MYX II Plus
RRP $ 1,600.00
"The MYXfitness MYX II Plus fitness bike is a worthy competitor to other models on the market, and it's pretty good business too."
advantages
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Solid construction
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Two streaming workout service providers
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Including additional equipment
As the saying goes, it's always a good time to get in shape. At least that's what the doctor says. With a wide variety of home fitness equipment and streaming services to choose from, it's just getting easier to do just that. A typical example is the MYX II bike. This sleek stationary bike is easy to adjust for height and resistance, and offers a variety of courses you can take on and off the bike for a full-body training experience.
First class bike delivery
Let's face it, exercise bikes aren't easy. Many new models of stationery have a display assembly, so it's not that easy to just pick up and put in a home studio. The MYX II has a 21.5-inch touchscreen that can be rotated 360 degrees. The monitor also has 20 watt speakers. The bike weighs a whopping 134 pounds and the flywheel weighs 41 pounds. The entire device measures 47 x 54 x 21 inches. Even though there are wheels in the front to lift the bike up and put it in place, we're still glad we didn't have to do it ourselves.
The bike comes with a free delivery service wearing white gloves. A third-party company (for us XPO Logistics) delivers the bike, sets it up and puts away the packaging. This whole experience was definitely top notch. The company contacted us to set a delivery day and delivery time and MYXfitness provided information on how to prepare the area. This was definitely handy and made the whole process a lot faster. The company recommends creating a space that can accommodate the bike mat, which is approximately 4 x 6 feet.
Our two suppliers, David and Henry, were professional and took the time to explain how to adjust the bike. You set up everything, including assembling the display and connecting the power supply. They also provided the yoga mat, set of weights (you can choose the size), kettlebell, foam roller, resistance bands, and a Polar heart rate monitor.
Lots of extras
The MYX II offers many extras and training options as well as all of the above fitness equipment. If you don't need these extras, save $ 200 and get the MYX II – that's the bike, heart monitor, and screen for all classes.
The courses last from 10 minutes to 60 minutes, so there is really something for every fitness level.
When setting up the bike for the first time, you can choose between Openfit and Beachbody's BODi streaming services. Both offer a variety of workouts, cycling classes, and nutritional content. In addition to rides (for all fitness areas), the course also includes barre, Pilates, cardio, strength training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), walking, kickboxing, yoga, meditation and stretching. The courses last from 10 minutes to 60 minutes, so there is really something for every fitness level.
As mentioned above, the bike also comes with a Polar OH1 heart rate monitor that is synchronized with the training sessions. You place the monitor in the wristband and wear it during exercise. You can see your heart rate on the screen whether you are exercising or taking a ride. In our tests, it took about two weeks before we had to recharge the device.
Ride and train
We chose the Openfit service largely because it has a wider range of live and on-demand courses, including Xtend Barre with Andrea Rogers. The subscription costs $ 39 per month (nearly the cost of an average gym membership – depending on the gym). You can also set up multiple users in the Openfit app so everyone in the family can have a personalized experience.
Before properly starting your workout, do a zone ride so the bike can determine your fitness level. You are encouraged to take the ride first thing in the morning before you have a cup of coffee. The 20-inute ride is brutal, and for good reason – the goal is to set your heart zone rates so you should definitely be pushing your limits.
Before starting this ride, you need to sync the Polar monitor with the bike. There are also options to sync with an Apple Watch. There really aren't any instructions on how to sync the monitor to the bike, so it took a little research (and a cup of coffee – yes, yes, that zone ride would just have to wait another day) to determine that you need to download the Polar app . You don't actually sync it with the Openfit app. As soon as you synchronize the monitor with the Polar app via Bluetooth, the device synchronizes with the bike immediately. The good news is that if the monitor doesn't sync during Openfit classes, you'll be notified on the screen – so you can touch an option on the screen to sync it. The classes indicate whether they work with the heart monitor.
The instructors are solid overall, they all seem to have their own style and are all approachable. The music for the classroom ranges from 90s hip hop to country to the top 40 and everything in between. You can adjust how loud you want the music to be compared to the teacher's voice.
Our opinion
We tested the bike and its accessories for about two months and really saw how it improves home gym play. We're not going to say the bike was comfortable to ride, but it was ergonomically correct. After all, that's what these special bike shorts are for. You can clip in your own cycling shoes if you wish.
Training on the bike is definitely a solid workout, but it is also a fantastic warm-up before taking any other classes. I found myself stronger than when I started and I'm almost ready to do this zone ride again to enjoy my overall improvement.
We ended up having to download two apps to our phone (Openfit and Polar) which is fine because it gives you the full experience. The Openfit app syncs with the streaming service on the bike so you can see all of your stats in one place which is a plus. There's a lot to do in the app like log weight, track your food, schedule workouts, see which workouts are live, and find some healthy recipes.
If you hate going to the gym but you love all classes and want a complete system at home, this could be the perfect solution for you.
Is there a better alternative?
There are many other exercise bikes on the market including models from Peloton, NordicTrack, and many other exercise bike manufacturers. One of the main features that make these models stand out is the classes and the instructors. It will be a personal choice. Or maybe you'd prefer to skip the bike and get a fitness mirror instead, or sign up for streaming exercise classes.
How long it will take?
Exercise bikes can last up to 20 years, but maintenance is important. A one-year guarantee is provided on the touchscreen, fitness accessories (purchased from MYXFitness), bike components and pedals, and labor. The structural framework has a five-year guarantee.
Should you buy it?
If you are looking for a stationary bike, this model will not disappoint. You can use your own cycling shoes, and there is so much control over the intensity levels that it works for those just starting out on an exercise program. as well as long-time fans of cycling courses.
It comes with a lot of solid extras that give you everything you need to take part in other Beachbody or Openfit courses. Let's not forget the Polar heart rate monitor that pairs with the bike. At the end of the day, it's pretty good business considering everything you can get for $ 1,599.
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