Muscle Insider
New member
Firing up a virtual course on one of the best exercise bikes can offer more than just a boatload of burned calories. Whether it’s a world-famous route, a custom ride powered by Google Maps, or a digital race with a thousand of your closest friends, the best exercise bikes with virtual courses work to create immersive experiences and...
The post Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses appeared first on BarBend.
Firing up a virtual course on one of the best exercise bikes can offer more than just a boatload of burned calories. Whether it’s a world-famous route, a custom ride powered by Google Maps, or a digital race with a thousand of your closest friends, the best exercise bikes with virtual courses work to create immersive experiences and perhaps the motivation boost you need to hit your fitness goals.
With so many options out there, how can I know which is best for me? So glad you asked. The BarBend team of fitness pros and cycling fiends has been spinning the pedals on bikes with virtual programming for years. Whether you’re keen on racing through the French Alps, cruising down the coast in Malibu, or rehearsing for a real-world race, we rounded up the best options on the market. Check out which of the bikes in our list have the virtual goods to help you reach your fitness goals.
The 6 Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses for 2024
About Our Expert
This article has been reviewed by Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC a certified personal trainer, certified nutrition coach, and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She reviewed the research we cite to help ensure we’re providing helpful, accurate descriptions and recommendations.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses
After years of assembling, moving, riding, and dripping sweat on — sorry for the visual — over 20 exercise bikes, the BarBend team of certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, gym owners, and USA Weightlifting coaches knows what separates the studs from the duds. As we scrutinized the bikes that made our list, we made sure to detail our experiences on the types of virtual courses each brings to the table.
After testing a bike, we scored it across 13 different categories on a scale from 1 (boo) to 5 (hooray). From their tech capabilities and dynamic programming to adjustability and value, rest assured that each of these bikes has been put to the test. Check out a few of the factors that helped these bikes with virtual courses make the cut.
Dynamic Programming
As the technology on at-home exercise bikes becomes more advanced, the best fitness apps are offering more than just classes. Sure, you can still sweat through HIIT and Tabata classes, but you can also partake in interactive scenic rides led by trainers, virtual races that can help prepare you for the real thing, and even gamified experiences like Peloton’s Lanebreak.
BarBend lead video reviewer Jake Herod, NASM-CNC, selecting an iFIT class on the NordicTrack S22i.
We made sure to include options that support all kinds of training. If you have a real-life road race coming up, iFIT’s Google Maps integration can let you practice on the actual route you’ll be riding. If competition is what fuels you, gamified training where you routinely try to best your top score can help keep you motivated, as can leaderboards and virtual high fives. The options on our list provide multiple avenues for this kind of immersion.
Display Type and Size
Not everybody wants an HD touchscreen in their face as they sweat, but vibrant visuals and premium sound can help transport riders out of their gyms and onto the dusty hills and seaside trails of scenic rides and competitive races. We prioritized bikes with screens around 20 inches to help bring those virtual courses to life. Some displays tilt and rotate, while others employ a curved design to provide a deeper sense of immersion. (1)(2)
[Related: The 8 Best Exercise Bikes with Screens]
Outside of the virtual cycling courses, many bikes we selected include off-bike workouts. The tilting and rotating screens on these bikes let you hop off for a quick strength-training session or Pilates class. Of course, embedding high-definition and 2K displays into exercise equipment is a quick way to drive up the price. As such, we also included more affordable options that let you connect your own device while still leveraging the interactive features that make virtual courses so appealing.
Adjustability
Between the resistance levels, incline range, handlebars, seat stacks, and screens — whew — a quality exercise bike should be able to adjust to you. All the options on our list feature at least 16 levels of resistance, which, in some cases, can be adjusted automatically by a bike’s integrated app.
Our tester gripping the handlebars on the NordicTrack S22i.
To accommodate riders of all shapes and sizes — even our tallest tester, who stands 6 feet 3 inches — the seats and handlebars on most of these bikes can adjust four ways: forward, backward, up, and down. If you’re spending this kind of money, you’ll want to be able to reach the pedals without crunching a few vertebrae in the process.
Best Overall Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: NordicTrack S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i is high-tech and high quality, featuring both advancements like a 22” touchscreen display, and solid specs like 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance.
Shop NordicTrack
Specs
Pros
Cons
The NordicTrack S22i’s 22-inch HD touchscreen is compatible with the iFIT app, which, via its Google Maps integration, allows riders to pedal scenic trails from across the world, including real-world courses like the Tour de France. This way, you can practice routes at home before biking them for real, and the bike’s incline and decline capabilities can even replicate the feel of tackling hills and valleys. All this potential helped the S22i earn 5’s out of 5 for dynamic programming, tech capabilities, and customizations from BarBend editorial member Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1.
BarBend lead video reviewer Jake Herod, NASM-CNC, riding the NordicTrack S22i.
When she took on iFIT’s Hawaii Series, Meier loved how the bike’s incline and decline capability brought the ride to life. “Not many bikes even have incline and decline, so pairing it with iFIT really made the dips and rises in elevation feel life-like,” she said. It doesn’t all have to be fun and games, though — another tester pointed out how this feature could support training for real races. “Being able to load up one of these virtual courses on the S22i could also help you prepare for a real-life race on that course,” they said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6JbKMsCmG4Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review (2022) — Most INTERACTIVE BIKE? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6JbKMsCmG4)
The S22i’s heavy-duty steel frame provides a solid base during your virtual sweats, and the 32-pound flywheel works to provide smooth transitions through its 24 resistance levels. Meier rated its durability, adjustability, and ergonomics all 4 out of 5 or higher.
“It’s definitely a sturdy bike, but I thought the automatic resistance adjustment was smoother than manually tapping the button,” she pointed out. “Plus, the seat, handlebars, and even the screen are adjustable, so I could get a full-body workout in with iFIT’s strength and yoga sessions off the bike.”
[Related: iFit Review – Is Virtual Coaching The New Normal?]
That sturdiness translates to weight. The S22i weighs 205 pounds — roughly 70 to 85 pounds heavier than comparable bikes — and its 22-inch display can make transport difficult.
BarBend lead video reviewer Jake Herod, NASM-CPT, adjusting the resistance on the NordicTrack S22i.
Even though it scrapes the top of the average price range for exercise bikes — roughly $1,200 to $2,000 — Meier rated its value 4.5 out of 5 with one caveat. “This thing is a beast, but without iFIT, it would be pretty unimpressive.” iFIT costs an additional $39 per month after your initial free trial.
Read our full NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review.
Best Budget Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: ProForm Carbon CX
ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike
ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike
The ProForm Carbon CX is a sturdy steel 125-pound build with 16 levels of silent magnetic resistance. In addition to being one of the quietest options on the market, this bike also comes with a free year of iFit and a swiveling tablet holder, so you can stream classes on and off the bike.
Shop ProForm
Specs
Pros
Cons
Most bikes that stream virtual classes and scenic rides have a dedicated touchscreen to bring those rides to life. The ProForm Carbon CX, on the other hand, eschews a fancy display for a tablet holder, all in the name of saving you some cash. Once you connect your own device via Bluetooth, this budget-friendly bike can take advantage of iFIT’s SmartAdjust technology and Google Maps integration, which allows you to virtually navigate courses from around the world.
BarBend Reviews Writer Matt Cummings riding the ProForm Carbon CX.
One of our testers, a certified personal trainer, appreciated the option to use his own tablet. “Honestly, I’d take a quality bike that forced me to use my own device over an average bike loaded with tech,” they said, rating its tech capabilities 3 out of 5. “It has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can just sync your phone or tablet and use iFIT as if it did have a huge screen, anyways.”
[Related: Best Budget Exercise Bikes]
While they appreciated the included dumbbells and water bottle holder, its lack of common conveniences — like heart rate sensors, speakers, or fans — earned the Carbon CX a rating of 3 out of 5 from our tester.
After testing it myself, I tend to agree that trading a built-in screen for its swiveling device holder may be worth the roughly $450 you’d save compared to most bikes with iFIT integration — just don’t forget about the app’s $39.99 monthly subscription.
BarBend reviews writer Matt Cummings adjusting the resistance knob on the ProForm Carbon CX.
At $399, the Carbon CX can still leverage iFIT’s two main draws — Google Maps-powered virtual courses and trainer-led scenic rides from around the world. Given the ability to practice virtually on a course that you could potentially race in real-life, our tester and I also agreed on our ratings for value — 4.5 out of 5.
Even though I wouldn’t quite call the 28-pound flywheel heavy (we like to see at least 30 pounds), I gave its durability, customizations, and portability all a 5 out of 5. I didn’t experience any instability or wobble from the steel frame, and the built-in transport wheels made moving it around the gym a breeze.
Read our full ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike Review.
Best High-End Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: CAROL Bike
CAROL Bike
CAROL Bike
The CAROL bike's AI capabilities provide you with tailored training, designed to give you the best workout in the least amount of time. Customers have a 100-day trial period to decide whether or not this bike is right for them.
Shop CAROL
Specs
Pros
Cons
While many bikes are locked into just one fitness app — looking at you, Peloton — the cutting-edge CAROL Bike allows you to access your existing subscriptions on its 11-inch 2K touchscreen. After logging in to Zwift, Kinomap, Peloton, or another app of your choosing, you’ll be able to enjoy scenic rides and take on real-life virtual courses to prepare for your next race or reach the top of the virtual leaderboard. Our tester scored it a 4 out of 5 or higher in 10 of our 12 categories, including tech capabilities, dynamic programming, and customizations.
Our BarBend tester riding the CAROL Bike.
What separates the CAROL Bike from its competitors is its AI-powered resistance technology, which is designed to maximize your training with the scientifically-backed concept of REHIT — reduced-exertion HIIT. These workouts are unique to the CAROL Bike and, according to our tester, make it stand out.
“The HIIT-style workouts on this bike are incredible. I think most people would get this bike for that, not just the ‘unlocked’ display,” they said, rating this dynamic programming 4.5 out of 5. “I mean, the science speaks for itself — you can see results in a fraction of the time.”
[Related: The 6 Benefits of HIIT]
The science they speak of relates to a study commissioned by the American Council on Exercise, which showed that a 10-minute session of REHIT on the CAROL Bike provided greater cardiorespiratory benefits than 30 minutes of continuous moderate-intensity training. (3)
Sometimes, though, you want a longer, more leisurely workout. Outside of its REHIT sessions, the CAROL Bike operates like other bikes with magnetic resistance, meaning you can still take classes and follow virtual courses at your own pace.
Our tester selecting a REHIT workout on the CAROL Bike.
All this high-end technology does not come cheap, however. The CAROL Bike’s $2,595 price tag — and the $15 monthly subscription cost to take advantage of its features — earned it a 3.5 out of 5 for value. Its AI-powered system can certainly deliver results, but it still comes at roughly $600 more than the NordicTrack S22i and over $1,000 more than the Peloton Bike.
[Related: The 9 Best Exercise Bikes for Heavy People]
Best Peloton-Alternative Exercise Bike with Virtual Courses: Echelon Connect EX-8s
Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
The Echelon EX-8s can glam up your home gym with a dual-flywheel design outfitted with LEDs you can customize by color, tempo, and brightness. The 24-inch touchscreen is curved to offer a deeper sense of immersion during classes on the Echelon Fit app.
...
Click here to view the article.
The post Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses appeared first on BarBend.
Firing up a virtual course on one of the best exercise bikes can offer more than just a boatload of burned calories. Whether it’s a world-famous route, a custom ride powered by Google Maps, or a digital race with a thousand of your closest friends, the best exercise bikes with virtual courses work to create immersive experiences and perhaps the motivation boost you need to hit your fitness goals.
With so many options out there, how can I know which is best for me? So glad you asked. The BarBend team of fitness pros and cycling fiends has been spinning the pedals on bikes with virtual programming for years. Whether you’re keen on racing through the French Alps, cruising down the coast in Malibu, or rehearsing for a real-world race, we rounded up the best options on the market. Check out which of the bikes in our list have the virtual goods to help you reach your fitness goals.
The 6 Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses for 2024
- Best Overall Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: NordicTrack S22i
- Best Budget Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: ProForm Carbon CX
- Best High-End Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: CAROL Bike
- Best Peloton-Alternative Exercise Bike with Virtual Courses: Echelon Connect EX-8s
- Best Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses and Streaming: Bowflex VeloCore
- Best Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses and Studio Classes: Peloton Bike
About Our Expert
This article has been reviewed by Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC a certified personal trainer, certified nutrition coach, and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She reviewed the research we cite to help ensure we’re providing helpful, accurate descriptions and recommendations.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses
After years of assembling, moving, riding, and dripping sweat on — sorry for the visual — over 20 exercise bikes, the BarBend team of certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, gym owners, and USA Weightlifting coaches knows what separates the studs from the duds. As we scrutinized the bikes that made our list, we made sure to detail our experiences on the types of virtual courses each brings to the table.
After testing a bike, we scored it across 13 different categories on a scale from 1 (boo) to 5 (hooray). From their tech capabilities and dynamic programming to adjustability and value, rest assured that each of these bikes has been put to the test. Check out a few of the factors that helped these bikes with virtual courses make the cut.
Dynamic Programming
As the technology on at-home exercise bikes becomes more advanced, the best fitness apps are offering more than just classes. Sure, you can still sweat through HIIT and Tabata classes, but you can also partake in interactive scenic rides led by trainers, virtual races that can help prepare you for the real thing, and even gamified experiences like Peloton’s Lanebreak.
We made sure to include options that support all kinds of training. If you have a real-life road race coming up, iFIT’s Google Maps integration can let you practice on the actual route you’ll be riding. If competition is what fuels you, gamified training where you routinely try to best your top score can help keep you motivated, as can leaderboards and virtual high fives. The options on our list provide multiple avenues for this kind of immersion.
Display Type and Size
Not everybody wants an HD touchscreen in their face as they sweat, but vibrant visuals and premium sound can help transport riders out of their gyms and onto the dusty hills and seaside trails of scenic rides and competitive races. We prioritized bikes with screens around 20 inches to help bring those virtual courses to life. Some displays tilt and rotate, while others employ a curved design to provide a deeper sense of immersion. (1)(2)
[Related: The 8 Best Exercise Bikes with Screens]
Outside of the virtual cycling courses, many bikes we selected include off-bike workouts. The tilting and rotating screens on these bikes let you hop off for a quick strength-training session or Pilates class. Of course, embedding high-definition and 2K displays into exercise equipment is a quick way to drive up the price. As such, we also included more affordable options that let you connect your own device while still leveraging the interactive features that make virtual courses so appealing.
Adjustability
Between the resistance levels, incline range, handlebars, seat stacks, and screens — whew — a quality exercise bike should be able to adjust to you. All the options on our list feature at least 16 levels of resistance, which, in some cases, can be adjusted automatically by a bike’s integrated app.
To accommodate riders of all shapes and sizes — even our tallest tester, who stands 6 feet 3 inches — the seats and handlebars on most of these bikes can adjust four ways: forward, backward, up, and down. If you’re spending this kind of money, you’ll want to be able to reach the pedals without crunching a few vertebrae in the process.
Best Overall Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: NordicTrack S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i is high-tech and high quality, featuring both advancements like a 22” touchscreen display, and solid specs like 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance.
Shop NordicTrack
Specs
- Price: $1,999
- Dimensions: 58? H x 61? L x 22? W
- Display: 22” HD touchscreen
- Weight: 205lbs
- Resistance type: 24 levels of magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 350lbs
Pros
- With iFIT, users can virtually train on real-world courses like the Tour de France or take scenic rides across the world via its Google Maps integration.
- The SmartAdjust capability can automatically adjust your resistance and incline to match the elevation and terrain of your course.
- Its heavy 32-pound flywheel can ensure smooth adjustment to help keep your focus on the ride.
Cons
- Access to iFIT’s plethora of virtual courses will set you back $39.99 per month, but we think it’s key to the bike’s appeal.
- The 22-inch display and 205-pound overall weight may make it difficult to move around.
The NordicTrack S22i’s 22-inch HD touchscreen is compatible with the iFIT app, which, via its Google Maps integration, allows riders to pedal scenic trails from across the world, including real-world courses like the Tour de France. This way, you can practice routes at home before biking them for real, and the bike’s incline and decline capabilities can even replicate the feel of tackling hills and valleys. All this potential helped the S22i earn 5’s out of 5 for dynamic programming, tech capabilities, and customizations from BarBend editorial member Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1.
When she took on iFIT’s Hawaii Series, Meier loved how the bike’s incline and decline capability brought the ride to life. “Not many bikes even have incline and decline, so pairing it with iFIT really made the dips and rises in elevation feel life-like,” she said. It doesn’t all have to be fun and games, though — another tester pointed out how this feature could support training for real races. “Being able to load up one of these virtual courses on the S22i could also help you prepare for a real-life race on that course,” they said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6JbKMsCmG4Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review (2022) — Most INTERACTIVE BIKE? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6JbKMsCmG4)
The S22i’s heavy-duty steel frame provides a solid base during your virtual sweats, and the 32-pound flywheel works to provide smooth transitions through its 24 resistance levels. Meier rated its durability, adjustability, and ergonomics all 4 out of 5 or higher.
“It’s definitely a sturdy bike, but I thought the automatic resistance adjustment was smoother than manually tapping the button,” she pointed out. “Plus, the seat, handlebars, and even the screen are adjustable, so I could get a full-body workout in with iFIT’s strength and yoga sessions off the bike.”
[Related: iFit Review – Is Virtual Coaching The New Normal?]
That sturdiness translates to weight. The S22i weighs 205 pounds — roughly 70 to 85 pounds heavier than comparable bikes — and its 22-inch display can make transport difficult.
Even though it scrapes the top of the average price range for exercise bikes — roughly $1,200 to $2,000 — Meier rated its value 4.5 out of 5 with one caveat. “This thing is a beast, but without iFIT, it would be pretty unimpressive.” iFIT costs an additional $39 per month after your initial free trial.
Read our full NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review.
Best Budget Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: ProForm Carbon CX
ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike
ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike
The ProForm Carbon CX is a sturdy steel 125-pound build with 16 levels of silent magnetic resistance. In addition to being one of the quietest options on the market, this bike also comes with a free year of iFit and a swiveling tablet holder, so you can stream classes on and off the bike.
Shop ProForm
Specs
- Price: $399
- Dimensions: 51? H x 52.5? L x 21.9? W
- Display: 180-degree swiveling tablet holder
- Weight: 125lbs
- Resistance: 16 levels of magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 250lbs
Pros
- By eschewing a touchscreen for a tablet holder, this budget bike costs just $399.
- After connecting your own device, you can take advantage of the bike’s iFIT compatibility to cruise with a trainer on a scenic ride.
- iFIT’s SmartAdjust can also automatically adjust your resistance to match the terrain of your ride.
- It has a pair of wheels to assist with transport.
Cons
- Since there’s no built-in screen, you’ll need to stream iFIT content on your own device.
- An iFIT membership costs $39.99 per month after your initial 30-day free trial.
- This no-frills bike lacks conveniences like heart rate sensors, fans, or speakers.
Most bikes that stream virtual classes and scenic rides have a dedicated touchscreen to bring those rides to life. The ProForm Carbon CX, on the other hand, eschews a fancy display for a tablet holder, all in the name of saving you some cash. Once you connect your own device via Bluetooth, this budget-friendly bike can take advantage of iFIT’s SmartAdjust technology and Google Maps integration, which allows you to virtually navigate courses from around the world.
One of our testers, a certified personal trainer, appreciated the option to use his own tablet. “Honestly, I’d take a quality bike that forced me to use my own device over an average bike loaded with tech,” they said, rating its tech capabilities 3 out of 5. “It has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can just sync your phone or tablet and use iFIT as if it did have a huge screen, anyways.”
[Related: Best Budget Exercise Bikes]
While they appreciated the included dumbbells and water bottle holder, its lack of common conveniences — like heart rate sensors, speakers, or fans — earned the Carbon CX a rating of 3 out of 5 from our tester.
After testing it myself, I tend to agree that trading a built-in screen for its swiveling device holder may be worth the roughly $450 you’d save compared to most bikes with iFIT integration — just don’t forget about the app’s $39.99 monthly subscription.
At $399, the Carbon CX can still leverage iFIT’s two main draws — Google Maps-powered virtual courses and trainer-led scenic rides from around the world. Given the ability to practice virtually on a course that you could potentially race in real-life, our tester and I also agreed on our ratings for value — 4.5 out of 5.
Even though I wouldn’t quite call the 28-pound flywheel heavy (we like to see at least 30 pounds), I gave its durability, customizations, and portability all a 5 out of 5. I didn’t experience any instability or wobble from the steel frame, and the built-in transport wheels made moving it around the gym a breeze.
Read our full ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike Review.
Best High-End Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses: CAROL Bike
CAROL Bike
CAROL Bike
The CAROL bike's AI capabilities provide you with tailored training, designed to give you the best workout in the least amount of time. Customers have a 100-day trial period to decide whether or not this bike is right for them.
Shop CAROL
Specs
- Price: $2,595
- Dimensions: 45.5? L x 22? W
- Display: 11” IPS touchscreen with 2K resolution
- Weight: 120lbs
- Resistance: AI-controlled, motorized resistance
- Weight Capacity: 330lbs
Pros
- Its 2K 11-inch touchscreen can stream scenic rides and courses from apps like Peloton or Zwift, or virtual races against thousands of other users.
- Since the bike is not locked into just one app, you can find the best fitness app to support your training, whether it’s for an upcoming real-world race or casual scenic rides.
- The AI onboard this bike uses your metrics and cardiovascular optimization logic to automatically adjust your resistance during its unique REHIT workouts.
Cons
- Utilizing its high-end technology like AI optimization, science-backed workouts, and software updates requires a $15 monthly subscription.
- Its $2,595 price tag exceeds the average range of exercise bikes we have tested by about $600.
While many bikes are locked into just one fitness app — looking at you, Peloton — the cutting-edge CAROL Bike allows you to access your existing subscriptions on its 11-inch 2K touchscreen. After logging in to Zwift, Kinomap, Peloton, or another app of your choosing, you’ll be able to enjoy scenic rides and take on real-life virtual courses to prepare for your next race or reach the top of the virtual leaderboard. Our tester scored it a 4 out of 5 or higher in 10 of our 12 categories, including tech capabilities, dynamic programming, and customizations.
What separates the CAROL Bike from its competitors is its AI-powered resistance technology, which is designed to maximize your training with the scientifically-backed concept of REHIT — reduced-exertion HIIT. These workouts are unique to the CAROL Bike and, according to our tester, make it stand out.
“The HIIT-style workouts on this bike are incredible. I think most people would get this bike for that, not just the ‘unlocked’ display,” they said, rating this dynamic programming 4.5 out of 5. “I mean, the science speaks for itself — you can see results in a fraction of the time.”
[Related: The 6 Benefits of HIIT]
The science they speak of relates to a study commissioned by the American Council on Exercise, which showed that a 10-minute session of REHIT on the CAROL Bike provided greater cardiorespiratory benefits than 30 minutes of continuous moderate-intensity training. (3)
Sometimes, though, you want a longer, more leisurely workout. Outside of its REHIT sessions, the CAROL Bike operates like other bikes with magnetic resistance, meaning you can still take classes and follow virtual courses at your own pace.
All this high-end technology does not come cheap, however. The CAROL Bike’s $2,595 price tag — and the $15 monthly subscription cost to take advantage of its features — earned it a 3.5 out of 5 for value. Its AI-powered system can certainly deliver results, but it still comes at roughly $600 more than the NordicTrack S22i and over $1,000 more than the Peloton Bike.
[Related: The 9 Best Exercise Bikes for Heavy People]
Best Peloton-Alternative Exercise Bike with Virtual Courses: Echelon Connect EX-8s
Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
The Echelon EX-8s can glam up your home gym with a dual-flywheel design outfitted with LEDs you can customize by color, tempo, and brightness. The 24-inch touchscreen is curved to offer a deeper sense of immersion during classes on the Echelon Fit app.
...
Click here to view the article.
