The IC4 has an included heart rate monitor band and 3 pound dumbbells, which the IC3 does not. The IC3 uses friction pads versus the IC4, which uses magnetic resistance and is generally quieter. The Peloton bike has both a larger footprint and overall weight compared to the IC4. However, the IC4 only has Bluetooth connectivity compared to the Wi-Fi capabilities of the Peloton.
It also comes with a Bluetooth heart rate armband to monitor your pulse during your workout. For over a decade, the Schwinn has set the standard as the cycle studio workhorse. The sturdy steel frame, heavy perimeter weighted flywheel, traditional huffy beach cruiser chain drive, and direct pressure brake give this bike the strength to keep it moving ride after ride. The Schwinn IC 4 is among the most expensive exercise bikes we’ve ever tested, but we still feel it is an excellent value.
And since 1965, Schwinn has also built indoor bikes for cardio health and muscle training. Prefer the feeling of shifting gears outside to increasing or decreasing the resistance on an indoor bike? Schwinn has diversified business interests mongoose bicycles which also includes the Schwinn home fitness products, and here you will find the recumbent and upright bikes, elliptical trainers and the treadmills. They also have indoor equipment such as the rowers, airdyne and the classic cruiser.
Below the handlebar are two bottle holders with cradles to hang the included 3 lb hand weights. It comes with dual-function pedals that have cages on one side and SPD clips on the other, so you can choose the footwear that’s best for you, plus they come with SPD cleats. The front stabilizer has integrated transport wheels that make it easy to move this heavy bike around, and all of the feet have independent levelers to help stabilize it on uneven surfaces. Resistance is controlled by an adjustment knob below the handlebar, and there are 100 micro-adjustable levels of smooth, quiet magnetic resistance.
Overall, the bike provides a smooth ride and, even when I’m rocking from side to side, remains sturdily in place. The U-shaped handlebars offer a variety of ways for me to place my hands when riding and I found it easy to adjust the bike to my 5-foot-3-inch frame. With my current setup, I’m only able to view my heart rate and cadence on-screen during rides, not my output like Peloton bike users are able to see. Some Schwinn IC4 riders use the Kinetic app to track their output levels during rides, though I have not tested that myself. The more affordable C6 Bike from Bowflex comes equipped with a screen — or a backlit LCD for tracking metrics — magnetic resistance that allows you up to 100 levels of resistance and pedals built with toe cages.