VeloViewer, the Atom’s resistance changes automatically to match the gradient on your virtual ride. 

Wattbike_Atom_Image_5.jpg

You also get Polar View which is an analysis tool designed to improve your pedalling efficiency and power output, and the new Pedalling Effectiveness Score that we told you about here on road.cc a couple of weeks ago. This is designed to help you assess the impact of changes in pedalling technique in real-time.

Find out more about Pedalling Effectiveness Score here, along with Wattbike’s advice on how to pedal perfectly. 

The Atom is powered by mains electricity or, from October, by a Wattbike battery pack with a battery life of 36 hours.

Working with Giant and British industrial designers Curventa, Wattbike says that the Atom was two years in development and went through nine prototypes. It costs £1,499 (including VAT).

A Wattbike Atom has arrived for review here at road.cc although we were all at Eurobike last week so no one has had a chance to ride it yet. We'll let you know how we get along with it in a few weeks.

For more info go to https://wattbike.com

Wattbike
indoor training
smart trainer
Zwift
training peaks
Strava
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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5 comments

Avatar
gonedownhill | 7 years ago
0 likes

Two questions I would like answering by the upcoming review:

The original wattbike had pretty limited adjustment of handle bar height and put you into a really extreme position if you were very tall, pretty much a TT position. If you could comment on that it would be great.

Also the atom looks pretty narrow so can you lurch about like a drunken, speed addled hippo without toppling over.

That said it looks significantly shorter than a bike on turbo so might be a good option those short on space.

Avatar
RoscoMac | 7 years ago
0 likes

Hired old-style Wattbike and loved it, but couldn't justify the outright purchase price. 

Also, the appeal of a smart trainer that would automatically control resistance had led me (almost) to buying a Tacx Neo. 

My question is, does the Atom automatically control resistance when using with Zwift and climbing hills?

Any advice?

 

 

Avatar
jhsmith87 replied to RoscoMac | 7 years ago
1 like

Kadinkski wrote:

Can't wait for this review. Would also be interested in it's noise levels in comparrison wth smart trainers. 

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/09/hands-on-wattbike-introduces-new-ato... - Gives an indication of noise (70db is advertised spec)

RoscoMac wrote:

Hired old-style Wattbike and loved it, but couldn't justify the outright purchase price. 

Also, the appeal of a smart trainer that would automatically control resistance had led me (almost) to buying a Tacx Neo. 

My question is, does the Atom automatically control resistance when using with Zwift and climbing hills?

Any advice?

Yes, it does >25% gradient. 

I was planning to buy the Dorito but I think Wattbike will be getting my money shortly...

 

Avatar
SellMatt | 7 years ago
5 likes

Who is the bell end that purchased old school Wattbike for £2250 a few months ago surprise

Avatar
Kadinkski | 7 years ago
1 like

Can't wait for this review. Would also be interested in it's noise levels in comparrison wth smart trainers. 

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