Schwinn iC4 Review (Peleton Dupe)
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Hello Friends! I’m so excited for this blog post because I have fallen in love with my Schwinn iC4 bike over the past couple of months. Many have asked what my thoughts are on this purchase, so today I will be sharing my review of the bike. I will be talking about. what is included, how much I paid, how it works with the Peleton app, shipping timeline, and so much more.
A quick reminder that I ordered this bike during COVID quarantine, so some things might have changed since, including price. I purchased this bike with my own money and this review is completely 100% my own opinion.
How much does it cost and where did you purchase from?
I purchased my bike in mid May so I was able to snag it for $799 plus tax (Roughly $845). However, I’ve noticed it has gone up $100 (as of when this post was written) and is now $899. However, this does include free shipping. I would still purchase after the price increase. I did not pay for the set up fee because I was happy to set the bike up on my own (which I did and took me under an hour).
I purchased directly from the Schwinn website because it was the most cost effective (free shipping) and I figured it would be best to purchase directly from Schwinn incase I had any future problems (easier to contact one company, rather than multiple). I haven’t had any problems so far, so I can’t really share anything regarding this aspect. I did not pay for the extended warranty.
How long did it take to ship and arrive?
At the time of my purchase it said that the bike would be delivered within 45 days of purchase. I assumed this meant 45 business days, so technically it did arrive on the 44th business day. Roughly, about 9 weeks from purchase to arrival. I did purchase when there was slow downs due to COVID-19 shutdowns, so this might be quicker if you are to order now. There is a link that you receive in an email that allows you to check in on your order and see the status of it.
What is Included?
Along with the bike, I received two 3-lb weights that have holders on the bike, a heart rate monitor that can sync with the bike (I use my Apple watch instead), two water bottle holders on the bike, a flat pad that holds the phone or tablet of your choice (I use my iPhone 11 Pro Max and it works great), clips for if you have spin shoes that clip in, toe cages if you want to use regular tennis shoes, and a digital monitor that’s easy track mileage, speed, RPM, heart rate, etc. It also has a spot where you can plug in a USB charger and charge whatever device you are viewing your class from. You adjust the resistance with the knob which is very easy to use while riding. The handlebars and seat are also easily adjustable.
I already owned spin shoes, so I didn’t need to buy those (I believe the Peleton does include these). While they aren’t required to use the bike, I highly recommend investing in some if you are going to be doing a lot of cycling, because you get a more effective workout with them. The only two bonus things I did purchase for the bike are this black mat to put under the bike, and this padded bike seat to make it a little more comfortable to ride on. Both were inexpensive, easy to wipe down after each ride and I’m loving how they are working for me. You can see both in the photos above.
How does it sync with the Peleton app?
I was worried that it would be difficult to figure out how to sync the bike with the Peleton app, but it was actually very easy. The first time I rode with the bike, I simply pressed the bluetooth button and opened up a Peleton class, clicked a button within the class to open up which devices are synced to Peleton and clicked on the iC4 bike. If you are confused you can easily Google and figure this out. I use my Apple Watch to monitor my heart rate and the bike to monitor my cadence; both of which are displayed on the screen during my Peleton rides.
As far as the cost of Peleton works, it is $13.77 for me a month (including tax) to have unlimited access to both live and prerecorded Peleton workouts. I believe the Peleton membership if you have an actual Peleton bike is around $40 a month, so this is definitely a huge savings in this regard (besides the actual bike being less than half the Peleton price). This includes the cycling classes, but also yoga, strength training, running, and so much more! I absolutely love these classes, the instructors, and that I get access to more than just spinning. I especially love the yoga classes and am excited to try the led runs too. I personally haven’t used the Peleton app with a Peleton device, so I can’t share how different it is to use the Peleton app without them. I have found that I have never felt like I’ve lacked anything by not having an actual Peleton device though. I know that with an actual Peleton it calculates your output based on the resistance and cadence you are spinning at, which is used in the leaderboard to compete against others. To my knowledge that is the only difference from not having a Peleton device, but please comment below if that is wrong.
You don’t have to use the Peleton app to use this bike, it syncs with many other apps, or you can ride at your own pace, etc, which I have done as well and love too.
What was your spinning experience prior to purchasing?
I have been an avid cycler since I was in high school. I used to take weekly spin classes at my local gym and in college took some as well. Since graduating, I have often used the spin bikes at my gym to do more of self directed classes since I have taken so many led by in person instructors.
This past winter, I started getting back into spinning 3-4 times a week on days that I wasn’t running. I told myself that if I spun consistently at the gym for 6 months and saved the money for it, I would buy myself the Schwinn iC4 for my 30th birthday in May 2020. As with any large purchase, it’s very important to evaluate realistically how much you would use the item. If you have never cycled before, I would definitely recommend taking some classes to make sure you enjoy it, because that is the most important thing in getting the most use out of it long term. I was planning on purchasing the bike before COVID and quarantine happened, however I am SO happy to have this amazing piece of equipment in my home now, because I don’t have to leave home and was able to cancel my gym membership.
Do you regret anything and would you recommend?
I do not regret ANYTHING regarding this bike. I would purchase it again and recommend it to any of my friends who enjoy cycling and are considering a long term purchase.
Random things to note:
The bike does require being plugged in to track your workout so you need to make sure you can place it close to an outlet.
This is VERY important if you are going to buy the Schwinn iC4 bike. The resistance levels DO NOT match up to the Peleton numbers the teachers use in class (I’m not sure if this is for other cycling apps as well). The iC4 is much stronger of a resistance at a lower number. I didn’t know this for a few classes and finally googled it because I couldn’t believe how heavy the Peleton instructors were wanting the resistance. haha You can google it but basically here are the correct conversions —> iC4/Peleton = 5=25, 9=30, 17=35, 25=40, 33=45, 49=50.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post! If you have any additional questions regarding my Schwinn iC4 or Peleton experience, please feel free to comment, email or DM me with more questions! Hopefully I covered everything you could need to know.
Have a beautiful day,
Andrea
Disclosure: Some of the above links are Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. This does not affect the price of the product on your end. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty
