Peloton Vs Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike Review & Comparison!

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Indoor bikes allow us to work out at the time of our choosing. They also eliminate the recurring cost of gym and club memberships.

In this article, we compare two such quality pieces of equipment, the Peloton bike, and the Schwinn IC3 indoor bike. Follow closely as we decipher the eligibility of the two into your workout needs.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

  • We’ll start with a quick overview of the Peloton and Schwinn brand.
  • We’ll quickly jump into a detailed review of each of the bikes’ features, pros, cons, and customer reviews.
  • Then we’ll outline a comprehensive buyer guide on indoor bikes before heading to a head-to-head comparison of the bikes’ similarities and differences.
  • Finally, we’ll go through the benefits of using the bikes and supply you with a few links to useful resources on the same.

Let’s begin!

Peloton Vs Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike Review

Peloton Bike Review

peloton-bike

Peloton is not cheap. But, that’s only one part of the story. If you are ready to part with more than 2,000 bucks, I’m about to tell you what you get. Follow me as I breakdown the following features of the most expensive indoor cycling bike in town:

About the “Peloton” brand

Peloton is an American equipment and media company founded in 2012 in New York City. The company became successful after receiving compelling backing on Kickstarter for its premier product, the Peloton bike, back in 2013. They now specialize in the Peloton bike, Tread, and the Peloton digital app which is now accessible to non-Peloton owners.

Features of the Peloton Bike

Software – Peloton App

Besides the bike’s impressive outlook, most people find the Peloton digital app to be the most outstanding part of their indoor riding experience.

The app will cost you $39/ month. Somehow, this happens to be the common pricing point for similar services like Echelon Fit.

The subscription grants you access to everything on the platform. The content can be broadly classified into two categories-live and on-demand classes.

Unfortunately, due to Covid 19, there are few live classes if any. Anywho, there are literally thousands of spin classes you can stream anytime. The list is updated daily.

Therefore, justification number one for the steep price is the fact that you never run out of new content to work with.

The video and audio quality is crisp, thanks to the production team at Peloton’s New York City studios where the content is shot. The instructors dominate the screen, leaving some margin where your metrics are displayed.

I’d recommend that you try the Peloton Digital app for free for 30 days. You can play Indoor cycling, running, walking, boot camp, strength, and outdoor (audio-only) classes anytime, anywhere, with or without equipment.

The app can also be downloaded on iPhone, iPad, Android device, Fire TV, or access on the web.

The app boasts a user-friendly, modern, clean user interface that’s easy to operate. Your metrics such as heart rate, cadence, pace, and calories burnt are displayed in real-time on your screen.

You also get to see other members who are currently taking the classes with you. Motivation! Motivation!

A live leaderboard displays the top performers for each class. You can cycle your way up and probably get a shout out from the instructor.

Note that you can’t one account on multiple devices. You can only log in on one device at a time(iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android tablets, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku TV)

For $13/month, you can still stream non-cycling classes and the cycling classes at the gym on an iPhone or iPad or Android phone, or tablet without the bike.

This could be a great way to gauge if it’s worthwhile to purchase the hardware. Note that you can’t interact with instructors or have automated resistance adjustments while on a 3rd part bike.

Hardware – Peloton Bike

The Peloton bike is made of a luxurious carbon steel frame with a matte black finish. Careful red accents on the resistance knob and belt drive unit enhance the bike’s sporty theme.

The Peloton logo and name are printed on the crossbar linking the handlebar to the pedal compartment.

With such a striking look, the bike will probably impress most people and integrate into any home’s interior decor and themes. It measures 4ft*2ft, weighs 138lbs, thus, It can sit in small spaces.

You can also store it outside using a quality bike cover. A giant, 1080P, 21.5” touchscreen display is attached to the handlebars.

A competition-style seat with thick padding makes it comfortable to ride the bike longer. You can adjust the seat’s height and horizontal position to accommodate riders between 4’11” and 6’5” tall and weighing a maximum of 297lbs.

You get two water bottle holders on either side of the handlebar pole to store your favorite water bottle for Peloton.

A lever is installed right below the handlebars to manipulate their depth. Check out how to adjust Peloton handlebars.

Again, a diverse user base can enjoy the bike. The handlebars are aero-style with multiple grip positions and sufficient padding for extra comfort. A pair of front and rear stabilizers ensure that be bike remains stable through any class.

A pair of caliper wheels are built into the front stabilizer. They are fully retractable and are handy when you need to move the bike. A pair of dumbbell holders are built into the rear of the seat.

You need them because some classes do require weights. The pedals are dual-sided with a toe cage on one side and a look-delta on the other side.

There are many benefits of riding clipless including better power transfer and efficiency. Here are some of the best cleats for Peloton.

You can always swap the pedals for another(maybe SPD) of your choice since the bike uses the standard 9/16” thread. Finally, a dial-style resistance knob is built right into the crossbar where you can easily reach.

User Experience

You have bought the bike and paid for the monthly subscription, now what? First off, regardless of your payment plan, all Peloton bikes now come pre-assembled and are delivered for free.

Due to covid, this may take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks. The bike will be left on your doorstep and not inside the house as they did in the past.

You’ll need a 120V, 60HZ, 15A, power outlet to plug in the bike using the stock 10ft long power adaptor. A green LED comes on to confirm the bike is on.

Press the power button behind the display to wake the touchscreen. The bike runs a custom Peloton operating system built on Android. It’s super easy to navigate.

Select your wifi network and enter the password to kick off. You have the option to stream live or on-demand classes. Each class is based on different resistance levels and music volume.

The display has two, very loud hi-fi speakers. You can also pair your favorite wireless headphone for Peloton via Bluetooth or use the 3.5mm audio port.

The bike runs off a silent belt drive. You can workout from any room without disturbing other people in the house. A magnetic resistance unit with 100 levels is deployed to cater to all classes.

Your instructor dictates the current setting. Typical classes start with a warm-up before jumping into the activities then a recovery/cool down.

With a heavy flywheel, the bike has excellent momentum and feels like riding an actual bike. It runs smooth and has a low impact on your knee and other joints. There’s an emergency stop button in case things go south.

Financing

I know! I know!

Peloton is expensive and the price shouldn’t be one of its cool features. However, I beg to differ since these guys offer financing at 0% interest under their APR program.

At the time of drafting this post, the starting price was $1895 or $49/month for 39 months.

In case you won’t like the experience, the company is happy to come for their bike at any time. Most users who typically pay for spin classes at least 4 times a week will find the offer economically sensible in the long run.

This is in as little as 6 months. You can compare the value of Peloton to your typical fitness cost.

All orders are backed by a 1-year warranty on original parts and a 5-year warranty on the frame. Peloton technicians are on standby to repair any unforeseen failures.

Pros

  • Strong frame
  • Fully-adjustable
  • Excellent design
  • Wide resistance levels
  • Thousands of high-quality spin classes

Cons

  • Costly

What Amazon Customers Have to Say About the Peloton

I was curious to find out what people think about their Peloton purchase. To my surprise, I found the response to be extreme- some people love it and others hate it.

However, the general response was rather efficacious. Below are snips of what some verified buyers had to say about the Peloton bike:

peloton review

Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike Review

Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike
Buy on Amazon

The Schwinn IC3 is an upper mid-ranger. It has great design, performance, and footprint. In the subsequent section, we’ll dive deep into its cool quirks and features:

About the “Schwinn” brand

German-born mechanical engineer Ignaz Schwinn founded The Schwinn Bicycle company in 1860 in Chicago. It dominated the American biking space for most of the 20th century.

After declaring bankruptcy in 1995, it was acquired by Dorel industries and is still in operation to date. They now make cheap, quality bikes like the Schwinn IC3.

Features of Schwinn IC3 indoor bike

Frame

The Schwinn IC3 indoor bike features a rather familiar delta steel frame design. All the pillars are high gauge and robust. This affords it its 300-pound weight limit. Therefore, most people may enjoy the bike.

Two stabilizers linked with a center bar keep the bike steady. This allows you to work out at whatever intensity you desire.

The bike arrives disassembled in a box. The user manual and installation guide are included in the package.

They are also available online. You only require a few tools and a little hand craftiness. Depending on your expertise, the assembly process may take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour. You may use an extra hand since the bike weighs 100 pounds.

A pair of moving caster wheels are attached to the front stabilizer. They are handy when you want to relocate the bike.

They allow you to maneuver alone. All the while, they remain fully retractable when out of use. It measures 45”*23”*49”. It can fit in most tight spaces and can perfectly sit on a quality exercise bike mat.

Customizability

The Schwinn IC3 is adjustable in just about every way possible. To begin with, the pedals use the standard 9/16″ x 20 TPI threads.

This means you can swap them for the one you prefer. You can adjust the dynamic handlebar’s fore and aft positions for a comfortable fit for users between 5’ and 7’ tall.

The competition-style seat is 4 way adjustable- up, down, left, and right. You can manipulate the seat’s position relative to the handlebar to accommodate shorter riders.

The resistance unit, which we will discuss later, offers infinite resistance. Consequently, users of different strength and fitness levels can find the challenge they need.

A fully-adjustable media holder is integrated into the handlebars. It can accommodate a wide range of devices ranging from small phones to tablets.

The LCD console is controlled by 4 buttons built into the frame. You get to choose what you want to see.

Comfort

The Schwinn IC3 is built to reproduce a close-to-natural riding experience, “ like riding through the rolling hills” they say! This begins with its incredibly stable frame.

It doesn’t wobble regardless of the level of activity. As previously discussed, users can adjust the bike to get the most comfort from their height.

The handlebars are dynamic and offer 4 gripping positions. They also have integrated aero-bars. These offer maximum power transfer and are especially great for high-intensity rides.

You can switch through the positions to avoid fatigue. At the same time, the handlebars have thick padding for additional comfort and a better grip.

Therefore, you don’t have to worry about sweating on your palms. The seat is competition-style. It’s quite comfortable and like we said, fully-adjustable.

It also has thick padding to counteract your weight. Tiny perforations dominate the surface to allow for better ventilation. You know why you need that. Men! Are we together?

Since the bike is fully-adjustable, it affords users the luxury to stretch their legs during every pedaling stroke. This significantly reduces the risk of knee injuries.

Resistance and Drive Unit

Unfortunately, you are not getting magnetic resistance on the Schwinn IC3. Instead, friction, felt pad is used. It’s not nearly as silent but definitely quiet.

The felt pad is made of high-quality materials to make it smooth and minimize noise. This is the only way you get infinite resistance to tone those quads!

A knob-style tension adjustment knob is placed on the frame in between your legs. Turn it clockwise to increase the resistance and anticlockwise to decrease.

The Schwinn IC3 bike uses a belt drive system to connect the pedal wheel to the front-mounted flywheel. It runs silent and has no friction on heating issues.

Dual-sided pedals come standard with the bike. One side is the good old toe cage while the other is an SPD-compatible clipless pane.

Here’s why you may need cleats. The pedals allow for a full range of motion for maximum comfort and power transfer.

Extras

You get a lifetime warranty on the frame, 2 years on parts and electronics and, 1 year for wearable parts. But before that, you can get your faulty order repaired or replaced thanks to their 30-day free-return.

This shows that the company is confident in the product. It’s worth noting that your purchase helps poor kids to enjoy the biking experience!

The program, dubbed “together we ride”, helps over 10,000 children in foster care get access to a bike.

Children must get enough exercise to aid in their proper growth and development.

Over to the user, you get an extra-large water bottle holder to store your favorite beverage so you never have to pause your sets.

The bike also has an emergency stop string. It’s easy to reach from the handlebars and brings the flywheel to a complete stop almost instantaneously.

This eliminates the chances of accidents. A multimedia holder is built right on the handlebars. It offers excellent viewing angles at any riding position.

A rather useful, small LCD console is fastened on the handlebars. Time, distance, calories, and, RPMs are displayed here.

The computer also supports heart rate telemetry via Bluetooth. Therefore, you can pair a heart rate monitor and view the readings in real-time.

Pros

  • Strong frame
  • Infinite resistance
  • In-built LCD console
  • Generous warranty terms
  • Easy to assemble and move

Cons

  • Lacks an in-built display

What Amazon Customers Have to Say About the Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike

After scouring the internet for customer reviews on the Schwinn IC3 indoor bike, I found the general response to be rather positive. Here’s a snip of what some verified buyers had to say about the unit:

One customer said:

Schwinn IC3

Another customer said:

Schwinn IC3 3

Another customer said:

Schwinn

Peloton Vs Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike Buyers Guide: Things to consider before buying an indoor bike

1. Price

Before deciding on the bike you want, you need to specify your intentions first.

  1. Are you going to be riding daily?
  2. Will the bike be the sole source of your daily recommended workouts?
  3. How much tech do you prefer?
  4. Will you be riding alone?

These and other related questions may help you narrow down your options.

From this, your budget comes next. Remember that quality is always costlier. You get what you pay for in terms of durability, performance, and design.

Initially, I would recommend that you start with a relatively low-end spin bike before advancing to a premium model. This only applies to people who have no spin experience at all.

If you are already familiar with an indoor bike from commercial gyms, then it’s likely that you already know what you want. I’m assuming you won’t fall out of your workout goals anytime soon.

This is why I would advise you to go for the best quality within your budget. It’s now possible to get a quality entry bike for a few hundred dollars.

2. Design

The frame dictates a bike’s longevity. I tend to bias steel over aluminum, two of the most common materials used to construct indoor bikes.

Next up, are the pedals. It’s great to have the option to ride both clipless and clipped-in. To this end, find a bike with a dual-sided pedal-a flat/ caged side and a cleat-compatible side.

The type of cleat is entirely up to you. They are mostly SPD( like the Schwinn IC3) or Look-delta( like Peloton).

This allows you to use your cycling shoes on the equipment. The handlebars may be ergonomic or aero. I like the latter.

Most spin bikes also integrate an ergonomic loop to increase the number of grip positions.
Speaking of which, the bars should have enough friction to let you ride even when your hands sweat.

The handlebars should also be adjustable, fore, and aft if possible. This way, you or your family/friends can find a custom position for their height.

The same goes for the seat, which, I recommend a competition-style type. They are comfortable to ride on for long hours.

It should also be well padded and fully-adjustable- height and horizontal position relative to the handlebars. The entire adjustment process is typically simple and a lever is all you need to manipulate.

I would also advise you to find a model with an easy-to-reach water bottle holder(s). This allows you to hydrate as you ride.

3. Drive and Resistance

You can either go for a chain or belt drive bike. Chain drives are loud and require frequent maintenance and lubrication. Belt drives are silent and are maintenance-free.

Some people like the sound of a chain drive, so it can also work. The resistance system can either be friction or magnetic-based.

A resistance pad, mostly leather, is used in friction-based resistance units. With the right quality, they work just fine and offer infinite resistance. However, your ride is not going to be silent. This is likely to worsen over time.

You may also need to replace the pad after a long period of use. On the flip side, they are cheaper than magnetic resistance.

Permanent or electromagnets are the two common types of magnetic resistance units. The previous requires no power and is adjusted by a manual lever that pulls or pushes the permanent magnet relative to the flywheel to change resistance.

The closer it is, the higher the resistance. This type offers limited resistance.

On the other hand, electromagnetic resistance units require the bike to be plugged in. Electricity causes magnetism, which repels the motion of the flywheel depending on the voltage and current.

An adjustment knob manipulates these two metrics to change the level of resistance. This type may offer infinite resistance.

Electromagnetic resistance bikes can also be synced with online classes that automatically adjust the resistance setting as you cycle. Therefore, if you are the media-training type, this is the way to go.

4. Footprint

How much space do you have allocated to your home gym? This dictates the size of bike you should buy. Lest, you won’t use it or at best, fail to reach the ultimate riding experience.

Use a meter rule or tape to measure your allocated floor area and ceiling height. Compare the same with the dimension of the bike you want to get. You can check the size online.

If you live in an extremely small apartment and still want to enjoy the spinning experience, then find a foldable bike. There are plenty such as these on Amazon.

5. Tech

It’s 2020, so we must talk about riding technology. If you just want to ride to the best of your abilities without any form of guidance or tracking, kindly skip this part.

If you want the contrary, start with Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to pair 3rd-party gadgets like heart rate monitors to your bike and see the numbers live!

ANT+ is a huge plus as it allows you to pair more fitness gadgets like ANT+ smartwatches to your bike. Next up, you may need some form of cycling computer connected to the bike.

Most bikes come with LCD consoles that display key metrics such as speed, time, pace, etc. You can take this a step further if the console can pair with a heart rate sensor.

If you would like to use spin classes on the bike, you have two options- a media holder or a built-in color display. A media rack allows you to hook your phone or tablet on the handlebars.

Here you’ll access spin classes from whichever app or video-sharing platform you choose. This option is usually cheaper.

The more expensive in-built display would be great if you don’t mind the cost implications. It’s also great for bikes that have native companion apps that display all your metrics in real-time like the Echelon Fit app.

The rest is only a matter of bringing your tech on the bike- smartwatches and other wearables.

6. Customer Service & Warranty

The manufacturer should be in a position to attend to any quality issues that may arise on your bike. This means that they should be reachable via email, phone, text, or have an active physical address.

A free-return policy is a must-have as well. All parts of the bike should be under warranty.

However, the frame usually gets a longer coverage period than other wearable parts and electronics. If you can find an online community for similar bike owners, it would be a useful source of more information on the performance and tricks on the bike.

Peloton Vs Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike Comparison -Similarities, Differences & Benefits

Similarities

ASPECTPELOTON BIKESCHWINN IC3
Aero handlebars✔️
Adjustable seat✔️
Water bottle holder✔️
Toe straps/cages✔️
Stabilizers ✔️
In-built display✔️
Bluetooth✔️
Adjustable resistance ✔️
Padded seat✔️
Padded handlebars✔️
9/16” pedal thread✔️
Heart rate monitor telemetry✔️

Differences

ASPECTPELOTON BIKESCHWINN IC3
Price$1895$799
Weight138lbs100lbs
dimensions60” height, 24” width, l48” length 45” long, 23” wide, and 49” tall
Touchscreen display✖️
LCD console✖️
No. of water bottle holders21
Weight rack✖️
Resistance levels100Infinite 
Companion app✖️
3rd party app compatibility ✖️✖️
Pre-assembly ✖️

Benefits – (Peloton Vs Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike)

Consistency

With a spin bike at home, most of the inconveniences of having to go to the gym are eliminated. This means that it gets easier for you to stick to your workout schedule.

The Peloton and Schwinn IC3 bikes are likely to fit in most people’s homes.

Motivation

The Peloton digital app connects you to thousands of riders just like you. You can see them and even check how well they are doing. Given that we are social beings, you are likely to put more effort into your riding regimen.

Plus, live classes allow instructors to point out the areas in which you might be lagging, or notice you if you are killing it!

Smart Training

Both the Schwinn IC3 and the Peloton bike can work with an app. Native in the case of Peloton and 3rd-party for Schwinn.

These software can pair with your heart rate monitor or other smart fitness devices to give you a peek into your performance. For instance, cadence and calories burnt may dictate how hard you need to work on the bike.

Such information is normally stored and summarized into easy-to-interpret infographics and numerals. You can keep track of your progress with raw facts!

Most users have reported better fitness results, be it fat loss, toning, or bodybuilding, when using these apps.

Freedom

Having a bike at home means you can work out in private. So for all folks who have gym anxiety, here’s your Ace of Spades.

You can finally be yourself and hopefully exceed your physical limits. You also get to workout at the time of your choosing!

Independent Reviews and Recommendations

Conclusion

The Peloton bike is unquestionably premium. It has excellent build quality and performance. I’m especially impressed by the Peloton digital app experience.

For stone-cold indoor cyclists, it’s the best bike you can get as long as you are ready to pay its high price plus a monthly subscription thereafter.

The Schwinn IC3 has a strong frame, an LED console, supports Bluetooth, rides smooth, and has infinite resistance.

I would recommend it for any rider who wants to get the raw riding experience with the flexibility to bring their own tech on board.

Thanks for visiting us today. We have more tech and fitness content on the site that you may like. Until next time, keep safe!

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