During the manufacturing process, Peloton Bikes are affixed to a dynamometer (“dyno”) — used to measure torque on a drivetrain. The dyno is able to measure and record the actual power Output (Watts). These Output values are then stored on the Peloton Bike sensor control board to be accessed during each ride.
Each Bike is equipped with Hall effect sensors for measuring flywheel rotational speed (to capture cadence) and resistance. The sensors reference the Output values on the sensor control board and communicate these values to the Peloton HD touchscreen multiple times per second during a ride.
The Peloton Bike does not take direct, instantaneous readings of Output. These readings are taken at the time of manufacture and due to manufacturing variability, we expect ~10% Bike-to-Bike variability in Output readings. The Peloton leaderboard and Output readings are intended to be fun and useful tools offering directional performance measurement that helps riders motivate and achieve their individual fitness goals.