If you don’t already have a tablet and cycling shoes, you may have to factor those costs in as well. Considering that it has nearly 4,000 reviews on the Schwinn website (averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars) and the approval of two smitten Greatist editors, let’s just say people LOVE this bike. This is the one you want if you’ve got Peloton taste and a thrift store budget. With your own tablet and a subscription to one of the many apps this bike is compatible with , you’re ready to roll. Now, let’s dive into (Schwinn-to?) the best exercise bikes Schwinn Fitness has to offer. In case you haven’t noticed, indoor cycling is basically taking over the world.
You also have the option of setting a time, distance, or calorie workout goal through the bike’s console. Other perks are a 15-year warranty on the bike frame, along with a sturdy stainless steel frame, though this one doesn’t have an LCD monitor like others do. This lightweight aluminum frame has a six-magnet brake system for smooth braking and friction-free wear.
Josh Taylor, a global brand ambassador for the online fitness site Spinning, recommends finding an indoor cycling bike that puts you in the same position as the bike you’re accustomed to riding outside. For example, if your daily rider is a road bike, look for an indoor cycling bike with a handlebar option that both incorporates a traditional bullhorn bar and mimics the hand-position options of drops and brake hoods. However, if you’re already used to taking studio classes, an indoor cycling bike with just the traditional bullhorn-style bar will work great, says Ben Sharp, power education specialist at Stages Cycling.
When he’s not doing a Peloton ride, my fiancé rides to action movies using the adrenaline rush of battle scenes to hype him up. He says he likes the bike so much that on mild winter days when he could go for an outdoor huffy beach cruiser ride, the draw of the IC3 is enough of a temptation to keep him in. Several years ago, a company named Gates introduced a concept never before seen on outdoor bikes – a belt drive that performed like a chain.
Schwinn IC8 is a very solid exercise bike that is good for beginners. Dual bottle holders and space to hang dumbbells mean it wouldn’t seem out of place in a spin class, but it also packs embedded cadence, power and resistance sensors for those who want to get more serious. Several years ago, a company named Gates introduced a concept never before seen on outdoor bikes – a belt drive that performed like a chain. Their innovative system – called Carbon Drive™ – features a carbon fiber reinforced belt with teeth for maximum durability and true bike performance. Over time, this has transitioned from a novelty system to a mainstream solution used on hundreds of outdoor bike models today.
If Schwinn can iron out its massively inflated power/output stats and appease the Zwift/Sufferfest/TrainerRoad users, it will be a mighty fine all-rounder and worthy of a full five stars. As previously mentioned, I’ve spent time with Peloton Tread, so have access to the Peloton training app. Previously, I have hopped on the turbo trainer and enjoyed heart rate and schwinn spin bike cadence read-outs via a bunch of external sensors I own. The biggest issue has been keeping up the the class instructor’s resistance suggestions. On a standard geared road bike, this is simply a case of guesswork. In fact, Zwift forums are abuzz with complaints of Schwinn static bike owners “cheating” because the power outputs of the bikes are greatly inflated.
Having canceled our gym memberships during lockdown, both of us had been relying on the outdoors for regular cardio, but once it started to get cold, that couldn’t last. We were about to buy the Schwinn IC4 when we discovered the IC3, Schwinn’s older, but still quite capable, indoor bike for only $600. The IC4 has a full color backlit LCD console, dual link foot pedals with toe cages or clips and a pair of three-pound dumbbells.
The resistance dial is fairly accurate and offers increments from in single digit clicks. These can be difficult to achieve in exact amounts, but a slight twist usually only sees the figure jump by three or four at a time, which should be accurate enough to keep up with a Peloton class. I’ve not been able to try the Peloton Bike and this Schwinn IC8 back-to-back, but the resistance units used suggest it replicates those barked out by fitness instructors on the Peloton app. The handlebars also have two bottle cages on them and, if you wanted to, cradles for 1.5kg dumbbells. I like a nice close bike fit so it’s easily overcome by just adjusting the handlebars slightly further away from you.
First, we noticed that the speed and distance readings on the bike’s own display seemed too high; in fact, they were way off. We like to think we are fast, but we also know that we average mph on an actual road ride, not even close to the 27 mph the IC4 recorded. If you base your indoor training rides on speed, distance, or calories burned, this bike will not be giving you accurate readings. Likewise, with Zwift, it has an exceptionally high power output reading that makes you seem superhuman.
You’ll need to supply your own phone, iPad, or smart-TV hookup to stream classes. (I use an old, cracked iPad.) There’s a built-in holder on the handlebars, a USB outlet for charging, and an arm-strap heart-rate monitor. The Myx II Plus has a 21.5-inch swiveling touchscreen tablet on the front of the bike — its in-unit workout classes will give you on-screen data as you ride, including heart rate, speed and distance, the brand says. You can choose between white and black colorways and different weight levels in its included dumbbells and kettlebells.