Suppose you pay a monthly fee for bike classes anyway. Why not get the bike for free?
ProForm
Here’s the thing with a peloton bike, an Echelon bike, or the like: you not only have to buy the very expensive hardware, but also membership in the fitness class. For example, a peloton costs an impressive $ 2,245, and then you’re on the hook for $ 39 a month. Echelon offers bikes for less (including a few under $ 1,000), but the associated class schedule costs $ 40 a month.
Ah, but what if you could pay the same price and effectively get a bike for free? You can: For a limited time The ProForm Studio Pro indoor exercise bike costs $ 39 per month for three years – iFit membership included.
Continue reading: The best home fitness device for 2020
OK, so it’s basically a 0% interest rate plan that will be $ 1,403 after three years. But there are no upfront costs – even shipping is free – and when you’re done, you own the bike. Yes, you still have to pay $ 39 a month if you want iFit courses to continue. However, if you pay in advance a year or more, discounts are available.
I haven’t tried the Studio Pro myself, but it resembles the very good NordicTrack S15i that I tested in my summary of Peloton alternatives that cost less. No wonder: the parent company Icon Health and Fitness owns NordicTrack and ProForm as well as iFit.
Continue reading: How to build your own smart bike cheaply
The bike has a quiet flywheel, a height-adjustable seat and handlebar, digital resistance settings, 3-pound hand weights, and a 10-inch touchscreen that rotates 180 degrees in both directions – helpful for all off-bike classes, you want to do.
Regarding courses, iFit offers a variety of on-demand courses – not just cycling, but also intensive interval training, strength training, yoga and so on. Two things that I particularly like: the virtual rides (where you follow your instructor on beautiful trails) and the “live” resistance control, ie the instructor changes the resistance settings of your bike during your lessons or your ride.
Obviously Fitness at home is currently more important than ever. If you’ve considered an indoor bike (or an elliptical trainer, see below) but have resisted the high price of the equipment, here’s where you can purchase that equipment at a low monthly cost – provided you’re ready to to pay them for three years.
Her thoughts?
To update: Shortly after I published this, I learned that ProForm also offers his Carbon E7 elliptical on the same conditions ($ 0 down, $ 39 a month for 36 months). This is actually my preferred form of indoor exercise, although I couldn’t find any machine reviews myself.
Originally released last month. Updated to reflect new information. Expired bonus offers have been removed.
Look at that:
Peloton Bike makes spinning at home much smoother
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