Spinner® Sport Spin Bike Review
As an avid fan of indoor cycling at the gym, I was ready to take my passion a bit further and actually buy a spinning bike for my home. But when I started researching all of the spinning bikes for sale, I quickly realized that I had been using the word “spin” all wrong.
I had assumed that “spinning bike” was just another generic term for indoor cycling bikes, but it turns out that Spinning® and Spinner® are registered trademarks of Mad Dogg Athletics, the company that originally developed spinning bikes. This company partners with Star Trac for the manufacturing of their bikes, so you may see Spinning® bikes marketed as Star Trac Spinning Bikes.
While there are many different indoor cycling bikes for sale, I decided to start with a thorough review of Spinner® bikes. Mad Dogg Athletics makes a number of commercial spinning bikes, and several models of home spinning bikes including the Spinner® Velo, the Spinner® V and the Spinner® Fit. But I eventually decided on the Spinner® Sport Spin Bike because it is a very popular spinning bike for beginners and the price point fit my budget. The following is a summary of my research on the Spinner® Sport Spin Bike.
What To Look For In A Spinning Bike …
From my own experience at the gym, I knew there were a few critical components to look at before deciding to buy a spinning bike. These are:
· The Flywheel
· The Resistance Knob
· The Handlebars
· The Seat
Let’s look at each of these components on the Spinner® Sport Spin Bike and see how they measure up to our expectations.
Not All Flywheels Are Created Equal …
The Spinner® Sport Spin Bike features a weighted flywheel that creates momentum and keeps moving. The result is a smooth flowing pedal stroke and a non-impact workout for the rider.
Now when it comes to the weight of the flywheel, some people like heavier flywheels on their indoor cycling bikes, and some prefer lighter flywheels. While the weight of the wheel doesn’t necessarily determine the performance of the spinning bike, it does seem to be an important factor in determining price. The more expensive spin bikes often have the heaviest flywheels, weighing as much as 44 pounds. The Spinner® Sport Spin Bike has a lighter flywheel, weighing only 31 pounds.
While the weight of the flywheel is primarily a matter of individual preference, several users of the Spinner® Sport bike commented that their hips ache less when using the lighter wheel.
Resistance You Just Can’t Resist:
This spinning bike features a simple resistance knob; the user simply turns it to increase or decrease tension on the flywheel. This offers a wider range of resistance than the lever-style resistance systems where the user is stuck with 6-8 levels of resistance. The Spinner® Sport resistance knob allows very subtle changes of tension, permitting the rider to climb hills and fly through straight-aways at a precise level of resistance.
Get a Handle on Your Handlebars:
Like all Spinner® bikes, the Spinner® Sport features a patented handlebar design with no-slip foam grips. The handlebars can be raised or lowered, depending upon the personal preference of the rider. The Spinner® Sport handlebars are positioned fairly low, allowing the rider to comfortably layout in a seated flat position.
Note: if you are particularly tall (over 5’10″) and like to ride in an upright position, you may find the position of the Sport handlebars to be too low. Taller cyclists who want more upright handlebars may want to check out our review of the Bladez H914 Jet Cycling Bike.
Please Be Seated…
Anybody who has ridden an indoor cycling bike for any length of time knows that the seat is one of the most important factors when buying a spin bike. While it is possible to purchase a gel seat cover to soften an uncomfortable bike seat, that shouldn’t be necessary with the Sport Spinner® bike. It comes with an extra-wide padded seat for comfort and balance. The bike seat can also be adjusted up or down, forward or backward, so you can find your perfect fit.
The Specifications…
- Gray frame and black fly wheel
- Total weight: 90 lbs.
- Overall dimensions: 44in.l x 18in.w x 38in.h (111.7 x 45.7 x 96.5 cm)
- Maximum rider weight: 250 lbs
What Comes With The Bike?
- Water bottle holder
- Emergency stop button
- Front wheels for moving the bike
- Attached toe straps on the pedals
The Spinner® Sport Spin Bike sold at Amazon also includes a set of 4 spinning DVD’s:
· Spin and Sculpt
· Spin and Burn
· Spin and Slim
· Johnny G Live (Johnny G is the creator of the Spinning® training class; this DVD is a 40-minute ride on Miami Beach with cardio and strength training.)
Does It Have A Warranty?
Yes, the Spinner® Sport Spin Bike comes with a 1-year warranty on parts, no labor.
What Others Are Saying …
The Spinner® Sport Spin Bike is a very popular entry-level spin bike, with a 4-star rating on Amazon. Most users have found set up to be easy, but it is recommended that all new purchasers watch the instructional DVD before assembling the bike. User comments include:
· “This bike is sturdy, smooth, and delivers a strong ride.”
· “I honestly can’t tell a difference in the quality of the ride from a commercial model, and it’s just as sturdy.”
· “Overall, an A+. I am training for a triathlon and am very pleased.”
· “I wanted a gym quality bike, and that’s exactly what this is – I absolutely love it.”
· “I couldn’t be more please with this product. Ordering and delivery was a breeze.”
Any Complaints?
When researching user comments about the Spinner® Sport Spin Bike, I found very few negative comments. A few users mentioned that the handlebar wiggles but that could be due to the way they assembled the bike.
Some of the more advanced users were used to wearing special cycling shoes that clip to the pedals and were disappointed that the pedals on the Spinner® Sport Spin Bike are not designed for clip-on spin shoes, but the pedals can be changed out if the rider prefers to wear indoor cycling shoes.
Where to Buy …
One of the best places to buy the Spinner® Sport Bike is at Amazon where you can find both new and used spinning bikes for sale. The prices vary between sellers, but generally run between $499-$600 for new Spinner® Sport Bikes (including the 4 DVDs) and around $400 for used bikes. If you don’t find a Spinner® Sport Bike at Amazon, check for a Spinner® FIT Bike, which is simply an updated version of the Sport model.
Where to Read More Reviews …
One of the best places to read comments from people who have actually purchased the Spinner® Sport Bike is at Amazon. Click here to read more.
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After researching the entire category of indoor cycling bikes for home use, we would rank our findings as follows:
GOOD: Sunny Health & Fitness Pro Indoor Cycling Bike
BETTER: Bladez H914 Jet Indoor Cycling Bike
POPULAR: Spinner® SPORT Spin Bike