Spin bikes are a popular form of exercise equipment for numerous reasons; they are easy to use, great for people of all ages and fitness levels, and generally aren’t overly bulky, large, or pricey.
Spin bikes may be simple in their design and concept, but modern technology has added quite a few new tricks and features for this old toy, and one of them is the spin bike computer.
What exactly is a spin bike computer, and why use one?
The use of the console is quite simple, as it either comes preinstalled to some models of stationary bikes, or in wired or wireless versions that can be attached by the purchaser.
These little computers track many different stats while the spin bike is in use, such as speed, cadence, calories burned, time, and distance.
Keeping tabs on these stats is not only helpful to ensure you are meeting your goals, but many find being able to see the numbers in real-time, such as the calories burned during their spinning sessions, to be highly motivating.
Using a spin bike computer is also helpful at aiding the user in tracking their speed and time to make sure they are on target with the length and duration of their training sessions.
In general, higher intensity exercise offers many benefits such as higher calorie burn, better toning and building of muscles, and faster and more efficient weight loss, all of which are able to be tracked using the computer’s speed and distance section of the module.
How to use a spin bike computer and its features
Typically, the computer is attached to either the flywheel or handlebars of the bike, and many have compatibility with the vast majority of smartphones, enabling you to track and store your data and stats on your personal device.
As stated earlier, considering your monkey brain enjoys seeing tangible numbers, and those trends ebb and change over time, especially going higher with more consistent use and your improvements, it can be very beneficial for motivation and sticking to your exercise routine, thus making a spin bike computer or console a worthwhile investment.
Now, onto the features!
Calorie count
This handy feature calculates your calories burned by measuring your speed, distance, and overall intensity of your spinning session, although, like all calorie counters on workout equipment, these numbers can have a slight margin of error, so its best to use it as a rough estimation.
Always remember to stick to your calorie goal or other diet plan, do not eat more specifically to ‘treat yourself’ by having worked out or overcompensate for the number of calories you assumed you burned!
This is what often has people undo or entirely negate their progress and be confused about why they’re either not seeing results, or that their weight has “plateaued”.
Timer
From the moment you turn it on and start pedaling, this feature starts a timer and calculates how many seconds as well as minutes your spinning session has been going on, very useful for trying to keep the length of your workouts exact, especially when only having time to squeeze in 10 or 15 minutes on your bike.
Also very beneficial for pushing your sessions to be slightly longer each time, and improving your max.
Mileage
The mileage module of the spin bike computer calculates the general “distance” traveled of your spinning session, basically, the equivalent to the number of miles traveled if you were on a traditional bicycle, another great metric to be able to track and compare between workouts to bolster motivation.
Speed
The speed section tracks your current, average, and max speed during your workout, its a great metric to watch when you wish to push yourself and see what the highest max and average you can get to!
Very encouraging and fun to use on any machine!
Cadence
Cadence is a measurement of the number of pedal stroke revolutions per minute (RPM) in all forms of cycling, including traditional and spinning.
An example would be that a cadence of 50 would mean that the pedals make a full revolution 50 times in one minute.
Spin bikes themselves often come with computers that monitor this, but you can also do it by hand by counting the revolutions of one of your legs for 15 seconds, and then multiplying by 4.
Other methods include using a stopwatch and counting the number of times your leg pushes down on the pedal for around 30 seconds and multiplying that number by 2.
A simple option if this is too confusing is to count for 10 seconds and then multiply by 6 with the use of your stopwatch.
Spin bike computer: important notes to remember
Buying a wireless cycling monitor is much simpler than a wired one if using for a spin bike because installation is far less of a pain in the neck than having to play around with wires and adjustments, and is more convenient if it can be synced with a device such as a smartphone, for better data keeping, logging, and storage.
In general, however, to cut down on user error and the amount of technical know-how needed, its a better idea to purchase a spin bike computer specifically made for your machine rather than modify an existing traditional bike monitor, as this increases the risks of inaccuracies and issues setting it up, as well as making sure it continues to work and track accurately.
Another helpful tip is to, as mentioned earlier, consider purchasing a heart rate monitor, such as one that attaches to your forearm, as this enables you to better keep tabs on the intensity of your exercise session. Mainly because this information can be very useful and helpful if doing HIIT(High Intensity Interval Training) or simply trying to ensure you keep pushing yourself.
Remember to read the fine print of your potential spin bike computer to make sure it’s properly compatible with your specific model and type of bike, the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings true here as it saves you the headache of being stuck with something you can’t use or have to return.
Many of these computers are made specifically for use on traditional bikes, which makes them inaccurate and inconsistent often when using them for spin bikes or other stationary bicycles.
A word of caution regarding monitors and fitness trackers of any sort, some people can become a tad bit obsessed with their progress and watching those numbers go up, which can cause them to push themselves unnecessarily and risk injury and burnout.
I had this experience when using my elliptical and staring at the calories burned option, aiming to burn a certain amount each session, and making it last a set amount of time while watching the timer, regardless of how I felt because that’s what my brain decided felt overall the most pleasing to me.
So if you’re someone with those sorts of potentially OCD like tendencies, it’s best to keep an eye on yourself to be certain you’re not overdoing it with your exercise, as burnout and quitting is a far worse end result than slowly taking your time and gradually getting to where you wish to be.
Another note is to keep an eye out for a good warranty with your purchase as well since you never know if the computer you purchase could be defective and die on you within the typical year-long warranty period, and since these devices are around 60 to 200 dollars a pop, that can be fairly irritating.
Wrap up!
In general, spin bike computers aren’t an absolute necessity but are an extremely helpful and very motivating tool when it comes to tracking your fitness progress and setting and accomplishing goals for yourself.
They’re not super pricey and you can get plenty of long use out of them, so they’re worth considering for any spin bike owner.
Thanks for reading, and happy riding!