Schwinn AC Performance Plus Indoor Cycle Review

The IC4 is built around an impressively stable and beefy steel frame, even under the hardest out-of-the-saddle pedaling efforts. The frame supports a belt-driven 40 lb weighted flywheel with 100 levels of magnetic resistance. With so many resistance levels, you can micro-adjust it to get precisely the challenge you want during your workout, and there is ample range for riders of all fitness levels. During testing, we rarely turned the resistance above 70, which was plenty challenging for quad-busting intervals.

If you’re someone who knows how to exercise at your own pace or is willing to look up exercises on an app or a tablet, you’ll be able to make it work perfectly. This bike is just as sturdy and durable as others on the market, but it’s on the more affordable side for those looking to work out without breaking the bank. The AC Performance Plus has a max weight capacity of 300 lb, which is pretty standard for spin bikes. Some heavy-duty cycles can hold users up to 350 lb, but 300 lb is pretty much the industry standard. The seat provided on the AC Performance Plus is a standard bicycle seat. If you’re uncomfortable on other indoor cycles or road bikes, you’ll likely find this one uncomfortable as well.

schwinn spin bike

It takes several minutes to remove the protective packing materials from the bike and all its parts, and the majority of the remaining assembly is relatively standard. The printed directions are detailed and easy to follow, and all of the tools and hardware huffy beach cruiser needed are included. The star of the show is its connectivity and functionality with third-party training apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. Additionally, this bike comes with loads of user-friendly features that help to enhance your workout experience.

The monitor on this bike will track your time, speed, distance, calories, RPM, and pulse. Extra perks include a dumbbell holder for your weights, floor stabilizers to keep the bike level, and a tablet stand that sits behind your performance monitor so you can watch Netflix while you cycle. huffy beach cruiser “This bike is going to ride smoothly and is easy to set up,” says Bianca Matamoros Koonce, a Spin instructor at CycleBar Chandler and Paradise in Arizona. The much more affordable C6 delivers an open-platform, Bluetooth-connected fitness experience with a high-performance build.

You are also able to adjust the level digitally with the press of a button. The USB port is an awesome add-on for a bike that requires the use of a separate device. I love being able to charge my phone or tablet while completing a ride without the worry of my device dying mid-ride. As bikes with high tech features tend to cost more, it’s important to decide which features you feel are worth paying more for. While Schwinn offers two models, the Airdyne AD6 is the best overall option, as you get many of the same features as the AD7 but at a more affordable price.

Often found in small gyms and spin studios alike, the AC Performance Plus is a home fitness bike that can stand toe to toe with most commercial grade machines. Having ridden bikes without these – and having experienced the difficultly in stopping the motion of a flywheel and getting twisted legs in the process – we appreciated this feature. 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.

It is the result of the power reading being an estimation based on cadence and resistance as opposed to an actual power meter reading. There is a process to recalibrate the resistance on the IC4, which may help normalize the power output reading on Zwift, although it seems unlikely that it would make it completely accurate. This is not to say that recreational Zwifters should avoid this bike, but those who seek to compete virtually would be better off looking into more accurate smart trainers or using power meter pedals. The abovementioned issues are related mostly to the fact that this is a spin bike. Spin workouts are typically high intensity and focus on cadence and resistance instead of distance or power. The Peloton app is a bit different since their studio workouts are based on spin bikes using cadence, resistance level, and perceived effort.