Kettler World Tours 2.0 (tested on Kettler Racer 9)

Following on from our previous blog entry that discussed the virtues of the Kettler Racer 9 training bike, we now move on to look at the World Tours 2.0 software that is supplied with the bike.

Essentially, the software attempts to tackle two problems associated with indoor cycle training - the first is the boredom factor and the second is how to monitor your training session and then accurately analyse your performance.

Even the most passionate indoor cyclist would struggle to disagree with the fact that cycling on an indoor bike can become tedious unless you have something to motivate you. That can be in the form of a cycling DVD or more recently software based applications, such as World Tours, that offer an interactive means of monitoring your training session.

By recording and displaying key performance measurements and then allowing you to analyse your performance over the training session, World Tours 2.0 adds a new dimension to indoor cycle training. Being able to then compare performance between different training sessions, therefore monitoring how your cycling and fitness is improving, takes it onto a whole different level. And in many ways that's the key to World Tours 2.0 - whilst visually it's very appealing (incorporating Bing Maps and video imagery of certain rides) it's the information that's captured for analysis that will appeal to those cyclists who want to improve their fitness and riding capabilities.

There are lots of predefined tours or routes for you to select - one of our favourites was to cycle the ascent of Mount Fuji - or you can create your own cycling route. This means that you can recreate your favourite ride. Imagine the power of being able to cycle that route whilst collecting your performance data throughout the ride (including cadence; Watts; heart rate; speed etc.). When you've reached your destination you can then analyse your ride - where your peaks are and where you struggled to keep up the pace. With that knowledge, how would you change your riding pattern when you next attempt the route? As we said earlier, for us it's this information that is key to making you want to get on the bike time after time. Graphically it's great but you can't beat a bit of data to get you thinking about how you can improve.

It's simple to get World Tours working in the way that you want - you can change the way that information is presented to you on screen and equally you can set up different users for the same piece of equipment. So, before deciding on your training route, you log into your own profile where all past data is stored and where new training routes can be chosen. You can even connect to World Tours online to compare and race against others who are anywhere in the world.

All in all, this is a great concept that has been executed extremely well by Kettler. Coupled with the Kettler Racer 9 it's hard to find a reason why this isn't the best value for money indoor bike trainer in the UK today.

Kettler Racer 9 Training Bike with World Tours 2.0

The Kettler Racer 9 indoor training bike, complete with World Tours 2.0, is a new bike for 2015. We've taken the opportunity to test one out and were very impressed to say the least.

As a bike it's aimed at outdoor cyclists who want to move some of their training indoors. This isn't the first time that this been done of course and there are a number of other bikes on the market with this objective. What makes the Racer 9 a bit different is that it includes a few trick features that other bikes can only dream of. More of this later - for now let's look at what you get for your money and what features make this bike a real contender.

In the box you get the Racer 9 bike and the World Tours 2.0 software. The bike itself is very impressive in its' own right but coupled with the World Tours software it makes for an unbeatable package for the price.

Let's take a look at the Racer 9 as a stand alone bike. Apart from looking great it's also a joy to ride - this is due to a number of factors which include:

- Adjustability of the seat; handlebars and console mean that you can closely replicate your cycling position on your road bike. The seat and handlebars adjust up/down and fore/aft which means that it will fit riders of almost any size. You can also position the tri-bars during the setup of the bike so that you get the best position for your body shape. Finally, the
console angle adjusts so that you can see the console when cycling.

- Heavy flywheel; belt drive and magnetic braking give a quiet, smooth ride with a good range of resistance that will simulate the steepest of hillclimbs

- Electronic Campagnolo gear shifters that enable quick and responsive gear changes. This is one of the unique features of the Racer 9 bike - the shifters are positioned at the end of the tri-bars with the left hand controlling the front two "chain rings" and the right hand controlling the rear 10 gears.

- The Racer 9 has a console as standard that shows speed; distance; time; cadence; Watts and heart rate (when used with the supplied Heart Rate chest belt). This is an instantaneous readout that shows your performance at that point in time

- SPD pedals are supplied with the bike so you can use your standard cycling shoes. If you don't have cycling shoes then don't worry - you can flip the pedals over and wear training shoes instead

In summary it's the ideal bike for anyone who's used to outdoor cycling on their road bike. It's probably not the bike for you if you're looking for a spinning bike but then again you do have a wide variety of other bikes to choose from.

So, the Kettler Racer 9 is a great bike but what about World Tours 2.0? How does this work with the bike? This is the subject of the next blog entry.....

BH Fitness Spada Dual Indoor Cycle Review

How Easy is the Indoor Cycle to Build?
The BH Fitness Spada Dual is very simple to build. All of the components fitted together very well with all holes perfectly aligned to accept the fixing bolts. You might need a helper, simply because of the weight of this cycle.

What are the first impressions?
The Spada looks like a great bike - stylish looks, water bottle holder and SPD pedals make for a superb looking bike.

What's it like to ride?
The BH Fitness Spada Dual is very smooth, largely due to the 20kg flywheel and belt drive. The programmes on the standard console keep training interesting and will change the resistance for you depending on the training profile that you choose. You can also just select manual mode and change the resistance when you want to. We'll discuss the SmartPhone/Tablet connectivity elsewhere in this review. When pedalling quickly the Spada Dual remains very stable which is a really good sign of a high quality bike.

Any niggles?
Because of the design of the handlebars you don't get as many hand grip positions as with other bikes. Also, when you're out of your seat and really gripping the handlebars they do move a little more than we'd have liked.

Anything else to add?
A nice feature of this bike is the pedals which can be used with cycling shoes or normal training shoes.

Using Your SmartPhone/Tablet as a Console
The feature on this indoor cycle that really differentiates it from other indoor cycles is that you can use your SmartPhone or Tablet as a console (check the compatabiliy of your device to ensure that it will work with the bike). It's really easy to connect your device (we used an iPhone with Bluetooth V4) and once connected you have the power of whatever apps you've downloaded to training with. At the time of writing this review there are a number of apps already available with the promise of more to come - again check details of the current apps and devices that are supported. We chose one of the simpler apps to test out the bike (called Pedal Monitor) and it worked really well - it's easy to think of this as a bit of a gimmick but it really does help to keep training interesting. Depending on the app that you've chosen the resistance level on the bike will change automatically, as it would with a traditional programmable console.

It's worth noting that a number of the apps that are compatable with this indoor cycle require a monthly subscription - prices do vary but it's still cheaper than monthly gym membership. (Please note that the pricing of apps and any subsequent subscription charges are nothing to do with us!!)

Overall Impression?
Superb indoor cycle. The Spada Dual is packed with great features and the build quality is excellent.

Cycle-Fit Indoor Cycling (Tenby)

Indoor Cycling classes (aka spin bike classes) are alive and well in the UK. A case in point is Cycle-Fit indoor cycling in Tenby, South Wales. They've recently opened their doors to the local population and are offering a range of indoor cycling classes to suit all fitness levels and abilities.

They've chosen the Gym Gear M Sport indoor cycles as the class bikes, which by the way is a fantastic choice, and by all accounts the bikes and classes are being really well received by the class members.

The combination of qualified, enthusiastic spin class instructors and great spin bikes makes for great classes and Cycle-Fit in Tenby certainly ticks these boxes.

The Gym Gear M Sport indoor cycles were chosen for the magnetic resistance and braking; low maintenance requirements and adjustability to suit a good range of user heights.

So, if you're based in or around the Tenby area in South Wales then why not get in touch with Cycle-Fit Indoor Cycling to give your fitness a real boost.

Sprint GB-Mag Indoor Cycle...the latest addition to the Sprint range

If you're looking for a high quality indoor cycle that requires very little maintenance, is well made, has a great specification and is built to last then this could be the bike for you...

How Easy is the Indoor Cycle to Build?
Extremely simple to build. Attach the front and rear stabilisers, seat, handlebars and console and you're ready to ride.

What are the first impressions?
This is a really nice bike that a look and feel of high quality. Here are some of the things that we like:
- Console is wireless, so there are no trailing cables or connectors
- Large sweat guard over the flywheel
- Water bottle holder included
- Both seat and handlebars can be adjusted horizontally and vertically so that you can achieve your perfect cycling position
- It's a magnetic resistance bike so there's virtually no maintenance
- Pedals can take cycling shoes or normal training shoes
- Paintwork is finished to a very high standard which gives a great first impression

What's it like to ride?
It's a super smooth, super quiet bike to ride. Here are our findings:
- It's easy to control the resistance by turning the control knob through a series of clicks (there are over 30 resistance levels). You can then always work to the same resistance settings throughout your training session
- Because it has magnetic resistance there is no wear, so your training sessions can be repeated time and again without having to compensate for bike wear
- Incredibly quiet and smooth
- Can withstand really hard training sessions. At high resistance and high speeds the bike is very stable
- The bike has a maximum resistance of about 400w. If you're triathlon training or already super-fit then this might not be enough for you (in which case look at the Gym Gear M Sport indoor cycle). For the majority of people who are wanting to improve their fitness levels then 400w is usually more than enough.
- Emergency stop is a great feature if you need to stop pedalling in a hurry. It's also very accessable and easy to use

Any niggles?
No. A good bike, well made and very easy to live with.

Anything else to add?
We did wonder whether the maximum resistance level would be high enough, so our tester set the bike to the maximum resistance level; got out of his seat and pedalled hard. A few minutes later, with our tester's sweat dripping (on the bikes's sweat guard we might add) and out of breath we concluded that 400 watts of resistance is probably enough for most people(!).

See more at: Indoor Cycles

Inspire Fitness IC1 Indoor Cycle Review

An indoor cycle that we recently came across was the Inspire Fitness IC1 indoor cycle. It's a really impressive indoor cycle that has a unique resistance control mechanism - instead of a level or knob on the frame to adjust the resistance, the IC1 has a twist grip on the handlebars. It's handily placed (no pun intended) and gives a good level of control.

The thing that is lacking from the IC1 is a console - it's possible to fit an aftermarket console but this can be tricky. Therefore we were taken with the idea of fitting an "X-Kit" to the bike that will allow you to use your smartphone or tablet as the console - it's so easy to fit and a really great idea. We'll add a blog entry on the X-Kit later this year, but for now here is our summary review of the Inspire Fitness IC1 indoor cycle.

How Easy is the Indoor Cycle to Build?
A simple bike to assembled - all of the components are high quality and slot together with the minimum of fuss.

What are the first impressions?
A very good indoor cycle with a sturdy feel. Here are some of the things that we especially like:
- Has a gym quality feel - very stable when on high resistance
- Unique resistance control mechanism. The resistance control is via a handlebar mounted twist dial that let's you choose different resistance settings (gears). Very easy to use - Both seat and handlebars can be adjusted horizontally and vertically so that you can achieve your perfect cycling position
- The adjusters on the seat and handlebar are very heavy duty
- The 22kg flywheel gives a really smooth ride
- Very quiet as you'd expect for a belt drive bike

What's it like to ride?
The Inspire Fitness IC1 indoor cycle is a very nice bike to ride. Here's why:
- It feels just like a full commercial bike with very little frame flex at high speed
- The resistance control and braking mechanism is unique to this bike and it's a revelation - very well positioned and easy to use
- Incredibly quiet and smooth

Any niggles?
It would have been nice to have had SPD pedals as standard but these can be added as an optional extra.

Anything else to add?
We've added the x-Kit to this bike which means you can connect your tablet or smartphone and use as a console - by downloading apps it keeps training interesting and makes you want to come back for more.

Overall Impression?
A really good indoor cycle with a great resistance control mechanism. Very good build quality and the addition of the x-Kit console makes this indoor cycle both unique and fantasic value for money. - See more at: http://www.indoor-cycles.co.uk/acatalog/inspire_fitness_ic1_indoor_cycle.html

Kettler Indoor Cycles

We’re often asked about the Kettler spinning bike range. Nothing strange there – Kettler are a well known brand and synonymous with producing very high quality products, so we’d expect a lot of
interest in their range of indoor cycles. The quandary is that the Kettler range of indoor cycles can be split into two distinct categories: fixed wheel spin bikes and free wheel exercise bikes. So when we’re asked about the Kettler spinning bike range we have to dig a little deeper into what is actually required of the bike.

The stock question that we have to pose is “do you want to stand up when cycling?” The answer to this question will point towards different bikes in the Kettler range.
The Kettler fixed wheel range, which can be categorised as spinning bikes, consists of the Speed 3 and the Speed 5. These are spinning style bikes and as such you can stand up whilst cycling without any issue whatsoever. The Kettler Racer series (the Racer 3 and the Racer 7) are free wheel bikes and are not really designed for standing whilst cycling – in fact if the resistance is too low and you stand and cycle it can be quite uncomfortable. So why is this?
With a fixed wheel bike the flywheel can’t spin any faster than you’re pedalling and so you always have some level of resistance to push against when pedalling – even if this is only the resistance caused by the weight of the flywheel. Providing the flywheel is heavy enough (we recommend 18kg and above) this will lead to a smooth ride whether standing or sitting. Free wheel bikes work differently.

Most outdoor bikes freewheel. Imagine that you’re cycling down hill – if you don’t change gear then you’ll hit a point where the wheel is spinning faster than you’re pedalling and at that point you might as well stop moving your legs because you’re no longer contributing to moving the bike. It’s the same sort of effect with a free wheel indoor cycle – the flywheel can spin faster than you’re pedalling at which point you’re not getting the exercise that you’re aiming for. To compensate, you need to up the resistance (like changing gear on your bike when cycling downhill) and then your legs will be back in synch with the wheel. All this is fine, but on a free wheel indoor cycle the over spin effect as described above is more likely to occur when you stand up because of the extra force you create on the downstroke of the pedalling action. A lack of stability in cycling soon occurs you’re then reaching for the buttons to change the resistance. It can be done and with practice you can become adept at preparing for standing on a free wheel bike, but overall it’s not ideal and fixed wheel bikes are better if you want to stand.

So, coming back to the Kettler range, our general advice is if you want to stand then go for a fixed wheel bike and if you’re happy sitting and cycling then the Kettler Racer 3 or the Kettler Racer 7 are excellent options.