It’s possible spend hours in the well-padded gel saddle and tackling classes or sessions in excess of an hour is easily done. Granted, it won’t feel exactly like your road bike, so those looking to get big distance training in might be better off attaching their actual bike to a turbo trainer instead. It lacks the finesse of something like a Wattbike Trainer, Wattbike Atom and Wahoo Kickr Bike due to its spin class-style handlebars. Rather than the typical drop bars found on a race bike, you are instead presented with two enormous bull horns that curve upwards. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to practice your Tour de France tucked aero pose, but it does make it easier to get out of the saddle and find a nice relaxed position for the hands and wrists.
The bike itself is high quality and very adjustable, but what makes it stand out is the Bluetooth connectivity. With the C6, you can connect with apps like Peloton, Zwift, and Schwinn Trainer to join community rides and track progress. The monitor displays time ridden, speed, mileage, heart rate, and resistance level. It doesn’t display wattage or precise RPMs ; however, you can see all that data when connected to third-party training apps.
One thing to note is that some customers notice a slight dragging sensation when peddling at slower speeds. However, with so many great options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which machine to purchase. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.
However, the IC4 only has Bluetooth connectivity compared to the Wi-Fi capabilities of the Peloton. Another difference lies in the 22” swivel monitor from the Peloton versus the LCD backlit display. The Schwinn IC4 comes with included accessories the Peloton doesn’t have, such as 3 pound dumbbells and a heart rate monitor. The back lit LCD display is simple, like what you would find on the Rogue Echo Bike. If you want to view a class with a compatible app, you must utilize your own device. This is obviously different from bikes like Peloton that have an included screen for programming.
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.
All of the other accessories feel very familiar, with both the bars, stem and seat post all easily adjustable via a quick release handle or a screw-in dial. All-in-all, this is a great spin bike but one that could also be used in place of a very basic turbo trainer set-up. Granted, it’s mongoose bicycles not quite accurate enough for hardcore cyclists, but is certainly good enough to smash most fitness goals. They are built with metallic alloy and have shoe clips and toe cages from Shimano. They are designed to avoid the fear of slipping so that you can keep on working at top speed.
The IC4 comes with a pair of 3 pound dumbbells and an attached holder. This is useful for a variety of cycling classes that incorporate upper body workouts into the ride. I haven’t previously seen many of the best exercise bikes in this price range come with included weight. Specifically, the bike offers 25 levels of resistance, 29 built-in workouts, 2 LCD display screens, a media rack, dual water bottle holder, and USB port for charging your device as you ride. This is down to the built-in cadence sensors in the cranks, as well as digital power output that’s hooked up to the resistance, which is added or subtracted via the traditional rotary dial found on most analogue spin bikes. This Bluetooth connectivity also allows for external heart rate monitors to be connected for a better overall picture of effort during workouts.
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 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.