Best 8 Spin Bikes / Indoor Cycles in Canada

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

Our Top Pick

New Keiser M3i (Canada)

4.7

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.

Price & Reviews Buy from Keiser

The updated version of the legendary M3, the Keiser M3i isn’t just a spinning bike. It is a work of art. Just looking at it, you can tell it is made to an incredibly high-quality standard and will perform well. Keiser is an American brand, and all the bikes are built in the US under their supervision. 

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. Nordictrack S22i
4. 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 bike apart from all the others is the incredibly accurate direct power meter, and Keiser makes their own unique spinning pedals which are excellent.

Bowflex Velocore

Best Peloton Compatible

Bowflex Velocore 16 & 22 IC (Canada)

4.8

Provides the rider with an incredibly realistic riding experience, closely simulating riding outside on roads or up and down your favorite mountain climb.

Price & Reviews Buy from Bowflex

It can be quite overwhelming when you first see the Bowflex Velocore, and it doesn’t look like a typical studio spinning bike. It is quite the unit, but it has some incredible features and does one thing very few other spinning bikes can.

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 bike. It gives so much to the experience, and the bike has a very realistic feel. It can suit users from 4ft 6” all the way to 6ft 6”, and as far as spinning bikes go, it does take up a lot of floor space but can be easily moved.

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)

Nordictrack S22i (New Model)

4.4

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.

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If you have been researching spinning bikes, there’s a good chance you would have come across Nordictrack. The S22i is the best bike they make and has some amazing features that, in my opinion, make a Peloton look basic.

The Nordictrack S22i New Model has a more of a traditional spin bike style to it compared to the Keiser or the Velocore. 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. This makes those standing climbs feel epic, and in the online classes, the instructor does it all automatically for you, along with the resistance. 

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 bike. The application does cost $39 a month for a family plan, but it is worth it. It has Bluetooth connectivity for all your devices, such as headphones and heart rate monitors.

Echelon EX-5S

Echelon EX5-S Smart Connect Fitness Bike (Canada)

4.2

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.

Price & Reviews Buy from Echelon

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 bike for you. Echelon is probably Peloton’s largest competitor, and I feel if their bike had come out sooner, they might be the larger brand.

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 bike selections. You don’t have to spend a lot to get an excellent bike, and they are still going to give you an incredible workout.

Joroto X2

Our Budget Top Pick

JOROTO X2 Bike (Canada)

4.3

A belt-driven cycling bike that is affordable and well made. Users talk about its great construction quality and the silent operation.

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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 bike itself has a belt drive, and unlike the IC3 above, it has that magnetic resistance. It’s not a cheap system either it offers great structure and can really challenge you when riding it. It comes with a small monitor for basic metrics like time, distance, and calories. It has a twin water bottle holder for those long sessions and even a flat space for a tablet if you want to watch a program or even follow a spinning class.

Schwinn IC3

Budget Runner-Up

Schwinn IC3 Bike (Canada)

4.5

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.

Price & Reviews Buy from Schwinn

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 bike, and it’s excellent that Schwinn offers a bike at this price. It has a traditional spinning bike look and is made of excellent quality. The Flywheel on this bike weighs a huge 40lbs, and a strong belt drive system powers this. 

Related:
Schwinn IC3 & IC4 Detailed Comparison

The bike does use a friction system, so it has a brake pad to create resistance on the flywheel. Instead of a common leather pad, it is high quality felt. The Schwinn does come with a small monitor where you can track basic metrics like time, calories, distance, and a few other metrics. It doesn’t offer any Bluetooth connection, but it’s ideal for a simple spin bike in front of the TV and will last a lifetime.

DMASUN Indoor Cycling Bike

DMASUN Indoor Cycle

4.5

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.

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If you’re a cyclist looking for a winter training machine, this bike is for you. Unlike many spinning bikes, it has been made not just to be excellent for spinning but also to give road bike positions for the user. The bike itself looks amazing, and the matt black finish with red detailing is stunning. The bike has a magnetic frictionless system and also a belt drive for smooth cycling and to challenge you further.

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 bike has an inbuilt heart rate monitor to see how hard you’re working, and I love the road bike drop handlebars. They give you an extra aero position. The saddle is extra cushioned, and the bike will be very comfortable to ride.

Sovnia Exercise bike

Sovnia Exercise Bike

4.5

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. 

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The Sovnia is an excellent value-for-money bike that we highly recommend because for what you get, many other bikes struggle to get anywhere near its price. Although the bike is half the price of many others on this budget list, it still packs a serious punch. The first thing to mention is that it looks fantastic. The oversized tubing and low down weight give the bike a lot of stability, and the 35lbs flywheel is nice and heavy.

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 bike is amazing because it’s such great value for money.

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 bike, you get a lot of different exercise bikes on the market, and they come in vast amounts of shapes and sizes. You will typically see a few different types of exercise bikes in your local gym or online if you are looking at ordering one. What are the different types to look for?

What you Should Know Before Buying a Spinning bike

When it comes down to buying an exercise bike, it’s essential to get what’s right for you. If you have the right bike, you will spend much more time on it, you will hit your fitness goals much quicker, and you will enjoy being on it. Spinning bikes are a minefield when you’re trying to pick the right one. The best way to go is to break it down to understand what you will get out of the bike.

Budget

You don’t have to spend a lot on a spinning bike to have something excellent. People often think you have to have a budget for a Peloton to have something good when you don’t. There are many alternates to a Peloton. For as little as $300 you can get a Spinning bike with a data screen which with the Peloton Application would give you a very similar experience. Spend what you can afford and no more.

Flywheel

Flywheels come in many different weights. Years ago, the bigger, the better. A large flywheel would make the bike stable and give a heavy friction resistance, and now you can achieve the same from a smaller flywheel with magnetic resistance. 

I would personally look for a heavy 30lbs flywheel on a friction resistance bike, and a magnetic anything 15lbs and upwards will give the bike a fantastic feeling to it. If you hear the term an evenly weighted flywheel, this means it spins better and is a very high-quality flywheel that will be much lighter but highly efficient.

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 bike. Rear-facing flywheels sit behind you at the back and are not in the rider’s view, which means you have to make sure it’s safe behind you at all times.

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 bike. We have two types, chain drive, and belt drive. A chain drive is like what you might see on a pushbike, but heavier duty. A belt drive is what you will typically see on an exercise bike.

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 bike can connect via Bluetooth or ANT+ to the device you’re using, such as a tablet. 

For example, if you buy a bike to connect to the Peloton application, it will need Bluetooth. You can add parts to a bike that isn’t compatible to link it with the Peloton application, but it can end up costing more. Check your bike is compatible with what you want it for before buying it.

Adjustability

Many cyclists make a very common error when buying a spinning bike by not checking that it will fit them. Always check the height limitations as some bikes will only work for cyclists who are 6ft 5″ and lower. You will also find some bikes with a minimum height of 5ft. 

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 bike is capable of before purchasing.

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 bike pedals with toe straps. You have clip-ins which are commonly known as Look, Delta, SPD, or SPD-SL. These are the different types.

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 bike is compatible with any pedal as they practically all use the same standard thread. 

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 bike may have, as this can completely change the experience that you will get out of it. There are many bikes on the market, such as the original Peloton, which is actually a reasonably basic bike on the surface, but with all the extra features, it comes in well worth the money they want to charge.

Conclusion

There are so many bikes on the market currently, and we all want different things out of our training at home. Every bike on this list is of excellent quality, and we would be proud to have it in our own homes. They have the Girl Bike Love seal of approval.