Peloton bikes have digitally controlled magnetic resistance that uses magnets to create tension against the flywheel.
It has three magnets on each side of the flywheel, and by adjusting the resistance knob you either add or reduce the tension.
Today I will talk about the resistance conversion rate between the peloton and Echelon bike.
I also wanna touch on a new way I discovered you can use QZ (qdomyos-zwift) app to display the resistance using the peloton app.
What Does Peloton Resistance Mean?
Recently one of my readers asked me about the resistance conversion rate between the Peloton and other bikes.
(If you’re new around here and don’t know what I’m talking about, for the past few years I’ve used my blog to answer the questions I get from the emails).
In general, peloton resistance is the simulation of riding uphill.
It works by regulating the resistance knob. Turning the dial counterclockwise moves the magnets away from the flywheel, which makes it easier to pedal.
On the other hand, the closer you bring the magnets to the wheel (turning the knob clockwise) the more difficult your pedaling becomes.
Are magnetic resistance bikes good?
It depends.
The magnetic resistance bikes are good because they don’t cause friction from the brake pad on the flywheel when adjusting the resistance.
This helps to minimize the noise and reduce the maintenance needed for the bike.
Peloton resistance levels
The peloton levels range from 1 to 100 and they correspond to the distance between the flywheel and the magnet.
The peloton console is connected to the resistance sensor and displays on the screen the number based on the position of the magnet.
You can see the resistance on the peloton bike in the bottom right of the screen.
See below.
What I like about the peloton is they show you the range of the resistance that is recommended for each ride.
As you can see above, the yellow slider bar (just on top of the main resistance number) shows 25 and 40, which is the recommended level for the class.
They also display your current level, as well as the best for this class.
How does the peloton adjust resistance?
The peloton bike also has the option to enable auto-follow resistance, which means the bike will adjust the resistance digitally for you.
The only thing that I dislike about the peloton resistance levels is you cannot crank up the knob to the point where the pedals don’t move anymore (more on that later).
The resistance is calculated by the built-in resistance meter that tracks the position of the knob. The bike also has a cadence sensor, which when combined with the resistance is used to estimate the power output.
Peloton Resistance Vs Echelon
The peloton and echelon both have digitally controlled magnetic resistance, however, they have completely different ranges.
- The peloton resistance goes from 1 to 100.
- The Echelon bike resistance ranges from 1 to 32.
The resistance on echelon bikes works similarly to other magnetic resistance bikes.
Turning the knob to the right increases the resistance, and turning the knob to the left will reduce it.
The only difference is that you need to press down on the lever to stop the bike.
If you’re using the Echelon Connect Sport or Connect Ex-3 bike you won’t see the resistance levels without using the app because they don’t have a built-in screen.
On the other hand, if you’re using the sport-s, ex-5s, or ex-7 bikes, they all have a screen that displays the resistance.
Does Echelon adjust resistance automatically?
Nope.
The echelon bikes don’t have the option to adjust the resistance automatically.
On the other hand, with the peloton bike plus you can either adjust the resistance manually or by using the auto-follow digital resistance feature.
For me, this is a huge bonus because the peloton bike plus allows me to change the resistance based on the instructor’s recommendations.
Echelon To Peloton Resistance Conversion
Below you can see the conversion chart for the peloton and echelon bike.
| Peloton resistance | Echelon resistance |
|---|---|
| 20 – 25 | 9 – 11 |
| 30 – 35 | 12 – 16 |
| 40 – 45 | 18 – 21 |
| 50 – 55 | 23 – 25 |
| 60 – 65 | 26 – 27 |
| 70 – 75 | 28 – 29 |
| 80 – 85 | 30 – 31 |
| 90 – 100 | 32 |
One difference that I noticed between the peloton bike and the echelon is that the peloton knob is much more sensitive.
This means you only need to turn the knob by 90 degrees to jump from level 20 to 50.
On the other hand, the echelon bike takes more turns on the knob to crank up the resistance.
Another thing I’ve noticed between the two bikes is that maximum resistance on the peloton does feel harder, compared to the echelon bike.
This means that the 32 level on the echelon is not equal to level 100 on the peloton.
How To Convert Peloton Resistance To Echelon
You can convert peloton resistance to echelon using the QZ (qdomyos-zwift) app.
With the app, you can integrate the peloton app, which will allow you to display resistance levels from both peloton and echelon bikes at the same time.
1. Sync peloton account
To sync your peloton account with the QZ app go to your settings, scroll down until you find the section called “peloton option”. You will need to provide your username and password.
2. Restart the app
After you sync your account you need to restart the app to apply the changes.
3. Turn on the app
Turn on the QZ app and you will have an additional metric called “peloton resistance” together with other information.
Normally, the peloton app doesn’t display resistance. It only has a limited input for cadence and heart rate. This option allows you to use the Peloton app and still see your resistance numbers.
Here you can see the full tutorial from Roberto Viola on how she syncs peloton and echelon resistance together.
As you can see, the only downside of this option is that you have to use multiple devices.
Conclusion
As a whole, both peloton and echelon bikes use magnetic resistance. The difference is that the peloton gives you a more micro-adjustable range and option for auto-follow. This means you can control your resistance digitally from the screen.