WWW.BIKERADAR.COM
Stages new SB200 indoor smart bike features two-stage drive system for a more natural ride feel
Stages Cycling has announced details of its first smart bike in seven years. The new SB200 is the first ground-up product launch by Stages since Giant announced the acquisition of the American brand after it filed for bankruptcy in 2024.The SB200 is only the second smart-bike trainer Stages has launched since its debut model, the SB20, hit the market in 2019. It is focused on two key innovations: ahigh-inertia, freewheeling two-stage drive systemand a chassis designed tomove naturally beneath the rider.We have an SB200 for testing a review is coming soon on BikeRadar and the companys global marketing director, Matt Pacocha, says the two-stage drive system delivers high inertia without the need for a heavy flywheel, resulting in what Stages says is an exceptionally smooth and quiet ride. Stages has almost halved the weight of the freewheel for the SB200. Stages Cycling On the SB20, we used a 55lb flywheel to create the inertia, says Pacocha. It did a fine job but we wanted the SB200 to be more practical and mobile, which meant lighter. The new smart bike is said to be much easier to move around. Stages Cycling At 32.2kg (71lb), the SB200 is almost half the weight of the SB20 and comes with [caster] wheels, again for mobility. The two-stage drive system also delivers a more realistic outdoor ride feel.Paired with an electromagnetic brake that provides 400 watts at 40rpm and more than 1,500 watts at 12rpm (with maximum wattage of 2,500 watts), the SB200 is intended to replicate the feel of accelerating, climbing and sprinting on an outdoor bike, heightened by its unique design and semi-circular, wheel-like front end. The controls mimic a drop-bar layout. Stages Cycling Rather than anchoring the bike rigidly to the floor, the SB200s stabilisers use contact points that replicate the front and rear tyre contact patches of your bike, the aim being to allow a little more lateral movement beneath the rider. Interchangeable foot pads also enable riders to fine-tune the feel, from more compliant and responsive to more stable and grounded.Other noteworthy features of the steel-framed SB200 include 10 programmable buttons to optimise virtual-world platforms such as Zwift; an integrated display that shows metrics such as power output, gear, cadence and ride time; protective covers and frame contours that are designed to bead sweat so it doesnt corrode; and adjustable cranks using a patent-pending threaded pedal. This adjustability offers crank lengths of 165, 170, 172.5 and 175mm. The bike comes stocked with accessories that are usually an optional extra. Stages Cycling The SB200 also offers customisable shifting with presets for Shimano, SRAM and Dream Drive.Dream Drive is Stages own preset that enables riders to customise the number of gear steps across a ratio range of 0.5:1 to 7:1, which it says is the equivalent range of a theoretical 70-tooth front chainring and a 10-140 tooth cassette. With so many gears available, the idea is you tap into the perfect gear for your optimum cadence, says Pacocha.You can adjust the seatpost and stem (both height and fore-and-aft), meaning the SB200 fits riders from 4ft 10in (147cm) to 6ft 10in (208cm). It also comes with mounts for your phone, tablet and head unit, and supports the major indoor training apps such as Zwift, Rouvy and MyWhoosh over Bluetooth and WiFi. The SB200 can work with third-party platforms such as Zwift and Rouvy, and its own training app. Stages Cycling Stages also has its own app featuring up to 40 workouts in its training library.The Stages SB200 will retail for 2,100 ($2,399 / 2,399) and Pacocha estimates itll be ready to ship on the following dates: USA: 5 October 2026 UK: 1 November 2026 EU: 9 November 2026
0 Comments 0 Shares 85 Views