The AC Performance Plus uses a 37 lb perimeter weighted flywheel. If you’re of the school of thought that heavier is better, this should be heavy enough to keep you satisfied. If manual workouts aren’t exciting enough for you, you have the option of connecting your device via Bluetooth and using apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. These apps all have a monthly fee but are well worth the cost to have access to thousands of live and on-demand studio classes on Peloton or the interactive virtual training world of Zwift.
The Schwinn’s resistance levels aren’t an exact match of Peloton’s, although there are helpful tips online for converting resistance from Peloton to the IC4. That said, it is up to the user to dictate the resistance level and effort they put in when following along with a Peloton class anyway. The Schwinn IC4 impressed us with its excellent exercise quality that is suitable for all fitness levels. This spin bike is stable and sturdy, with a 40 lb weighted flywheel and 100 micro-adjustable levels of smooth, quiet magnetic resistance. This versatility gives the IC4 a leg up on the competition in this metric.
Once you purchase your Peloton you will either schedule your delivery online, or will receive a phone call. Sometimes the delivery time will have the bike 90% assembled before they get to your house. They will put it wherever you need it to be, and will show you how to use it.
Priscilla Perez, a Spin instructor based in Scottsdale, Arizona, tells SELF that the wider seat and base make for an exceptionally smooth ride. “It has a wide seat so it doesn’t get uncomfortable riding for long huffy beach cruiser stretches of time and has eight tension levels so I can change how hard I’m working out,” she says. This folding exercise bike is also super affordable, with a 300-pound weight capacity and an LCD display.
Here, we asked indoor cycling instructors for the best exercise bikes to use for home workouts, and added some of our favorite SELF-approved models, as well. Emily Collins, a Los Angeles–based indoor cycling instructor at Verve Studios, also notes that you should ask yourself how much support you’ll need. “Can you self-motivate enough to have just a standalone bike, or do you need a full-service bike, such as the Peloton?