schwinn ic4 lcd screen manufacturer

Explore something new every day with the IC4, the indoor fitness bike that connects with world-class app experiences like JRNY®, Peloton®, and Zwift® for your smart phone or tablet.

If you"re not 100% satisfied with your IC4 bike, contact our Customer Care Team within 6 weeks of delivery for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Learn more about our return policy.

Shipping prices may vary by delivery method and destination. In-home assembly service and the Schwinn Protection Plan can be added for additional cost, however we do offer easy financing.

The Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike, our favorite "basic" exercise bike, is a Bluetooth-enabled stationary bike that works with a variety of fitness apps including cycling apps like Peloton and Zwift.

Unlike Peloton and some Echelon Connect bikes, the Schwinn IC4 doesn’t have its own video screen—just a small LCD display that shows your ride time, distance, RPMs, and heart rate, plus a USB charging port. To stream your workouts, a tablet or smart TV is the way to go. You can also use your smartphone, but I think a bigger screen makes for a more enjoyable experience.

The Schwinn has a knob between the seat and the handlebars that controls the 100 levels of magnetic resistance. There"s also a built-in device holder that securely holds a smartphone or tablet in place while you follow along with your on-screen workout. Additionally, the bike also comes with a pair of three-pound dumbbells and a wearable Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor.

The handlebars and seat are adjustable for riders of heights 4 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 6 inches, and it has a weight limit of 330 pounds. The pedals come with cages, or you can clip-in with SPD-cleat cycle shoes like Tiems. (This is different from the Peloton, which uses LOOK Delta cleats.) The Schwinn has two small water bottle holders, too.

It also has a better warranty than most bikes we tested—10 years on the frame, three years on the parts, and one year on labor. (Peloton’s warranty, by comparison, only covers five years for the frame and one year for the parts.) With the IC4, you can add an additional five years to the parts and labor warranty with the Schwinn Protection Plan for an extra $109.

One other thing to keep in mind: If you’re also considering the Bowflex C6, nearly everything in this review applies to that bike, too. Schwinn and Bowflex are owned by the same parent company, Nautilus, so their spin bikes offer pretty much the same thing.

The Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike retails for $999 or $799 on Amazon. Something that adds value to the bike, at least for me, is that its price also includes the three-pound dumbbells and heart rate monitor—two things you have to pay extra for when you buy a Peloton. Plus, shipping is free.

There are some additional costs to keep in mind, like spin shoes, a tablet if you don’t already own one, and the price of the fitness app you choose to use with the IC4. For example, I pay a monthly subscription fee of $13 to use the Peloton app for workouts on my Schwinn IC4 bike. It’s a fairly low price to pay, considering that Peloton bike users fork over $44 a month for access to the same content. The one notable difference is that app users don’t have access to or show up on the Peloton leaderboard, which shows riders how they rank against others in the class. This isn’t a make or break for me, but it may be for some riders.

Assembling the Schwinn IC4 is relatively straightforward, but the process is not without its challenges. The bike comes mostly prefabricated, with the heavy flywheel and frame already built in the box. Users will have to secure a base at each end—make sure the one with the wheels on it is at the front of your bike; it makes it easier to move later on—and the bike seat, handlebars, tablet stand, dumbbell holders and computer all lock or screw in without much fuss.

Attaching the pedals was more challenging, however—and not just because they"re reverse-threaded on one side. While it"s important to note that only the left pedal will screw in toward your left side as you face the machine (in other words, it"s not righty-tighty), the threads on the bike I purchased were not drilled straight, leaving the pedal crooked when attached correctly. Overall, I had a pleasant experience with Schwinn’s customer service department and they ultimately fixed the problem by sending a replacement bike.

Working out on the Schwinn IC4 bike is one of my favorite things to do early in the morning or after my kids go to bed at night. Using a lighting-to-HDMI adapter and HDMI cable, I connect my iPhone XS, which streams the Peloton app, to the 32-inch smart TV I have hanging on the wall near my bike. (It’s easy to pair the Schwinn IC4 with the Peloton app.)

Although a heart rate armband is included with the Schwinn IC4, I opt to use my Apple Watch to track my heart rate and calories during workouts on the bike, as well as log my workout in Apple’s Activity app. The Bluetooth-enabled bike also pairs with the Peloton app, so you can track your cadence on-screen as you ride.

Like the Peloton and most other connected bikes, the IC4 is a spin-style bike, which means it isn"t designed for comfort—but its bike seat feels particularly firm to me. At first, I chalked my perception of the seat’s lack of plushness up to the fact that I was still adjusting to my new bike. More than six months later, the seat hasn’t gotten any softer but I’ve gotten used to it. Some people may want to ride with a seat cushion may help. I find it most uncomfortable when riding for 45 minutes or longer, or during classes when I’m not out of the saddle.

Additionally, the bike itself won’t log your stats like Peloton bikes, which is why I like to track my workouts using Apple’s Activity app. I can also view stats about my Peloton workouts in the Peloton app, but there’s no compatible Schwinn app that keeps tabs on your workouts. So if you want to track your overall data, you"ll have to take a photo with your phone or write it down from the display at the end of your workout.

Although both the Peloton and Schwinn bikes use 100 units of resistance, the intensity and increments of the resistance levels aren’t equivalent—the resistance is heavier on the IC4 than the Peloton, so you have to modify what the instructor calls out. You can buy a conversion decal on Etsy to stick on your bike (or just write numbers down on a sticky note). With my current setup, I"m only able to view my heart rate and cadence on-screen during rides, not my output like Peloton bike users are able to see. Some Schwinn IC4 riders use the Kinetic app to track their output levels during rides, though I have not tested that myself.

The Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike is a versatile option for any at-home fitness enthusiast who wants access to a variety of workout apps without being locked into a single exercise platform—and it’s a great buy for anyone looking for a more affordable alternative to the Peloton Bike.

The Schwinn IC4 belt-driven bike is a good addition to any home gym setup and a great choice for cardio lovers. It’s come a long way since the last iteration, the IC3. A few of the main updates include the integrated app technology—which connects with apps like Zwift and Peloton—and the addition of quiet magnetic resistance pads rather than friction pads.

Interactive programming has become somewhat of a standard for exercise bikes these days. When Peloton hit the market, it made waves, forcing other exercise bike manufacturers to adapt. The Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike is a less expensive alternative to Peloton and offers app connectivity, comfort, durability and much more.

When it comes to overall performance and durability, the Schwinn IC4 has an excellent value. With a price point of $999, near-silent magnetic resistance and Bluetooth connectivity, it’s an excellent exercise bike for many kinds of people, including:Those who are looking for a smooth and silent ride

Even with a great features-for-price value, the IC4 doesn’t top the market for technology-integrated workout bikes. We wouldn’t recommend it for certain kinds of people, including:Those who want the manual operation of an air bike

The Schwinn IC4 bike is 49 inches long and 21 inches wide. Essentially, it has a standard exercise bike footprint. While it certainly isn’t the most compact bike on the market, it can fit nicely in your average garage gym or apartment. Of course, you’ll just need to make sure that you have a power outlet nearby.

The frame of the IC4 is durable and stable, supporting up to 300 pounds with ease. You’re unlikely to experience any jiggling or shaking, even when you begin pedaling hard. This is because there are two supportive stabilizers found at the front and rear of the bike, as well as a center bar for additional support, which connects the two stabilizers.

As with your average exercise bike, the Schwinn IC4 has a cushioned, race-style seat. If you aren’t used to these kinds of bikes, the seat might not feel the most comfortable. It has a slim, performance-oriented design that was made for intense cycling workouts; however, it’s easy to swap your seat out for one that you find more comfortable. Also, the seat is completely adjustable: it moves up and down and side to side, accommodating riders that are betweenfour feet, five inches and six feet, five inches. This adjustability helps this bike feel more personalized for the rider.

If you’re not a big fan of self-directed workouts and enjoy following a trainer, you’re in luck. The Schwinn IC4 is compatible with a number of apps, including the Zwift app, Peloton app and JRNY app.

A one year membership to the JRNY app is included in the cost of the Schwinn IC4 bike. After that, it costs $19.99 per month or $149 per year. You’ll need to have a tablet or similar device to use as the display screen. JRNY has several coaching options, trainer-led workouts and virtual riding courses. You can even find off-bike workouts to diversify your cardio, including HIIT, treadmill and elliptical exercises.

With the Schwinn IC4’s Bluetooth integration, you can easily connect to your favorite apps just like you would with any other Bluetooth product. Simply open up your smart devices and turn Bluetooth on. Then, press the Bluetooth button on your bike to sync your devices. This includes a heart rate sensor that comes with the Schwinn IC4 bike.

One of our favorite ways to utilize the IC4’s connectivity is through the Explore the World app, which was created by Schwinn. This app provides indoor cyclers with a wide range of streets and trails from across the globe to cycle through, and new destinations are added each month. The Explore the World app costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year.

Stationary exercise bikes don’t use kinetic energy to propel riders forward (like outdoor bikes) so a weighted flywheel is needed to create momentum as you pedal. A well-balanced flywheel creates and maintains momentum and a smooth pedaling motion. Flywheels that don’t have enough weight won’t have the proper amount of inertia for even spinning. That’s why many low-end exercise bikes feel heavy and jerky. In contrast, the Schwinn IC4 uses a high-end, 40-pound flywheelthat keeps the bike stable, even with high-tempo riding.

The Schwinn IC4 doesn’t have a large monitor for program viewing, but it does have a simple backlit LCD display that’s similar to what you might find on your average exercise bike. The screen measures three inches by two inches, and is located between the handlebars. It needs to be plugged in for the Bluetooth connectivity to work.

The screen is mainly dark with bright letters and numbers that provide metric information at a glance. The displayed data includes pulse, resistance level, distance, speed, estimated calories burned, elapsed time and cadence.

Five buttons beneath the screen control the various display functions, making navigation more intuitive for those who don’t consider themselves very tech-savvy. The device holder and a USB charging port are located just above the integrated display. Note that some Android users said that they had a bit of lag between the LCD display and the metrics on their connected devices.

The Schwinn IC4 bike comes with free shipping and the option to pay a non-refundable $150 for in-home assembly. You can install the bike yourself using three-step assembly instructions, but note that each step has multiple sub-steps. You’ll need to make sure you set your bike up near an outlet to use its full functionality. While you can still manually adjust the resistance levels and pedal your bike without plugging it in, you won’t be able to use the Bluetooth connectivity or console display without electricity.

The Schwinn IC4 has different warranty agreements for different parts of the bike. The frame is covered for 10 years, the parts and electronics are covered for three years and labor is included for one year. If you decide that the Schwinn IC4 isn’t the right fit, you can return it up to six weeks after making your purchase. You’ll need to pay for return shipping, which can be expensive for a heavy piece of equipment.

One of the big selling points of the Schwinn IC4 is the price. You get a high-quality build with a smooth ride and tons of pro features for under $1,000. You can choose to buy the bike outright for $999, or you can opt for an 18-month, $60 per month financing plan. Included in the price are shipping, a one-year subscription to the JRNY app, a heart rate monitor and a set of three-pound dumbbells. Certain accessories need to be purchased separately, such as spin shoes or fitness app subscriptions beyond the one-year JRNY membership.

Peloton has become a household name over the past few years—both for the brand’s high-energy, integrated cycling workouts and high price tag. The main difference between the Peloton and the Schwinn IC4 is that the Peloton bike comes with a built-in display for following live classes or programmed workouts. The Peloton also comes with a camera for those who want to cycle with friends. It’s also worth noting that the Peloton is heavier at 135 pounds and has a larger footprint than the IC4 (two feet x four feet). If you don’t have the space or budget for the Peloton, you can use the Peloton app on the Schwinn IC4, though the app costs $12.99 per month. Just note that you won’t get to utilize the Peloton Leaderboard on a Schwinn bike.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Schwinn IC4, then the Schwinn IC3 might be right up your alley. The main difference between the two is that the IC3 doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can’t connect with apps like Zwift or Peloton. The IC3 also doesn’t come with three-pound dumbbells or a heart rate monitor, and it uses friction pads instead of magnetic resistance, which is why it’s slightly louder. We recommend spending a bit of extra money on the IC4 if you want a quieter, more connected cycling experience with extra accessories.

The Renpho AI Smart Exercise Bike is another Bluetooth-connected indoor cycling bike with a sturdy steel frame and quiet riding experience, thanks to its smart motor damping. This form of motor damping uses digitally-generated resistance that’s quieter and more precise than standard magnetic resistance. The Renpho AI bike is about half the price of the Schwinn IC4 at $479, while offering similar app compatibility. Your purchase includes a free lifetime AI Gym app and around 80 levels of magnetic resistance (20 levels less than the Schwinn IC4). The resistance levels can be automatically toggled to follow along with classes, or manually when you’re working out at your own pace. This isn’t a feature you’ll find on the Schwinn IC4.

The Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike is a mid-range upright bike that uses a 35-pound weighted flywheel and a belt drive, which is louder and less smooth than the IC4 magnetic resistance. It also comes with a basic screen display, which monitors your time, speed, calories burned and distance, providing a bit less insight than the IC4. While the design of the Schwinn IC4 encourages a more aggressive position, with the rider"s weight leaning toward the handlebars, the Yosuda has an upright pedaling position similar to a beach cruiser bike. Like the Schwinn IC4, the Yosuda comes with an adjustable seat, cage pedals, a bottle cage and a device shelf for your tablet or smartphone.

The Schwinn IC4 is often compared with the Bowflex C6 indoor cycling bike because they’re so similar. Bowflex and Schwinn come from the same parent company, Nautilus, so it’s little surprise that the C6 offers many of the same features as the IC4, but for about $100 more. With that said, some who have tested out both bikes note that the C6 has a more comfortable seat. Our take? The only true differences are price and brand reputation.

Unfortunately, the Schwinn IC4 has no direct integration with Apple Fitness+. However, you can wear your Apple Watch during your workout to track your calories and heart rate, and then compare your Apple Fitness stats with those on the IC4’s display.

Yes, you can hop on your bike and cycle without the JRNY app. The cost of the Schwinn IC4 bike includes a one-year membership to the JRNY app, but after the year, you can opt not to renew your subscription and use your bike without the app.

The Schwinn IC4 does not come with a tablet, but there is a small bike computer that displays various metrics on an LCD screen between the handlebars.

The Schwinn IC4 is a great indoor cycling bike for those who want to spend under $1,000 without compromising on modern features like Bluetooth connectivity, fitness metric tracking and features like dual-sided pedals. If you want to participate in live or programmed cycling classes, you’ll need to have a tablet or smartphone, since the IC4 doesn’t have a screen for streaming.

Overall, the Schwinn IC4 is a quality indoor bike with a reasonable price tag. The 40-pound weighted flywheel provides a sturdy and comfortable cycling experience, while the 100 levels of magnetic resistance offer flexibility for just about every fitness level.

Schwinn is a big player in the home fitness market and the IC4 is the top of the line model in their range of indoor cycling bikes. In addition to its sturdy build, 40 lb weighted flywheel, and 100 levels of magnetic resistance, it is a smart bike with connected features. With more and more people exercising from home and latching onto the interactive at-home studio and virtual cycling trend, we felt this was a compelling model worthy of testing. We found the IC4 to provide an excellent workout, a high level of comfort, and functionality with popular apps like Zwift, Peloton, and JRNY (it comes with a 1-year JRNY membership). We also think it"s a great value since it retails for significantly less than many of the other connected bikes on the market.

The Schwinn IC4 impressed us with its excellent exercise quality that is suitable for all fitness levels. This spin bike is stable and sturdy, with a 40 lb weighted flywheel and 100 micro-adjustable levels of smooth, quiet magnetic resistance. It can be used as a stand-alone spin bike with manual workouts or connected to popular apps like Peloton and Zwift, as well as the included JRNY app membership) for a studio or interactive virtual training experience. This versatility gives the IC4 a leg up on the competition in this metric.

The IC4 is built around an impressively stable and beefy steel frame, even under the hardest out-of-the-saddle pedaling efforts. The frame supports a belt-driven 40 lb weighted flywheel with 100 levels of magnetic resistance. With so many resistance levels, you can micro-adjust it to get precisely the challenge you want during your workout, and there is ample range for riders of all fitness levels. During testing, we rarely turned the resistance above 70, which was plenty challenging for quad-busting intervals. The resistance is controlled by an adjustment knob below the handlebar on the frame, and the rider adjusts it manually whether you"re doing your own workout or following along to an on-demand studio class.

While the IC4 is a smart bike with connected features, you can use it as a stand-alone bike for manual workouts without the need to connect to a device. In manual mode, you can start pedaling and adjust the resistance however you like. You also have the option of setting a time, distance, or calorie workout goal through the bike"s console.

If you do choose to use apps with the IC4 it is important to note that they have an additional monthly fee (Peloton is $12.99/mo, Zwift is $14.99/mo, and JRNY is free for a year, then $19.99/mo or $149/year) and require a device with a screen to serve as the display. Peloton has thousands of live streaming and on-demand studio workouts with various instructors and music to choose from, as well as scenic rides to watch while you spin away the time. Interestingly, the Peloton app is much less expensive to use with your own compatible bike than with a Peloton brand bike. However, it doesn"t provide all of the features or performance data tracking. Zwift is a virtual interactive training app with thousands of structured training programs, races and events, and a huge variety of maps and routes to follow. When connected, your device shows the virtual course you"re riding, as well as metrics like speed, time, cadence, watts, and a leaderboard. JRNY has trainer-led workouts, coaching, and virtual courses to ride along to, as well as lots of off-the-bike workouts.

While we love the versatility that this connected bike provides, it doesn"t seamlessly integrate with either Peloton or Zwift. Yes, it does connect to either app easily (we tested with an iPad Pro and iPhone 11), and it works; it"s just far from perfect. First, we noticed that the speed and distance readings on the bike"s own display seemed too high; in fact, they were way off. We like to think we are fast, but we also know that we average 20-22 mph on an actual road ride, not even close to the 27 mph the IC4 recorded. If you base your indoor training rides on speed, distance, or calories burned, this bike will not be giving you accurate readings. Likewise, with Zwift, it has an exceptionally high power output reading that makes you seem superhuman. According to forums we found online, this problem is quite common. It is the result of the power reading being an estimation based on cadence and resistance as opposed to an actual power meter reading. There is a process to recalibrate the resistance on the IC4, which may help normalize the power output reading on Zwift, although it seems unlikely that it would make it completely accurate. This is not to say that recreational Zwifters should avoid this bike, but those who seek to compete virtually would be better off looking into more accurate smart trainers or using power meter pedals. The abovementioned issues are related mostly to the fact that this is a spin bike. Spin workouts are typically high intensity and focus on cadence and resistance instead of distance or power. The Peloton app is a bit different since their studio workouts are based on spin bikes using cadence, resistance level, and perceived effort. The Schwinn"s resistance levels aren"t an exact match of Peloton"s, although there are helpful tips online for converting resistance from Peloton to the IC4. That said, it is up to the user to dictate the resistance level and effort they put in when following along with a Peloton class anyway.

We found the IC4 to be an impressively comfortable exercise bike throughout testing. It has loads of handlebar and seat adjustability to dial in the fit for a vast range of rider heights and preferences, as well as an agreeable performance seat and multi-position handlebar.

The IC4 has a maximum rider weight limit of 330 lbs, although Schwinn doesn"t specify a recommended user height range. The handlebar and the seat are adjustable vertically and horizontally to accommodate a wide range of user heights. The seat post has 8.5 inches of vertical adjustment and 3 inches of horizontal adjustability. Likewise, the handlebar has 4 inches of vertical height adjustment and around 3 inches of horizontal adjustment. All this adjustability means that you should be able to dial it in for your needs and comfort. Our six-foot-tall tester with a 32-inch inseam was able to fit perfectly on this bike, although he had the seat height in its highest position. Since Schwinn doesn"t provide a height range, we measured the distance from the top of the seat to the pedal in its lowest position to find an approximate inseam range. With the seat pushed all the way forward, we measured a range of 29.25 - 37.25-inches in its lowest and highest settings.

The IC4 is made for serious indoor cycling, and it comes with a race style seat. The seat is slim, performance-oriented, and perfect for the intense cycling workouts this bike was designed for. We found it quite comfortable, with ample padding and a pressure relief cutout. Riders who prefer a broader, more supportive seat will likely find the race seat to be a bit too narrow, and it can easily be swapped out for the seat of your choice. The large, rubber-coated multi-position handlebar also provides a huge range of hand positions to suit your riding style or preference.

The Schwinn IC4 comes with a small LCD display and syncs to the device of your choice with a Bluetooth connection for use with the Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY apps. Thanks to the LCD display, you can use this bike independently without an app or connection to your device, a feature that we feel gives it a leg up on some of the connected/smart bike competitors. When connected to an app, your tablet or phone (not included) serves as a screen that displays the studio workout or interactive ride. The Schwinn 130 Upright Bike is the only other option with a user interface that we like as much as the IC4.

The LCD display is centered in the handlebar and has a screen that measures 3" L x 2" W. The IC4 must be plugged in for the display and Bluetooth connection to work. The dark screen has bright numbers and letters and shows a wealth of information at a glance, including cadence, elapsed time, estimated calories burned, speed, distance, resistance level, and pulse. The display turns on if any button is pushed or the RPM sensor is triggered when the pedals turn. The screen automatically begins to display and record your workout information when the pedals start turning. Your workout automatically pauses if the pedals stop turning for 2 seconds. Your workout ends, and the display powers off after 5 minutes of inactivity. Five buttons below the screen control all of the display functions, including Bluetooth, start/enter/reset, and up and down arrows. The Bluetooth button is used to pair with compatible devices and the included heart rate sensor, while the others are used to start a workout or input a time, distance, or calorie goal for a manual workout. The 100 levels of magnetic resistance are controlled by a knob below the handlebar on the bike"s mainframe.

Above the display is a padded device holder designed to hold a tablet or smartphone. The display has a USB charging port so you can keep your device charged while you ride. Using its Bluetooth connectivity, the IC4 is compatible with the Zwift, Peloton, and JRNY apps for a studio or interactive cycling experience.

The Schwinn IC4 is a feature-packed exercise bike. The star of the show is its connectivity and functionality with third-party training apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. Additionally, this bike comes with loads of user-friendly features that help to enhance your workout experience.

The IC4 functions well as a stand-alone spin bike, plus you have the option of connecting to your device via Bluetooth and using popular interactive training apps. If you"re already highly motivated, you may not need the added inspiration that live streaming, on-demand, or virtual training can provide, but we think it"s nice to have the option. Unlike the more expensive competition, the IC4 does not come with a high-tech console for streaming workouts; you"ll have to use one you already have or purchase one for that purpose. It does have a device holder where you can dock your device for easy viewing, and it has a USB port to keep it charged while you ride. It also comes with a Bluetooth heart rate armband to monitor your pulse during your workout.

Beyond its connectivity, the IC4 comes loaded with valuable features. Both the seat and handlebar have loads of adjustability, both up and down and fore and aft. It comes with a performance-oriented seat as well as a sizeable multi-position handlebar. Below the handlebar are two bottle holders with cradles to hang the included 3 lb hand weights. It comes with dual-function pedals that have cages on one side and SPD clips on the other, so you can choose the footwear that"s best for you, plus they come with SPD cleats. The front stabilizer has integrated transport wheels that make moving this heavy bike easy. All feet have independent levelers to help stabilize the bike on uneven surfaces. An adjustment knob below the handlebar controls resistance, and there are 100 micro-adjustable levels of smooth, quiet magnetic resistance. It also comes with an impressive warranty.

Among the exercise bikes we tested, the Schwinn IC4 was fairly involved and time-consuming to assemble, similar to, but slightly easier than the screen-equipped models. It comes with all of the tools you need and detailed instructions that are easy to follow, and while it isn"t challenging to finish, many steps are necessary to complete the task. It took about an hour to get this bike from the box to ready to ride.

The IC4 arrived at our test location in a large and hefty box. We didn"t weigh the bike in the box, but with a claimed assembled weight of 106 lbs, you definitely want the help of another person to move it or remove the bike from the package. Once removed from the box, the remaining tasks can be completed by one person. It takes several minutes to remove the protective packing materials from the bike and all its parts, and the majority of the remaining assembly is relatively standard. The printed directions are detailed and easy to follow, and all of the tools and hardware needed are included. After attaching the front and rear stabilizers, pedals, handlebar and handlebar post, and the seat and seat post, features like the device holder and bottle holders/hand weight holders also need to be installed.

Once the IC4 is assembled, moving it around on hard surfaces is relatively easy thanks to the transport wheels integrated into the front stabilizer. However, this bike does weigh 106 lbs, so moving it up or downstairs is a task best suited for two people. With dimensions of 48.75" L x 21.25" W x 52" H, the IC4 takes up roughly the same amount of space as most of the other upright models we tested.

The Schwinn IC4 isn"t exactly cheap, but in our opinion, it is worth the cost. It provides excellent value when you consider that it performs roughly on par with big-name home-studio competition while still being much less expensive. Thanks to a 10-year frame, 3-year mechanical and electrical parts, and a 1-year labor warranty, it is even more worth it. This product is intended to stand the test of time. With the exception of speed inaccuracies and the lack of a dedicated screen, the IC4 is one of our absolute favorite exercise bikes. We recommend it to anyone looking for versatility, comfort, and just an overall solid workout.

If you are not ready to make such a significant investment, the Renpho AI Smart Exercise Bike is another connected model that is about half the price. It is compatible with many of the same apps and offers almost the same level of exercise quality as the IC4. Suppose all the features and connectivity seem overwhelming, and you just want something to pedal away the minutes. In that case, the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike is a basic bike that will fit into nearly any budget.

The Schwinn IC4 exercise bike is an affordable indoor studio bike with 100 levels of magnetic resistance, four adjustment points, hybrid SPD and flat pedals and a tablet holder. This bike has been touted as an alternative to the Peloton bike since you can subscribe to the Peloton digital app on your tablet and then sync it with the IC4 via Bluetooth. This provides a Peloton experience at less than half the price. Some of the Peloton app functionality is compromised on the IC4, you don’t get the Leaderboard function and some of your metrics don’t transfer directly, but if you want to enjoy the Peloton classes and instructors with a few modified metrics, this is a great option. The Schwinn IC4 will sync with any number of other external cycling apps as well and the cadence sensors in the pedal cranks transmit accurate speed and cadence metrics to compatible platforms. The Schwinn IC4 is reasonably priced around $800 which makes it nearly a third the cost of a Peloton bike. Since the IC4 doesn’t include an attached touchscreen, you are not locked into one specific app or platform and you can use any tablet or personal device to stream your preferred program. This reduces the issue of dated tech on the bike since you can always switch apps or use a newer tablet when an upgrade is needed.

Since there is not a screen attached to the IC4 you don’t have to worry about dealing with dated tech on your bike. When updated apps or streaming services become available, you can easily upgrade your tablet, phone, or smart TV to access your favorite training platforms. You are not locked into one specific subscription on the IC4.

The IC4 features both horizontal and vertical grips so you can sit up, hinge at the hips, or get really aggressive and lean your forearms on the bars for an aero-style position.

No matter how sturdy the bike is, if it’s uncomfortable to sit on, you won’t ride it. The IC4 makes riding an enjoyable experience with just enough sweat-resistant coating on the handlebars and a lightly padded saddle.

Many cycling apps include light upper body work and Schwinn includes two 3lb weights that are mounted just below the water bottle cages for convenience.

The Schwinn IC4 has a steel frame with supportive stabilizers at both the front and rear. A center support bar also links the stabilizers for added stability underneath. There are two adjustable levelers so you can make sure the bike sits firmly on your floor. Two red front mounted wheels make it easy to tip and roll your bike when needed. We recommend using a cycling mat underneath your bike which reduces floor vibrations and protects your floors from sweat.

Unlike the Peloton bike which only offers Delta LOOK pedals, the Schwinn IC4 has hybrid pedals that are flat with a cage on one side and have an SPD cleat on the other. You can use standard spin shoes with SPD cleats if desired — or ride with any athletic shoe. This makes the bike usable by any number of riders. Often one person in your home may use and love spin shoes while everyone else just has athletic shoes. The IC4 makes it so anyone can ride and enjoy the bike without having to pay extra for spin shoes if you don’t want them.

You do need to be close to a power outlet to use the IC4. While the bike will pedal and you can adjust resistance manually without the need for electricity, to use the console or enable Bluetooth you must plug the bike in. A standard wall outlet is sufficient. The bike includes a power adapter to counteract any power surges or other issues that could damage your bike.

When evaluating an indoor exercise bike, it is recommended that you assess the weight and design of the flywheel. Stationary bikes do not have the benefit of kinetic energy from actual forward momentum, so a weighted flywheel acts as a catalyst to both create and maintain momentum as you ride. A weighted flywheel will gain and maintain inertia to create a smooth motion while pedalling. If the flywheel is underweighted, it may not have enough inertia to spin evenly throughout the rotation, which causes a jerky feeling and heaviness in the spin. Thankfully, Schwinn has outfitted the IC4 with an impressive 40lb flywheel. This is about 10 pounds heavier than the flywheels on either the NordicTrack or Peloton bikes.

The IC4 saddle is stylish with a sleek red and black design and external stitching. It is lightly padded which provides both support and comfort while riding. Extra wide saddles or those with added padding can feel more comfortable initially, but often these lead to greater incidence of saddle sores or other friction sore spots. A narrower, racing style saddle will feel more uncomfortable when you first use it, but it is recommended for longer rides or for those who plan to ride regularly. The sweat-resistant surface will not absorb moisture and can be wiped down as needed as well.

The IC4 offers two different saddle adjustments. You can raise and lower the saddle as needed as well as move it forward and back to find the right position. For indoor cycling, we recommend finding a leg extension that allows for a gentle 25-35 degree bend at the knee when your foot is at the lowest part of the pedal rotation. If your saddle is too low you will burn out your quads and put unnecessary strain on your knees. If it is too high you will find yourself rocking from side to side in an attempt to keep your feet in the pedals.

Schwinn indicates the bike can be adjusted to fit riders between 4’6” and 6’6” although the length of your inseam is a better evaluation of how much extension you need than simply height alone.

As mentioned above, the IC4 does not include a tablet or screen. A bike computer attached between the handlebars displays time, calories, speed, distance, cadence (RPM), levels, and pulse (heart rate).

The tablet holder on the IC4 is a great addition and enhances the functionality of the bike significantly. Using any tablet you already own, you can download and sign in to your favorite cycling app and then place the tablet in the holder for easy visibility while riding. The tablet holder does not pivot or swivel, but it doesn’t really need to since you can remove the tablet if you want to use it somewhere else. The holder also is not adjustable, so you may need to remove any protective cover on your tablet if it is too wide for the holder.

Since the bike is Bluetooth enabled, it will sync with any number of external fitness apps which can be viewed on your tablet. Sometimes your workout metrics may be a bit off based on disparities between your weight and how the app calculates calories or wattage, but this can be adjusted by playing with your personal metrics in the app. For example, if an app is overestimating your calories and/or wattage, adjust your weight so it more closely resembles what is displayed on the console. The console — especially if used in conjunction with the armband heart rate strap — will typically be more accurate than 3rd party apps. We love the streamlined functionality here as the bike is designed to work with any number of apps. You are not limited to one or a few that may be preselected by Schwinn. If the app syncs via Bluetooth and can interpret the cadence sensor, you should be able to get some (but maybe not all) of your ride info to stream to the bike. Bike metrics will be in real time; app metrics may be slightly delayed.

It is nice that the IC4 only weighs 106 pounds since this makes it easy to move when needed. However, we did notice that occasionally the bike will rock from side to side when resistance and/or cadence are high. This is most likely due to the fact that the bike itself is lightweight. We never felt like stability was an issue, and the weight capacity is impressive. But there is a bit of frame rock that should be mentioned.

There is no incline or decline built into the Schwinn IC4 bike. Most studio bikes do not have incline and decline, although it is a feature found on the NordicTrack s22i and s15i bikes. The Peloton bike does not incline so this is not something that will be an issue if you use the Peloton app.

Rather than guess what level you are on, the IC4 console displays your level of resistance at any given time. This helps riders find and maintain the same level of resistance each ride for consistency and accurate calorie burn and wattage.

Like the Peloton bike, the Schwinn IC4 uses a resistance knob to adjust different resistance levels. There are both perks and drawbacks to knob resistance.

The Schwinn IC4 knob is easy to use and reach. It makes sense to just reach down and tweak the knob gently to add resistance. The red knob is a good size and feels comfortable in your hand. It also acts as a break to slow or stop the flywheel. Press down on the resistance knob to activate the break.

Since the knob has no numbers or preset metrics, you have to learn how far to turn it. The resistance level on the screen gives you an idea of how much resistance each turn will add. One advantage of preset digital resistance levels is the convenience of just hitting a button to find the exact resistance needed.

It makes sense to have 100 levels of resistance. When at level 20, you know you’re about 20% resistance and level 50 would be 50% resistance, etc. However, we found that the resistance levels on the IC4 do not line up exactly with Peloton’s 100 levels. Peloton’s resistance levels seem to be easier at the bottom end and harder at the higher levels. If using the Peloton app, you may need to modify your levels up or down just a bit to find the correct range. Each manufacturer calibrates and measures their resistance levels differently — there is no preset standard (like there is for miles per hour). Some bikes may have 34 resistance levels, some have 100 and some only have 16. This doesn’t mean the bike with 100 levels of resistance gets harder, it just means the levels are divided into smaller increments.

Nautilus, the parent company of both Bowflex and Schwinn has a few fitness apps (Explore the World, Ride Social, etc.) but these aren’t specific to the IC4. Any number of apps will sync. One of our favorites is the Explore the World app which allows you to ride landscape videos all over the world with breathtaking views and videography.

Zwift is a very popular virtual reality cycling app where you compete with and against other riders on a virtual course. Zwift allows friends (and competitors) to ride at the same time even if they are across the country. The Schwinn IC4 syncs with Zwift for interactive training.

The Schwinn IC4 bike can be moved when needed. There are wheels under the front stabilizer so you can tip the bike and gently roll it out of the way. REMOVE ANY WEIGHTS BEFORE DOING THIS! We made the mistake of rolling the bike without removing the weights one time and they came tumbling down towards our toes.

The Schwinn IC4 is the sister bike (and some claim it is identical) to the Bowflex C6 bike. The Schwinn is priced a $100 less however, and seems to provide similar features and functionality. This is a great bike for riders who just want to get on and go. You don’t have to worry about a touchscreen, videos, programs, trainers or a subscription. If you are looking for a well-built quality bike for a great price that is comfortable and easy to use, the Schwinn IC4 is the perfect option. We love that you can add tech to the bike with a personal tablet or iPad and use any number of compatible training apps. You are not locked into one platform or subscription on the IC4. Schwinn has read the market well here, since most riders enjoy a multitude of training platforms and many worry about buying an expensive bike with an attached touchscreen that will be outdated in just a few years. The magnetic resistance is smooth and quiet, which enables you to ride anytime of day or night without disturbing those around you. 100 levels also makes sense and corresponds roughly to Peloton’s 100 levels should you use that app. We love that there are hybrid pedals for both SPD cleats and athletic shoes. The handlebars are coated and comfortable and in general the bike sits firmly on the floor while riding. We are impressed with the affordable Schwinn IC4 and recommend it not only as a great Peloton alternative, but also as a well built spin bike that allows you to ride at your convenience in the safety of your own home.

It has good length of warranty with 10 years on frame, mechanical and electrical 3 years and 1 year on labor. Schwinn seem to try hard to keep their customers happy and sort any issues that arise although they can be a bit slow at responding sometimes.

For most people the top of the range should give them more than enough tension to be as tough as they want. However, the most hardened may find it a little softer than they want but if they contact Schwinn they may be able to re-calibrate this so it meets their demands.

But this is not always going to be the case. Uncomfortable seats for indoor bikes is a common problem. Although, Schwinn appear to have put some extra effort into designing a seat to be as tough as possible on people sit bones.

The console has a backlit LCD crystal which is easy to read and can be read in dim light. The only measure that may be difficult to read is the RPM bar at the top of the display.

RPM If you are wanting to use the console to measure RPM and not an App you may become a little frustrated. For some reason Schwinn have decided to show this as a bar at the top of display. It lights up across the bar as you go pedal faster but does leave it open to interpretation as how fast your turning over your feet – the bands of light cover about 5 RPMS and this part of the display isn’t the best to see.

The console connects to variety of Apps with Bluetooth Smart BLE. Schwinn as of now states it connects to Peloton, Zwift, Explore the World, Stava, Suffefest, Rouvy, Fulgaz, Tacx, TrainerRoad, Under Armour Record, MyFitnessPal, Goodle Fit and Apple Health

Peloton The bike connects with Peloton Digital. You can see your resistance and cadence on the screen as you follow along to a class. You won’t be on the leader boards. Power is not shown on the App (it’s not on the montor)

Schwinn are working on a fix to improve the data. They do appear to have one for existing bikes that went out with the faulty console and have replaced some. It does seem they are sorting the known and accepted issue.

Explore The World This is Schwinn’s App and is still being developed and doesn’t provide the experience of Apps like Peloton. It does sync with Strava.

The reviews say that it is a good well built bike and at good price for the quality and features included. They like how quiet it is. Although there has been an issue with damage on delivery as well as crank and pedals being problems however, Schwinn do work to resolve when made aware.

The Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike is considered to be the same as the Bowflex C6 and some users have confirmed this with Bowflex. The C6 indoor bike can be priced  more than the IC4 and come with a mat.

However, it is  more than the Schwinn IC3 Indoor Bike and for that you get bluetooth to connect to Apps including Peloton, a heart rate armband, magnetic resistance with reported levels and dumbbells with holder extra.

Peloton bikes may be beloved, but with a price tag over $2,000, they’re not exactly accessible. Since home workouts are still the norm for many of us, we asked two writers and fitness buffs to tell us about their favorite Peloton alternatives. As it turns out, they like the same bike. Although the Schwinn IC4 and the Bowflex C6 have different names, different branding, and, in many cases, different prices, they share a parent company: Nautilus. In fact, mechanically speaking, they are the exact same bike. And according to our experts, that bike is very, very good.

I’ve been spinning since the small gym I went to got its first Schwinn Johnny G spin bike in the mid-’90s. I’ve ridden bikes to nowhere an average of twice a week ever since, from rusty old ones in church basements to the bikes in $40 SoulCycle classes. Pre-pandemic, I was doing most of my spinning on a free communal Peloton bike in my building’s workout room. When that was no longer an option, I tried a handful of apps and streamed classes in things like strength training and yoga. But after a few months, I really missed working out on a bike and started doing some research.

Instead of splurging for a Peloton, I bought Schwinn’s IC4. Aside from the much lower price, the real appeal for me is that non-Peloton-owners can stream all of Peloton’s content via the Peloton app, including live classes, for just $12.99 a month. (The company charges its bike owners $39 monthly for the same content: A Peloton spokesperson told me that this is because owners have access to more “performance data,” since the bike connects directly with the hardware, and that multiple users in the household can have an account. But those things, combined with the steep price tag on the bike, just weren’t worth it to me.)

Like Peloton, the IC4 uses magnetic resistance, which results in an incredibly smooth and quiet ride. The bike is ten inches shorter in length than the Peloton, making for a more compact footprint. The seat and handlebars have four-way adjustment, moving up and down and forward and back. I’m five-foot-five, and my teen son is five-11, and we both feel comfortable on it.

The IC4 offers 100 levels of resistance, as Peloton does, though the levels aren’t equivalent — a 25 on a Peloton, for instance, is not the same as a 25 on the IC4. Owners have done conversion calculations, and enterprising Etsy creators have even made attachable conversion plates to stick on the bike so you can dial in the equivalent resistance when instructors call it out.

The only caveat to the IC4 is the pedals. They’re dual-sided, allowing you to clip in with bike shoes or slip regular shoes into cages, which is convenient, if a little clunky and inelegant. But some users complain about the pedals falling off or loosening (which the company insists is a user-assembly problem). I haven’t had any issues with mine, but, for what it’s worth, my husband, a bike guy who’s quite handy, helped with assembly.

Like a lot of hot home-fitness equipment, the IC4 isn’t easy to buy at the moment. You can order directly from Schwinn, but the wait time is dragging out into months despite the company’s increasing its factory capacity by 500 percent. I snagged mine on Amazon for $799, thanks to a Facebook tip, but I haven’t seen the IC4 available there for weeks. At press time, it seems to be in stock at Dick’s, but only for pickup; Best Buy has the bike listed at $899, though availability may be limited, depending on where you’re based.

Despite any appreciation I may have for those slick Peloton ads with the happy ladies cycling in their glass-encased skyscrapers and French farmhouses, that bike’s price meant it was never an option for me. The much more affordable C6 delivers an open-platform, Bluetooth-connected fitness experience with a high-performance build. It comes with free shipping and two three-pound weights to do arm exercises while biking. [The Schwinn also includes three-pound weights.] And while it doesn’t have the fancy, 22-inch touchscreen that Peloton provides, you can use pretty much any phone or tablet to connect and stream classes. The bike itself needs to be assembled, and though my husband and I are not the handiest of folks, we managed to put it together with minimal effort.

When it’s nice outside, my fiancé bikes everywhere. He commutes to work on his bike, grocery shops on his bike, and on weekends he goes on rides up to 20 miles long. My workout routine is not nearly as intense (a little Yoga With Adriene here, a little biking on errands or to meet friends there). Having canceled our gym memberships during lockdown, both of us had been relying on the outdoors for regular cardio, but once it started to get cold, that couldn’t last. We were about to buy the Schwinn IC4 when we discovered the IC3, Schwinn’s older, but still quite capable, indoor bike for only $600.

The IC3 is somewhat bare-bones compared to the IC4, but for us, the extra features were not worth the extra $300. Like the IC4, the IC3 has double-sided pedals so you can use sneakers or clips, and it’s fully adjustable. One big difference between the two is that, instead of magnetic resistance, the IC3 uses flywheel resistance. It’s louder, but not so loud that it’s a distraction, and I actually kind of like the feedback of the slight whirring sound it makes when you really push yourself. We bought an exercise pad to go under it that also dampens any noise and makes that area of our bedroom feel like a tiny gym. While the bike doesn’t have Bluetooth and can’t connect to apps directly, you can still follow along with the Peloton app for an excellent workout.

We have our bike set up to face the TV so we can either watch a show or do a Peloton ride. The IC3 monitor shows RPMs, which helps you match your cadence to the instructor, although you do have to watch it carefully since the screen alternates between RPM and speed. There are no specific measurements for resistance; you just turn the knob to the right to increase it and to the left to decrease it. This means you’re flying a little blind when it comes to following instructors. Online forums suggest testing the knob to see how many small turns it takes to get from the lowest to the highest resistance and then figuring out how many of those turns you’ll need to go from say 20 to 30 in Peloton resistance, but that is more effort than I’m willing to put in. For now, I go by feel and try to match my effort level to the instructor’s. When he’s not doing a Peloton ride, my fiancé rides to action movies using the adrenaline rush of battle scenes to hype him up. He says he likes the bike so much that on mild winter days when he could go for an outdoor ride, the draw of the IC3 is enough of a temptation to keep him in.