But does it deliver? I gave it a whirl. The pros: The bike itself is quiet, perfect for when you want to ride in the morning without waking the entire household, and looks as sleek as a typically clunky piece of at-home equipment can. (Read: you won’t necessarily have to keep it hidden in the basement, out of sight.) But the HD, touchscreen console is the bike’s standout feature. Using the monitor’s interface is intuitive (like using a smartphone), doesn’t disrupt your workout, and connects to your home Wifi and displays you stats—speed, resistance, and calories burned. The leaderboard ranks your stats against those of virtual classmates accounting for the performance boost from competition, motivating you to push harder. The list of instructors at the NYC studio reads like a who’s who of top coaches, and my first workout was on par with other boutique indoor cycling classes I’ve taken in the city. The cons: The start-up cost is steep: $2K for the bike along with a $39/month membership. Also, the playlist is still a work-in-progress. While I didn’t hear any of my favorite tunes during class, I’ve been told they’re in the middle of negotiating licensing deals and will have them blasting from the speakers soon. The verdict: It’s a top-notch workout, minus the hassle of a commute. More from Prevention: Blast Fat With 9 New Walking Workouts
