The Challenge

A premium bike with a frustrating setup process

Spinning's first power-based bike used ANT+ technology — a protocol incompatible with standard Bluetooth sensors and mobile phones. Getting workout data into the app required users to manually bridge the connection through a specialized heart rate sensor, involving a specific sequence of button presses, physical repositioning, and timing. Left exposed, this process was confusing enough to prevent users from ever seeing their performance data.

The Approach

Masking complexity with high-value visual experience

Rather than simplifying a process that couldn't technically be shortened, I designed an experience that reframed the wait. High-quality imagery and video showcasing the bike's aesthetics and performance capabilities played while the pairing sequence ran in the background. The interface guided users through each physical step with clarity while keeping the visual experience premium and on-brand. The complexity was still there — it was just no longer the thing users were focused on.

The Outcome

Full workout data retrieval where there was near-zero before

The redesigned flow dramatically increased the rate at which users successfully completed the pairing process and received full workout data — watts, cadence, and heart rate — in the app. What had been a technical barrier became a seamless part of the Spinning experience.