When I got the chance to review the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle, of course I said yes. I had recently been looking for a home biking option during the rainy winter months in Oregon so it was an exciting prospect to try this bike out. Indoor exercise machines have come a long way since I was in my early 20s, and there are plenty of affordable options for those who want to occasionally skip the gym or try their own exercise program.
When I got the chance to review the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle, of course I said yes. I had recently been looking for a home biking option during the rainy winter months in Oregon so it was an exciting prospect to try this bike out. Indoor exercise machines have come a long way since I was in my early 20s, and there are plenty of affordable options for those who want to occasionally skip the gym or try their own exercise program.
NordicTrack has been in business as a brand for a very long time. In fact, my 12 year old treadmill is a NordicTrack (and it still works perfectly). NordicTrack has a long tradition of developing durable, high quality products for gyms and home use. Of those I spoke to, NordicTrack is a household name and is widely recognized by the average Joes to the fitness enthusiast. Most agree that there is a place in the home for stationary devices.
About the NordicTrack S22i studio cycle
The S22i is a fully adjustable stationary bike. It has an adjustable 22-inch touchscreen with two digitally amplified speakers and an aux connection. There is also an HDMI option for use with a TV, but you may not need it as the monitor can be tilted and also rotated 360 degrees.
The bike uses WiFi to connect to NordicTrack's iFit programming, which houses all of the training sessions. Use the touchscreen to keep track of your stats, adjust the volume, and more. The monitor also includes an adjustable AutoBreeze fan so you can feel the wind on your face while driving in the hot mountains of Chile.
The flywheel is inertia enhanced and features SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance) technology, so turning is very quiet. Leveling feet are attached to the base to keep the bike stable during exercise. The frame is made of standard steel and is designed for riders up to 350 lbs.
Every part of the bike is adjustable, from the saddle position to the handlebars, and the ergonomics are easy to adapt to different body types. The bike comes with normal bike pedals and straps, but can be replaced with pedals of your choice.
The S22i's multi-position handlebar starts near the seat of the bike for closer hand positioning and goes up near the screen where adjustable OneTouch controls on the handlebars for manual resistance (24 levels) and incline settings from -10% to 20. sit %. The handlebars also have a non-slip grip.
The saddle is vertically and horizontally adjustable to accommodate a range of interior seams and comfort levels.
The Studio Cycle comes with a one-year iFit membership that gives you access to hundreds of rides of all types – studio, beginner, mountain bike, road bike – and includes off-the-bike training options. Additionally, the S22i comes with two 3 pound dumbbells that are used in some of the workouts that are guaranteed to make you thirsty, so it's a good thing that there are two places for water bottles.
Workouts include bootcamp style workouts, high energy studio sessions, instructor-led global workouts, incline cycling, yoga, and full body options, among others. There are almost every type of ride and level of difficulty along with varying options for the length of the rides, some as short as 20 minutes, some longer.
The frame of the S22i is 56.9 inches high, 55 inches long and 21.9 inches wide, making it small enough for living or storage in an apartment when needed. The bike only needs a normal socket for the power supply and, if necessary, can be easily moved using small wheels attached to the frame. There is a 3-year parts guarantee and a 1-year labor guarantee in case something should happen.
NordicTrack iFit programming
Once you are connected to the WiFi and logged into your account, the user has a variety of programs to choose from. New workouts are uploaded every day and there are a variety of trainers to choose from depending on your mood or goals.
The programs all offer interactive training so that the trainer adjusts the incline and resistance for the training units as the program progresses. You can override this feature at any time during your workout, but you will most likely meet your calorie and wattage goals if you are able to keep up with the cadence and let the bike adapt to you.
IFit programming uses Google Maps so you can see parts of the world that you might not otherwise see during your training rides. With your login, your stats are tracked and show weekly totals along with trips. The program is easy to use, so four profiles per membership can be created so the whole family can keep track of their stats.
Prices and delivery
The S22i is priced at $ 2999 (there is currently a $ 1000 discount on shopping cart) and includes a one-year membership to iFit. There are also funding options.
There is an option to ship and install the white glove for $ 249 – this includes shipping, assembly, and installation. If you choose not to use the delivery service, shipping is free and there is a general 30-day return policy.
So what did I think?
This is a great looking bike. The quality of the frame and the components are all very good. The engineering behind the design is well researched and planned. Everything you need is at your fingertips while spinning. So whenever you need to grab your weights, have a sip of water, or adjust the resistance, everything is readily available.
I think the workouts available on iFit are really fabulous – there really is something for everyone at every level. There are a wide variety of coaches, some of whom are former Olympic athletes. When you ride you feel like you are with them. All of the trainers are encouraging for the duration of any workout, and all of them are great at communicating cadence and positioning while riding so that you can get the most out of the workout.
The seat, as I expected, took some getting used to. It can easily be exchanged for a different type of seat if this does not meet your requirements. On the third ride, I didn't even notice the seat. My first rides were with the pedals and straps that came with it.
They are high quality components, but for my preference I swapped these out for clip-in pedals and while getting a lot out of the workouts initially, the clip-ins made a big difference in my ability to keep up with what it took to do some workouts Cadence. If you do decide to buy an S22i, I highly recommend installing clip-in pedals – they were quick to replace, only a few minutes.
The bike is stable while driving and does not feel thin or light when you get up and sit down quickly. The handlebar offers a comfortable grip and grip, regardless of whether you are standing or sitting. At first I couldn't move the handlebar up and down, but I found that the adjustment required more force as the monitor is part of the handlebar assembly. It's easy, but some pressure needs to be applied. The seat adjustment is much easier as there is no weight on the part that slides into the frame.
The fan works well and the screen responds very well to touch while driving. The background music can be set separately from the trainer's voice so that you can hear as little or as much of it as you want during your workout.
At the top of the screen, your stats are displayed as you drive so you know where you are while you are driving. At the end of the journey, your total values are calculated and displayed. Before and after each training there is a separate warm-up and cool-down every few minutes. Some of the workouts also include warm-up and cool-down instructions.
One thing that I noticed is that the sound surprised me the first time I set the slope. It is not silent like spinning. It works very well and is part of the workout so after the first couple of listening sessions I got used to the sound. Also, I should be pedaling hard enough that I can only hear the instructor's instructions, right?
The bike can also be used manually. So if you decide against exercising, you can still use it as a normal ergometer. One cool thing is that the HDMI cable allows you to play the ride on your TV. I have a separate good old spinning wheel and my daughter sometimes jumps on it and rides next to me, and that makes it even more fun.
The bottom line
In my opinion, this bike is well worth the money. Together with the 30-day return policy, you really can't go wrong if you don't like it. It's great fun and I look forward to using it every time. This is an excellent buy and I don't see any downside to this bike. Everything works as it should and as advertised.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me.
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