If you already own an exercise bike and want to upgrade, or if you’re a first-time buyer, you’ve probably heard of Schwinn. The company is a major player in this fitness equipment niche. What follows are reviews and ratings of Schwinn exercise bikes currently on sale.
The company makes several upright exercise bikes that range in price from $260 to $1,300. The Schwinn 101 is their entry-level model, but don’t let that put you off if you already have a bike and want to upgrade it. The company’s bikes are more expensive, better built and come with more features than equivalent models made by Weslo, Reebok, ProForm and others.
The 101 is a good bike for those who want a good workout rather than those who want lots of fancy built-in features and a flashy display. What you get is 6 preset programs, computer controlled magnetic resistance, heart rate monitor, and fully adjustable seat and handlebars. What you don’t get is heart rate controlled workouts and it has a limited resistance setting.
The Schwinn 112 retails for around $350 and is an upgrade to the 101. You get a lot more features and if you can afford the extra $90 you should go for this model. It comes with 16 resistance levels, a set of preset programs that will provide a great workout for most. Programs include 6 profile courses with calorie goal, BMI measurement, recovery test, results mode, quick start and 1 manual mode. The LCD console is also better. You get time, interval time, RPM, watts, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance, and alphanumeric prompts.
But if you really want the best of this type of bike, go for the Schwinn 131 Upright. It retails for around $400 and what you get for this is 16 resistance levels, the BioConnect Feedback system that gives you lots of training stats, a built in fan, elbow pads, magazine rack and BioDyne Performance gives you a smoother ride from the beginning. 20 lb. flywheel and computer controlled traction system. Preset workouts include 1 manual, 1 user profile, 2 custom (you can create your own workouts), 3 heart rate, 10 profile, time trial, fitness test, calorie goal, BMI measurement, recovery test, results mode, quick start – a very impressive list for a machine at this price.
If you’re a serious athlete and want the best upright position, you should take a close look at the Schwinn Evolution bike. This is the most expensive retail upright at around $1,300, but you’ll get the smart release system that gives you all the advantages of a fixed gear with a unique inertial system. The trapezoidal shape makes the bike very stable and the build quality is excellent. The warranty is 15 years on the frame, 2 years on parts and 6 months on labor.
Schwinn’s recumbent exercise bikes are equivalent to their upright models. For example, the 112 and 131 upright models share the same features as the 212 and 231 recumbent models. What can be said for the recumbent models is that seat adjustment is easy and flexible enough for all body shapes and weights. . This is important, as sitting in any reclined position can become quite uncomfortable after a short period of time.
Lastly, there is the Schwinn Airdyne. This is quite a unique concept – others have tried to imitate it, but none have succeeded in producing this kit. What you actually get is a cross between an upright bike and an elliptical trainer. This is not going to please everyone. The Airdyne uses a large multi-blade fan to produce resistance instead of the more usual magnetic current. There are two models available; the original that has been manufactured since the 1980s and the new EVO model. The EVO doesn’t look much different. What the company has done is make some minor tweaks to the fan, making it a much more compact version of the original 30-inch fan size.
As stated, this bike will not appeal to everyone. Many are not going to want the unusual double handlebars that move while you ride. Also, the fan is pretty loud and there’s no heart rate monitor either, and the LCD screen is pretty basic. The readings are time, distance, calories, calories per hour, RPM, and workload. The big plus point is that the Airdyne does not require a network connection.
Finding the best Schwinn exercise bike is all about choosing the features you want at the price you want to pay. There is no ‘best’ machine. Not everyone wants the same thing, which is why the company makes a variety of models.
