Set Up Your Bike

Pick your bike. The steps below change to match it. Guided Setup in the SmartSpin2k Companion App covers these same steps on your phone.

Your bike

Before you start

  • Everything in the box: SmartSpin2k, arm, bike mount, knob insert, shifter, breakout cable, power adapter, O-Rings and velcro straps.
  • A phone with the Companion App installed.
  • Your bikepower meter, awake and not connected to another app.
  • In the box: SmartSpin2k, arm, bike mount, knob insert, shifter, breakout cable with the Peloton Sensor and Peloton Tablet connectors, power adapter, O-Rings and velcro straps.
  • A phone with the Companion App installed.
  • A small flat screwdriver for the cable retention clip on the back of the Peloton tablet.
  • A decision on Tablet Mode or Headless Mode. Part 2 explains both.
    • Tablet Mode: keep taking Peloton classes on the tablet, or run the Grupetto overlay.
    • Headless Mode: SmartSpin2k reads the bike on its own. The Peloton tablet is not needed for rides.
  • The parts from the box: SmartSpin2k, arm, bike mount, knob insert, shifter, breakout cable, power adapter, O-Rings and velcro straps.
  • A phone with the Companion App installed.
  • One power source: the Bike+ tablet with Grupetto installed (Part 4 covers installing it), or power meter pedals fitted to the bike.

Part 1 · Install the hardware

1
Install the Bike Mount
Bike mount with its nut and bolt fitted to the front tube of a spin bike, with close-ups of the O-Ring and velcro strap options

Assemble the bike mount with the nut and bolt. Attach it to the front tube of your bike with the O-Ring or the velcro straps.

2
Install the Arm
Arm fastened to the side of the SmartSpin2k with a nut and bolt

Attach the arm to your SmartSpin2k with the included nut and bolt.

3
Add Knob Insert
Knob insert pushed up into the bottom of the SmartSpin2k

Press the knob insert into the bottom of your SmartSpin2k.

4
Mount the SmartSpin2k
SmartSpin2k lowered onto the resistance knob of a spin bike while the hook on its arm latches into the bike mount

Place your SmartSpin2k over the resistance knob of your bike. Latch the hook on the arm into the bike mount from step 1.

5
Install Shifter
Shifter strapped to a handlebar with an O-Ring, with a close-up of the O-Ring behind the shifter

Strap the shifter to your handlebar with the included O-Ring. Place it where your hand reaches it while you ride.

6
Connect Cable
Cable labeled Shifter plugging into the jack on the side of the shifter

Plug the Shifter connector into the jack on the shifter.

7
Turn on Your SmartSpin2k
Large breakout cable connector pushed onto the SmartSpin2k cable connector, then shown fully joined

Plug the Power connector into the power adapter, then plug the adapter into the wall. Connect the large breakout cable to your SmartSpin2k. The LED lights turn on.

Part 2 · Connect the cables

Connect the cables
Breakout cable diagram. The wall adapter plugs into the Power connector and the shifter plugs into the Shifter connector. The Peloton Tablet and Peloton Sensor connectors are crossed out. An inset shows the cable plugged into the SmartSpin2k.

Plug the Power connector into the power adapter and the Shifter connector into the shifter. Leave the Peloton Tablet and Peloton Sensor connectors unplugged.

Connect the cables
Breakout cable diagram with Power plugged into the wall adapter and Shifter plugged into the shifter. The Peloton Tablet and Peloton Sensor connectors are crossed out.

Plug the Power connector into the power adapter and the Shifter connector into the shifter.

Do not connect the cables labeled Peloton Sensor or Peloton Tablet to your bike. These wires are intended for the original Peloton Bike and should not be connected to the Bike+.

The switch on the side of the SmartSpin2k does nothing for your bike. Leave it where it is.

Connect the cables
Breakout cable diagram. Power runs to the wall adapter, Shifter to the shifter, and the Peloton Tablet and Peloton Sensor connectors branch off the cable into the SmartSpin2k.

Plug the Power connector into the power adapter and the Shifter connector into the shifter. The next steps connect the bike’s sensor cable.

Sensor wiring

1
Release the Sensor Cable
Back of the Peloton tablet with the cable retention clip open and the sensor wire pulled down out of its port

Unlatch the cable retention clip on the back of the Peloton tablet. Use a small flat screwdriver if needed. Unplug the sensor wire from the tablet.

2
Connect to the SmartSpin2k
Bike sensor wire plugging into the connector labeled Peloton Sensor on the SmartSpin2k breakout cable, with a close-up of the label

Plug the sensor wire into the Peloton Sensor connector on the SmartSpin2k breakout cable.

3
Connected
Bike sensor wire joined to the Peloton Sensor connector, with the retention clip on the back of the tablet still open

Leave the cable retention clip unlatched for now.

Side switch

The bike sends power data to one device at a time, either the Peloton tablet or the SmartSpin2k. The side switch on the SmartSpin2k body picks which one.

Tablet Mode (switch UP): Pick this if you still take Peloton classes or want the Grupetto overlay. The tablet requests the data and SmartSpin2k listens.

Headless Mode (switch DOWN): Pick this if you do not plan to take Peloton classes. SmartSpin2k talks to the bike directly. The tablet can still run other apps.

  • 1
    Flip the Side Switch UP
    Side of the SmartSpin2k with arrows pointing up at the side switch, and a close-up of the switch in the UP position

    Slide the side switch on your SmartSpin2k to the UP position.

    2
    Connect the Peloton Tablet Cable
    Connector labeled Peloton Tablet plugged into the tablet port the sensor wire used, with the sensor wire joined to the Peloton Sensor connector below

    Plug the SmartSpin2k cable labeled Peloton Tablet into the tablet port the sensor wire used.

    3
    Re-latch the Cable Retention Clip
    Cable retention clip swung shut over the Peloton Tablet cable and the other tablet cable

    Snap the cable retention clip back into place over the wires.

  • 1
    Flip the Side Switch DOWN
    Side of the SmartSpin2k with arrows pointing down at the side switch, and a close-up of the switch in the DOWN position

    Slide the side switch on your SmartSpin2k to the DOWN position.

    2
    Leave the Peloton Tablet Cable Disconnected
    Peloton Tablet connector left unplugged beside the bike and crossed out in a close-up, while the sensor wire stays joined to the Peloton Sensor connector

    Do not plug the Peloton Tablet cable into your bike. Coil it out of the way.

    3
    Re-latch the Cable Retention Clip
    Cable retention clip swung shut over the one cable still plugged into the tablet, with the sensor wire joined to the Peloton Sensor connector below

    Snap the cable retention clip back into place over the remaining tablet cable.

    Going back to Peloton classes later? Move the side switch UP and plug the Peloton Tablet cable back in first.

Part 3 · Connect the app

  1. Install the SmartSpin2k Companion App from the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Open the Companion App. On first launch, Guided Setup opens. Follow it to the end, or tap Exit Setup at the top right to continue with this page.
  3. On the Find Your SmartSpin2k screen, tap SCAN.
  4. Tap CONNECT next to your SmartSpin2k.
  5. The Device screen opens. The header shows the device name and firmware version.
Guided Setup welcome screen with the Exit Setup button at the top right
Guided Setup. Exit Setup is at the top right.
Find Your SmartSpin2k screen with the SCAN button
Find Your SmartSpin2k
Find Your SmartSpin2k screen listing a SmartSpin2k with a CONNECT button
Tap CONNECT
Device screen with the device name and firmware version in the header
The Device screen

If your SmartSpin2k is not listed, see Can’t find your SmartSpin2k.

Part 4 · Choose your power source

SmartSpin2k starts with Saved Power Meter set to none. Pick your bikepower meter once. SmartSpin2k reconnects to it on every ride.

  1. Wake your bikepower meter. Pedal a few turns. Close any other app connected to it.
  2. In the Companion App, on the Device screen, tap Settings, then Bluetooth.
  3. Tap Saved Power Meter.
  4. Tap SCAN. Scanning takes up to 20 seconds.
  5. Tap your bikepower meter in the list. A Schwinn IC4 or Bowflex C6 appears as IC Bike.Pedals appear under their brand name.
  6. Tap SAVE.
Settings screen with the Basic, Bluetooth, Network, and Advanced tiles
Settings
Bluetooth settings screen listing Saved Power Meter and Saved HRM
Bluetooth settings
Saved Power Meter screen with IC Bike selected in the scan list, above the SCAN and SAVE buttons
A Bluetooth bike selected
Saved Power Meter screen with a pair of power meter pedals selected in the scan list, above the SCAN and SAVE buttons
Power meter pedals selected

There is nothing to pick on this bike. The sensor cable from Part 2 feeds power and cadence to the SmartSpin2k. Leave Saved Power Meter set to none. It is on the Device screen under Settings, then Bluetooth.

In Tablet Mode the bike sends data only during a ride. Start a ride on the Peloton tablet (Just Ride works) or open the Grupetto overlay before you check the numbers. In Headless Mode, pedal.

Grupetto, installed on the Peloton tablet with OpenPelo, is optional on this bike and shows live cadence and power during non-Peloton rides.

The Bike+ does not send power and cadence on its own, so pick one source.

  • Grupetto is a free app for the Bike+ tablet that sends power and cadence over Bluetooth.

    Installing Grupetto changes the software on the Bike+ tablet. Watch the full video before you start. It begins at the Grupetto step.

    1. Install Grupetto on the Bike+ tablet with OpenPelo, following the video.
    2. Open Grupetto and turn on BLE TX in its settings.
    3. Pedal a few turns. Grupetto shows live cadence and power.
    4. In the Companion App, on the Device screen, tap Settings, then Bluetooth.
    5. Tap Saved Power Meter.
    6. Tap SCAN. Scanning takes up to 20 seconds.
    7. Tap Grupetto FTMS in the list.
    8. Tap SAVE.
    Saved Power Meter screen with Grupetto FTMS selected in the scan list and the SAVE button
    Grupetto FTMS selected

    Leave Grupetto open while you ride.

  • Power meter pedals, such as Favero Assioma or Garmin Rally, appear in the Companion App under their brand name.

    1. Fit the pedals following the maker’s instructions.
    2. Pedal a few turns to wake them.
    3. In the Companion App, on the Device screen, tap Settings, then Bluetooth.
    4. Tap Saved Power Meter.
    5. Tap SCAN. Scanning takes up to 20 seconds.
    6. Tap your pedals in the list.
    7. Tap SAVE.
    Saved Power Meter screen with power meter pedals selected in the scan list and the SAVE button
    Power meter pedals selected

Part 5 · Check the numbers

  1. On the Device screen, tap Virtual Shifter.
  2. Pedal for a few seconds. Your bikepower meter wakes and starts sending data.Tablet Mode: start a ride on the Peloton tablet (Just Ride), or open the Grupetto overlay. Headless Mode: pedal for a few seconds.Grupetto: pedal with Grupetto open and BLE TX on. Pedals: pedal a few seconds to wake them.
  3. The status line changes from WAITING FOR TELEMETRY to LIVE TELEMETRY. POWER and CADENCE show your numbers.
Virtual Shifter screen with POWER and CADENCE readings
Captured in demo mode. On your phone the status line reads LIVE TELEMETRY.

If your numbers still show zero after 20 seconds, see No power or cadence numbers.

Part 6 · Test the shifter

  1. On Virtual Shifter, tap Shift up. The resistance knob turns and VIRTUAL GEAR goes up by one.
  2. Tap Shift down. The knob turns back.
  3. Press the up button, then the down button, on the shifter on your handlebar. The gear number follows.

Shifter reversed?

If the up button on your shifter lowers the gear, swap the direction.

  1. On Device, tap Settings, then Basic, then Swap Shifter Direction.
  2. Flip the switch, then tap SAVE.
Basic settings screen listing Swap Shifter Direction
Swap Shifter Direction switch with the SAVE button

If the knob does not move when you shift, see Knob does not move.

Part 7 · Optional: heart rate and WiFi

Heart rate monitor

SmartSpin2k can relay your heart rate to your training app. This helps on Apple TV, which allows only a few Bluetooth connections.

  1. Put on your heart rate monitor so it starts broadcasting.
  2. On Device, tap Settings, Bluetooth, then Saved HRM.
  3. Tap SCAN, tap your monitor in the list, then tap SAVE.
Saved HRM screen with a heart rate monitor in the scan list and the SAVE button

WiFi

WiFi lets SmartSpin2k download firmware updates and gives compatible training apps a faster connection.

  1. On Device, tap Settings, Network, then WiFi network.
  2. Enter the Network name (SSID) and Password of a 2.4 GHz network.
  3. Tap Save to SmartSpin2k, then tap Reboot now in the Reboot SmartSpin2k? dialog.
WiFi network screen with Network name (SSID) and Password fields and the Save to SmartSpin2k button

Part 8 · Your first ride

  1. Close other apps. Only one app can control the SmartSpin2k at a time. Quit other training apps before you start.
  2. Plug in your SmartSpin2k. The status light comes on.
  3. Wake your bike.Wake your power source. Pedal a few seconds. Your bikepower meter wakes and SmartSpin2k picks it up over Bluetooth.Tablet Mode: start a Just Ride on the Peloton tablet, or open Grupetto. Headless Mode: pedal a few seconds. With the tablet unplugged, the Peloton app cannot see your bike.Open Grupetto and check BLE TX is on, or pedal to wake your pedals. Pedal a few seconds. Grupetto or your pedals show live cadence and power.
  4. Pair SmartSpin2k in your training app. Pick SmartSpin2k for Power, Smart Trainer or Controllable, Cadence, and Heart rate if you paired a monitor through it. See pairing steps.
  5. Calibration is optional, and needs Grupetto. The Bike+ knob has no end stops, so SmartSpin2k calibrates from the resistance Grupetto sends. With power meter pedals alone, skip it. See Calibration.Calibration is optional. SmartSpin2k rides fine without it. Run it once to save your knob’s range and keep the ERG Power Table between rides. See Calibration.

Every ride: plug in, pedal a few seconds, then open your training app.