rumrunn6

I've used various stationary bikes at the gym but shied away from spinning classes cuz I don't like the idea of someone yelling at me to motivate me. spotted 2 new units that intrigued me cuz they have a different form factor (low to the ground & leaning forward posture like a road bike) & appear to have large video screens! hopefully they are not TV channels but rather videos that correspond to the rider's actions?

anyone use something like this? I tried to remember the brand but that was yesterday ... so ummm ... not so much today

rumrunn6

turns out it is a Star Trac Espinner


the video image was just an actor riding the thing. once I got going, the level adjustment didn't work so I bailed after 5 minutes & went to a regular stationary bike. scratching my head why it would cost $5,000.00. turns out resistance is set using the knob on the flywheel.

Xherion

There is one at the gym I used to go to. It's just a slightly jazzed up spinner bike. It's a bit nicer than your standard Spinning bike since it has a HR monitor, ability to watch TV, a headphone jack and a fan, but at the end of the day, it's still a stationary bike. The gym I used to go to also had an Expresso Bike, which is closer to Zwift since the bike had a TV screen and virtual course powered by the power you put it. It was actually very similar to Zwift, except the bike actually had gear buttons on the handlebar. It was the upright model though, so it wasn't anything like a road bike. It was pretty neat though and I thought well ahead of the time (it predated Zwift).

I prefer using a real road bike on a smart trainer on Zwift though.

Darth Lefty 

I've been seeing the ads for Peloton stationary bikes and it's sort of confused me that their workouts are watching some lady ride her own stationary bike and yell at you, rather than a nice bike ride.

Leisesturm

It does not surprise me at all that an interactive spin device would use a stationary instructor who can be filmed in a studio vs a live action 'ride' video involving multiple cameras and technicians and vehicles and and and. Just not going to happen until AI steps up it's game so all that stuff can be done in house. I also don't find it surprising that an exercise bike in a commercial gym uses a dumb screen vs something interactive like Peleton, which would clobber demand for the in-house spin classes. If I was the Spin instructor at a gym like that I'd be looking for another client.

cb400bill

Closing this Zombie thread.