A stationary bike provides great indoor training alternative and adding a piece of one of these great machines to your home gym will be an excellent idea.
My name is Sheldon and I have been an ardent spinner for over two years now. Over this period, I have severally changed my spinning class in location and intensity. Why? Well because I am always seeking the next adventure.
After attending the same class for over three or four months, it could get a bit mundane (for me at least) to go to the same place and see the same faces everyday. So, due to my gym hopping tendencies, I have had the pleasure of sampling a variety of spinning bikes.
The NordicTrack S22i and the Peloton bike have some similarities but they are not as many as their differences. Read on to see how these bikes differ in technical specifications, features and accessories to help guide your decision on which bike to purchase.
What’s the difference between the NordicTrack S22i and thePeloton?
 |
NordicTrack S22i |
Peloton |
Handlebars |
Movable and control resistance |
Movable |
Pedals |
Toe-cage design- sports shoes |
Clip-in design – cycling shoes |
Flywheel |
32 pounds |
30 pounds |
Resistance |
Magnetic with 24 levels |
Magnetic with up to 100 levels |
Weight Supported |
350 lbs |
297 lbs |
Training App |
IFit |
Peloton |
Screen |
22-inch HD with inbuilt fan |
22-inch LED |
Price |
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NordicTrack S22i vs Peloton – How do they compare?
Construction
Both the NordicTrack S22i and the Peloton are built of corrosion resistant steel which guarantees you a lifetime of use. While the S22i carries a flywheel weighing 32 pounds, the Peloton weighs 30 pounds which is not much of a difference.
The pedals are quite unique for both bikes, the NordicTrack is easily set up with two-way pedals meaning you can either use the side with the toe-cage or, if you prefer to, you may opt to flip the pedal to ride on the flat surface like on an outdoor bike.
Peloton spots special pedals with three clip-ins on them meaning that you must incur an extra cost of buying cycling shoes with three cleats to clip-in to the pedals for a secure footing. With NordicTrack, any sports shoe will do.
The pedals on these bikes could be swapped for other alternatives if you have a specific type of pedals that you like to cycle on. Peloton supports a weight upto 297 pounds while the S22i can hold up to 350 pounds.
I highly recommend the NordicTrack S22i because it has versatile pedals that do not require special cycling shoes to ride as compared to the Peloton which requires cycling shoes with cleats to clip-in to its pedals.
Comfort
Here both bikes feature a 22-inch screen that display vital information and help the user connect with the virtual trainers and spinning classes available. Both bikes feature a camera attached to the screen with speakers at the back.
Both bikes have the ability to screen cast the bike to an external screen like a TV with Peloton pairing with Smart TV or desktop and the NordicTrack has a HDMI port on each side of the screen for ease of connection.
S22i has an extra feature that incorporates a cooling fan on the sides of the screen to help you cool off mid training. This feature is missing in the Peloton bike.
With both bikes, you can raise and lower the handle bar height, seat post, move seat forward and backward and align the angle. They have quality road bike seats that are adjustable in two ways while the handlebars are only one directional.
NordicTrack S22i has the added benefit of a cooling fan for the user which is something that the Peloton lacks. Other than that, they are both very comfortable to cycle on.
Functionality
Both bikes use a magnetic flywheel resistance. However, the resistance on the NordicTrack S22i can be automatically controlled based on your cycling intensity by using the button controls on your handlebar. The peloton has a knob for manual adjustments.
Handlebars coated with firm rubber grip are built into both bikes and they both can hold two water bottles. NordicTrack comes with 3-pound dumbbells but you need to purchase them for Peloton although they did build their holding rack into the bike.
NordicTrack can raise and lower on incline and decline simulating outdoor cycling better but makes bike bulkier. This functionality is unavailable for the Peloton.
Again, the S22i beats the Peloton because the resistance is automatically adjusted, you can incline and decline the bike and they even threw in dumbbells to compliment your training.
NordicTrack S22i vs Peloton Overview
NordicTrack S22i – Overview
[amazon box=”B07TGQZGGZ” template=”horizontal” ]This is a fine work of art that is also price friendly as compared to the Peloton. The steel frame is classic and holds securely a 30-pound heavy flywheel with magnetic resistance which is ideal for a steady and silent cycling experience at home.
The handle bars on the S22i are not only anti-grip but also have a coating that is sweat resistant. They also have control panels on either handle, one for adjusting the resistance and the other for the incline and decline alternatives.
Virtual training on this bike is made easy because the 24 resistance levels are digitally preset and can be controlled by the buttons on the handle bar or through the touchscreen. Because programs are preloaded, the bike automatically adjusts to whichever program you are on currently and is able to take you on scenic drives virtually anywhere in the world.
The pedals on this bike require no special cycling shoe because they have toe cages. This bike allows for 20% incline and 10% decline which enhances your experience.
Pros
- More features than Peloton but more affordable
- Supports 350 pounds
- Toe cage with reversible flat pedal
- Doesn’t need special cycling shoes
- Swap out pedals on the bike optional
- 3-pound weights provided
- Heart rate monitor provided
- Digital resistance is on handlebars with 24 levels
- S22i has a knob that can stop the flywheel
Cons
- Bike frame a little heavy
- No Bluetooth Sync
Peloton– Overview
This bike has a sleek steel frame and it carries a 32-pound flywheel. This wheel runs on magnetic resistance with 100 levels to adjust to. This adjustment is done manually or through the touchscreen but because of the wide range, it may be hard to feel a difference or even quickly adjust your settings mid training.
Handlebars are soft but a little too thin though they do give a comfortable cushioning with their stacked design that differs to the single-bar construction of the NordicTrack S22i.
The pedals on this bike may be problematic and present an extra cost to anyone who does not already own a pair of cycling shoes because they use the clip-in mechanism. This is ideal because with a securely locked in footing, you can then pull up in the cycling motion much easier which is great for glutes and hamstrings.
Unfortunately, the Peloton bike is fixed and does not move meaning there is no chance to incline or decline the bike for a more exciting cycling experience.
Pros
- Ergonomic handlebars
- Light in weight
- Comfortable seat
- Engaging App with live classes
- Can sync with Bluetooth
Cons
- Adjustment knob not accurate
- No incline or decline
- Adjustments done manually
- Doesn’t give you weights
- Needs new training shoes with 3 cleats or Replace pedals
- Need to buy a heart rate monitor which has a problem pairing
Verdict and Conclusion: So, which between the NordicTrack S22i and the Peloton Bikes is the Best Addition to your Home Gym?
NordicTrack S22i is hands-down the better option because of the fact that you get more features and accessories at a more affordable price compared to Peloton. A heart monitor, versatile pedals, cooling fan and inclusion of weights in the S22i makes it my favorite between the two.
Althoughthe S22i is clearly a better pick in terms of benefits, this does not discount the Peloton which not only looks sleek but also performs just as good as the NordicTrack S22i.