By 1979, even the Paramount had been passed, technologically speaking, by a new generation of American as well as foreign custom bicycle manufacturers. A growing number of US teens and young adults were purchasing imported European sport racing or sport touring bicycles, many fitted with multiple derailleur-shifted gears. Schwinn decided to meet the challenge by developing schwinn cruiser bike two lines of sport or road ‘racer’ bicycles. One was already in the catalog — the limited production Paramount series. As always, the Paramount spared no expense; the bicycles were given high-quality lightweight lugged steel frames using double-butted tubes of Reynolds 531 and fitted with quality European components including Campagnolo derailleurs, hubs, and gears.
You can also use your smartphone, but I think a bigger screen makes for a more enjoyable experience. I tested four connected indoor-cycling bikes in my New York City apartment in 2020 and 2021 (my husband took a few rides, too). And Wirecutter has twice now had more than half a dozen bikes simultaneously parked in the office, most recently in the summer of 2022. Along the way, 15 volunteer testers—from indoor-cycling beginners to aficionados who brought their own shoes—have taken some of the bikes for a spin. You could add a cadence sensor to the bike, effectively enabling it to connect to cycling apps.
Known for creating problem-solving home fitness gear, Bowflex has manged to replace 15 sets of weights (and save a whole lot of space) with its adjustable weight set. The 4.8-star-rated set ranges from 5 to 52.5 pounds, while being small enough to stay tucked in a corner, closet or garage when schwinn mountain bike not in use. Additionally, the bike itself won’t log your stats like Peloton bikes, which is why I like to track my workouts using Apple’s Activity app. I can also view stats about my Peloton workouts in the Peloton app, but there’s no compatible Schwinn app that keeps tabs on your workouts.
Along with the cadence sensor, Spinning provides a Bluetooth arm-band heart-rate monitor. The bike accommodates riders from 4-foot-11 to 6-foot-5 and has a maximum rider weight of 275 pounds. The handlebars are wide and low and have a subtle texture and a comfortable diameter and overall feel. We rode the bike with schwinn bicycles cycling shoes compatible with its SPD clips; the bike also has toe-cage pedals for use with non-cycling shoes. A big draw with these bikes is the ability to ride along with an app, to approximate an in-person indoor-cycling class. But four of our five picks also allow you to ride unconnected, for basic cardio.
While Peloton bike owners are locked into a monthly $44 subscription fee, Peloton app users like myself can enjoy quite the savings at just $13 a month. It’s not the same immersive experience, but with the right setup—including a tablet or small smart TV for streaming—you’ll still come out spending less than you would for a Peloton and get the same sweaty, calorie-burning workouts. Overall, the bike provides a smooth ride and, even when I’m rocking from side to side, remains sturdily in place. The U-shaped handlebars offer a variety of ways for me to place my hands when riding and I found it easy to adjust the bike to my 5-foot-3-inch frame. Bicycle manufacturing in America has declined significantly in the past several decades. But Detroit Bikes is eager to bring at least a part of the industry back to domestic soil, where demand for all manner of bikes and other outdoor equipment is booming amid pandemic restrictions.