When it comes to home fitness equipment, Peloton is one of the most favored stationary bike brands that are very popular among fitness enthusiasts for the many top-end features that it boasts about. These features include ergonomic design, built-in screen, live classes, etc. In the last one year after the coronavirus has engulfed the world, the sale of home fitness and gym equipment has seen a phenomenal rise. Peloton’s stationary bikes have always been the first choice amongst fitness and gym freaks for completing their fitness goals in the last one year.
However, despite their huge popularity, Peloton stationary bikes may just not be fit for everyone out there for various reasons and the biggest one being its price tag. You can, in fact, there are many other brands that make and sell indoor bikes for a price much lower than Peloton. As such, there are pretty good alternatives to the pricey fitness bikes by Peloton, and in this piece, we will walk you through some of the best alternatives that you can possibly use to workout from home.
Best High-End Alternatives
To begin with, let us first look at some high-end alternatives of the Peloton in a price range between $1000 to $2000 which is still lower than the prices of some of the basic models of Peloton.
- Smart Connect EX3 by Echelon
This is one of the top brands after Peloton that is known for its world-class stationary bikes. They are the biggest competitors to Peloton and they always leave up to the expectations any fitness lover would have from his bike.
This one in particular is one of the best models the company sells. This one has features such as magnetic resistance, which makes use of magnetism around a revolving wheel such as the flywheel. The magnetism around the wheel is used to control the resistance to pedaling.
This bike also features a built-in mount for a smart device that you can mount on to your bike. There is a lever that can be used to adjust and control the seat height, a competition seat, that is designed narrow enough to allow for a wider and better range of motion.
For a little over $1000 ($1039.00), you can get this amazing fitness bike. If you can pay an additional fee, the Echelon Fit app, also offers unlimited access to on-demand and live classes, along with live performance tracking.
Shop for the Smart Connect EX3 Online.
- S22i Studio Cycle by NordicTrack
If you wish to go for a high-end alternative within a comparable price range, then this studio cycle is certainly the best. With this Cycle, you can bring the energetic experience of a fitness studio right in your living room.
This bike offers some amazing features such as 24 digital levels of resistance, live decline and incline control, a high definition rotating touch screen, along with dual bottle holders.
The best part – each of these bikes comes with a free 1-year membership of the NordicTrack iFit app that provides you with live classes with cycling and cross-training options such as boot camp, yoga, and strength training. There is one feature that simulates bike rides from across the world, thereby automatically adjusting the incline and the decline, and the resistance of the ride.
The price for this one may be on the higher side ($1999) but with all the amazing functions and settings, it is all worth it.
Shop for NordiTrack S22i Studio
- The MYX by MYXfitness
This machine has recently gained popularity owing to its huge library of streaming videos both for cycling and many other full-body workouts. The MYX membership includes access to hundreds of workout and as such this system is branded as full-body training equipment.
This bike is delivered as a fully assembled unit and features a swivel screen that allows you to get on to the mat after a round of workout and vice-versa. It also comes with a 41-pound flywheel that offers mechanical friction-based braking resistance for your workouts.
The membership to MYX streaming and the video library is available at an additional cost that offers unlimited access to all the workouts, progress tracking, and heart rate monitoring – all in one membership plan.
If you go for a higher model known as the MYX Plus ($1499), you get additional mats, weights, and exercise equipment. For under $1500 ($1299), the MYX is a pretty high-tech fitness machine that you can get home.
Best Budget Alternatives
Now that we have seen some high-end machines, let us now look at some budget machines that can give you the perfect workouts when coupled with technologies such as Fitness Mirrors and Apple Fitness+.
- SF-B1995 Fitness Pro 2 by Sunny
If you are looking for a budget option to achieve your fitness goals, this machine is one of the best. This is a simple machine, yet loaded with all the basic features that you want in a cycling bike.
There is an easy to operate resistance knob that lets you control the intensity of the workout. Along with that for added comfort, there is a 4-way adjustable seat that lends maximum comfort.
It features a pulse sensor to track your heart rate. The digital monitor displays all the metrics of your workout or ride. Plus there is a device holder, that lets you watch videos on your tablet or smartphone. So that makes it a streaming bike without any extra cost.
The bike comes in two versions or models – chain model ($269.99) and belt drive model (649.96). Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon, and priced under $700, this can be the bike that you can go for without any second thoughts.
- IC3 Bike by Schwinn
If you have just started exploring cycling as a fitness activity and are still pretty unsure about a stationary bike as a home fitness equipment, the IC3 can be your best companion.
The bike features dual SPD foot pedals, which is a unique feature that holds your shoes firmly to the pedals using special clips or a standard toe cage, depending on what you like. Other features include a ventilated seat, well-padded handlebars, an LCD console to display all metrics such as speed, time, calories burned, distance and time elapsed, etc.
Though the built-in screen is missing, the IC3 features a media rack that allows you to use your favorite app to stream a fitness video during your workouts with ease.
The price starts from $599 and is available in seven different options.
- MaxKare Folding Exercise Bike
This bike is one of the very few multi-purpose bikes that offer you more than what a stationary bike does usually. It is equipped with a couple of arm resistance bands that you can use to exercise your arm muscles while riding.
The bike can be adjusted to various positions such as recumbent, semi-recumbent, and upright thereby providing various workout heights that are meant to target a specific set of muscles. In each of these positions, you will have to sit in different postures which in turn means different areas of the body being worked on, each time.
Apart from the adjustable positions, it has 8 levels of resistance. The magnetic flywheel offers smooth and adjustable rides. For displaying the metrics it features an LCD display, a heart rate monitor, and a tablet or smartphone holder for streaming videos.
The best part about this bike is its portability. You can fold it easily to half of its size thereby making it easy to transport. At around $200, this one is a must-have for every fitness freak.
Alternatives to Peloton Streaming Libraries and Fitness Videos
One of the things that make Peloton and high-end bike models pretty expensive is the availability of a high-end comprehensive video library that streams high-quality fitness videos. You can however get all the features of the Peloton, simply by using the Budget bike versions along with some modern fitness tech such as Fitness Mirrors and Apple Fitness+
Fitness Mirror – Fitness mirrors are modern high-tech gadgets that allow you access to live trainers and coaches wherever you are. You can get one of these fitness mirrors and use them along with your bikes to get the best workout experience.
Apple Fitness+ – This app on your phone can turn out to be your best companion in every workout. Simply place your tablet or phone in your bike’s media rack and make use of all the high quality streaming directly from the app.
By using the above two, you can thus make your simple and functional bike a high-tech workout experience offered by all the high-end bikes.
The Bottomline
To summarize, though the Peloton bike is one of the best stationary bike brands that you can get, there are many other great alternatives that you can go for for a workout experience that matches the Peloton. Make use of the alternate bike options we talked about in this piece, and combine them with some high-end tech like the fitness mirror and the Apple Fitness+ app and you shall not be disappointed with the results.