Wattbike

Wattbike: smart indoor bikes for cycling training and fitness

Wattbike is a British company dedicated to the design and manufacture of smart indoor bikes for cycling training, home fitness and conditioning. Its products are sold under the Atom, Proton, Air-Pro and AtomX models, as well as a line of reconditioned bikes. The company was founded by Ian Wilson, 1979 world rowing champion, together with John Wilson, Dusan Adamovic and Milan Bacanovic, with the aim of creating high-performance training instruments.

Models and training approaches

The Wattbike catalogue is organised around several models. The Atom is presented as a precision indoor cycling smart bike, aimed at dedicated cyclists. The Proton is described as a premium home fitness option with no monthly fees. The Air-Pro is designed for elite conditioning and serious competitors. The AtomX is the version of the Atom adapted to commercial spaces, such as gyms and health clubs. The company also offers reconditioned bikes.

The products are grouped by goals: performance and cycling, home fitness, HIIT and high-volume conditioning, and rehabilitation and recovery. Wattbike sells accessories and provides tools to choose the right model, including a two-minute quiz and the possibility of speaking to an advisor.

Technology and precision

Wattbike bikes incorporate an electromagnetic resistance system that reads data 1,000 times per second with an accuracy of ±1%. The company has developed proprietary technologies such as the Pedalling Effectiveness Score (PES), a patented measurement that allows cyclists to monitor and improve their pedalling effectiveness, and Polar View, a visual representation of pedalling style that offers technical feedback. The Model B monitor, introduced in 2013, added Bluetooth in 2015 for rider connectivity. In 2022, customisable gearing and shifter options were added for the Atom and AtomX models.

Wattbike Hub App and connectivity

The Wattbike Hub App is a free training app included with every bike and requires no subscription. It offers structured training plans, VO₂ Max tests, the Healthspan score, performance tracking and sport-specific sessions such as football. The app works on phone, tablet and other devices. In addition, the bikes are compatible with apps such as Zwift, Rouvy and Strava, among others.

History and development

The development of Wattbike spanned eight years in collaboration with Peter Keen, Performance Director of British Cycling. The first production model was launched in 2008 at the Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, as the first indoor bike endorsed by British Cycling. That same year, the Pro/Trainer model became the preferred choice of elite teams, athletes and performance labs, including England Football, Team GB, British Cycling, Porsche and Red Bull.

In 2009, the company began global distribution across six continents. In 2011, Giant was secured as lead manufacturer. That same year, Wattbike took part in the CrossFit Games in the United States for the first time. At the London 2012 Olympic Games, 29 of the 30 track cycling medals were won by athletes who trained on Wattbike. That year, the company was adopted by the UK's leading health and fitness providers, such as David Lloyd, Virgin Active and Nuffield Health.

In 2013, the new Model B performance monitor was introduced, providing more data and real-time pedalling feedback. In 2014, Wattbike began working with coaches at the UCI World Cycling Centre to develop a talent identification protocol, and was chosen as a global identification and training tool at six UCI satellite centres. In 2015, Wattbike became an official partner of the British Army, with the A3 fitness test established in the official protocols for recruits and serving personnel. That year also saw the launch of the Wattbike Hub app and the introduction of Bluetooth in the Model B monitor.

In 2016, 17 Olympic gold medals were won by athletes who trained on Wattbike. In 2017, the Wattbike Atom was launched, presented as the world's first smart bike, replicating the resistance and feel of riding outdoors indoors. That year, the Pedalling Effectiveness Score (PES) and Polar View technology were launched. In 2018, the Atom was launched internationally, starting with Scandinavia, followed by Ireland and South Africa. Also in 2018, a Wattbike Zone was installed at the Manchester Velodrome and the #WATTBIKERS campaign was launched. That year, BUPA adopted Wattbike as a key tool in its peak health assessment.

In 2019, the AtomX was launched for commercial spaces and the Nucleus, an air bike with a performance touchscreen (no longer in production). That year, Wattbike was accredited at Japan's Keirin professional cycling academy. In 2020, the new generation of the Wattbike Atom was launched with an improved electromagnetic resistance system. In 2022, custom gearing options were added and Wattbike became the official performance bike supplier for Australia Cycling and USA Cycling.

Recognition and adoption

Wattbike is used by more than 1,000 elite sports teams worldwide, more than 500 Olympic medallists since 2008, 20 Premier League teams, 11 boxing world champions, 12 Champions League winning teams, more than 10,000 professional athletes and all 6 Six Nations rugby teams. The company attributes these figures to its own presentation and to the achievements of the athletes who train on its bikes.