How To Tell If Peloton Is Calibrated Correctly?

How to tell if Peloton is calibrated correctly? If you’ve just bought a Peloton bike, you must be marveling at the perks of it.

However, learning how to calibrate it correctly is also necessary to make the most out of it.

Telling whether your Peloton bike is calibrated correctly depends on the resistance knob’s position and the resistance points shown on-screen. Calibrating is a matter of adjusting the knob manually on the Bike and setting the system to do so automatically on the Bike+.

Regardless of the Peloton model you’ve got at home, ensuring it is correctly calibrated will make all the difference when you set yourself an exercise schedule.

How To Tell If Peloton Is Calibrated Correctly

How do I know if my Peloton is calibrated correctly? Calibrating the classic Peloton Bike is an important matter, and it involves getting to work.

You will need a few tools and some knowledge to find the correct position for the calibrating knob.

Remember that there are two Peloton models available: Bike and Bike+. Bike+ is calibrated automatically, so we will cover how you can check if it is still calibrating correctly and if its automatic features are still working.

How To Calibrate The Classic Peloton Bike

Before getting to the step-by-step process, it is necessary to talk about how the calibration works. 

The classic Peloton bike’s calibration deals with regulating the resistance numbers (1 to 100) between where the resistance knob is and how far apart the magnet brackets and the flywheel are.

When calibrating the Bike, the numbers will appear on the Peloton screen.

These Bikes need to be calibrated such that the readings received from the resistance corresponding to the intended output.

Your Bike is likely under-calibrated if your output is much greater than average. Too low of a reading indicates that your Bike is over-calibrated.

The Resistance Knob 

When you adjust the knob, the Peloton screen will show some numbers. Each position must correspond to an exact number.

As you move it counterclockwise, the numbers will get higher, up to 100.

Learn About Resistance Points

There is an indicative dot on top of the P written on the knob.

So here is the list of how many resistance points each position must add to the resistance shown on-screen from the lowest:

• Top position: 0 resistance points
• Left position: 4 resistance points
• Down position: 7 resistance points
• Right position: 12 resistance points
• Top position again: 15 resistance points

As you can see, each position change varies in how many resistance points are attributed.

However, one full 360-degree turn will always add 15 resistance points, so you can take that as a good metric.

How To Know The Resistance Is Correct

There are two simple ways of checking that the resistance is correct. First, simply pay attention to the numbers displayed on the Peloton screen.

If, for example, you’ve just started calibrating, twisted a whole 360-degree, and the Bike shows more or less than 15, something is off.

Second, when you turn the knob until it can’t be turned any longer, the screen should show 100 resistance points. If it doesn’t show that, the calibration is also off.

Alert: The issue with an uncalibrated bike is that all the readings from the Bike will be inaccurate, making your exercise sessions less informative. 

Also, in the long run, you could start exercising with less strength than ideal.

The Tools To Calibrate

When you discover that your Peloton bike requires calibration, you must get the calibrating tool kit that came with it. 

In case you don’t remember, Peloton sends a tool kit (free of charge) when you buy the Bike.

It is helpful for calibration and other adjustments that could be necessary down the road.

The exact tools you will use are:

• Calibration kit;
• Philips head screwdriver;
• 3mm Allen key;
• 4mm Allen key.

Alternative Tools

Suppose you don’t remember where you’ve stored your tools. That’s not an ideal scenario, but it is known that you can use a few other items to replace the calibration tool kit.

Those include:

• Sticky tape;
• Ruler;
• Pen.

The sticky tape must be a bit thick, matching the proper tool’s thickness. You will use it when it is time to adjust the resistance knob.

Since the tool kit’s wedge has marked corners, you will use the ruler and pen to mark each corner.

Ensure you mark each one 90º apart from the other.

How To Calibrate (Step-By-Step)

Once you have all tools at hand, do the following:

1. Grab the Phillips screwdriver and Allen keys;
2. Remove the water bottle;
3. Remove the sweat guard;
4. Go to the Bike’s console and tap the three dots;
5. Now tap “about”;

Get To The Calibration Screen

Next, a box should appear. You must tap it between 10 and 20 times in the top right corner.

When you do it successfully, a screen should show up with a message saying, “Welcome to Sensor Calibration.”

1. Touch on “Get Started”;
2. Turn the knob to the left as much as possible;
3. Click on “Calibrate”;
4. Now touch “Calibrate max resistance”;
5. Adjust the knob to the right as much as possible;
6. Click on “Done”
7. Adjust the knob to the left again;

Finish The Calibrating Process

Now it is time to use the calibration tool kit:

1. Insert the wedge-shaped calibration tool between the second and third magnets on the flywheel;
2. Turn the knob, so it rests on the wedge;
3. Pull the wedge out;
4. Put the white disks under the knob;
5. The lines on both disks must match and face the Bike’s neck;
6. Click “Next” on the screen;
7. Choose “set”;

Now it is necessary to turn the knob in quarter increments. At the same time, the Bike’s smart components calibrate it and analyze whether the Bike has been recalibrated.

The smart console will let you know once the procedure is through.

Once done, all you have to do is turn the Bike off and reassemble the water bottle and sweat guard. 

Tip: Turn the Bike on again and do a quick test to see if it has been calibrated.

How To Calibrate Peloton Bike+

Although the Bike+ is “smarter” than the classic Bike, you might need to calibrate it eventually. 

The Bike+ is equipped with auto-calibration, which doesn’t mean it calibrates automatically at all times, but it calibrates automatically when prompted to.

During the calibration process on the Bike+, you must not touch the pedal or the knob.

Then, do the following:

1. Touch the three-dotted symbol on the smart screen;
2. Select “device settings”;
3. Select “home calibration” to open the menu;
4. Press “Start calibration.”

The calibration takes about a minute. Then, if everything goes fine, you can start pedaling again. 

How To Know If Calibration Is Correct

Even though the calibration on Bike+ is automatic, there are still some metrics you can pay attention to so you know whether the calibration is correct.

Here is an excellent guideline you can follow as a Peloton calibration test:

• A cadence of 100rpm at 45 resistance level must display 215 watts.

If you pedal at 100rpm at 45 resistance points, but the Bike shows anything different from 215 watts, you must calibrate it.

Suppose you put the Bike to auto-calibrate itself, but the numbers are still off. In that case, you must contact Peloton to request a technician’s visit.

Never Use The Bike Tools On The Bike+

Remember, you don’t need any tools for calibrating the Bike+. 

If you’ve had a classic Bike before and still have its tool kit, trying a calibration on the Bike+ the same way is not recommended. 

When doing that, you could displace important inner parts, making the software-hardware communication faulty.

Read Next: How Do Garmin Watches Measure Stress?

What We Learned

How to tell if the Peloton bike is calibrated correctly? Telling whether your Peloton bike is calibrated depends on the resistance points attributed each time you turn the resistance knob.

Sometimes the knob might be miscalibrated, and then you will need the software and tools to help put it in place.