An indoor cycling bike is a great way to get a daily workout in and keep you fit for the trails. This can all be done on a budget as well. Lately I haven’t had as much time as I would like to get out on the trails so I decided to buy a Chaoke indoor cycling bike (spin bike). As mentioned in a previous article, the goal is to bike as much as you can and an indoor bike was one of the items mentioned but I didn’t own one yet…now I do!
Overview of indoor cycling bike I chose:
Chaoke Indoor Cycle Bike
Dimensions:
- Height: 41.34 inches
- Width: 20.08 inches
- Length: 44.49 inches
Weight:
- Bike weight: 73lbs
- Max rider weight: 300 lbs
Design Features:
- Heavy 37lb flywheel
- Magnetic resistance
- Belt driven
- Extremely quite
- extra comfortable seta
- water bottle holder
- LCD screen (Speed, time, distance, etc)
- Tablet/phone holder
- Seat height adjustment
- Reach Adjustment
- Handlebar height adjustment
- wheels to easily move around
Why did I Choose this Indoor Cycling bike?
Ok first and foremost going into purchasing an indoor cycling bike I knew I did not want to spend a thousand dollars or more. I was looking for a cycling bike for training proposes when I cant get out on the trail. This is only to help keep me in shape so having the latest technology wasn’t important.
With that said the peloton and high end bike trainers were out of the question. I looked at some low end bike trainers but reviews didn’t seem to positive. Also I didn’t like the idea of using my mountain bike on a trainer and don’t have an extra bike to spare. This narrowed the search quickly down to a spin bike (simplified peloton).
Once I narrowed the search down to a spin bike aside from price there were several items to look for in an indoor cycling bike:
- Magnetic resistance (No maintenance and smooth resistance range)
- Belt driven (quieter ride for early morning cycling to not wake others in house)
- Heavy flywheel (provide smoother ride and store more energy=better workout)
Finally positive customer reviews which is always something to look for when making a purchase.
After searching for some time I cam across the Chaoke indoor cycling bike which checked all the boxes. In the end I paid 280 dollars for this bike on black Friday, certainly budget friendly.
Unboxing & Assembly
Delivery of the Chaoke bike was within a week of placing the order. Believe the total shipped product weighed 81lbs, which I found not too difficult to maneuver around. My wife even took it into the basement herself (since I was away on a business trip).
The package was done very well. Even with the bottom right corner taken out during the shipping process there was no damage to the indoor cycling bike at all.
To get started unboxing you are goin to need a razor blade knife. After cutting the straps I cut the cardboard box the entire way around the base of the package. This allowed the box to be lifted off the bike. Of course make sure the box is right side up before doing this.
Next finish cutting all the tie down straps and remove all the Styrofoam (note there are pieces taped inside the Styrofoam corners). Here is the final unpackaged product before assembly. In addition to the all the parts it came with the tools necessary for assembly.
For assembly, the instructions provided high level assembly instructions that were certainly not step by step but enough to get you through it. The only parts I had to do some thinking on were the tensioning bolts for the seat and handlebar height adjustments. The two provided with the bike were different lengths. After staring at them for a little I realized the longer bolt is used for the seat adjustment and the shorter one is used for the handlebar adjustment. Otherwise the assembly went well and only took 30-45 minutes with me taking my time.
Overall Review
This indoor cycling bike is built to last. While it may be a basic bike (no built in TV, etc) it can certainly provide a solid workout. Personally the simplicity of it is one of the things I like about it. I did not want to get into monthly subscriptions as I do not think they are needed for a great workout, which this bike has proven. Many of the higher end bikes with screens require memberships $$. My wife and I use this bike with free you tube videos which leave you soaked at the then end. Great sign of a solid workout.
As far as riding the bike pedals smooth, offers plenty of resistance, and is extremely quiet. This has been a great addition into our home gym. It is also a perfect supplement for those days you cant get out on the trail.
Finally, the Chaoke Indoor Cycling Bike is a great choice for those looking to have a stationary indoor bike at budget prices
