The Struggles of Fitness Hardware Lockdown: A Developer’s Perspective on Echelon’s Firmware Update

Roberto Viola, the creator of QZ (qdomyos-zwift), recounts his journey of building the QZ app, which aimed to break the proprietary barriers of fitness devices and allow seamless integration with popular fitness platforms like Zwift, Peloton, and Kinomap. In 2020, Viola’s QZ app helped users enjoy greater compatibility, particularly with Echelon’s bikes, treadmills, and rowers. However, a recent firmware update from Echelon in July 2025 has significantly altered the landscape. This update has introduced a server-based lockout, meaning that Echelon devices can no longer function without validating their connection to the company’s servers. This change not only disrupts the open ecosystem QZ helped foster but also raises concerns about the long-term usability and ownership of the devices. Viola highlights the risks associated with cloud-based devices, pointing to examples from the IoT world where the shutdown of servers has rendered products useless. He urges Echelon to offer a solution that allows users to maintain control over their devices, even in the event of a server failure. As a passionate advocate for user independence, Viola’s plea underscores the growing tension between user empowerment and corporate control in the digital age of fitness hardware.