spin bikes (aka spinning cycle or group cycle)

02-22-2005, 09:16 AM

Dear All,
I am a student at Staffordshire University, studying a
BA(Hons) in Product Design. For my final year I am going to be
designing a new spin bike (aka spinning cycle or group cycle), but at
the moment my knowledge is limited. Who better to ask, than people who
are into fitness or cyclists? So in my investigation I was told to use
the Google Groups for help. In my research I will be looking at
existing Spin bikes. So if people could reply with problems that have
occurred when using the bikes, I would be very grateful. An example of
this could be sitting on the bike, paddling, or the general style. This
would be a great help to me and vital research for the project.

Thank you for your time and hope to hear from people, soon.

02-22-2005, 10:13 AM

<posted & mailed>

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Dear All,
> I am a student at Staffordshire University, studying a
> BA(Hons) in Product Design. For my final year I am going to be
> designing a new spin bike (aka spinning cycle or group cycle), but at
> the moment my knowledge is limited.

Usenet is probably not where you want to go with questions like this. If
you really are serious in undertaking a qualitative survey on problems with
spinning bikes, I would recommend that you get in touch with a health club
which offers these classes. Tell them that you are a researcher, and see
if you can't speak to people who actually use these machines.

Alternatively, you could do something revolutionary for a product designer
and actually USE the product you are attempting to design--why not join a
spinning class yourself? It will give you immediate and personal insight
into the machine.

But then, ride a real bicycle: you'll see it's much more fun.

-Luigi

02-22-2005, 10:13 AM

<posted & mailed>

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Dear All,
> I am a student at Staffordshire University, studying a
> BA(Hons) in Product Design. For my final year I am going to be
> designing a new spin bike (aka spinning cycle or group cycle), but at
> the moment my knowledge is limited.

Usenet is probably not where you want to go with questions like this. If
you really are serious in undertaking a qualitative survey on problems with
spinning bikes, I would recommend that you get in touch with a health club
which offers these classes. Tell them that you are a researcher, and see
if you can't speak to people who actually use these machines.

Alternatively, you could do something revolutionary for a product designer
and actually USE the product you are attempting to design--why not join a
spinning class yourself? It will give you immediate and personal insight
into the machine.

But then, ride a real bicycle: you'll see it's much more fun.

-Luigi

02-22-2005, 11:42 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Dear All,
> I am a student at Staffordshire University, studying a
> BA(Hons) in Product Design. For my final year I am going to be
> designing a new spin bike (aka spinning cycle or group cycle), but at
> the moment my knowledge is limited. Who better to ask, than people who
> are into fitness or cyclists? So in my investigation I was told to use
> the Google Groups for help. In my research I will be looking at
> existing Spin bikes. So if people could reply with problems that have
> occurred when using the bikes, I would be very grateful. An example of
> this could be sitting on the bike, paddling, or the general style. This
> would be a great help to me and vital research for the project.
>
> Thank you for your time and hope to hear from people, soon.
>

I think UseNet is a fine resource to get *ideas* about different
designs. My health club has a maintenance contract for all their
equipment and I'm sure a company that does that kind of work could tell
you what breaks and how often. But those of us that use the spin bikes
have a better idea about what we'd change functionally. The only spin
bikes I've used are called Star Track V-Bikes, so all my comments refer
to them:

1. Most of the adjustments are good, but there is no way to adjust
saddle tilt - and they all feel too "nose down".

2. All the adjustments are made with individual levers which are too
short for a good tight clamp, and too long in some places to go all the
way around without being obstructed by some other part.

3. These bikes have the SPD/toeclip dual-sided pedals - probably the
best compromise, but I wish I could use my regular road shoes.

4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly, over
many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!

5. These bikes have a dial that adjusts the resistance on the flywheel.
It works fine but there's no indicator to show what resistance you're
using - there should be.

6. The feet don't adjust to account for uneven floors so sometimes you
get a bike that rocks around.

7. No place to put your walkman if you're riding outside of class.

I can think of a lot of things I'd put on a super-expensive bike, like
power meters and cadence sensors, but I figure these 7 items could be
incorporated into a reasonably priced machine.

--
My bike blog:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-22-2005, 11:42 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Dear All,
> I am a student at Staffordshire University, studying a
> BA(Hons) in Product Design. For my final year I am going to be
> designing a new spin bike (aka spinning cycle or group cycle), but at
> the moment my knowledge is limited. Who better to ask, than people who
> are into fitness or cyclists? So in my investigation I was told to use
> the Google Groups for help. In my research I will be looking at
> existing Spin bikes. So if people could reply with problems that have
> occurred when using the bikes, I would be very grateful. An example of
> this could be sitting on the bike, paddling, or the general style. This
> would be a great help to me and vital research for the project.
>
> Thank you for your time and hope to hear from people, soon.
>

I think UseNet is a fine resource to get *ideas* about different
designs. My health club has a maintenance contract for all their
equipment and I'm sure a company that does that kind of work could tell
you what breaks and how often. But those of us that use the spin bikes
have a better idea about what we'd change functionally. The only spin
bikes I've used are called Star Track V-Bikes, so all my comments refer
to them:

1. Most of the adjustments are good, but there is no way to adjust
saddle tilt - and they all feel too "nose down".

2. All the adjustments are made with individual levers which are too
short for a good tight clamp, and too long in some places to go all the
way around without being obstructed by some other part.

3. These bikes have the SPD/toeclip dual-sided pedals - probably the
best compromise, but I wish I could use my regular road shoes.

4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly, over
many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!

5. These bikes have a dial that adjusts the resistance on the flywheel.
It works fine but there's no indicator to show what resistance you're
using - there should be.

6. The feet don't adjust to account for uneven floors so sometimes you
get a bike that rocks around.

7. No place to put your walkman if you're riding outside of class.

I can think of a lot of things I'd put on a super-expensive bike, like
power meters and cadence sensors, but I figure these 7 items could be
incorporated into a reasonably priced machine.

--
My bike blog:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-22-2005, 02:02 PM

> 4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly, over
> many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!

Cinelli cork bar tape: even comes with endplugs!

-Luigi

02-22-2005, 02:02 PM

> 4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly, over
> many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!

Cinelli cork bar tape: even comes with endplugs!

-Luigi

02-23-2005, 12:58 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:
> > 4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly,
over
> > many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!
>
> Cinelli cork bar tape: even comes with endplugs!
>
> -Luigi

Shellaced cotton holds up better.

As for spin bikes, a Bianchi Pista is a screaming good deal.
Of course the dog ( cannine sprint assistant)
, an old italian coach and airfare to ride the
hills of Tuscany balance out the price.

Scott Goldsmith

02-23-2005, 12:58 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:
> > 4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly,
over
> > many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!
>
> Cinelli cork bar tape: even comes with endplugs!
>
> -Luigi

Shellaced cotton holds up better.

As for spin bikes, a Bianchi Pista is a screaming good deal.
Of course the dog ( cannine sprint assistant)
, an old italian coach and airfare to ride the
hills of Tuscany balance out the price.

Scott Goldsmith

02-26-2005, 08:44 PM

Diablo Scott <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>1. Most of the adjustments are good, but there is no way to adjust
>saddle tilt - and they all feel too "nose down".

The solution to sizing to adapt a fully adjustable
bike-fitting rig to be a spin-bike.

>3. These bikes have the SPD/toeclip dual-sided pedals - probably the
>best compromise, but I wish I could use my regular road shoes.

I just have two identical pairs with different cleats.
But then, I buy the $39 shoes.

>4. The grips are always sliding off the ends of the bars (slowly, over
>many classes) - put an end plug in there that holds 'em on!

Hose clamps.

>5. These bikes have a dial that adjusts the resistance on the flywheel.
> It works fine but there's no indicator to show what resistance you're
>using - there should be.

Hard if not impossible to make; a bike with a PowerTap
on the crank would probably be the only way to gauge
resistance consistently.

>6. The feet don't adjust to account for uneven floors so sometimes you
>get a bike that rocks around.

Now that's just wrong. Although it brings up the point
that stationary bikes don't rock, and real bikes do, and
a little of that countermotion would be a good thing.
Although the slower riders would probably just end up
leaning farther and farther over until they fell off...

>7. No place to put your walkman if you're riding outside of class.

What? You don't wear a three-pocket jersey in the gym?

(Just let me be there when you do; I want to watch the
stares.)

>I can think of a lot of things I'd put on a super-expensive bike, like
>power meters and cadence sensors, but I figure these 7 items could be
>incorporated into a reasonably priced machine.

The machine you ride at the gym probably costs about $2-3,000.

And it still breaks more often than a real bike would.

--Blair
"8. Inch-thick crankshafts."