And Wirecutter has twice now had more than half a dozen bikes simultaneously parked in the office, most recently in the summer of 2022. Along the way, 15 volunteer testers—from indoor-cycling beginners to aficionados who brought their own shoes—have taken some of the bikes for a spin. The water-bottle holders were the nicest among those on bikes in our test pool, sturdily schwinn bicycles made and positioned conveniently within the handlebars. The seat is a slim racing style, and although it didn’t differ drastically from most of the others we perched on, it wasn’t quite as comfortable initially (but we warmed to it). The Spinning Aero Connected Spinner Bike comes with a cadence sensor, which you attach to the pedal crank (we installed it easily).
We tested several bikes with no connectivity that provide a simpler way to ride. The Peloton app can also work with these bikes, but without the live leaderboard and full real-time stats that many Peloton fans love. The Echelon Connect Bike EX-5 operates through your own tablet (set in a tablet holder), which connects the bike to the $39-per-month Echelon Fit app (iOS, Android) over Wi-Fi or via Bluetooth. It has dual-sided pedals, and the display is very similar to the Peloton Bike’s, including a leaderboard.
This sensor allows you to connect with a variety of apps via Bluetooth to view your real-time cadence. Unlike the Schwinn IC4 and Bowflex C6, this bike has no console. We have had 2 ECOTRIC fat tires bike for 2.5 years and now just purchased The Dolphin.
The bike accommodates riders from 4-foot-11 to 6-foot-5 and has a maximum rider weight of 275 pounds. The handlebars are wide and low and have a subtle texture and a comfortable diameter and overall feel. We rode the bike with cycling shoes compatible with its SPD clips; the bike also has toe-cage pedals for use with non-cycling shoes. The Keiser M3i is a beautifully designed bike with V-shaped handlebars, artful lines, and the ability to connect to a variety of cycling and workout apps. In our tests, the bike connected easily to its Keiser M Series app (iOS, Android), which keeps track of your rides and syncs to other apps like Strava. The bike’s 24 resistance levels adjust smoothly with a lever, and it accommodates one of the widest height ranges (4 feet 10 inches to 7 feet tall) and maximum weight capacities (350 pounds) we’ve seen.
The High Timber comes in two levels of performance – standard and ALX. The standard is basic, and the ALX has upgraded components. They all use 27.5″ tires which makes the bikes fun and agile to be off-road, and they are also equipped with 2.25″ grippy tires to help control. The geometry is comfortable, and this bike is going to be a pleasure to go on and off-road with. These bikes will suit users from 5’0″ all the way to 6’5″ depending on the frame size.
The basic warranty—one year, no labor—is on the chintzy side. You can bolster it for an extra charge, adding one year ($98), two years ($168), or three years ($227). One former Peloton Bike owner told us that, at 5-foot-1, she struggled with fit even after moving the bike’s seat all the way forward. You can find extenders, made by companies unaffiliated with Peloton, that are intended to rectify the issue (we have not tried them).
A small, inward-facing, paddle-like extension at the tip of each handlebar provides a surprisingly satisfying surface to hold during out-of-the-saddle (standing) riding. The Schwinn IC4’s seat didn’t leave much of an impression in our tests—a good sign. During our testing, we rode the IC4 with cycling shoes compatible with its SPD clips; the bike has toe-cage pedals on the flip side for use with non-cycling shoes.