The next generation of bikes

Developed in the 1970s as training equipment for professional cyclists during the winter, speed bikes are more than simple fitness bikes or stationary bikes. Their sleek design catches the eye at first glance, making indoor cycles look much more dynamic than classic stationary bikes.

That’s not just true of their appearance: speed bikes also offer a more aggressive ride. This lets you enjoy a real road bike workout in your living room, with all the comforts. And when you’re watching a recording of a Tour de France stage on your flat-screen TV during a training session on a cold winter evening, you’ll feel like you’re right there in the peloton.

A range of special features is responsible for the unique ride that only speed bikes offer. From a heavy flywheel and pedals that keep moving to individual adjustment options for the ideal race position and a highly ergonomic frame design, a speed bike trainer leaves nothing to be desired.

Despite all their adjustment options, they are designed for athletic riding. This also applies to the saddle, which is considerably narrower than on a classic exercise bike. Indoor cycles are ideal for recreational athletes with ambitions who train regularly, as well as for cyclists.

Those who train only occasionally, place particular importance on comfort and a relaxed ride, or are significantly overweight are better off with a high-quality exercise bike. Once you’ve decided to buy, look out for the following points when choosing your bike:

1. Drive system: Fitness bikes generally use one of two different drive systems. More affordable entry-level models usually have a classic chain drive, like the one found on most road bikes. The downside: Because they have many moving parts, chain drives are louder during use and need to be cleaned and lubricated regularly.

Higher-quality indoor cycle bikes, on the other hand, have a belt drive. These belts are usually made of highly durable plastics or even Kevlar, which is also used in bulletproof vests. Since only the drive belt moves, your workout is particularly quiet. Regular lubrication and other maintenance are also unnecessary.

2. Braking system: On most models, a felt pad brake provides the resistance you pedal against. Felt pads press against the flywheel from the side or above. You can easily adjust the resistance using a mechanism on the indoor bike. Other models in the higher price range, on the other hand, have a magnetic braking system.

Note: Unlike exercise bikes and most road bikes, however, speed bikes do not have a freewheel. When you stop pedaling, the flywheel and pedals keep turning. That’s why good bikes have an emergency brake.

3. Flywheel weight: The weight of the flywheel is crucial to the resistance when training on a speed bike. Indoor bikes should have a flywheel weighing at least 18 kilograms to provide a challenging workout with enough headroom for progress. As a rule of thumb, the fitter you are or the higher your ambitions, the heavier the flywheel can be. Another advantage: Bikes with heavier flywheels generally run more smoothly and quietly.

4. Customization options: Ergonomic training with optimal performance is only possible when the speed bike is adjusted to fit you perfectly. So if you want to buy a speed bike, look for a wide range of adjustment options. Ideally, you should be able to adjust not only the saddle height, but also its angle and position. This lets you position the balls of your feet optimally in the center of the pedal axle for the best possible power transfer.

The handlebar unit should also offer height and angle adjustments. Another advantage: different handlebar positions. These add variety to longer training sessions and relieve the muscles in your core, shoulders, and back.

Tip: The saddle can often be replaced with a standard bike saddle. This lets you fit the saddle that best suits your sit bones.

5. Pedal system: Since speed bikes do not have a freewheel, it is important to secure your feet firmly to the pedals. On a speed bike, pedals with fitted straps or toe cages do this. Securing your feet also ensures a smoother pedal stroke and engages your hamstrings in the pedaling motion. Particularly high-quality models already come with hybrid pedals.

These have both a flat side (flat pedal) and a Shimano SPD or Shimano SPD-SL clipless system. This means you can use your usual cycling shoes on the speed bike, too. Since high-quality bikes often use standard crank thread sizes, you can often also fit conventional road bike pedals with the clip system of your choice.

6. Electronic systems: These days, very few devices do without electronics. Options range from a simple training computer and hand pulse sensors to a powerful training control system with heart rate monitor support and an integrated console for playing audio and video content.

Interactive training computers have Bluetooth connectivity and can be used with high-quality fitness apps such as iBiking+, among others. Thanks to the training software, you can ride routes you have created yourself using Google Street View during your workout, among other things.

It’s not enough to simply buy a speed bike and start riding. To achieve lasting training results, you need to plan your indoor cycling workouts using training metrics such as your heart rate or power output in watts.

Tip: Many speed bikes with a standard crank thread can, for example, be retrofitted with a pedal power meter for watt-based training. Other models already have a built-in power measurement system.

Heart rate monitoring is the easiest way to control your training. The heart rate zone you should stay in during your workout depends on its goal.

• Recovery training (below 60 percent of maximum heart rate): Low-intensity training for active recovery after hard workouts, lasting anywhere from 40 minutes to 3 hours.
• GA1 zone (60-75 percent of maximum heart rate): Ideal for fat-burning and endurance training lasting from 45 minutes to 3 hours.
• GA2 zone (75-85 percent of maximum heart rate): Brisk endurance training focused on improving performance and strengthening the heart, lasting from 20 to 60 minutes.
• Development zone (85-95 percent of maximum heart rate): High-intensity interval training integrated into GA1 and GA2 workouts.

Important: Rules of thumb for estimating your maximum heart rate only provide an approximate result, which can vary by 15-20 beats per minute in either direction from person to person. Ambitious athletes should therefore have a performance assessment carried out by a sports physician. Self-administered performance tests should only be performed by experienced athletes who know their bodies and know what they’re doing.

If you’re looking to buy a speed bike, SPORTSTECH is the right place for you. Thanks to our extensive filter options by manufacturer and key features, hobby athletes of every fitness level can find the speed bike that suits their individual needs.

While especially affordable models are available for those starting out in indoor cycling, ambitious hobby cyclists can get the most out of advanced speed bikes with their heavier flywheels and interactive training features.

If you’re looking for an even greater challenge, go for the SX500 Speed Bike with its 25-kilogram flywheel, or burn up the virtual tarmac in the saddle of a multiplayer-ready professional indoor bike.

Attualmente spediamo in Germania, Austria, Svizzera, Francia, Italia, Spagna e Paesi Bassi. Il Belgio seguirà a breve. Al momento non spediamo in altri Paesi (ad es. Lussemburgo, Regno Unito, Monaco o Norvegia). Per la Svizzera, ai tempi di consegna si aggiungono i tempi di sdoganamento.

Klarna (incluso il pagamento a rate) è disponibile in tutti i mercati. A seconda del Paese si aggiungono altri metodi:

• Germania: Klarna, PayPal, Unzer
• Austria: Klarna, PayPal, EPS, Unzer
• Svizzera: Klarna, TWINT, Unzer
• Francia: Klarna, PayPal
• Italia, Spagna, Paesi Bassi: Klarna