You’re in the midst of a live Cody ride feeling proud of your metrics. Resistance and cadence look good, and so does your output. You casually look at the leaderboard and notice another rider whose numbers appear to be, let’s say, unreal. Have they figured out a way to calibrate their bike to get better results? Is your bike calibrated incorrectly?
If you think your bike needs an adjustment, it could be time to learn how to calibrate a Peloton Bike. Calibration means that the sensors on the bike are all working properly and in sync with each other so that the metrics you see on your screen reflect your ride details as much as possible.
According to Peloton, before delivery, their bikes are factory calibrated, which means they guarantee the sensors work and are in sync so you see accurate metrics on your screen. While it’s impossible for every bike to be calibrated exactly alike, Peloton guarantees that every bike is calibrated within 10 percent of others. Translation: Those riders high on the leaderboard probably don’t have a better bike than you.
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Because Peloton delivers its bike with this guarantee, the company does not suggest users plan on regular calibrations.
“Most people will never need to calibrate their Peloton Bike,” explains Chris Lewis, founder of Pelo Buddy, a platform for Peloton news and resources for the Peloton community based in Atlanta, Georgia. “However, the Bike+ has a menu option where you can re-run calibration at any point, while the original Bike requires that you order a calibration kit from Peloton.” To order that kit, you need to get in touch with Member Support.
Of course, not all Peloton users concern themselves with metrics. Lots of riders simply pick their class and follow the suggestions of the instructors. For others, the numbers matter a lot. The screen displays your resistance, cadence, and wattage so that you can follow along with the instructor’s suggestions and keep track of your mileage and ride achievements, such as the intensity of your rides. So if you want to make sure you have peak accuracy for those numbers, here’s how to calibrate a Peloton.
How to Calibrate a Peloton Bike
Both Lewis and a spokesperson for Peloton say that your first stop should be the Peloton support page for calibrations. The steps for the original Peloton Bike calibration are slightly different than those for a Bike+. The Peloton Bike+ calibration takes less than a minute because it’s right on the screen. The original Bike requires manual calibration, which takes no more than 20 minutes.
How to Calibrate Your Original Peloton Bike
The original Peloton Bike requires a calibration kit to do the procedure properly, and you need to call the company to get the kit. It includes a calibration wedge and two discs. You'll also need the two Allen wrenches (3mm and 4mm) in your original Peloton toolkit, plus a screwdriver.
- Remove the water bottle holder and sweat guard using a Phillips head screwdriver, and the 3mm and 4mm Allen keys.
- On the console, tap the 3 dots on the bottom right corner. Then tap “About.”
- In the box that appears, tap the top right hand corner 10-20 times until a sensor calibration screen appears.
You will now see a screen that says “Welcome to Sensor Calibration!”
- Tap “Get Started.” Turn the resistance knob all the way to the left and tap calibrate.
- Once you see the minimum resistance calibration, tap calibrate maximum resistance and turn all the way to the right.
- When complete, tap done, and turn the knob all the way to the left.
- Place the calibration wedge tool in between the 2nd and 3rd magnets on the flywheel and turn the knob to rest on the wedge.
- Remove the wedge tool and place both white disks under the resistance knob.
- Ensure that the lines on both pieces match up and are facing the neck of the Bike.
- Tap “next” on the screen to begin the 31-step calibration.
- Press “set” and turn the knob in quarter turn increments until calibration is complete.
- Power off the screen and unplug the Bike. Replace the water bottle cups and front protection guard.
To make sure the calibration was successful, try a class and check if the resistance and cadence levels have updated.
How to Calibrate a Peloton Bike+
The auto-calibration feature of a Peloton Bike+ makes it easier to calibrate than the older bike.
- As soon as you’ve gotten off the bike, avoid touching the resistance knob or the pedals.
- Press the three dots icon on the bottom right of your Peloton Bike+ screen. This will bring up the right-side slider menu.
- The “Device Settings” tab is at the bottom of the list. Click on it.
- Choose “home calibration” in the lower-left corner of the screen. The auto-calibration menu will open.
- Press the red “start calibration” icon in the auto-calibration menu.
- Hang tight for about a minute until it calibrates.
Understanding Your Peloton Metrics
Peloton displays a few key pieces of information on screen, including your calories burned and your place on the leaderboard, as well as the ones described below. The bikes have sensors that measure the flywheel’s speed to track cadence and resistance. The sensors communicate this information, multiple times per second, to the screen so there is very little lag time between your work and what you see on the screen. (This is why calibration can play an important role in making sure you receive accurate numbers.)
The metrics you see on your screen can help you fine-tune your training and improve your performance. Here’s what they mean:
Cadence
Your cadence, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm), is how fast you’re pedaling. If your resistance is up, your cadence may slow down. You’ll know you’re improving if your cadence stays high when you raise your resistance.
Resistance
Resistance, measured as a percentage of the maximum resistance (0 to 100 percent), is your level of difficulty, which can be set by turning the resistance knob. Turn the resistance knob right to increase difficulty and left to decrease difficulty. The Bike+ also comes with an auto-resistance feature, allowing the resistance to adjust automatically to the instructor’s cues (you can override this if the resistance doesn’t work for you).
Output
Your output is measured in watts and reflects your power output. You can increase your output by increasing your cadence, your resistance, or both. Cadence and resistance affect your average power output. If you want to increase your total output and move up the leaderboard, you'll need to keep your output high over the full ride. This may mean increasing your resistance.
The Power Zone training program, found under “Programs,” is one of the best ways to increase your power output. You can also take the “20-Min FTP Test Ride,” which is under the “Power Zone” class type filter. At the end of that ride, you’ll find your average output on the recap screen.
To train to your power zones, add this FTP average power result to your profile settings on the touchscreen. Going forward, you’ll notice a bar below your metrics that lights up in different colors to correspond with your power zones and target output ranges. Everyone on the leaderboard has different output targets.
Donna Raskin has had a long career as a health and fitness writer and editor of books and magazine articles. She bikes in a nearby county park, lifts weights, takes Zumba, and loves to walk/run with her dog, Dolly.
