Powered by personalized zones, accountability and an instructor who will push riders to be their best, the Z Bike was designed for studios that focus on unifying their members with color. The configurable console allows for your instructor to design the class around FTP, Heart Rate, or Cadence for an experience that is never the same twice. Although a heart rate armband is included with the Schwinn IC4, I opt to use my Apple Watch to track my heart rate and calories during workouts on the bike, as well as log my workout in Apple’s Activity app. The Bluetooth-enabled bike also pairs with the Peloton app, so you can track your cadence on-screen as you ride. Assembling the Schwinn IC4 is relatively straightforward, but the process is not without its challenges.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Ingrid Skjong is a supervising editor on the appliance team, focusing on the likes of ranges, refrigerators, dryers, and dishwashers. She previously covered fitness for Wirecutter and has been an editor and writer at various lifestyle magazines. If you don’t care about onboard metrics or lots of extras, it may appeal to you.
In addition, we found that it’s possible to hit a knee on a taller water bottle while pedaling—a combination of the slight angle of the water-bottle holders and personal fit. The seat and handlebar adjustments aren’t numbered, so your setting isn’t marked as obviously as on some other bikes. And the seat’s fore and aft seat adjustment uses tick marks, making it a bit easier to eyeball the distance but not as clear as a set of numbers. The bicycle boom of the 70s started bringing in lots of lightweight road bike competition.
Its equipment extras include a 6-by-4-foot exercise mat (a generous size, though it could overwhelm a small space); a 47.5-by-24-inch bike mat; a resistance band, three sets of dumbbells, and a kettlebell (all by SPRI); and a Gaiam 23.5-inch foam roller. (The Myx II, schwinn mountain bike which doesn’t come with the exercise equipment, is also available.) We enjoyed using the equipment and liked the convenience of having it. A Polar OH1 heart-rate monitor is also included, and you are encouraged to wear it (paired to the app) for every workout.
Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the USA, Pacific Cycle has locations in Illinois, California, Toronto (Canada), Poole (UK) and Shanghai (China). Our culture is as fun and lively as the lifestyle brands we represent where innovative ideas are welcomed and customer satisfaction is our top priority. Attaching the pedals was more challenging, however—and not just because they’re reverse-threaded on one side. Overall, I had a pleasant experience with Schwinn’s customer service department and they ultimately fixed the problem by sending a replacement bike. It also has a better warranty than most bikes we tested—10 years on the frame, three years on the parts, and one year on labor.
This time, however, Schwinn decided not to engage into the movement, maily because the company saw the sport as too dangerous and unsuitable with Schwinn’s quality image. The same happened with the mountain-bike culture of the 80’s pioneered by Northern California riders like Michael Sinyard (founder of Specialized), Tom Ritchey and Gary Fisher. What Schwinn didn’t recognize is that trends are often set by minority thinkers, and not by the Number One. Triple Link Pedals accommodate Look, Delta and SPD style cleats to simulate an outdoor riding experience. They easily convert to accept traditional athletic shoes with the snap-in locking toe clips. Unlike Peloton and some Echelon Connect bikes, the Schwinn IC4 doesn’t have its own video screen—just a small LCD display that shows your ride time, distance, RPMs, and heart rate, plus a USB charging port.