BodyCraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Bike Review

The BodyCraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Bike is one of the most highly rated spin bikes for home or gym use. This comes from the people who have actually used the bike.

It looks like it has a number of good reasons why it has this rating. In our review we look at it in detail to determine what contributes to this appreciation of the bike. However, there are a few things to be aware of before you buy.

It comes with a belt drive, a heavy flywheel, friction resistance, a water bottle holder, a comfortable seat and standard bike pedals. It certainly seems to have the right stuff for a bike to

give you the basis for low impact cardio workouts as tough as you want as well as being able to be used for training indoors when you can’t get outdoors

In completing this review I’ve spent hours reading the manual, read through the reviews online, asked questions of the supplier and analysed the information to give the full lowdown on the bike.

The first thing it needs to be able to do is provide a steady base for the low impact workouts and do that for years to come.

In a hurry? >>>

Sturdiness

This bike has been available for a number of years and from feedback it has been giving its customers many years of top quality workouts without too much trouble or maintenance.

It’s frame is constructed from heavy duty steel which prevents any flexing or shaking while you are pedaling hard in or out of the saddle. You don’t feel unsteady at anytime including when transitioning in and out of the seat.

The bike has 2 coatings of powder paint to help prevent it from it starting to rust from the sweat landing on it as you workout.

The 46 lbs flywheel is perimeter weighted and turns on quality SKF sealed bearing which helps in keeping it turning and pulling the pedals through the cycling motion so you have a natural and smooth riding motion. This makes it a low impact that is easy on the joints. There is no jerkiness or choppiness that you get with lighter flywheels.

The handlebars and seat don’t shake when properly tightened up and the hexagonal shape of the posts help to ensure the l-levers get a good firm grip stopping any movement.

If you want to use it on an uneven floor there are levelers under the stabilizer bars that you turn to level out the bike and prevent it from rocking.

Adjustability

This bike is simple to adjust for a range of sizes between 5 ft 2 ins and 6 ft 7 ins. The handlebars and seat can be moved vertically and horizontally to get it all fitting correctly for a comfortable and efficient workout that will reduce risk of injury from straining or cramped positions or from not having it adjusted for the best pedal stroke.

Adjusting the bike is easy. You loosen the L-clamps on the adjustment poles and sliders and move the handlebars or seat into position and tighten up. You can move them to exactly where you want them to go so you get the best fit possible. You are not restricted to pre-set holes.

There are markings on the poles to help adjust the bike back to your settings if it has been moved since you last used the bike. Adjusting is quick making the bike able to be used by multi-users. It also means you can quickly get on with your workout without messing about with the bike, which if you are like me you find anything getting in the way of your workout annoying when you are ready to get going.

Resistance

This bike uses friction to provide resistance for hill climb workouts for building strength, intensity and endurance. It uses a tension knob at the top of the frame that you turn that pushes down on a lever that is attached to a resistance pad that sits on top of the flywheel.

It does mention there is a patent on the design although I can’t see the advantage in the design over the other more common place design of direct pressure on the pad from the tension knob rather than using a lever type arrangement. It looks a little complicated to me but it appears it works well and it is durable.

It seems the resistance is constant which prevents the flywheel from slipping. The resistance increases at a good steady pace with it not being too sensitive so it is easy to control how much you putting on or taking off as you workout.

There are no markings to indicate the level of resistance that is being applied which makes it difficult to return to a prior setting. This is normal for spin bikes with very few having this marked with it being only bikes with magnetic resistance such as Keiser M3i bike having levels marked (a commercial priced bike).

To stop the flywheel quickly so you can get off you push down hard on the tension knob and resistance pad works as a brake.

The pad is going to need replacing due to the friction wearing it down. The pads are available by contacting the supplier. There is no guard or cover to prevent sweat dripping on to the pad so you may find it needs replacing more often than those that do have one like the Spinner Blade.

BodyCraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Bike Drive Type

The Bodycraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Cycle Bike has a Hutchinson 5PK v-ribbed automotive belt for a drive. The V-rib provides a better non slip pedaling experience by providing a wider area of grip to give extra surety when you are standing on the pedals. The extra toughness of the automotive belt should result in a longer riding experience before it needs replacing.

On a day to day basis there should not be any maintenance required as you have with a chain drive. However sometime in a few years time or so it will need replacing and that will probalby need to be done by someone with the specialist skills.

It is a very quiet bike to with the belt being almost silent. However, you may feel lose some of the bike feel because there is none of the slight variation in pull that you get with a chain drive.

It is a fixed gear so you can’t coast. The inertia of the flywheel will continue to pull the pedals through the pedal motion when you stop pedaling. To stop the pedals you can use your legs and feet to slow it down gently or use the brake feature of the resistance pad by pushing donw hard on the tension knob.

Pedals

The pedals are made from aluminum alloy with toe straps for athletic shoes. Along with the forged steel crank there is no unusual movement from the pedals when standing and they are tough enough for standing up on and pushing as hard as you want. You get a good grip on pedals so your foot shouldn’t slip while you are pedaling in any position.

They don’t fit specialist shoes but you can replace them with specialist bike pedals as it takes standard bike fitting pedals.

The q factor, which is the horizontal measure between the inside of the pedals is 175 mm (confirmed with brochure) which is amongst the narrowest I’ve seen so far on a spin bike. This helps in keeping the hips, knees and ankles in alignement providing a more effective workout as well as one where injury is less like to haapen due to the alignment.

Comfort

Seat. Unusually for spin bike seats this one is described as comfortable by many of the people that have been sitting on it for long periods of time. I’ve not come across a review that says it is too hard. However, everyone is different and you may not like the seat. You can change it for one more to your liking. Alternatively you can try a gel seat cover or padded bike shorts.

Handlebars. The handlebars are covered to make them easier to grip and prevent blisters especially when your hands get moist from sweat. You can use the handlebars for the standard hand positions for spinning plus you can lean on it with your forearms in the aero position but you may that it is not padded enough and your arms may start to hurt after a period of time..

Noise. This is a quiet bike with the belt drive making very little noise at all and a shooshing sound coming from the resistance pad on the flywheel. You should be able to use this bike at home without disturbing others or having to turn up the volume on the TV. You may even be able to sneak in workouts first thing in the morning before anyone else is up if you are so inclined.

Riding Position. You sit on this bike like you would a road bike where you are upright and lean forward on to the handlebars so if you have any back issues you may want to consider other exercise bikes such as the recumbent bikes.

Dirt And Dust. There is going to be some dust dropped by the bike and some lubricant. Also there is likely to sweat dropped by users on to the bike and floor. The bike has been double coated to reduce damage from sweat but should still be regularly cleaned. Also, the floor may get damaged from these items dropping on it so it is a good idea to place the bike on a rubber mat.

Storage

The bike does not need much room when it is not in use. It has a footprint of 43 ins by 24 ins which does make it easy to store out of the way if you want your living room or bedroom back.

You tip the bike onto the transport wheels when moving the bike which you need to be a little careful doing but is fairly easy to do and then wheel it to where you want it to go.

Although the wheels are small they are tough and are unlikely to get jammed up by most carpets (if may do if you have very deep pile). If you are using it on a wood floor you may want to make sure that moving the doesn’t damage it by scratching or denting it.

Assembly

The bike comes most assembled and to complete this should take less than an hour. There are no specialist skills needed to do this.

You are left with adding the stabilizer bars, pedals, adjustment stems, handlebars, seat and water bottle holder.

It comes with the tools required to complete the bike.

The instructions included are adequate but could be clearer. However, it is a simple job and they cover the basics.

The most difficult part of the job is handling the weight of the bike. The shipping weight of the bike is 129 lbs. You may want someone to hold the bike while you attach the stabilizer bars to prevent injury or damaging the bike so it won’t fall over.

Console

The bike does not come with a console as standard but you can buy one separately.

The BodyCraft computer V2 costs extra and monitors speed, time, distance, calories. If you purchase heart rate strap you can monitor your heart rate as well for training in your heart rate zone.

Alternatively, you can fit a bike computer from Schwinn or Cateye – it won’t fit exactly and may not be the most elegant looking but it will give you the data you want to track workouts and progress. It takes some DIY skills to do this with the spoke magnet needing to be altered to fit the flywheel.

You don’t need the computer to get a good workout as you can spin along to DVD and YouTube videos using the music to keep your cadence on track. But it can give you useful information and provide feedback to keep you motivated.

If you want a console a good alternative to this bike is the Ironman H-Class 520 which comes with a console as standard that you can use with an App to upload and track your results and progress. It is a new bike and doesn’t have the

Dimensions

The bike’s weight and dimensions are

Max User Weight 300 lbs
Bike Weight 120 lbs
Flywheel Weight 46 lbs

Height 47 ins
Width 24 ins
Length 43 ins

Accessories

There isn’t much in the way of accessories for the bike. This is the usual state of play for spin bikes.

It comes with 2 water bottle holders situated on the left and right forks. They are in easy reach. You do need to slide the bottle in to them which may take a little effort when returning it.

There is little in the way of guidance on using the bike which is probably okay for gym owners and those with experience but not if you are a bit of a novice in using spin bikes. It would have been good to see this included in the manual but there is plenty of guidance available online in the form of videos and articles on how to set up and use a spin bike.

Pros

• Weighted flywheel provides a smooth and fluid ride
• Belt drive gives a low maintenance and very quiet ride
• Comes with 2 water bottle holders
• Exceptional customer service
• Resistance is continuous and incremental
• Seat is described by users as comfortable but can be changed if it isn’t to your liking
• Easy to assemble
• Quick to adjust for a range of different sizes of people
• It is stable when it is being used at all intensities
• Pedal Q factor of 175 mm provides a natural ride and helps to prevent injury

Cons

• Doesn’t come with a computer
• There is nowhere to put your tablet nor book nor MP3 player
• Pedals do not fit specialist shoes but can be replaced
• Resistance levels not marked making it difficult to return to previous settings
• Does not have guidance for beginners nor is there any workouts to follow
• There is not a guard to prevent sweat dropping on to the pad and flywheel

BodyCraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Bike Consumer Ratings

Reading through the reviews makes you realize how well this bike performs and that the company goes out of their way to stand behind it.

The only issue noted by a customer was quickly resolved by the supplier providing more than was needed to sort the problem

BodyCraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Bike Price

This bike is not at the affordable end of indoor cycles but the quality of the build would seem to indicate it is reasonably priced at this level. It has a heavy perimeter flywheel, well constructed frame and a belt drive all giving a great basis for tough workouts.

When I checked it Amazon free shipping but that can changes regularly.

Click here to see if the deal is still available:
Bodycraft SPX Club Indoor Cycling Cycle Bike

Summary

This is well constructed bike that provides the basis for smooth low impact cardio workouts for beginners to experienced spinners as well as though wanting to use it for indoor training as part of their training plans or when they can’t get outside because of the adverse weather conditions.

From customer feedback this bike is one of the best bikes for home and some prefer it to the premium bikes you get in the gym and this is coming from experienced spinners and outdoor cyclists.

Beginners may find the price not to their liking if they are using it for moderate exercise and may consider one of the more affordable option in our post here for beginners.

For me there is one main thing missing and that is a console that measures RPM, distance, speed, calories and heart rate that upload the numbers to a fitness account. But not everyone is interested in this data. If you do want this information there is a computer that is designed for the bike that can be bought separately or a more affordable option is to fit a standard cycle computer.

That aside based on my research and the experience of customers this is one of the best spin bikes around and at a good price too considering the quality.