If you bought a smart gym bike thinking it would last you a few years without much interference, Echelon has other plans.
This week, users discovered that a new firmware update quietly disabled core functions of their Echelon fitness equipment unless it stays online and tethered to Echelon’s servers. What was once a relatively independent piece of hardware has effectively become a monthly subscription box. Without internet access, the machines stop working. That includes basic features like speed tracking or Bluetooth pairing. In many cases, the update also broke compatibility with widely used third party apps.
So much for owning the product you already paid for.
A New Kind of Lock In
The change came to light through Roberto Viola, developer of the QZ fitness app, a tool that helps users connect Echelon bikes and treadmills to apps like Apple Health, Peloton, Strava, and Zwift. His app, used by thousands of riders, became unusable after the update.
Viola explained that the new firmware forces every machine to log in to Echelon servers on startup. The server sends a rotating unlock key. Without that signal, the bike refuses to function. No metrics. No resistance data. No Bluetooth. Not even a basic manual workout.
That is not an exaggeration. If the company were to shut down tomorrow, every connected product they ever sold would become an expensive decoration.
And if that sounds dramatic, it is not hypothetical. Users are already reporting that their bikes no longer sync with anything unless they are online and logged in to Echelon’s own app.
Whose Machine Is It, Anyway?
The update raises a question that goes far beyond gym equipment. What do you actually own when you buy a connected product? And what happens when the company that sold it decides to change the rules?
Many users were unaware that their machines could be modified remotely in ways that cut off functionality. They are learning the hard way. If you are not using Echelon’s subscription service, your bike is now less capable than it was yesterday.
The problem is not just about features. It is about control. Users who once had the freedom to pair their device with other platforms now find themselves locked into a single experience. That experience comes with a subscription fee starting at forty dollars per month. For many, that was never part of the plan.
One user on Reddit put it simply. “A large reason I got the Echelon was because of QZ. I have put thousands of miles on this bike since 2021. And now it is broken.”
Competition or Control?
Echelon did not respond to requests for comment. But the motive is not hard to guess. The QZ app enabled users to bypass Echelon’s paid service and stream workouts from other platforms. It also unlocked features like automatic resistance, data syncing, and integration with popular tracking tools.
That freedom undercuts Echelon’s ability to monetize its user base. The company wants riders inside its own platform, where every workout is part of a closed ecosystem. This means more user data, tighter engagement, and recurring revenue.
So the update may not be a technical accident. It looks a lot more like a strategic pivot.
Viola, who built QZ solo and charges a one time fee of less than ten dollars, said he never intended to compete with Echelon. “This is just competition,” he told Ars Technica. “The best product should win.”
And yet, his tool is now unusable for many.
A Pattern in Consumer Tech
Echelon is not the first company to cripple hardware with a software update. The playbook has shown up everywhere from printers to cars. Locking features behind software gates. Cutting off compatibility. Collecting data in the background. The model is simple. You own the hardware. They own the experience.
That shift is not just annoying. It changes the fundamental relationship between buyer and seller. You may think you own the product. But after a few remote updates, you are renting it from a server you cannot see.
Worse still, if that server ever goes offline, so does your investment.
The Community Response
Viola says that users are already working on a fix. A new open source controller is in the works to help riders regain access to their equipment. But it is in early development, and many are stuck in the meantime.
“I just wanted users to have a great hour of fitness when they choose, without connection issues, subscriptions, or limits,” he said.
Not all Echelon customers used QZ. But this update has become a warning for everyone. The next time a company sells you a smart product, remember this story. And ask yourself who really gets to decide when it works. Because if the answer is not you, maybe you did not buy it at all. Maybe you just licensed it. And maybe it can be taken back. Quietly. Permanently.
Link to full breakdown by Scharon Harding HERE