What It’s Like to Live With a DIY Exercise Bike
Back in July, our very own Abu Zafar showed you how to assemble a DIY Peloton from a $ 100 exercise bike and an app on your phone. I’ve been using the same setting from time to time for a month, and I’m here to report it: it works. While not as versatile as the Peloton, it does fill a need I usually fulfill with cardio equipment in the gym.
I used the same exercise bike as Abu – the green triangular stand that supports the rear wheel of the bike. It is not electronic and there is nothing unusual about it; it just lets the wheel move as you pedal, with adjustable resistance. I put mine in the garage because that’s where I trained .
Setting up my space
Unlike Abu’s shiny design, mine was made from an old mountain bike that I hadn’t ridden in years. I kept it unused in the garden shed so I had to inflate the tires and remove a lot of the cobwebs. If I was going to ride my bike outdoors, I would probably take it to tune, but for indoor use I didn’t have to worry about breaking on the side of the road. The chain is a little rusty. Everything is fine.
I had to do a few things to transform it from an outdoor bike to a comfortable one to keep it inside. For example, I removed some accessories, including the steering wheel ringer, to make room for the trainer’s resistance switch and a small holder for my phone. I also took off the wedge backpack, which is usually under my seat – the Velcro strap scratched my legs as I pedaled in my shorts.
I also found that there was more to set up than just a bike. Of course, I can use this anywhere, anytime. But why put a water bottle on a bike frame when I can put it on the shelf at arm’s length? And why not set up a box fan to blow in my face and torso to keep me cool as I ride? It was starting to get almost flashy.
How to get a good workout
The downside to this DIY design is that it’s not as versatile as a real exercise bike. I’ve never used a real Peloton, but I’ve done cycling classes where you have a handle that changes your resistance easily and instantly. This is not it.
The exercise bike comes with a resistance handle that connects to the bike with a long cord (so it can reach the handlebars). That’s okay, but the difference between the highest and lowest resistance levels … is subtle. After failing to get enough resistance to get up in the saddle, I found that I had to jump off the bike and turn the propeller at the back of the machine before I could find a level that was hard enough to really push off.
After that, instead of fiddling with the tiller handle while riding, I realized that I could use the bike’s own shifting mechanisms. My mountain bike has three gears in the front derailleur and a family in the rear. If I adjusted the propeller on the treadmill so that I could pedal while standing in the highest gear, it would allow me to get a pleasant, light ride if I completely shifted to the lowest gear.
With this setup, I was able to track my activities in the Peloton app. When the instructor tells you to turn your resistance to such and such a level, you should ignore these numbers and just act intuitively. Try to find the rhythm of the song you’re pedaling to (no cadence monitor, of course), and do it lightly when you need to walk lightly and firm when you need to go hard.
Beware of Small Troubles
If you are a loyalist of the peloton, this may not be enough for you. But it works for me: I can easily go for a drive, listening to a podcast or calling a meeting where I can remain silent. Or I can do a session in an app that simulates a ride up hills, although I still don’t feel very comfortable standing up on sections. (The bike is perfectly stable; it’s rock. It’s just that the resistance is never hard enough or smooth enough. I sit in a sitting position most of the time.)
The coach is also kind of loud. My bike has smooth tires, but I’ve heard that if you have bumps like a normal mountain bike, it’s even worse. And that box fan definitely adds noise. The overall effect was that I was sweating all over in my garage, with two different cars roaring in front and behind me. Quite gloomy.
This was until I considered using my own noise canceling headphones. Then I could perfectly hear my music / podcast / instructor Peloton, and the bike became a small oasis from the world around me. I opened the garage and pointed my bike outside, which is a delightful way to spend a rainy day when you want to take a walk but don’t want to get wet.
Final thoughts
Overall, this is a great cardio solution when going outside is impractical. My area is not very suitable for cycling and in the summer I didn’t want to endure the heat and run. The DIY bike was ideal for light to moderate workouts; you can definitely raise resistance high enough for some sprints, but you may not be bouncing out of the saddle as often as the instructor on the screen.
A friend told me a little-known storage secret: If the back of your bike is facing the wall, you can turn it on the rear wheel to support the bike. The steering wheel will be pressed against the wall, so be careful with the handles or phone holders installed there.