Schwinn IC3 Review: Is This the Best Indoor Cycling Bike for Your Home Gym?
Schwinn
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If you’re looking for an indoor spin bike for your home gym, and don’t want to splurge on a bike packed with features, the Schwinn IC3 is one of the best options on the market. Schwinn Fitness launched its first exercise bike in 1965, and has since built a reputation for producing some of the best fitness equipment on the market.
The IC3 stationary bike is easy to use, lightweight, comfortable and very affordable compared to some of the more expensive exercise bikes on the market–including its big brother, the Schwinn IC4.
A smaller frame and light design means larger, taller users may have some challenges. However, for most people, this will be a fantastic option for indoor cycling and a great way to enjoy a challenging cardio workout at home.
In this review, we’ll break down all the product specs, explore the pros and cons, and help you decide if Schwinn IC3 is the right bike for your goals.
Key Features:
- Lightweight, portable design
- 40-pound flywheel for a smooth, silent ride
- Built-in water bottle holder and media holder for your phone or tablet
- Very easy to adjust the settings
Specs
Schwinn
These days, the indoor cycling market is full of high-end, tech-powered smart bikes with all kinds of luxurious features, like padded seats, dumbbells, cooling fans and large touchscreens. While these bikes are fun to use, they often come with a high price tag and added features not necessary for every rider. If you prefer to follow your own training plan, and don’t want to follow virtual workout classes, you probably don’t want to splurge on a higher-end bike with all the newest tech features.
Scwhinn tends to keep things simpler, forgoing fancy, high-tech features with its machines. While other bikes, like the Peloton bike or Echelon bikes, feature virtual workouts, interactive instruction and large display screens, the Schwinn exercise bike keeps things simple and built for function.
Compared to recumbent bikes, which are often larger and heavier with a backrest, this lightweight bike is similar to what you’d find in a spin class, designed for ease of use and a challenging ride. There’s no excessively large seat or backrest. Instead the IC3 is designed to simulate racing on a road bike.
Construction and Design
Whether you’re a beginner who wants to include some cardio in their routine, or a seasoned cyclist looking for a high-quality, smooth ride without the frills of an expensive smart bike, this is an affordable piece of fitness equipment that’s built to last.
Most users report fast and easy assembly. You have an adjustable seat, adjustable handlebars with multiple grip options and a knob to quickly adjust the resistance. The ventilated race-style seat is designed to keep you cool and comfortable during your workout.
Dual-sided pedals allow you to use toe cages to strap in your standard gym shoes, or clip in to the SPD side if you have a favorite pair of cycling shoes already. For advanced health tracking, you can sync a heart rate monitor with the basic digital display included with the IC3.
This bike is heavy-duty and built to last, so you can really push your workouts pretty hard with confidence.
Finally, the bike includes a five-year warranty on the frame, two-year warranty on mechanical and electrical parts and one-year warranty on labor, with extended warranties available for an extra fee.
Working Out with the Schwinn IC3
Amazon
Working out with the Schwinn IC3 is simple. Start by adjusting the seat and handlebars to the proper position—they both adjust both horizontally and vertically. Once you’re riding all you need to worry about is turning the resistance knob to adjust the difficulty as needed.
If you want to use your phone or tablet to watch a show, listen to music or follow a workout class, the built-in media device holder allows you to prop up your screen. However, the tablet holder is built-in to the cup rest. So if you’re using something like an iPad, you’d have to reach around it to get to your water bottle, which could feel a bit awkward.
The IC3 doesn’t allow for any direct integrations with smart training apps, so unfortunately, this won’t work as a Peloton alternative. You could still stream your workouts on something like the Peloton app, but you won’t be able to track your stats within the app.
Finally, the Schwinn IC3 features infinitely variable resistance, which means the resistance increases as you turn the knob, rather than clicking between an existing number of resistance levels.
Schwinn IC3 vs Schwinn IC4
If you’re looking for a bike with more features, the Schwinn IC4 is an upgraded version of the Schwinn IC3.
The IC4 bike itself looks very similar to the IC3, but includes additional features like two water bottle holders (that aren’t hidden behind your tablet), Bluetooth integration and a magnetic resistance system.
Thanks to the Bluetooth integration, you can pair your bike with a number of virtual training apps, including JRNY, Peloton or Zwift. All of these require a separate subscription and your own tablet. Your new IC4 bikes does include a one-year JRNY membership, which usually costs $149.
The Schwinn IC4 is closer to a bike like the Bowflex C6, which also allows you to choose your own streaming workout service, while the IC3 does not have all the smart integrations.
The IC4 costs $999, compared to the IC3 at $699. You’re getting some nice features and tech integration, but you’ll pay an extra $300. For the price point, it’s hard to beat the quality of the IC3 if you’re looking for an upright spin bike you can use anywhere in your home.
If you don’t want to use any of the Bluetooth features or virtual classes, we suggest the IC3. However, if you do plan to use a service like JRNY or Peloton, you may want to consider upgrading to the IC4.
Customer reviews
The reviews for the Schwinn IC3 are overwhelmingly positive, with more than 5,300 reviews averaging a 4.5 out of five star rating on Amazon. The bike also received an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars on the Schwinn website, with one user writing, “This bike rides and feels exactly like the professional studio-grade bikes I'm used to! It was fairly simple to set up and I love having a high-quality piece of equipment in my own home.”
Many reviews raved about the ease of use, and resistance levels.
Some of the negative reviews mention that the bike gets noisy after a while, as the friction resistance can create issues. One user writes, “The bike is EXTREMELY loud now. Every time I turn the knob to add resistance, the bike vibrates and makes a very loud screeching/rubbing sound.”
The IC3 has a weight capacity of 300 pounds, and some taller reviewers said the seat didn’t go high enough for them, regardless of weight. If you’re more than six feet tall, you may run into challenges with the proper seat adjustment.
Schwinn IC3 FAQs
Is Schwinn IC3 belt or chain?
The Schwinn IC3 uses a 40-pound flywheel and friction resistance with a quiet belt drive.
Is the Schwinn IC3 quiet?
The Schwinn IC3 is designed to have a smooth and silent belt drive for minimal noise. However, some reviewers have noted that the bike will get noisier after months of regular use, including squeaking around the pedals and flywheel. To maintain a silent ride, you may need to do more regular maintenance compared to other bikes.
Does Schwinn IC3 show resistance?
Yes. The built-in LCD console will show your current stats, resistance and advanced metrics, and can be paired with a wireless heart rate monitor to track your heart rate in real time.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Schwinn IC3 is a fantastic no-frills exercise bike for anyone who wants to enjoy a challenging, smooth and comfortable ride from the comfort of their home.
If you’re looking for a great budget indoor cycling bike, this is a great choice. At $699, it’s affordably priced, though it doesn’t include all the tech features many newer bikes have. Just know that if you want to eventually integrate your bike with virtual classes, or if you’re taller than six feet, you may need to choose a different bike for your needs and goals.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
