Connectivity and usability

Downloading the Wattbike app is a good start. By using the company’s in-house software you’ll become acquainted with the nuances of the machine and the riding features on offer. After this you can branch out into other training platforms like Trainer Road and Zwift for a more rounded and interactive indoor cycling experience. Connectivity between Atom and app doesn’t get more intuitive, with the hard and software promptly pairing up with minimal input from the user. Just turn on, strap up, and let rip. It really is that simple.

Once coupled with your smart device you can then select one of the 22 gears on the Atom and start pedalling, changing up or down either by shifters on the hoods of the handlebars (pretty much where you’d find them on a road bike) or on the smart device itself. With 22 resistances to choose from, the shifts are subtle but not instantaneous, with a several-second delay separating each transition; not the kind of real-world performance found on a turbo trainer then, but not a huge hindrance and it does very little to interrupt ride fluidity. On that subject, the Wattbike app offers a Pedalling Effectiveness Score which gauges your ability to pedal with smooth and balanced strokes.