The Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle is a fully adjustable spin bike with a console for monitoring performance and feedback while you spin or training.
Our review looks at these features and others to fully explain how this bike shapes up in giving you the basis for a realistic quality training experience and a low impact cardio workout in your home.
As well as being able to adjust the bike for a variety of sizes it has a heavy flywheel, incremental resistance to add to the intensity of the workout.
It is a heavy bike and is made from oversized steel tubing that provides the basis to a stable ride.
These are all things that are important in getting a good workout at whatever intensity you want from a spin bike or indoor cycle at home. When using a bike at home there are also other considerations to ensure that it comes up to the mark and gets used and doesn’t just become another piece of furniture or somewhere to hang the laundry.
In a hurry? >>>
First let’s look at its’ ability to stand up to intense training and workouts.
Sturdiness
The bike is well made with the frame made from steel with a 45 lb flywheel making it a heavy bike that won’t move around while you are pushing hard against the resistance out of the seat or sprinting. There is no wobbling when you are transitioning between seated and standing and back again. This all leaves you to focus on the workout. There is no concern that it is going to tip over.
With the heavy flywheel, which if you are new to spinning (R) or indoor cycling you might find a little difficult to get started because of the weight, it gives a solid reliable cycling motion. It feels natural and there is no jerkiness as you go through the cycling motion which helps in protecting the joints while getting a more efficient workout.
At the bottom of the stabilizers there are 4 leveler knobs to prevent the bike rocking on uneven floor – so you can use it in the garage or basement where the floor may not be as level as other parts of your home.
The handlebars and seat need to be properly fastened to ensure they don’t rattle or move while you cycle, which is the same with all indoor cycles that give you the option to adjust the bike to your size.
It appears to be able to stand up to multiple workouts over long period time. There is little maintenance required. You do to ensure everything is tight before you start using the bike. The leather resistance pad will need replacing as it wears down, it can be sourced from Bladez and doesn’t require any special tools to make the replacement.
Adjustability
The adjustment of the seat and handlebars is easy to do with – you loosen the cam levers and slide them into the position you want and tighten them up. In between the limits the seat and handlebars can be placed where you want as you are not restricted to moving it to the closest adjustment hole they can be fixed into the best place for you so there will be no feeling that you can’t quite get the sizing right.
The adjustment process is quick and simple. There are markings on the poles making it easy to get back to a previous height setting which helps when you are maybe a little tired on the morning and you didn’t set the bike up the night before – it is useful at anytime. This also means that the bike can be used by a number of people who can fir the bike to their size quickly and get on with their workout.
The handlebars can be adjusted anywhere between 38.8 and 45.7 inches from the floor. The seat’s range of adjustment is 36.8 and 43.7 inches above the floor.
I have not been able to confirm with company the range of heights the bike best for but based on limited customer response it appears it is suitable for those between 5ft 3 ins and 6ft 3 ins.
Unfortunately the company has not replied to my requests for this information.
Resistance
The Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle has manual resistance which is applied to the flywheel by turning the tension knob at the front of the frame. It tightens a leather pad on to the top of the flywheel. This gives a good consistent resistance so there is no slipping as you pedal.
However, there are no levels of resistance marked which means you need to remember or estimate where you were last time when it has been changed when coming back to a previous resistance setting.
The resistance is incremental – it changes as you tighten the knob giving you the resistance on a continuous scale as you turn the knob. It goes from none to very hard which makes it suitable for all riders from beginners to experienced.
Drive type
The bikes uses a belt drive to turn the flywheel. This results in a smooth and quiet motion. There is no ongoing maintenance and there is no adjusting required as you get with a chain drive but you do lose some of the feel of riding bike.
At some point in a few years the belt will loosen and need replacing but in the meantime you have a trouble free ride from the belt.
There is drive guard on both sides of the belt drive – which helps to stop sweat getting on to the belt and damaging it as well as protecting your ankle and clothes from getting caught on the belt.
Pedals
The company listing of the bike on their site says it has dual pedals with toe baskets on one side for standard shoes, and the other side is compatible for SPD. But from customer responses it appears the bike supplied doesn’t come with them and the listing on other e-commerce sites does not mention them. I have tried to contact the company on this but I have not received a reply.
If you don’t like the pedals you can replace them with other standard bike pedals as the crank takes the standard thread size..
The step up height is a reasonable 5.1 inches making it easy for most to step on and off the bike with the lowest seat setting being 36.8 ins and the handlebars is 45.7 inches.
The q factor is 9.1 inches which is the horizontal distance between inside edge of the right and left pedals. This is fairly wide and it may feel uncomfortable to you especially if you are used to riding an outdoor bike. As a general rule the narrower the q factor the more natural the pedaling feels and the less likelihood for strain injuries. Spin bikes do tend to have a wider q factor than outdoor bikes.
If you are concerned about the width of the q factor then the Spinner Sport has a much narrower q-factor at 6.1 inches but it does not come with a console and the flywheel weight is 31 lbs which may seem light to more experienced riders, but it can be bought for less (but please check) and comes with 4 workout DVDs.
Comfort
Seat. The seat is padded to help in making it easier on the sit bones especially when doing long workouts. You may still find it uncomfortable as this is very much a personal thing as to what is comfortable or not. If you don’t like it you can change the seat for one you like as long as it is a normal sized bike fitting or you can add a gel seat cover or try padded bike shorts.
Noise. This is a quiet bike with the belt drive making almost no noise at all. The resistance pad will make a quiet shushing sound as it grips the flywheel but your breathing is likely to be louder than it. This makes it good for when you want to train while others are asleep at night or in the middle of the day when the children are down for their afternoon nap.
Dust and Dirt. There is likely to be a little lubricant dripped on the floor from some of the moving parts and dust from the resistance pad will be given off too. You are likely to drip sweat when you workout hard on to the floor. These thing may damage your floor if you do not have it covered. If you want to save your floor then a rubber exercise mat is all that is needed to provide the required protection for your floor
Handlebars. The handlebars are designed to make it comfortable to use in racing style with a rubberized padding over the bars for grip, however if you like to lean on the handles with your arms you may need elbow pads if you going to do this for a long period of time. You can place your hands in the tradition grips for spinning (R) at the center, shoulder width apart and gripping the ends of the bars when you need more leverage.
Riding Position. The bike is designed to be ridden like you would an outdoors bike – sitting upright while leaning forwards to grip the handle or out of the saddle. If you have lower back problems this may not be the best position and you may want to consider other types of exercise bikes instead of a spin bike to get your cardio workouts.
Storage
The bike’s takes up an area of 48.4″ and 19.9″ when not in use, so it doesn’t take up too much room when you want to store it out of the way.
As I’ve mentioned it is a heavy bike. Fortunately it has 2 small wheels at the front that you tip the bike on to by using the ends of the handlebars. This allows you to roll the bike to where you want with most of the weight resting on the wheels leaving you to push and manoeuvre it around.
It will still feel a little heavy and you do need to be careful not to overbalance while you do it.
The wheels work well on carpet and hard surfaces but with wooden floors you might want to be careful in case they scratch or dent it as you move the bike.
Assembly
There is some assembly required when you receive the bike. It comes partially assembled with the frame. flywheel and drive already together.
You need to put on the pedals, the stabilizer bars, console, adjustment poles, the seat and the handlebars. It should only take up to 60 minutes.
The instructions included are clear and easy to follow. The tools required to complete the assembly are included
The toughest part of the assembly is likely to be being able to move and hold the bike because of the weight. It weighs 113 lbs so you may find having another person help you will make the job much easier and safer. The company recommends that it is a 2 person job.
Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle Console
Not many spin bikes come with a console and those that do don’t always have one that monitors the range of data that this one does. Having said that it is hardly comprehensive but it is better than most especially at this price range.
With it you can measure RPM, Watts (a measure of how hard you are working), speed, distance, calories and time elapsed. The distance and speed can be set to miles or kms.
If you have a Polar heart monitor strap (needs to be bought separately) you can sync it with the console and you have the ability to monitor your heart rate during your workout which is important when spinning(R) for the most effective cardio exercise.
All the information is displayed on the console at the same time. The numbers are large enough to be seen while you ride the bike.
The calories, speed and distance are estimates and tend to overstate the position but can be used for comparative purposes. This is similar to most spin bike consoles.
It doesn’t include any pre-set workout programs but most people don’t use these and follow along to their own, or DVD programs or find ones on YouTube to use.
You can’t upload the information on to your computer or an internet account, so if you are interested in tracking progress from workout to workout you need to do this manually in a journal or spreadsheet.
The console requires 2 AAA batteries which are not included. It turns on when you start pedaling. When you stop the numbers blink and will turn off after 45 seconds if pedaling doesn’t begin again. I guess this helps to save battery but doesn’t give you much time to get your numbers down or if you need to get off for some reason and want to return to where you left off in terms of monitoring.
Dimensions
The weight and dimensions of the bike are:
Height 46.9 inches
Width 19.9 inches
Length 48.4 inches
Bike Weight 113 lbs
Flywheel Weight 45 lbs
Max User Weight 300 lbs
Accessories
There are no accessories that come with the bike not even a water bottle holder. It’s not unusual for bikes to not have any accessories other than a water bottle holder but it is surprising this bike doesn’t have one considering the price.
It is possible to add one afterwards to the bike either using one designed for handlebars or the frame, otherwise you can place one a table beside so you can keep yourself hydrated.
Pros
- Comes with a console that measures RPM and with purchase of heart strap can be used to monitor heart rate
- A quiet bike means you can use it without disturbing others
- The bike is quick and easy to assemble
- It is stable and doesn’t move around when being used
- Easy to complete assemble and should be able to be done within 60 minutes
- Dual pedals include toe cages and fittings for SPD shoes per the suppliers site (beware not confirmed with supplier)
- Fully adjustable seat and handlebar positions on a continuous scale results in fitting the bike better for more efficient workouts
Cons
- You can’t upload information to computer or an internet account
- Resistance levels not marked
- No water bottle holder
- 2 AAA batteries required for the console are not included
- No workout programs included
- Difficult to get hold of the manufacturer to get questions answered
- No accessories for plugging in MP3 player or placing a book
Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle Consumer Ratings
I’ve read through the customer reviews and most of them are very positive about the bike. They like the set up and the sturdy solid feel of the bike. They mention that is a very quiet bike.
There are a couple of people who aren’t so pleased and that is because the bike is not the right size for them. It is unfortunate that this isn’t made clear in the product listing and this would have saved the customers the disappointment of buying a bike that is not right for them.
It seems they have solved their manufacturing issues that they had with a different model as noted in the customer feedback for the Bladez Fitness Fusion GS and they are supporting the bike with a 2 year limited warranty.
For most it seems like it was a great purchase that they feel will give them many years of cardio exercise.
Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle Price
This is a mid range bike for price and compares well with others in the same range for features (except for the missing bottle holder) and quality. You get a heavy flywheel which provides a smooth ride and a console for getting feedback on the workout and monitoring progress.
At this price it does take a few months of gym membership fees to pay for the bike to pay for itself.
The bike can be found at Amazon and you can get the benefit of their customer service too depending on the issue.
Review Summary
This bike has a good heavy flywheel for a smooth and natural ride. It is stable and durable giving a good basis for intense cardio workouts in your own home for spinning or indoor cycling training.
It is good that includes a monitor for feedback while you cycle but it would have been better if they had included the ability to upload to your computer for keeping track of progress.
It is fine for beginners although they may find the flywheel heavy when getting started but once the momentum is built they will enjoy the feel of the ride. The quality of the build and flywheel make this good for intermediate and beyond users too.
The concern I do have is how hard it is proving to get important information. This may be reflected in getting responses from them if you have a customer service issue. Having said that this concern has not been raised in customer reviews of the bike.
This is a good solid bike for getting your workouts and training doe at home to burn calories and get in shape on your own time schedule.
Thank you so much for the through information on this indoor bike. I am replacing my Schwinn Air Dyne, which I have loved since 1986. This one sounds like a good replacement except for the info you said about it may not be good for people who have lower back pain, which I have.
You ride it in a similar position as an Airdyne so in that respect it will be similar on your back. A recumbent bike may be a better option for you.
How does it fare with standing up spinning position? Most of my workouts are done in the standing position (40min out of the 60 min workout)
The bike should hold be fine for workouts standing . It provides a good solid base for all types of spinning/indoor cycling workouts.
Thank you for this review. It was very helpful. I am looking to replace my Tunturi ergometer which unfortunately has worn out and we can’t find replacement parts for. It has the heavy flywheel but back in 1986 they did not call these bikes spin bikes. Is this what it is? I like being able to see my rpm and speed which I am not finding on a lot of spin bikes. I use the bike daily for about an hour and my Tunturi has been great. Would this bike be a good replacement?
Thank you
Hi, You’ve got good use out of the Tunturi Erogometer!
I’ve not looked at the Tunturi Ergometer in depth but from what I can see it looks more like an upright bike than a spin bike/indoor cycle.
The riding experience may be different between the two in some respects. The Bladez Fitness Master GS has a fixed gear which means when the flywheel is turning the pedals are turning too – so there is no coasting. I’m not sure the Tunturi did this – it may have allowed coasting. This arrangement promotes a better pedaling stroke and keeps the legs turning over. The adjustment of the resistance may also be different with the leather pad on the flywheel where it changes as soon as you turn it.
The Bladez does measure RPM and speed (although speed maybe different to that on Ergometer). I believe it will ride more like an outdoor bike than the ergometer but you can use it daily for low impact workouts in the same way.
I hope this helps.
Paul
Paul, how does this bike compare to the sole sb700? The Bladez Master GS is on sale right now at Canadian Tire for half price $ 600. ..reg. $1200 . Is it worth this price or should i go with the sole sb700 ?
Hi Dane,
Some of it will depend on how hard and often you are going to workout on the bike. That aside they do have a number of similarities.
I’ve put together a comparison table of the bikes here
Bladez has a better console with it measuring Watts (power being generated) both plus you can see all measures at the same time. Sole SB700 you have to cycle through some of the measures – Speed, time, distance and colock.
If you are under 5ft 3 ins it is unlikely that the Bladez will adjust to fit you (I’ve tried confirming with company but they didn’t respond to confirm this – they have said it is okay for 5 ft 5 ins).
The Bladez doesn’t have a water bottle holder.
The Sole SB700 has a heavier construction and flywheel – it is going to provide a more of a smoother ride at higher resistance levels. However, both give a fluid and natural ride.
Hope this quick analysis helps.
Paul.
which polar heart rate strap will work,,blue tooth? regular? any polar?
Hi,
Sorry for the delay in responding. I wanted to check with the supplier before responding. It will work with an uncoded polar heart rate strap. If used with a coded one it will show 20 bpm higher than it should
I purchased this bike based on your review and i couldn’t be happier. I have dropped around 30lbs in a few months of almost daily use. I started at about 250lbs and now 220lbs. This bike can take a beating.
I have a couple of questions. Should I lube the flywheel at all ? Also .. where do I purchase spare parts such as brake pads ?
Thank you for your recommendation.
Dane
Well done on the weight loss. That’s great news. Thank you.
The best place for the brake pads is Bladez Fitness. Is the resistance pad squeaking on the flywheel? Then it may need a silicon lubricant and Bladez should be able to help with that too.
I ordered mine from Amazon I can’t wait for its arrival. I keep reading in this review that the bike doesn’t have a water bottle holder, but the description from Amazon mentioned their is a water bottle holder. Does the more narrow part of the handlebar area act as a water bottle holder. That seems logical
No, I don’t think this model has a water bottle holder but The Bladez Fusion GS II has one.
Bought a Bladez GS 2 left pedal arm camestripped(last assembly piece) company said they would send replacement arm DID NOT.After calling again stated they had no record of 1st call told me to contact retailer & that they would get me the part.Their service and service team is a disaster,perhaps Trump will straighten them out.
We can only hope. Did Bladez or the retailer sort it for you in the end.
I am returning the bike to Sears for a REFUND.Sears & Bladez are a mess as I have had dealings with Sears service teams several times.Thank you for YOUR unbiased consumer reviews they seem like Consumer Reports reviews on workout equipment
Sorry to hear about the problems with your bike. I hope you got it all sorted.
I just purchased this bike and so far so good. I originally had the spinner bike which I had for about 15years from the infomercial. The one issue I am having is with the seat. Not the padding but it doesn’t stay in place. the seat tilts up and down
I have tightened it and it has helped but its not at 100%. Have you heard of this issue before?
Sorry, no I’ve not heard of this being an issue or how to reolve.
I ride a tri-bike and wife rides a road bike, do you think the Q factor of 9 will be noticeable or effect our outdoor riding? We like the price and that it comes with a read-out console.
Thanks
I have had this bike (the Master GS spin bike) for about a year and now all of a sudden I can hear rubbing and it is in large part to the shifting of the axial. The snap rings aren’t holding the axial in place. We are trying to take the pedals off to replace the snap rings and they won’t come off. We are looking for any ideas when it comes to their removal and why we are even having this issue. We don’t ride this bike nearly as hard as we should, so this really shouldn’t even be a problem.
Added help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Hi, thanks for your review it is very informative. I noticed in one of your comments that you said it will not fit someone under 5’3. I am 5’1. I have never had a problem with spin bikes at gyms. I wasn’t aware that my height might be an issue when purchasing a bike for home use. Unfortunately I live in an area that does not allow me to try out bikes in in a show room. What should I be looking for in measurements so I know it will be short enough for me. Thanks
Many bikes do cover people 5ft 1 ins but unfortunately many suppliers don’t let you know the recommended height range for the bike.
It is something that I try to do in all my reviews.
Some suppliers instead of height list the measurement ranges between the seat and the pedal which can help in determining whether it will fit your leg length.
This post might help you https://indoorsfitness.com/best-spin-bikes-for-a-short-person/
Hi Paul,
Less than a year out at the Computer Console on this bike stopped working. I’ve changed the batteries and the numbers are only partially visible making it impossible to read. Any suggestions? Other than that, love this spinning bike!
Great to hear feedback on the bike. You are best talking to the manufacturer/supplier they are helpful and should be able to troubleshoot this for you. Sorry for the delay in responding.
I have had my bike for less than a year and am dealing with same bike issues. For what I paid for bike it should have lasted longer than that. Finding a service dealer to repair it is impossible. Calling company is impossible, they won’t return your call. Bottom line I would not recommend this bike.
Sorry to hear about your bike issues. Thanks for letting us know. I hope comapny return your call and you get your bike issues sorted.