Schwinn IC8 is a very solid exercise bike that is good for beginners. Dual bottle holders and space to hang dumbbells mean it wouldn’t seem out of place in a spin class, but it also packs embedded cadence, power and resistance sensors for those who want to get more serious. Several years ago, a company named Gates introduced a concept never before seen on outdoor bikes – a belt drive that performed like a chain. Their innovative system – called Carbon Drive™ – features a carbon fiber reinforced belt with teeth for maximum durability and true bike performance. Over time, this has transitioned from a novelty system to a mainstream solution used on hundreds of outdoor bike models today.
The ACTIVE Reviews Team is made up of fitness experts that include athletes, coaches, and certified trainers who bring years of knowledge and experience to each review. More importantly, each member of our team is a fitness enthusiast. Therefore, we strive to bring you products that we trust and would personally use. Schwinn’s IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike comes with a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate tracker, a pair of three-pound weights, built-in media rack, and USB charging port.
If you don’t already have a tablet and cycling shoes, you may have to factor those costs in as well. Considering that it has nearly 4,000 reviews on the Schwinn website (averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars) and the approval of two smitten Greatist editors, let’s just say people LOVE this bike. This is the one you want if you’ve got schwinn spin bike Peloton taste and a thrift store budget. With your own tablet and a subscription to one of the many apps this bike is compatible with , you’re ready to roll. Now, let’s dive into (Schwinn-to?) the best exercise bikes Schwinn Fitness has to offer. In case you haven’t noticed, indoor cycling is basically taking over the world.
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 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.
Best of all, every bike in Schwinn’s catalog costs less than $1,000, so you can get a good workout without giving your wallet one too. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The use of this website means that you accept the confidentiality regulations and the conditions of service. The transport wheels make it relatively easy to move around, and there are levelers in all of the feet.
Having canceled our gym memberships during lockdown, both of us had been relying on the outdoors for regular cardio, but once it started to get cold, that couldn’t last. We were about to buy the Schwinn IC4 when we discovered the IC3, Schwinn’s older, but still quite capable, indoor bike for only $600. The IC4 has a full color backlit LCD console, dual link foot pedals with toe cages or clips and a pair of three-pound dumbbells.
However, it will never be as accurate – so if exact power output measurements are important to you, you’re better off looking to more cyclist-orientated options, as opposed to general fitness bikes. In a group fitness format, it allows students to focus on endurance, strength, and high-intensity training in a non-competitive atmosphere. There’s no question that app integration is a major selling point for the Schwinn IC4 indoor cycling bike. If you’re already a big fan of JRNY or Peloton, or have been looking for a chance to get on board, this bike may be just what you’ve been looking for. But even if you’re less interested in app-assisted workouts, this is a great piece of indoor fitness equipment that should provide more than enough adjustability for a comfortable, performance-enhancing workout.
Beyond its connectivity, the IC4 comes loaded with valuable features. Both the seat and handlebar have loads of adjustability, both up and down and fore and aft. It comes with a performance-oriented seat as well as a sizeable multi-position handlebar. Below the handlebar are two bottle holders with cradles to hang the included 3 lb hand weights. It comes with dual-function pedals that have cages on one side and SPD clips on the other, so you can choose the footwear that’s best for you, plus they come with SPD cleats.
First, we noticed that the speed and distance readings on the bike’s own display seemed too high; in fact, they were way off. We like to think we are fast, but we also know that we average mph on an actual road ride, not even close to the 27 mph the IC4 recorded. If you base your indoor training rides on speed, distance, or calories burned, this bike will not be giving you accurate readings. Likewise, with Zwift, it has an exceptionally high power output reading that makes you seem superhuman.
[The Schwinn also includes three-pound weights.] And while it doesn’t have the fancy, 22-inch touchscreen that Peloton provides, you can use pretty much any phone or tablet to connect and stream classes. The bike itself needs to be assembled, and though my husband and I are not the handiest of folks, we managed to put it together mongoose bicycles with minimal effort. That said, if you’re on the hunt for your own at-home bike, be sure to prioritize what your basic needs are — many of them might be met by relatively affordable options. Maybe you want to easily adjust the bike’s resistance, move its handlebars or just need something quiet for nighttime sweats.