SoulCycle At-Home Bike Review
The SoulCycle at-home bike combines adjustability, high-quality components and top-spec tech for an elite workout experience.
SoulCycle At-Home Bike Specs
| Rating | 8 |
|---|---|
| Type | Indoor Cycle |
| Console display | 21.5" Touchscreen |
| Seat type | Adjustable |
| Flywheel | Weighted |
| Weight capacity | 350 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 62.2" L x 22.2" W x 53.5" H |
Why You Should Trust Our Reviews
You’re probably familiar with the SoulCycle brand because of their high-energy, sweat-dripping indoor cycle classes. These have gained an almost cult-like following. As of this year, you can now bring a slice of SoulCycle home, with their elite SoulCycle at-home bike. In conjunction with SoulCycle, this year Equinox Media debuted the SoulCycle at-home bike powered by Variis. You can pre-order the bike in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Chicago; it will be more widely available soon. At $2,500—without considering the $40/month subscription to Variis for interactive training—the SoulCycle at-home bike isn’t cheap. We suspect that this bike will appeal mostly to advanced cyclists who want a high quality and durable model, and a variety of high-end interactive training options to go with it. That said, you get what you pay for. Although the SoulCycle is expensive—even more so than the Peloton—you are guaranteed a top-spec cycle that’s built to last.
The SoulCycle at-home bike is a very adjustable model. Anyone from 4’10” to 6’10” will be comfortable riding it, and its 350-pound weight capacity makes it suitable for most trainees. The sturdy steel frame and commercial-grade components such as the weighted flywheel and carbon-fiber belt allow for a smooth and quiet ride. This in combination with the impressive SoulCycle classes delivered by Variis make for an elite workout experience. Variis gives you unlimited access to a range of other on-demand classes from leading fitness brands on your mobile including Precision Run, Pure Yoga, and more. So how does the experience stack up to the SoulCycle classes in their studios, or any other indoor cycling class with pumping music and motivating instructors? Dig deeper into the pros and cons of the SoulCycle at-home bike below.
The Great
- Interactive Training: As well as SoulCycle classes on your bike screen, the Variis app gives you access to other fitness brands’ classes from Equinox, Pure Yoga, Precision Run, Myodetox, and HeadStrong.
- Commercial Quality: The SoulCycle at-home bike features club-quality components which are built to last. The commercial-grade steel frame can hold up to 350 pounds.
- HD Screen: There’s a 21.5″ HD touchscreen built in for you to immerse yourself in cycling routines with your favorite SoulCycle instructors.
- Smooth and Silent: The magnetic flywheel system and narrow carbon-fiber belt (as opposed to a chain drive) allow for a near-silent cycling experience with smooth and natural pedaling.
- Adjustability: The SoulCycle at-home bike is very adjustable. As well as the seat being adjustable (up and down, fore and aft), the handlebar height can be adjusted too. You can extend the handlebar depth to 4.25”, so the bike can fit anyone between 4’10” and 6’10”.
- Transport Wheels: There are wheels on the front so you can easily move your bike after workouts.
- Pedal Options: You can choose to clip in with LOOK Delta or SDP cleats depending on your preference.
- Advanced Workout Feedback: The SoulCycle features a stages power meter (as used by professional cycling teams) on the left crank arm to ensure there is a consistent and accurate power data readout. You can also connect your Bluetooth heart-rate monitor to track your pulse.
- Speakers: Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect your own wireless headphones to the console or you can listen through the high-quality speakers. The speakers are oriented towards the rider in order to create a surround-sound environment.
- Free Classes: With each bike purchase you get a batch of 5 SoulCycle classes.
- No Assembly: You will get your bike delivered pre-assembled to your home so there is no tricky assembly process, and they take away all packaging too.
The Not-So-Great
- Onboard Workouts: If you’re looking for preset workouts, you won’t get these with the SoulCycle at-home bike. Interactive training via Variis is the focus.
- Expensive: The SoulCycle is $2,500, which is even more expensive than the Peloton.
- Variis Subscription: The subscription is $40/month, but you have to commit to 12 months. This is on par with other subscriptions on the market, but there aren’t any live classes yet.
- Warranty: You get a 1-year warranty on the display and bike components, and 5 years of coverage on the bike frame. This is a bit short for our liking when you are paying $2,500 for the bike to begin with.
- No Toe Cages: If you don’t already own cycling shoes, you will have to buy these to ride the SoulCycle at-home bike.
Who Should Use the SoulCycle At-Home Bike?
The SoulCycle at-home bike is an indoor cycle, so it’s optimized for high-intensity rides and fast calorie burn. Interactive training via Variis is also a key focus here; there aren’t any onboard workouts. If this high-energy, tech-savvy workout is the kind of thing you’re looking for, and you have this premium budget, the SoulCycle at-home bike won’t disappoint. It can handle any workout you throw at it, and is built to last with its commercial-grade components and top-spec features. It will be comfortable for most riders thanks to its adjustable handlebars and seat, and can fit anyone from 4’10” to 6’10”. With all these features and the price tag considered, we suspect this bike will appeal mostly to advanced cyclists or at least those who already commit to weekly or even daily indoor cycling classes. Only then would you be getting your money’s worth, as it’s an expensive cycle.
Bottom Line
The SoulCycle at-home bike is an exciting addition to the indoor cycling space. Its stellar combination of adjustability, top-spec components, and enticing interactive training software will not disappoint. But this all comes at a price. At $2,500, it’s an investment even without considering interactive training costs. If you already fork out for expensive spin classes each week, however, this could save you cash in the long term. Having the option to hop on your elite cycle anytime without having to buy another batch of classes could be worth every cent. Just keep in mind that there are only on-demand classes at the moment; other brands such as Peloton or Echelon Fit offer a live daily schedule of classes. As Variis is so new however—and with brands such as Equinox and SoulCycle behind it—we suspect this is set to change and that it will continue to improve and grow over time.
SoulCycle At-Home Bike Specs
| Rating | 8 |
|---|---|
| Type | Indoor Cycle |
| Console display | 21.5" Touchscreen |
| Seat type | Adjustable |
| Flywheel | Weighted |
| Weight capacity | 350 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 62.2" L x 22.2" W x 53.5" H |
