The world of health and fitness has been transformed in recent times by a slew of technological advancements that have made it easier than ever to get fit and stay in good shape.
We can take gym classes from the comfort of our own homes, track our heart rate and sleep patterns through a stylish monitor on our wrists, and even use our phones to count the number of steps we take on our commutes. Wherever you turn, tech is there to give you a helping hand. In the dawn of the smart age, it’s almost surprising there isn’t something to do the exercise for you…
The Renpho AI-Powered Bike featured here can’t push the pedals for you, per se, but it has almost everything else covered. Within its slick design, you’ll encounter a well built exercise bike capable of handling whatever your personal needs may be – whether you like to keep your nose to the grindstone or are looking to ease back into more regular exercise after a long hiatus (no points for guessing which camp this writer falls into).
The ‘smart’ in smart bike begins with the ride itself. The Renpho boasts an enclosed freewheel design that simulates the smooth feel of a traditional outdoor bike. It works in tandem with a Smart Motor Damping Resistance unit, which allows for precise resistance that can be seamlessly adjusted with a quick turn of the rounded digital knob in the middle of the handlebars.
The IQ really starts ratcheting up when you combine the bike with the accompanying AI Gym training app. It gives users a wealth of options including more than 70 classes, five different training modes, video coaching and even some pleasant scenery to look at in the form of several virtual trails.
Tech it slow
Getting the most out of the Renpho Smart Bike is easy. First, complete a ramp test to determine your functional threshold power (FTP) – a calculation of the highest average power you can sustain for an hour – from there the AI Gym app will customise your workout plan to beat your goals.
The latter feature falls into the ‘nice to have’ category, but in reality needs a little more work to align the gradients you’re seeing on the trail with the resistance you’re experiencing on the bike itself. Then again, it’s hard to grumble when the app itself is completely free.
Renpho isn’t precious about you using its app, either. Should you prefer the likes of Zwift, RGT or Rouvy, the connectivity process is as simple as a few clicks on your smartphone.
In short, Renpho isn’t trying to reinvent the two-wheeler here, but rather bring high-end exercise bike functionality to a wider user base. It doesn’t get much smarter than that.
The Renpho AI Smart Bike is £624.99. See: renpho.uk
