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Unbricking a $2k bike with a $10 Raspberry Pi (ptx2.net)

967 points by ptx2 · 2254 days ago · 230 comments on HN

Article summary

The author of the article purchased a Flywheel Home Bike, a $2,000 exercise bike, but the company shut down its service after a legal battle with Peloton. The bike still functions but no longer provides classes, competition, or stats. The author used a Raspberry Pi to reverse-engineer the bike's protocol and create a program called Gymnasticon, allowing the bike to work with Zwift and other training apps. This solution enables the bike to be used with various software, breathing new life into the device.

Main themes

  • exercise biking
  • reverse-engineering
  • open APIs
  • cheating and competition
  • cost and value
  • convenience and ease of use
  • data control and security
  • smart devices and IoT
  • cycling and fitness
  • consumer choice and preference

What commenters say

  • Some people prefer to have control over their devices and data, and would like more companies to offer the option to run their devices locally on a Raspberry Pi or similar device.
  • Closed systems can be vulnerable to cheating and do not necessarily prevent it, and open APIs can be designed to be secure and prevent cheating.
  • The cost of a Peloton bike and subscription may not be worth it for some people, who could instead buy a road bike and a smart trainer for a similar or lower cost.
  • Others argue that the convenience and ease of use of a Peloton bike, as well as its ability to encourage people to get into outdoor cycling, make it a worthwhile investment.
  • Some commenters believe that the focus on leaderboards and competition in exercise biking can lead to cheating and an unhealthy obsession with high scores.
  • Others think that the ability to use a bike with various software and apps is more important than the potential for cheating or competition.
  • The cost and maintenance of a road bike and smart trainer can be significant, and may not be feasible for everyone.
  • Some people value the simplicity and ease of use of a dedicated indoor bike, and are willing to pay a premium for it.