What to Consider When Choosing Your First Indoor Exercise Bike to Stay Active
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Decisions, decisions, decisions. When it comes to indoor exercise bikes, there are hundreds of options out there on the market and the choice of picking out your very first indoor exercise bike can be a daunting task.
Knowing that such a big purchase (in terms of size and price) is no small feat, we reached out to top industry professionals and got their opinions on must have exercise bike features and functionality prior to releasing our very first RENPHO AI Smart Bike which is now available in the USA. Read on for a full rundown of the must have home bike features to consider.
Price Point
How much are you willing to fork out for fitness? The exercise bike market offers choices from as low as $300 to $5,000 and beyond. A Peloton Bike+ retails at $2,500 while a NordicTrack S22i fetches for $1,999—and that's not including additional monthly membership fees which hover around the $60 mark.
| Brand | RENPHO | Peloton | Nordic Track | Sunny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | RENPHO AI Smart Bike | Peloton Bike+ | Commercial S22i Studio Cycle | Synergy Magnetic Indoor Cycling Bike |
| Price | $699 | $2,495 | $1,999 | $612 |
| Core Features | Equipped with enclosed wheels and a smooth freewheel design for added safety | In-workout metrics like power, cadence, resistance and heart rate Workout history, milestone achievements, streaks and badges |
Personalized workout stats AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan 3lb dumbbells included. |
Basic tracking functions (speed, distance, time, RPM, calories, pulse, odometer) Free workout programmes updated weekly on YouTube |
App Connectivity + Memberships
Memberships are great if you can afford the experience. You may find yourself motivated by a community of fitizens looking to sweat it out with all-star coaches leading the charge as members will be able to ride in unison with up to 30 others in spin classes from the comfort of home. Peloton has also expanded its offering with exclusive content from celebrities such as Beyoncé and Shonda Rhimes to attract new members. This is a good fit if you enjoy the SoulCycle experience and got the cash, but arguably not the best value offering in a bike when all the member-exclusive bells & whistles are removed.
Luckily, those looking to see great sights from home will be happy to hear that more and more bikes are offering connectivity to a variety of virtual training experiences such as Kinomap, Zwift, and tons of other popular apps which have upped virtual cycling immersion for indoor riders.
| Brand | RENPHO | Peloton | Nordic Track | Kinomap (App only) | Zwift (App only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Apps | AI Gym | Peloton | iFit | Kinomap | Zwift |
| Cost | Free, no sign-up required | $39/month | $396/year | $97/year | $14.99/month |
| Membership Features | Recorded classes, live classes, scenic rides are available for free without membership | Access to bike classes and strength, stretching, yoga classes | 1-Year iFit Family Membership included Access to bike classes and strength training, full-body, yoga classes |
Access to structured workouts, official challenges, train around the world with thousands of video | Gamification of the riding experience Level up in the virtual worlds of Zwift. Choose from training plans, group rides, races, and more |
Smart Technology
Today's indoor bike shopping isn't just about hardware, it's also what's on the inside that counts which is why software matters too. Displaying your cadence and calories while riding now comes as standard and the smartest smart bikes will go beyond simple body metrics to create tailored workouts personalized to each individual by measuring functional threshold power (FTP) progress.
| Brand | RENPHO | CAROL | Wattbike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | RENPHO AI Smart Bike | CAROL Bike | Wattbike Atom |
| Price | $699 | $2,995 | $2,599 |
| Smart Features |
Tailored to your biometric data and power to provide completely personalized training programs
Resistance automatically adjusts to your level, power output, goals, and cadence to get the best results possible
Ride alongside other users and personal goals as a community with the free RENPHO AI Gym App |
Monitors biometric data to maximize each session Designed for short yet efficient workouts (HITT) $12/month subscription required to access workout data and AI algorithms hosted |
Records workout data in "watts" to improve cyclist performance and help achieve goals Connect to Wattbike Hub, a free training and analysis platform |
Bike Type
While there are many seated-style exercise bikes on the market, another factor to consider is whether you want to stand for a different type of workout such as uphill training. If you prefer a seated workout, its best to determine which type of seated bike is right for you first, check out: What Type of Indoor Exercise Bike is Best for You? before making your final decision.
Size Consideration
Not everyone can accommodate a large exercise bike in their home. Yes, the 22" screen on the Peloton Bike+ and NordicTrack S22i looks great, but that takes up almost 2 feet of free space in your living room—imagine owning a Christmas tree all year round and you get the gist! Perhaps a sleek bike is better suited for your home? If so, there are exercise bikes that can be stored away or smaller upright bikes that simply occupy less space in the household.
| Brand | RENPHO | Nordic Track | CAROL | Wattbike | Sunny |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Peloton Bike+ | Commercial S22i Studio Cycle | CAROL Bike | Wattbike Atom | Synergy Magnetic Indoor Cycling Bike |
| Size & Weight | 4 x 2 feet 64kg |
4.5 x 2 feet 92kg |
4 x 2 feet 59kg |
3 x 1.5 feet 44kg |
4 x 2 feet 46kg |
| Bike Type | Spinning bike w/screen | Studio bike w/screen | Smart bike | Smart bike | Upright bike |
Safety Features
There are 2 types of flywheel designs: open and enclosed. If you are purchasing an indoor bike to be used at home; Peloton, Schwinn, and NordicTrack all have open wheel designs, which can be quite dangerous and cause injuries or damage if the spinning wheel catches objects, fingers or clothing. As a safer option, an enclosed wheel design can better protect the rider and those nearby; this is especially important to consider if there are young children or pets running around the house. Check out: How to Choose the Best Exercise Bike Design for Your Perfect Cycling Workout to also learn about more safety considerations when choosing between a fixed-gear or a freewheel system.
Introducing a Smart Bike That Won't Break The Bank
An affordable, membership-free AI bike that comes relatively compact and with a safe enclosed wheel design. We designed the RENPHO AI Smart Bike as the ideal compromise of all the above points that first-time buyers typically consider before getting to grips with the indoor cycling revolution so they can work out smarter.
We also know that customers may also want to try out virtual cycling experiences at no extra cost, which is which why this bike offers 5 free training courses complete with 70+ classes tailored to each rider entirely membership and subscription free.
It is also able to analyze a rider's biometric output and instantly generate a FREE custom workout plan tailored specifically to your unique needs.
All in all, there's no need to fork over heaps of cash to score an amazing workout. The RENPHO AI Smart Bike enters the market as a fresh option the first-time buyer may want to consider if they’re looking for a smart bike that offers more without entering premium price territory.
