Learn me: spin bikes

SWMBO was wanting a treadmill, but after disovering all the new one we found required a subscription to I-fitness(?) to even turn on we decided to pass. Good thing, as her doc told her last week that a spin bike would be better for her knees. 
 

I've seen the Peloton commercials. She isn't ever going to partake in an online(or IRL) group session. However, her doc said there are free vids on YouTube so she's planning on using this. 
 

In a nutshell, is "spin bike" just the 21st century spin - pun intended - on "Exercycle"? Or is their something other than networking that makes it special?

Technically a "spin bike" is the specific type of exercise bike used in Spin classes.  It has a heavy (45 lbs or more) flywheel and fixed gear drive- no coasting.  Resistance comes from brake pads tensioned against the sides of the wheel by a user-turned knob.   Peloton and the cheaper alternatives add a monitor screen and speakers so you have an all-in-one workout setup that they can charge you a subscription to get classes on.

Of note, if she has problematic knees, the heavy flywheel on spin bikes, coupled with clip-in shoes or overtight toe straps can put some odd loads on knees.  Lifecycles and other gym bikes do allow coasting, so may be better for her situation.  If you already have actual bikes, you can mount one of them to an indoor trainer and have a bike that already fits you.  Trainers have a huge range, from $75 magnetic resistance cheapos up to thousands of dollars for full indoor cycling simulators (see Zwift, Rouvy, and Road Grand Tours to see what options there are for ride simulation on the more capable "smart trainers.")

In for more knowledge on spin bikes/trainers. My wife and I are also in the market. 

In reply to travellering :

Thanks for explaining the details!

She does have a nice bike. She's ridden it all of maybe 6x in 10+ years. I'll try to guide her towards one that's comfortable, and not worry about the features as much. If it has a place to put her tablet that's great, but if not I'll add something for her. 

As someone who works in the bicycle retail industry, and personally is focused on outdoor riding, I don't have a ton to add, except that that the Peloton comes with a Look Delta-compatible pedal, which is *ancient* technology for the shoe/pedal interface (like very-early-80's) and was nearing extinction for outdoor riding by the early 2000's, but somehow came surging back with indoor riding. I guess it might not be all that bad for just indoor riding, but it doesn't offer any float options (do you like your knees?) plus it is limiting in terms of replacement part options/availability, and limiting if you want one pair of cycling shoes for both indoor and outdoor riding.

I'm not sure there is a great auto racing analogy, but is is kinda like there is a boom in sim-racing all of a sudden, and these folks getting into the sport through this channel buy a sim racing rig that requires using goggles and stringback gloves, plus a low-back bucket seat.

You don't say what your budget is. If you're looking for a decent budget bike, here's what I picked up last fall and it's been really solid for me: Yosuda flywheel bike

Now that the weather is improving I'm using it it less since I can get exercise outside, but I used it pretty much every day November through to April. Still going strong.

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

If she already has a bike, then an inexpensive resistance trainer may make more sense.  

In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :

Ian F brings up a great point. There are a lot of good options for an indoor trainer for use with an existing bike, and this route can be a money-saver, especially for folks wanting to dip their toes in the water. 
Trainers with internet or Bluetooth connectivity are known as smart trainers and will allow use with virtual-riding-experience apps or virtual group rides/training sessions, with specifics varying from trainer to trainer and platform to platform. Some of the more expensive smart trainers have built-in variable resistance, which isn't essential for enjoying virtual riding, but certainly adds to the experience. There are also regular-old trainers which are good for riding a regular bicycle indoors while listening to music, audio books, watching tv/movies, or just sweating and staring at the walls, depending on your preference. When using a wheel-on trainer with a standard bicycle, don't forget to monitor rear tire pressure regularly, and consider swapping to a trainer-specific rear tire, or at least one with smooth tread, thick rubber, and durable construction for the best results.

ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) said:

As someone who works in the bicycle retail industry, and personally is focused on outdoor riding, I don't have a ton to add, except that that the Peloton comes with a Look Delta-compatible pedal, which is *ancient* technology for the shoe/pedal interface (like very-early-80's) and was nearing extinction for outdoor riding by the early 2000's, but somehow came surging back with indoor riding. I guess it might not be all that bad for just indoor riding, but it doesn't offer any float options (do you like your knees?) plus it is limiting in terms of replacement part options/availability, and limiting if you want one pair of cycling shoes for both indoor and outdoor riding.

I'm not sure there is a great auto racing analogy, but is is kinda like there is a boom in sim-racing all of a sudden, and these folks getting into the sport through this channel buy a sim racing rig that requires using goggles and stringback gloves, plus a low-back bucket seat.

No big deal. Change the pedals. 

I have Shimano SPDs on my Peloton. 

Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

If she already has a bike, then an inexpensive resistance trainer may make more sense.  

If she goes this route, just make sure you swap the tire to one for trainers. Otherwise it will last a week. 

My wife has a smart Wahoo that has served her well. She really likes it and alternates between that and the Peloton. The Wahoo was about $300 if I remember correctly. She uses it with a Swift subscription. 

Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

If she already has a bike, then an inexpensive resistance trainer may make more sense.  

She hates it. She's not a cyclist/rider at all. And although I picked out & setup her bike for her size, she's not comfortable riding it because her feet don't touch the ground when she stops. I tried explain that lowering the seat will be brutal on her knees, etc. but it falls on deaf ears. 

I'm not opposed to spending money on a decent spin bike, but I also know there's a stron probability it'll be sitting unused in a couple months, just like the 2 previous treadmills & recumbent Exercycle before it. 

If the bike she has fits her well, putting it on a trainer removes the need to touch the ground.

I think even a nice direct drive (remove the rear wheel and install the bike on the trainer so the chain drives the trainer's cassette; much quieter than tire drive) smart trainer is way less than a Peloton bike, and she can play with all the different platforms for training.

I'll probably get one eventually, but I've been getting 80% of the functionality out of a $40 Craigslist fluid trainer, a $250 Craigslist power meter wheel, and probably $75 in an ANT+ dongle for my laptop and a cadence sensor (the last really optional, but I like the accurate cadence).

I do wish I had the direct drive and the smart trainer's "erg mode" where it varies the resistance to follow the workout, and all you have to do is maintain target cadence.

I guess I wonder whether using the hated road bike will sully the whole arrangement, even though I feel like it's much preferable to a spin bike.

In reply to CLH :

That Yosuda looks promising to me. I forwarded it to her, thanks!

travellering said:

Of note, if she has problematic knees, the heavy flywheel on spin bikes, coupled with clip-in shoes or overtight toe straps can put some odd loads on knees.  Lifecycles and other gym bikes do allow coasting, so may be better for her situation.  If you already have actual bikes, you can mount one of them to an indoor trainer and have a bike that already fits you.  Trainers have a huge range, from $75 magnetic resistance cheapos up to thousands of dollars for full indoor cycling simulators (see Zwift, Rouvy, and Road Grand Tours to see what options there are for ride simulation on the more capable "smart trainers.")

I tried one of the heavy flywheel stationary bikes. Gave it away to a friend. I couldn't find a balance between too much/too little resistance. Too much resistance made my knee hurt more and too little had me spinning my legs like crazy. 

I got a Concept 2 rowing machine. It's VERY therapeutic for my knee. I ride my bicycles outdoors when the weather permits.

Alright bros, open up your brain holes because here comes some learning:

• Add-ons for a street bike are not applicable in this situation.  Pete stated that the wife hates her street bike.  Add-ons are going to make it even taller and more intimidating.  

Best suggestion is to sell the street bike if its not getting ridden.  Bike market is hot hot hot.

• Anything besides a used club level machine is a waste if this is serious.  Pelotons are a mid-level home machine with good marketing.  I wouldnt trust the Chinabay Amazon stuff and resale on it is nonexistant.  

Used club-level machines cost what a new home-level machine does, but you can sell them for what you pay for them when it doesnt pan out.  

In reply to 93gsxturbo :

As much as I would love to see her stick with it, I honestly don't have much hope that she will. If a cheap stationary bike opens up specific problems that need rectified, then we'll have a better idea of what to look for on the next one. But I really doubt it will get to that point. 

My wife bought herself one of the NordicTrac / IFit bikes for Christmas last fall. Thought I would never use it. Turns out 5 months later I am down 12 lbs and in the best shape in years. I have heard the Ifit platform has more "tours" than the Peloton platform which is more class based. I have "biked" on every continent but Antarctica and even started doing some of the live classes. You will find instructors you like, and ones you don't both in the tours and in the live classes. There are some of the instructors in the hill climb ones I can't keep up with. Yes I know you are not really aren't going uphill but when you get to a 14-15% gradient it sure feels like it.  

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to 93gsxturbo :

As much as I would love to see her stick with it, I honestly don't have much hope that she will. If a cheap stationary bike opens up specific problems that need rectified, then we'll have a better idea of what to look for on the next one. But I really doubt it will get to that point. 

All the more reason to buy high end used vs low end new.

With a high end used its at the bottom of its depreciation and you can sell it on since there is a market for  it.  Low end new you end up taking 100% of the depreciation and the used market is a lot less.  If you have the up-front cash, used high end will always be a better deal.  

Look at it this way.  You can buy a used high end bike for $800.  Use it for 2 months and sell it for $600.  $200 loss.  Or a new low end bike is $400.  Use it for 2 months and sell it for $200.  Still a $200 loss.  At least with the high end one, you gave it the best attempt you could.  

Its kind of the same way with a new Bikes Direct bicycle vs a used name brand bike.  In a typical market no one is searching for a used Gravity, Windsor, or Motobecane.  They are looking for Treks, Specializeds, and Giants.  

I bought a echelon bike a couple of months ago. The user experience is great, the quality of the bike is great. I'm selling this week because the 45$ a month fee is stupid high. 

Get a used Expresso bike. They're much better quality than anything consumer targeted and with the variable resistance to simulate hills they are a close approximation of really riding a bike.

Because the seat on my spin bike was so uncomfortable, I stopped using it! Even a gel cover couldn't make it any better. I read the reviews and decided to give this LINGMAI bike sea a shot, and I'm so glad I did. Easy to put together, extremely comfortable, and soft!

I was just talking to another cyclist about home stationary bikes yesterday.  I use my road bike on a rear wheel contact mag trainer. It's serviceable but it rumbles a good bit. No way a non-cyclist would be happy. I use my normal tire and yeah, it wears it some but unless you're spending hours a day on the trainer or running super soft tires it won't wear out that fast. 

The guy I was talking to said he tried a Peloton at a hotel on a business trip and it was the smoothest running stationary bike of any he's ever tried. He travels a lot and always uses the hotel gym, so that's a wide comparison. He said it was so nice to ride that he would actually consider buying a Peloton or the knock off version and not paying the monthly fee. To hime it was almost worth the price tag. 

Our company gym just bought a mid range Schwinn "spin bike" that I've used a couple times. I guess it's ok if you've never ridden a real bike but I wasn't overly impressed. 

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ultraclyde said:

 

The guy I was talking to said he tried a Peloton at a hotel on a business trip and it was the smoothest running stationary bike of any he's ever tried. He travels a lot and always uses the hotel gym, so that's a wide comparison. He said it was so nice to ride that he would actually consider buying a Peloton or the knock off version and not paying the monthly fee. To hime it was almost worth the price tag. 

 

I just had to move a Peloton. That thing had to weigh 150lbs!