Schwinn A C Performance Indoor Bike

[indoorcycletraining]

Did anyone see this at IHRSA last month?
I'm looking for some reviews.
http://www.indoorcycleinstructor.com/?p=918

[KARspin]

My club just got the new Schwinn AC Performance Bike (with MPower Performance Console). I am told our chain is the first in the country to take delivery.

Got to ride them today and have to say I am very happy!

Fitting is done in a very similar manner to the old bikes, but it is now easier. Once you have seat height adjust (their are twice as many holes now so no more 'tweeners not finding a good fit), their are only 3 possible positions for the seat: -1, 0 and +1. The handlebars are also adjustable fore/aft with 3 possible combinations. The handlebars also have a 12 degree upright tilt which I found very comfortable.

The resistance is magnetic, not friction-based, so it is quieter and smoother. I found that small turns could still be felt and large turns generated fairly instantaneous response.

My favorite part was the Performance Console. It displays MPH (estimated), Wattage, RPM, Calories, Heart Rate (if rider is wearing a chest strap), a stage time/distance and a total time/distance.

Now it is easy to see the interplay between cadence, resistance and power output. Riders that jsut spin at 130RPM with light resistance will see that their "sprints" are not generating the same power as a slower cadence with more resistance. We did a ride where we never went over 100RPM and achieved several anaerobic intervals. This should really make riders understand how hard they are really working. It will also make possible some effective challenges/drills ("keep the same RPM but increase your MPH every 60 seconds" or "Make sure the power output on this hill is at least as high or higher than the last one).

The other interesting thing is that the console readout tends to keep riders focused, which takes some burden off the instructor to entertain rather than really coach.

I am super happy with the new bikes and I can't wait to start designing some new profiles and coaching techniques to take advantage of the feedback from the console.

Wait till you see how you have to reboot the bikes you won't believe it.
Mike

[Lisa]

Hi KARspin,
That is great news! What gym are you teaching at?
thanks,
Lisa

[elsaltamontes]

Aaurrrg! Are you kidding me? Schwinn finally gives you handlebar fore aft adjustment and they execute it by chunking just 3 positions? Are people in this world only 3 different heights(arm lengths, torso lenghts)? What is worse is they do the same for seat fore and aft? That is ridiculous. Lets take three giant steps backwards and just put everybody on lifecycles. Seat fore aft adjustment is super critical concerning bike fit. We all have many different length femurs and biomechanical efficiencies. Seat fore aft must have a wide range of adjustment and preferably micro adjustable. Would you run 5 miles multiple times in a week in a pair of shoes one size too small or too big? Can any of you guys(bike companies) get this right after all these years?

[Megale]

Originally Posted by elsaltamontes

Aaurrrg! Are you kidding me? Schwinn finally gives you handlebar fore aft adjustment and they execute it by chunking just 3 positions? Are people in this world only 3 different heights(arm lengths, torso lenghts)? What is worse is they do the same for seat fore and aft? That is ridiculous. Lets take three giant steps backwards and just put everybody on lifecycles. Seat fore aft adjustment is super critical concerning bike fit. We all have many different length femurs and biomechanical efficiencies. Seat fore aft must have a wide range of adjustment and preferably micro adjustable. Would you run 5 miles multiple times in a week in a pair of shoes one size too small or too big? Can any of you guys(bike companies) get this right after all these years?

I really love the new bikes and will be teaching on them tonight. With Schwinn, the theory is that the handle bars are to be for comfort and stability. On the new bikes, the angle of the head tube is of a large enough degree of incline, and with the generous handle bars, one can find a true comfortable hand hold while in or out of the seat. The seat is the same way. The amount of travel in the incline creates a hypotenuse of the seat tube to bottom bracket triangle so the amount increased in length is proportionate as you extend it. I have had no trouble finding adjustments that keeps people from looking like they are in trouble with hip angle and or that their knee to metatarsal alignment is too far over or to far to the rear to compromise the patella area. So hopefully with some adjustment you'll find a good set up too.

Mike

[elsaltamontes]

I would agree that most people could get close to their ideal position but hardly anyone is proportionate. This was Keiser argument for extending the bars away from the saddle as you raise them. Only works for perfectly proportioned people. For the more serious outdoor riders who log lots of miles if their seat is even a little off they know the difference and may even experience pain. It certainly makes remembering one's settings easier(a plus) but if your going to offer all four adjustments why not just give us everything?

[indoorcycletraining]

That is a favorite saying of an engineer buddy of mine.
Having taught on the bikes for a month now I do see (feel) the limitation of the seat position and yet I will accept it in exchange for the magnetic resistance and wattage indication. I have a Metabolic Assessment planned for this Sunday and I hope to be doing a side by side comparison between the Schwinn AC Performance and a Computrainer early in February.

[Megale]

Originally Posted by elsaltamontes

I would agree that most people could get close to their ideal position but hardly anyone is proportionate. This was Keiser argument for extending the bars away from the saddle as you raise them. Only works for perfectly proportioned people. For the more serious outdoor riders who log lots of miles if their seat is even a little off they know the difference and may even experience pain. It certainly makes remembering one's settings easier(a plus) but if your going to offer all four adjustments why not just give us everything?

If you have a certain bike that you use - you could always look to the seat rail adjustment for further tuning your fit.
Mike

[elsaltamontes]

There certainly is! I just feel very strongly that when it comes to the human body and ultimately joint health and just having fun with an activity over the long term, bike fit can not be compromised! Not to mention the unknown number of people who tried cycling indoor or out, who then stopped simply because they were uncomfortable or had pain. Most of which was due to poor bike fit. The eddy current stuff is great, we have 12 keisers. Power outputs have huge teaching potential in the right hands. Some instructors are already telling people to be in certain gears, yikes!