Thinking about a Schwinn exercise bike? Wondering if it's right for you? Here's a quick overview of what you need to know about Schwinn stationary bikes.
First of all the Schwinn name is owned by Nautilus Fitness - who've been in the exercise equipment business since 1986.
Nautilus also owns Stairmaster, Bowflex and Trimline. They're the second largest producer of exercise equipment in North America (after ICON who owns Proform, Weslo, Nordic Track, Reebok and Image).
Schwinn makes both treadmills and ellipticals - but where they really shine is in their exercise bikes. Schwinn makes upright, recumbent and dual action (air resistance) bikes. Here's a brief review of their strengths:
1) Affordable - Starting around 0 and up, Schwinn stationary bikes are affordable, even if you're on a budget. Plus they tend to hold up fairly well over the long run with decent warranties which can help protect your investment.
2) Well Designed - Unlike cheaper department store bikes, Schwinn bikes tend to have proper ergonomic design, which can make your workouts more comfortable. They're also well built with strong construction quality.
The higher end Schwinn models use heavier flywheels and eddy current brake resistance which also contribute to giving you a super-smooth feeling ride.
3) Highly Rated - Despite their low prices Schwinn exercise bikes have received several Best buys from experts like Consumer Reports on past models. They also tend to rate very highly with users who rate them, as of this writing from 4 - 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Users particularly love the quietness of the machines, the comfortable feel and the quality of construction. Having used a Schwinn recumbent bike (the 203, now discontinued) for several years myself I can agree. While on the simpler side, it's quiet and extremely comfortable. It's also held up well so far.
Schwinn also makes the famous Schwinn Airdyne - a dual action, air-resistance bike that has become a classic in it's own right. It comes with movable arm bars and you can work your arms and legs at the same time (similar to an elliptical trainer) which helps you get a more total body workout and burn more calories.
Plus the air resistance system gives you almost unlimited resistance - the harder you pedal, the more resistance you get. The Airdyne has been around for years and just the fact that Schwinn really hasn't updated it is a testament to how well it works.
One disadvantage to Schwinn exercise bikes is that some (mostly the lower end models) don't come with a backlit console, which can make it hard to read your workout stats. However the higher end models are now coming with backlit consoles and even tracking programs that help you chart your progress over time.
Bottom Line?
If you're looking for an affordable, quality exercise bike, you'll probably be very happy with a Schwinn. They're pretty much the leaders in the exercise bike market at the under 0 price point, mainly because they're well built and will last you a while.
Just remember to take your time, research your options and choose a bike you can get excited about using.
