Schwinn Fitness IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike

Why it's worth it

The Schwinn IC4 pairs a smooth magnetic resistance system with Bluetooth that talks to Peloton, Zwift and Apple Fitness+ alike. You get dual-sided pedals, a wide fit range and no forced subscription — which is why it works for so many different riders.

No other bike here gives you this much freedom to change your mind. The IC4 broadcasts over Bluetooth to whatever app you feel like using — Peloton one month, Zwift the next, nothing at all the month after. Wirecutter notes it offers more multi-platform compatibility than anything in its price class. If you're not sure which fitness ecosystem you'll stick with, that flexibility is worth more than any single company's content library.

Resistance runs on a knob with 100 micro-adjustable magnetic levels, so you can dial in small changes instead of jumping between fixed steps. Owners describe it as whisper quiet, which tracks with how magnetic systems work — nothing touches the flywheel. That matters if you live above someone or ride while a partner sleeps down the hall. There's no motor whir either, because nothing here is motorized.

From our review of 7 exercise bikes, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +No other bike here gives you this much freedom to change your mind
• +Resistance runs on a knob with 100 micro-adjustable magnetic levels, so you can dial in small changes instead of jumping between…
• +The dual-sided pedals are a small detail that solves a real problem
• +Consumer Reports' owner reliability survey ranked Schwinn among the highest brands for long-term satisfaction, with fewer…

What to know

• –There's no screen. You prop a phone or tablet on the shelf, and the bike won't auto-adjust resistance to match an instructor's…
• –The stock seat is the common complaint, and it's a legitimate one
• –Shipping damage comes up often enough in owner feedback to mention