Why the new generation of ‘poor man’s Peloton’ exercise bikes are worth a spin

Anyone who has not been the lucky custodian of a covetable Peloton bike in lockdown may well have been envious of those who have (like Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden, who are both fans).

New York-based company Peloton’s share prices soared as our freedom plummeted, with spin class or gym fans seeking to recreate the magic of the studio in their own homes. 

However, Peloton is not the only at-home spin class bike with more to offer than the exercise bikes of yesteryear, as new (and slightly cheaper) takes on the trend proliferate.

New upstart British company Apex, based in London, and California-based Echelon, are challenging its dominance of the market. So: how do the contenders for that newly cleared-out space in your garage compare?

Apex Rides

Tested by: Madeleine Howell

I challenge anyone not being implored to “Feel your power! Feel your presence! We’re here for a good time, not for a long time!” (the kind of fit-speak to expect) during a 15-minute Apex Ride leg-burning special, full of heart-pumping accelerations. 

An Apex bike will set you back £1,200, or from £33 a month on credit. As with Peloton, you’ll also need to pay a monthly membership fee to join the online Apex community and access the hundreds or live or on-demand spin classes, delivered by UK-based instructors (£29.99 a month, £79.99 per quarter or – the best value option – £299.99 per year). It’s still expensive, but more palatable for those on a budget.

With an Apex bike calling to me in the corner of my living room as I write, I can attest that it’s worth it. The infectious positivity of the instructors has got me through a difficult time in terms of my mindset. It’s also helped me to burn a few calories. While in theory I much prefer the idea of going outside for a bike ride in nature, the reality is that it’s just too time-consuming to do that during the working week.

Hopping on the Apex for a 15-minute, endorphin inducing spinning blast gives me the movement my body needs to keep healthy. I can just jump on whenever the mood strikes me. New classes are added to the app all the time and, like the Peloton, it connects via Bluetooth to your phone or iPad (classes can also be cast onto the TV) and measures distance, calories burned, power generated in watts, speed, resistance and total output in kilojoules. The bike itself is sleek and sturdy, with storage for water bottles and dumb bells. It also makes barely any noise – ideal if you don’t want to disturb your flatmates. 

For more information visit apexrides.com

The Echelon bike

Tested by: Maria Lally

In my early 20s, pre-children, I loved cycling so much I used to brave the 10 miles from my London flat to my Covent Garden office and back again each day, confidently cycling alongside double-decker buses. But after a particularly nasty fall (a young boy ran out into the road and, to avoid him, I swerved and went over the handlebars, breaking my elbow) I lost all my confidence in outdoor cycling and stuck to the odd spin class instead.

When the schools closed last summer, I started cycling again with my two daughters around our local area but, once autumn hit, the novelty wore off for all of us. Further lockdowns and darker nights meant my step count (and energy levels) plummeted, so I decided to put the Echelon Connect Sport Indoor to the test. Priced from £799, it’s the cheapest of Echelon’s three models. You have to use your own iPad or smart phone, and it lacks little extras like dumbbell holders, but for its £39.99 a month subscription service, you get access to live and on-demand classes, plus virtual rides, streamed to your tablet.

The app and classes, which include shorter beginners classes before moving onto ones featuring hill climbs and sprints, are between 20 and 60 minutes long and are easy to follow and to fit into a busy day, which until recently has included a punishing combination of homeschooling and work. Long after lockdown is over, I’ll be hopping on my Echelon to blow off steam – at least until summer comes back round again.

For more information visit echelonfit.uk

Zwift

Tested by: Alice Barraclough

Virtual cycling is nothing new, but it’s fair to say the pandemic has turbocharged indoor cycling and brought it into the mainstream. I, like many others, spent months looking online for a smart trainer (where you connect your bike to a fixed turbo by removing your back wheel). Everyone went crazy for them and, like loo roll, they sold out everywhere. I finally managed to buy a refurbished Wahoo Kickr – which, by the way, aren’t cheap – and when I did, I also downloaded the app Zwift, because no one wants to just cycle indoors on their own (it becomes very boring, very quickly).

Zwift, which has training programs to improve your endurance or strength or speed and virtually takes you on tours through Paris, New York, London via CGI scenery, is far from boring. It cleverly takes your real-life physical output and converts it to a moving avatar on your computer screen. Think of it like the videogame The Sims, but instead of just tapping your mouse and making your Sim workout, you have to actually move your pedals to get your avatar to cycle.

You can even decide what they wear – the virtual “me” dons a fancy blue Rapha jersey. But the best part? You can create “Meet Ups” on the app – where you can invite your friends who also have Zwift to virtually cycle alongside you as you explore a new city. I’ve spent hours during lockdown with Zwift loaded on one screen and Zoom on the other, so I can chat to my pals while we all virtually cycle together. Be warned though, the sweat level is unlike anything else. You will need a towel.

For more information visit zwift.com/uk

Read more:  Spin class addict versus cycling purist: which home bike is really the best?

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