By Robbie Ferri, Cyclist, Personal Trainer, and Group Exercise Instructor.
Spin bikes are an amazing tool to get fitter, lose weight, grow confidence, and even make new friends. There are so many on the market, so where do you start when it comes to choosing one? You’re in the right place here, so let us tell you about 8 spin bikes readily accessible in Canada, and spoiler, they are incredible machines.
The Premium Bikes Detailed Reviews
These bikes are the best of the best on the market, and if you are looking for the most incredible experience, these bikes are the ones you should be looking at.
Keiser M3i
The App takes the cycle to another level with compatibility and connectivity. One thing that sets this bike apart from all the others is the incredibly accurate direct power meter, and Keiser makes their unique spinning pedals excellent.
The updated version of the legendary M3, the Keiser M3i isn’t just a spinning
The first thing to mention is the design. You have a beautiful rear facing flywheel and a very simple V-shaped design. It will suit a variety of users and from 4ft 10” all the way to 6ft 5”. It is easy to move around and takes up little floor space.
Related:
1. Keiser M3i Review from an Instructor
2. Keiser M3i vs. Bowflex C6 / Schwinn IC4
3. Keiser M3i vs. Peloton
Then we have the resistance system. It is entirely frictionless and runs a belt drive. This is an incredibly efficient system that requires pretty much no maintenance, and it is also is super quiet. It has open Bluetooth technology and can connect to applications like Zwift and Peloton. One thing that sets this
Bowflex Velocore
Provides the rider with an incredibly realistic riding experience, closely simulating riding outside on roads or up and down your favorite mountain climb.
It can be quite overwhelming when you first see the Bowflex Velocore, and it doesn’t look like a typical studio spinning
Related:
Bowflex Velocore Review from a Spin Instructor
The Bowflex is an absolute machine. The first thing to mention is the rear facing flywheel design and the internal pivot brackets. This means with the Bowflex, you can lean side to side while you ride on the
It has a frictionless resistance system and a belt drive giving you maximum efficiency and a very smooth, quiet ride. The screen is a 22” HD screen, and it uses the JRNY application for all your on and off-the-bike workouts. This does have a subscription cost of $20 a month, but it is amazing. The Bowflex is an amazing machine, and it takes indoor cycling to a new level.
Nordictrack S22i (New)
The bike itself is an incredible machine and has an incline and decline feature, which means when you ride, a motor will raise and drop the front of the bike. The screen is 22” HD and uses an application called iFit for all your live and pre-recorded classes.
If you have been researching spinning bikes, there’s a good chance you would have come across Nordictrack. The S22i is the best
The Nordictrack S22i New Model has a more of a traditional spin
Like the other premium bikes, it has a frictionless resistance system that will challenge even professional cyclists. The screen is 22” HD and uses an application called iFit for all your live and pre-recorded classes. It’s not just cycling. It comes with strength workouts and more to do off the
Echelon EX-5S
New and improved stabilization handles and seat post adjustments including a competition seat with 6' lever-style adjustment, and a precision resistance motor are just a few of the exciting new features you only get with the EX5-S.
If the bikes above are all a bit too much and you are not interested in a lean or incline and decline feature, the Echelon EX-5S is the
The Echelon EX-5S, in my opinion, is one of the best ever looking smart spinning bikes. Another rear-facing flywheel, with all that smooth streamline casing, just works so well. I am a huge fan because they have just kept it simple with the Echelon.
The resistance is smooth and runs a frictionless system with a belt drive like the previous bikes. What is special about the Echelon is the tiny small flywheel. It is so well machined and spins so quickly that it does a better job than bikes with larger flywheels on this list. It’s silky smooth to ride and provides all the resistance you will ever need.
The screen is a large 21.5” screen, and it is equipped with the Echelons application. Just like Peloton, it gives you live classes and pre-recorded. A leader board to challenge others and off-the-bike classes such as yoga, strength and conditioning, and many others. The application cost is $39 a month, the same as a Peloton.
The Budget Bikes Detailed Reviews
These are our budget
Joroto X2
A belt-driven cycling bike that is affordable and well made. Users talk about its great construction quality and the silent operation.
Toronto is a brand you might not have come across before, but they have been around for years in the spinning world. They make an excellent product, and when they design bikes, they take their time and make something very special for a light cost. The Toronto X2 is a fantastic example of this, and I personally think as far as budget bikes go, this is by far one of the best. The first thing to note is the design, it looks great, and the oversized tubing and flywheel do make it stand out. Both handlebars and the seat are four-way adjustable to fit a huge variety of riders.
The
Schwinn IC3
Manufactured from high-quality, durable steel "rounded" to provide more stability and durability. The main downsides are the friction resistance and the lack of Bluetooth for direct sync to apps like Peloton or Zwift.
Schwinn is a huge brand when it comes to spinning bikes and exercise equipment. They make a very high-quality product, and typically they are made to a commercial standard. The Schwinn IC3 is an amazing
Related:
Schwinn IC3 & IC4 Detailed Comparison
The
DMASUN Indoor Cycling Bike
This bike also contains a 42lb flywheel to give you the feel of a traditional outdoor sport in your own home. Comfort is one of the things that makes this bike really stand out.
If you’re a cyclist looking for a winter training machine, this
The small monitor gives basic metrics, distance, time, calories, and a few more. It has space for a tablet to keep you entertained while training. This
Sovnia Exercise bike
The resistance system is a belt drive, and it has a wool friction pad to provide you with the resistance you need for an epic workout.
The Sovnia is an excellent value-for-money
The resistance system is a belt-drive, and it has a wool friction pad to provide you with the resistance you need for an epic workout. You have a basic monitor and tablet holder for entertainment, a great seat, and some well-designed bars that will be great for sitting but, due to the angle, excellent when standing. If you are on a tight budget or just want to try spinning, this
Indoor bikes are a fantastic tool, and I believe we all should have one. They don’t only help you stay in shape, but they also add years to your life. Over my years as a Personal Trainer, I have recommended Exercise bikes to improve the cardiovascular system, improve muscular strength, and aid in rehabilitation.
Different Types of Exercise bikes
Like a regular
| Spinning | Upright | Recumbent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Spinning Bikes look like Road Bikes. They lean the user over into an aerodynamic position and commonly have a large flywheel on the front or the rear. | Exercise Bikes look very basic and unlike a | The Recumbent bikes sit the user back more like they are on a sofa relaxing. The pedals are situated in front of the user. |
| Resistance | Typically a large Flywheel with either Friction brake pad resistance or a Frictionless Magnetic System. | Typically a very small Flywheel with a Magnetic resistance system. Very smooth and quiet. | Typically a very small Flywheel with a Magnetic resistance system. Very smooth and quiet |
| Technology | Spinning bikes can come without any screen at all or can have 22″ high definition screens with live classes on | Usually, Exercise bikes are simple screens with minimal data such as calories, heart rate, time, distance, speed resistance level. | Usually, Recumbent bikes are simple screens with minimal data such as calories, heart rate, time, distance, speed resistance level. |
| Comfort | Many users find Spinning bikes quite uncomfortable to start with but it does get better over time. With more aggressive positions and smaller saddles comes a more challenging workout. | The Exercise | Recumbent bikes are excellent for comfort and sit the user back in a really comfortable position. Commonly used with older or more fragile clients for rehabilitation. |
| Price | They range from as little as $200 all the way to $2800, prices vary on quality and technology. | They can be as little as $100 all the way up to $1500. Price varies on quality and the more you spend the longer it will last. | They can be as little as $200 all the way up to $2000. Price varies on quality and the more you spend the longer it will last. |
| Who Should use this | Road cyclists, Mountain bikers anyone who loves a challenge and is fairly mobile. | If you don’t cycle often but looking to get your cardio in Exercises bikes are perfect as they give the user instant comfort | Anyone who finds cycling normal quite uncomfortable or who is in rehabilitation for injury. Less mobile people will suit Recumbents. |
What you Should Know Before Buying a Spinning bike
When it comes down to buying an exercise
Budget
You don’t have to spend a lot on a spinning
Flywheel
Flywheels come in many different weights. Years ago, the bigger, the better. A large flywheel would make the
I would personally look for a heavy 30lbs flywheel on a friction resistance
Another thing to look out for is front or rear-facing. This means the flywheel is situated at the front or the rear. The front is much safer as you can make sure no pets or children are getting close, but it does mean your sweat can be falling onto it, meaning over the years, you might require more maintenance on the
Resistance
You have two types of resistance when it comes to spinning bikes. You have friction resistance systems and frictionless (magnetic) systems. The friction you create resistance by locking a brake pad onto the flywheel. In frictionless systems, you create an eddy current by pushing magnets close to the flywheel forcing it to slow down.
Friction
Frictionless (Magnetic)
In our opinion, you will get much more out of a frictionless (magnetic) system. Modern bikes these days use Friction systems less and less as they are becoming old technology.
Related: Our Best Magnetic Spin Bikes
Drive Systems
When it comes to Spinning bikes, you also have to think about drive systems. This means how we drive the flywheel around on the internals of the
Chain Drive
Belt Drive
You will get much more from a belt-drive than a Chain drive system. Most bikes on the market now are belt drives, and very few bikes are released with a chain now.
Connectivity
A fantastic feature of many modern-day bikes is that they can connect to applications. You have applications such as Peloton, iFit, Zwift, and many more. If you are looking to use these applications, you need to make sure that your
For example, if you buy a
Adjustability
Many cyclists make a very common error when buying a spinning
You also should look at the handlebars, and you will find they are not all the same. Some handlebars on spinning bikes can only move up and down, not forward and back. It’s always a good idea to check what the
Pedals and Cleats
When it comes to Pedals, you have a few things to think about. There are three different types that you mainly see on spinning bikes. You have clipless, which are just basic
Clipless
Clip in
When it comes to being clipped and going clipless, it’s really up to the user for what they feel best using. I would recommend starting with clipless then going to clip in later. The beauty of pedals is nearly every
Extra Features
Spinning bikes tend to vary in price a lot, and this is because they can not only differ in quality, but they can come with a considerable amount of extra features. On the lower end of budgets, you can find bikes with water bottle holders and tablet mounts. On the higher end of budgets, you get 22″ HD Screens, climbing simulators, fans on the front, power meters, and even automatic resistance control.
It’s always worth looking into what extra features a
Conclusion
There are so many bikes on the market currently, and we all want different things out of our training at home. Every
