Beyond the Walled Garden: The Case for Open Platform Indoor Bikes

You’re captivated by the world of connected fitness. You see the immersive classes, the virtual races, and the data-driven training plans. But you’re also hesitant. The idea of buying an expensive piece of hardware that locks you into a single, mandatory subscription service—a “walled garden”—feels restrictive. What if the classes lose their appeal? What if a better app comes along tomorrow?

There is a powerful alternative. A growing movement in the fitness industry is centered around “open platform” equipment, and the key that unlocks it is a technology called Bluetooth FTMS. Understanding this one acronym can fundamentally change how you shop for an indoor cycle, giving you freedom, flexibility, and long-term value. Let’s decode it, using the smartly designed Horizon Fitness 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle as our guide.

The Walled Garden: The Pros and Cons of Closed Ecosystems

Brands that pair their hardware exclusively with their own software offer a highly integrated, seamless experience. Everything works perfectly together because it was designed to. The downside is the lack of choice. You are tied to their content, their pricing, and their future vision. If you want to try a different service like Zwift for virtual racing, you’re often out of luck. You’ve invested in the hardware, but you don’t truly own your fitness experience.

The Universal Translator: What is Bluetooth FTMS?

FTMS (Fitness Machine Service) is a standardized Bluetooth protocol. Think of it as a universal language that all fitness machines and apps can agree to speak. Instead of a proprietary signal that only one app understands, an FTMS-enabled machine broadcasts your workout data in a universal format.

This means a bike with FTMS, like the Horizon 7.0 IC, can connect to a huge variety of third-party fitness apps. It’s the difference between buying a TV that only plays movies from one studio versus a smart TV that lets you log into Netflix, Disney+, and any other streaming service you choose.

How the Horizon 7.0 IC Puts Freedom into Practice

The 7.0 IC is a perfect example of the open platform philosophy. When you ride, its console transmits all the critical metrics that interactive apps need to create an immersive experience:

• Cadence (RPM): How fast you’re pedaling.
• Resistance Level: Your current intensity setting (from 1-100).
• Power (Watts): The most accurate measure of your actual work output.
• Heart Rate: Transmitted from the included heart rate armband for precise training.

When you join a class in one app, the instructor might say, “Hold 90 RPM at a resistance of 50.” Your 7.0 IC sends that data to the app, so you can see your performance in real-time. If you join a virtual race on Zwift, your power output (watts) determines how fast your avatar moves through the digital world. The FTMS connection makes all of this seamless. You get the interactive experience without the restrictive hardware.

Build Your Dream Setup: A World of Apps Awaits

With an open platform bike, you are in control. You can mix and match apps based on your mood and goals:

• For Virtual Racing and Group Rides: Connect to Zwift, the largest virtual cycling platform, and ride with thousands of athletes from around the world.
• For Instructor-Led Studio Classes: Apps like Peloton Digital (the app-only version) can be used with the 7.0 IC. While it won’t have the fully integrated leaderboard of the Peloton bike, you’ll get the class instruction and can see your own metrics.
• For Realistic Routes: Apps like Rouvy or FulGaz use real-world video footage that syncs to your effort, letting you climb the Alps from your living room.

You can subscribe to one app for a few months, then switch to another, all while using the same high-quality hardware.

Conclusion: Invest in the Hardware, Not the Ecosystem

The connected fitness revolution is here to stay, but you don’t have to be locked into a single ecosystem to be a part of it. By choosing a well-built indoor cycle that embraces open standards like Bluetooth FTMS, you are making a smarter, more future-proof investment. A bike like the Horizon Fitness 7.0 IC gives you the durable, high-performance hardware you need, but puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to your software and subscription choices. You’re not just buying a bike; you’re buying the freedom to build your own perfect fitness experience, today and tomorrow.