Roberto Viola

How I Built QZ—and How Echelon Is Now Breaking It

cagnulein
Bike locked

Bike Locked

By Roberto Viola, creator of QZ

On September 10, 2020, I began building QZ (qdomyos-zwift), an app born from a simple idea: open up closed fitness hardware and make it work with the platforms people actually love—Zwift, Peloton, Kinomap, and more.

Back then, Echelon devices—bikes, treadmills, rowers—were locked to their own proprietary app. You bought the hardware, but the experience was fully controlled by the company.

That didn’t sit right with me.

A Better Bike, Thanks to QZ

QZ started by adding compatibility with Echelon bikes. But I didn’t stop there. I added auto-resistance, letting users enjoy full integration with Zwift or Peloton—sometimes with a smoother experience than Peloton Bike+ itself.

Then came Echelon rowers. Then treadmills. QZ became a bridge between locked-down devices and the open fitness ecosystem.

For five years, it worked perfectly. QZ helped people get more out of their hardware, and—ironically—it helped Echelon sell tens of thousands of bikes. I myself recommended Echelon as the best indoor bike on the market, precisely because it worked so well with QZ.

Until July 2025

That’s when everything changed.

Without warning, Echelon pushed a firmware update. It didn’t just upgrade features—it locked down the entire device. From now on, bikes, treadmills, and rowers must connect to Echelon’s servers just to boot.

Here’s how it works:

What This Means

This server-based lockout creates three serious problems:

  1. No internet? No workout. Even basic offline usage is impossible.
  2. If Echelon ever shuts down its servers (it happens!), your expensive bike becomes just metal.
  3. QZ—and apps like it—can no longer function, because the device refuses to talk unless Echelon says so.

QZ was built to give users freedom and compatibility. This new system gives them dependence and risk.

My Request to Echelon

I’m not asking for open-source code or deep-level access. I ask for a basic fallback:

Let the device send encrypted data locally, even without internet. That way, users retain basic control, and devices won’t become useless if servers vanish.

It’s not just a nice feature. It’s a responsibility.

A Growing Problem in the IoT World

Sadly, this isn’t new. The tech industry is full of stories where devices died because cloud servers were turned off:

This is the risk of cloud-only hardware. When the servers die, so does your investment.

A Final Word

QZ was made with passion, not profit. It brought life to closed devices. It empowered users. It helped companies grow.

But this new model—where ownership is meaningless without permission from a server—is dangerous. As an Italian, I believe in beautiful, functional things. But they must last, and they must be yours.

Echelon: it’s not too late. Give users a path to independence. Let them ride, row, and run—even offline.

⚠️ Do Not Update Your Firmware

If you’re using an Echelon bike, rower, or treadmill that still works with QZ: do not update the firmware.

The recent updates introduce a non-reversible lockout system. Once installed, your device will:

There is no way to roll back to a previous version. If you update, you lose control forever.

If you care about device freedom, offline workouts, or open compatibility:
Avoid all firmware updates. Disable automatic updates. Stay alert.