NordicTrack's competitor in the indoor cycling market presents an innovative approach, however, falls short of the charismatic Cody Rigsby experience.
As the COVID-19 pandemic starts to wind down, one quarantine habit I'm planning to keep is working out at home. Scheduling my day around gym visits can be a hassle, and working out at my convenience in my own house eliminates most of my excuses to skip a workout. It's no surprise that Peloton's popularity has soared recently, but there are also numerous other home gym options available, including alternative connected bikes that provide a unique workout experience. I've been trying out one such bike, NordicTrack's Commercial S22i Studio Cycle, to see how it compares to Peloton.
If you're considering buying a NordicTrack bike because you're frustrated with Peloton's shipping delays and think you'll get a similar experience for a similar price, it's important to know that the NordicTrack bike and its iFit software platform can't compete with Peloton. Some may even prefer an alternative to Peloton for various reasons, but if you're drawn to Peloton's vibe, NordicTrack is not the right choice for you.
That's not to say that NordicTrack's Commercial S22i Studio Cycle is a bad bike. The hardware is top-notch, with plenty of features you won't find on Peloton's offerings. But people are buying connected stationary bikes to motivate themselves to work out at home, and the only thing that motivated me to hop on this bike a few times a week during my month-long testing period was the fact that I had to write this review.
It all comes down to the content, and that's where NordicTrack falls short.
The NordicTrack bike differs from a Peloton in a few key ways. Instead of adjusting resistance with a knob, there are physical arrows on the top of the right handlebar to select between 24 digital resistance levels. The bike can also adjust its incline, which can be set to -10% and +20%. The incline can be adjusted with another set of buttons on the left handlebar. There's also a built-in fan, which keeps me cool during every ride, even on its lowest setting. The bike also has a rotating 22-inch touchscreen, similar to the Peloton Bike+, but a subscription is required to unlock its classes on top of the cost of the bike itself. The classes are good, but the quality of the instructors and classes doesn't compare to Peloton.
NordicTrack offers a few different types of rides. There are studio spin classes led by instructors who call out cadence cues, similar to Peloton, but there are also outdoor rides led by iFit trainers who are professional cyclists. The ride locations range from mountains and beaches to city highways and desert trails, with classes filmed on every continent. The resistance and incline adjust according to the instructor's cues or to mimic the outdoor terrain, thanks to the bike's auto-follow feature. This is where iFit really sets itself apart – riding down the Pacific Coast Highway outside of San Francisco or climbing through a snowy pass in Alaska while trailing a pack of Huskies is an unforgettable experience.
The incline feature is also a major advantage over other pricey connected bikes. Photo: Caitlin McGarry/Gizmodo
And I really wanted to love those outdoor rides, because they take you to some amazing locations. But you can hear the machine adjusting the incline, and if you're on particularly rugged terrain, those adjustments happen frequently, which makes the experience less immersive than I would like. (I tested both the 2020 and 2021 versions of the bike, and while the newer one is definitely quieter, the incline is still audible.) I always felt like I was pedaling while watching a National Geographic special on a small TV rather than actually doing intervals in the Swiss Alps or wherever my chosen class took place. For example, during a ride through a Turkish desert, the trainer literally stopped to grab an orange juice from a local cafe and described its freshness while I was instructed to "keep pedaling." I confess my jaw actually dropped. I enjoy the incline feature, though, despite the noise it makes, and the auto-follow feature takes all the guesswork out of adjusting resistance. The outdoor trainers are definitely pros, but there's little in the way of motivational pep talks. So if you, like me, need a bit more from an instructor, these outdoor rides may not be for you. But I know some people don't like a lot of talking during their workouts, so if this sounds like your jam, I would suggest putting on a podcast and just riding.
I was taken aback by my preference for iFit's scenic rides despite my love for Peloton-style spin classes. However, their studio workouts don't quite match up. I've experimented with various instructors and formats, but none have challenged me as much as a Peloton ride. There are a few concerns: Firstly, each class features an instructor in front of a backdrop of blinking lights, which is quite disorienting for me, even though I usually don't get affected by lights. iFit seems to acknowledge this could be an issue for some users, as they display a warning before every class. Secondly, the instructors, while competent trainers, lack the engaging personalities and motivational abilities that Peloton instructors possess in abundance. I've yet to find an iFit trainer who motivates me to push myself as much.
I'm not thrilled about having to agree to this warning before every studio class. Image source: Caitlin McGarry/Gizmodo
Then there's the music issue. iFit doesn't license tracks; instead, it uses Feed.fm, a radio service, to play pop songs during rides. This means the instructors don't create playlists like Peloton instructors do, and it takes away a significant part of the enjoyable experience of spinning. Yes, I understand there are people who don't like listening to music while working out, but I'm baffled by their existence. For me, a track with the right beat can push me to achieve a personal record. However, the lack of curated music is disappointing when instructors encourage us to "ride to the beat," and it's clear that they're hearing something different from what I'm hearing on the radio.
It's a bit strange that iFit trainers have continued to teach studio classes in front of a live audience of cyclist extras during the pandemic. A company spokesperson told me they're taking numerous safety measures, including testing and cleaning, to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the audiences add nothing to the workout experience and seem like an unnecessary risk. Now that the pandemic is easing, this might not be as big of a concern moving forward, but it felt odd, especially since other streaming fitness services (including Peloton) have done away with audiences in the last year, and I've found I prefer the more focused instruction.
I wasn't fond of the user interface of the Android-based iFit software on the 22-inch HD screen. The home screen suggests a class based on your previous class, but after that, you're left with a random assortment of classes. I started various workout series (which iFit loves), but never did iFit encourage me to continue any of the series beyond the first recommendation. I usually needed to see a location I wanted to experience before deciding on a class.
The iFit class filtering system isn't difficult to figure out once you know what you're looking for, but the class names and descriptions leave much to be desired. Peloton and Apple Fitness+, for example, provide a clear breakdown of their class structures, giving you a good idea of what to expect. I couldn't even tell if an iFit studio class involved weights based on the class name, and had to guess based on a class photo when I wanted a workout focusing on intervals and arms.
A Full-Body Toning Workout class was more obvious in its use of weights, and turned out to be a bootcamp-style class that utilized the bike's rotating screen. Kudos to NordicTrack; the S22i had a rotating screen before Peloton's Bike+ did. The screen worked well; I was able to easily switch between doing exercises near the screen and then returning to the bike for the rest of the ride.
I have a few issues with the bike itself. NordicTrack has another unique class type, where you can create a ride using Google Maps. You can draw a route on the touchscreen in any location around the world, and iFit creates a ride for you with adjustable resistance and incline based on the route's elevation. This sounds fascinating, but in practice, it's quite chaotic. I chose to ride around my old neighborhood in Brooklyn, beginning at Prospect Park, and quickly realized the visuals are made up of Google Street View snaps that change every few seconds. I had imagined I could smoothly ride around the park, taking in the views, but watching a rotating Street View does not make for an enjoyable ride. I lasted less than a minute before abandoning this self-created workout.
There are also a few hardware issues. The bike can't actually be fully turned off unless it's unplugged from the wall, and even in sleep mode, it makes a noticeable humming noise. The bike is currently in my office behind my desk, and if I don't unplug it, I find it impossible to work. Peloton's bike has a power button that puts it in sleep mode or switches it off completely, and it's completely silent when not in use.
I've got a different perspective on this bike, though. The likelihood of encountering a Peloton user is significantly higher than coming across an iFit subscriber, reducing the social aspect considerably. The joy of scheduling rides with pals or giving a congratulatory slap on the digital leaderboard motivates many who thrive on accountability. While iFit offers a leaderboard, you can view it on the sidebar during your ride, similar to Peloton, and you can filter by class takers, current riders, and your performance (distance covered, power output, etc.). However, I frequently found myself as the only rider at a time or the sole one who'd taken a particular class that day, making the competitive essence feeble.
Let me put it bluntly, high-tech home workout equipment ain't cheap. The last thing you want is to invest in a bicycle that collects dust and serves as a makeshift coat hanger because the subscription-based classes fail to keep you engaged. The NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle is a decent pick for those who dig the type of classes I described, featuring hands-off coaching from professional trainers with no background tunes and minimal frills. But if you're among those who require more--a killer playlist, a social network, and instructors who inspire you to push your limits--then NordicTrack is probably not your bike.
README
The lack of music selection is a bummer.
The scenic rides offer a solid workout on account of the automatically adjusting incline and resistance that mimic an outdoor bike ride.
The iFit software interface could use a bit of fine-tuning.
If the thought of diving into the Peloton scene turns you off but you still want an exercise bicycle, this one should do just fine. (Paraphrased from the original text)
In the future, advancements in wearable technology and connected bikes, like NordicTrack's Commercial S22i Studio Cycle, could significantly enhance home workout experiences, providing users with immersive outdoor scenarios and automated adjustments.
When evaluating home gym equipment, prospective buyers should consider factors beyond pricing and features, such as the instructor's motivational abilities and the quality of the content in the classes, as these elements greatly impact the overall workout experience.
