Wattbike unveils the Atom fully connected smart bike

The new Atom model is Wattbike’s first fully connected smart bike.

The Atom replicates the resistance and sensation of riding on the road, to provide an authentic riding experience, allowing cyclists to fine-tune their training and goals and gain insight into their performance.

Wattbike engineers, working with bicycle manufacturer Giant and British industrial designers Curventa, created nine prototypes and conducted over 500 hours of testing to produce and fine-tune the Atom over the course of two years.

“The Atom represents a radical step forward for Wattbike. Our first true home trainer, aimed specifically at cyclists, it serves the needs of the connected rider yet retains at its core our commitment to creating the most technically and scientifically advanced products in the world for improving performance,” said Wattbike managing director Richard Baker.

With a power range of 0-2,000 watts and +/-2 per cent accuracy across the full power range, the Atom is precisely accurate. The unit is designed to be used with any tablet, or smartphone device and features interactive shifters offering 22 gears. Resistance and power output can be controlled manually to simulate on-the-move gear changes and gradients of between 0-25 per cent. Target power can be pre-programmed to auto adjust using the Wattbike Hub app, or by syncing with virtual riding platforms such as Zwift or TrainerRoad. Bluetooth and ANT+ enabled, the Atom wirelessly interacts with third party apps and devices, such as Strava, TrainingPeaks and Garmin.

A key feature of the Atom is the patented tools available via the Wattbike Hub. Climb mode offers six pre-loaded climbs, including Mont Ventoux and Le Tourmalet. Using Strava GPS and simulations from VeloViewer, the Atom’s resistance changes automatically to map precisely to the gradient on the user’s virtual ride. Polar View is an analysis tool designed to improve the rider’s pedalling efficiency and power output, and the new Pedalling Effectiveness Score helps the rider assess the impact of changes in pedalling technique in real-time.

The Atom is fully adjustable to closely replicate real bike positioning. A tablet holder, positioned in front of the handlebars, accommodates devices up to and including a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and two bottle cage holders are fixed inside the Atom’s zinc shield primed steel frame. It is powered by mains electricity, or from October 2017 by a Wattbike battery pack with a battery life of 36 hours.