The answer to that question is yes. I’m sure there are exceptions to that answer but I haven’t found any yet. But I’m still looking. I guess the next question is what can I swap them for? Is there a certain size of pedal or seat that they take?
When you are buying something you don’t often think about changing a part of it before you buy it but this is different spin bikes or indoor cycles. It seems this is a consideration in many people’s minds before they buy or very soon after. There different reasons for wanting to change pedals and/or seats.
Why Change The Seat And What With
One of the most asked question in regards to these bikes is how comfortable is the seat. The answer in most cases is that they are hard, too skinny, have no padding and are very hard on the sit bones. It seems like the manufacturers do this on purpose. It does help to keep the cost of the bike down I guess by putting basic seats on them. The complaints about the comfort don’t seem to matter how affordably priced or expensive the bike is – with both ends of the spectrum having people complain about the seat.
There is a method in this madness. Everybody has a different idea on what makes a comfortable seat. So even if they put on more expensive and padded seats the majority are going to find it uncomfortable.
You do have a few choices when you buy a bike that you know is going to have an uncomfortable seat. You are going to want to take some sort of action especially if you are going to be on your bike for long periods of exercising. You can try to persevere with it to see if you get accustomed to it or if you like pain:)
You can also try out a gel seat cover or padded bike shorts. This works out to be a good solution for many people. The ultimate solution is you can change the seat.
Fortunately this isn’t difficult. The bikes are designed to take standard sized bike seats. So all you need do is find a standard bike fitting seat and you can replace it. This is what many customers do – they buy a seat they know they find comfortable and replace it so they can ride in comfort.
The cost of bike seats are not expensive so a low priced bike like the popular Sunny Health And Fitness Pro Indoor Cycling Bike (it does come with a seat that is universally disliked) is still a good budget option even with this cost added to it.
You can change the seat over just like you do with an outdoor bike as they sit on a pole in the same way. It takes minutes and you are then set up and can then get busy doing what you wanted with your spin bike – getting a great workout that may not be entirely pain free but it will be the pain of exercising and not from sitting.
Why Change The Pedals And What With
Another very common question asked by people looking at buying these bikes is what type of pedals does the bike come with.
Many of the affordable bikes come with toe cages on the pedals where you slip your shoes into them and tighten the strap to get a good grip on the pedals. These keep your feet in place and you can get good leverage on the pedals when you are standing up and pedaling hard. They are great for beginners and more casual exercisers.
For those people who do a lot of outdoor cycling or go to the gym to attend spin cycling classes regularly they may have specialist shoes that they want to use that clip straight on to pedals.
So the next question after they’ve established the pedal type is can they replace them and what do they take. Again the answer is you can replace them with any standard bike sized pedals.
The bikes pedals are same as outdoor bikes – they attach the same way with the left pedal needing to be screwed in counter clockwise. Many people replace the pedals with ones they already have and they are set to go.
Again I think it does come down to price as to why they come with the type of pedals they do come with. These type of pedals are cheaper to make. Also not everyone wants to replace the pedals. Some people are happy with toe cup pedals. They don’t have or don’t want to buy specialist cyclist or spinning shoes for their cardio workouts on the bike.
Higher end bikes like the Keiser M3i do come with pedals that fit specialist shoes – it comes with SPD Shimano
Dual Platform pedals but it does cost over $1500 – it is the same bike that is used by many gyms across the country for their classes. Anyone buying these bikes is likely to be very serious about their training and have the shoes to fit.
In my reviews of spin bikes I always include a section about the pedals and seats. For the pedals I say what type are included with the bike and whether they are standard fitting and can be replaced. It is the same with the seat. I look into how comfortable the seat is and then check whether it can be replaced by standard bike seats. It is not something that is usually mentioned in the supplier’s description of the product.
So, in general spin bikes come with uncomfortable seats and pedals with toe cups. They can also be replaced if you want with standard bike sized pedals and seats to personalize the bike to your requirements. This all goes with their beginning as being stationary bikes that give you an outdoor riding experience indoors.
If there are any exceptions I’ll note it in the review and come back and update this post as required – I’m sure there will be some out there I’ve not come across yet.
I ‘ve now found 2 bikes that don’t have standard bike thread for pedals they are:
Please help I have a amazing spin bike but the seat is making me depressed it’s as hard as nails I’ve tried a gel seat cover and 2 padded shorts on no improvement what seat should I get I’m in the uk HELP
It appears some spin bikes don’t fit a standard bike seat in the UK, so it makes a little difficult. Having said that you might want to checkout, the Roaduser Direct Large Gel Sprung Saddle here It has got good reviews (except fot the spin bikes with a different pole).
I have spin bike indoors and need to change the pedals to use my spin shoes but have no idea how to remove pedals or where to buy pedals any ideas
Hi,
What model spin bike or indoor cycle do you have? If it has the standard thread size, as the majority do, you can buy pedals from a bike shop or online.
Here is a video on replacing bike pedals that should help in removing and adding pedals, the same principles apply to a spin nike or indoor cycle here
I have size 15 Wide feet. I want to buy some SPD clip bike shoes but can’t find them that large. Years ago I could jam my feet into size 13’s for spinning class but no more. Most bike shoes are European sized and they seem to lie about their size – usually much smaller than the size conversion chart shows. Any suggestions? This is for spinning not street.
Sorry. I can’t help you with this. All I’d do is look at a conversion charts but that won’t allow for the smaller size. Have you tried Spinning.com for shoes?
Do you know of a seat that fits with the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1001S Indoor spin bike? I strongly dislike the seat, but am not sure that just any new seat will attach.
You should be able to fit any standard fitting bike seat to it. So you have quite a range to choose from.
I just purchased a Spinner Rally bike for my personal use. I’ve been a Spin instructor for over 20 years and have changed pedals on Spinner bikes. However this new bike has a different pedal setup. The cranks aren’t threaded. Is there an adapter so I can put my Speedplay pedals on this bike or can I get a different crankset?
Good morning, I was just wondering if you ever found an answer to your question. I just purchased a used Precor Spinner Rally bike and would like to change the pedals and I can’t seem to get and information about it.
I’ve tried everything from gel seat to padded shorts and they don’t work. The only thing I found that works is something call a Komfy High Performance Bike Seat Cushion. It is fitted for the spin bike and provides the proper support. Good luck.
Thanks for letting us know about a different option for a more comfortable support. It seems it is only available for narrow seats at present so you do need to know your seat dimensions before buying.
Hello. I have a Marcy indoor bike, Model number ME-708. The bike seat is fixed to the bike by three screws with nuts holding it in place. I ordered a LINGMAI 11.6″ x 11″Comfortable Oversize Bike Seat Cover -Super Large Wide Bicycle Saddle with Soft Cushion Improves Comfort for Mountain Bike, Road Bicycle, Hibrid and Stationary Exercise Bike but it does not work with the place where the bike seat should go. Can you please provide any solution? I have already tried a gel cover that barely fits right and just is not enough.
Thank you!
Sorry I’ve just seen your comment. I would take a look at something like the Derriair Exercise Bike Seat. It’s not the most economical solution unfortunately, I can’t see anything else that is much better price.
I’d have suggested a gel seat cover but I can see that hasn’t worked. Or you may find you can get used to it after slowly introducing yourself to the bike seat and cover over a period of time.
I just purchased sunny SF B1001S spin bike, wondering which clip less pedal would work ? I used to do spinning on life fitness bike with my MTB spinning shoes.
Sorry for the delay in replying, but these pedals could be a good option Venzo Sealed Fitness Exercise Spin Bike CNC Pedals
I have a bladez ES spin bike. I would like to change the seat to a larger seat. any suggestions.
Thanking you in advance.
Something like this should work for you Oversized Comfort Bike Seat (I assume as I couldn’t find that model indoor cycle)
do you have a video on howe to change a seat for the spoon bike. I have the Proform tour de france pro and have no idea hw to change the seat. I cant find a video either
Sorry I don’t but I think this post might help here at bicycleseats.com. It’s for a bicycle not a spin bike but the process is the same. From the manual for your bike type this should be the right one for you. I hope it helps. (I couldn’t find a video for post clamp installation.)
I have a Sunny Health indoor spin bike. Will any 9/16 SPD pedal work? Or are there specific pedals for indoor bikes? I really don’t need anything fancy, I just want to be able to use my spin shoes rather than using a toe cage. (I already have the cleats on my shoes) Thanks!
Most Sunny Health and Fitness Indoor Cycles fit 9/16 pedals and standard bike pedals. Which model do you have?
I want to change the supplied saddle on my pro form tdf 1.0 to my usual saddle. Do you know how I can achieve this please?
I think the model no. for your bike is PFEVEX71316. I’ve looked at the manual for it and it appears it is attached by 4 bolts rather than a standard fit as most indoor cycling bikes have.
If that is the case, to fit your saddle it will require it to be adapted. The easiest way to do this is to a universal bike adapter you can see it here.
It looks like it will sort your problem but I haven’t looked at the seat attachment in real life. If I’ve got the attachment method wrong and it is like a standard bike then you should be able to switch saddles as you would an outdoor bike.
Moved into an apartment complex that boasted spin bikes, but the pedals do not support SPD clips. The complex said they would look into getting the pedals that support SPD clips, but I am impatient and can’t stand toe cages. They are Schwinn bikes, and when I look on the Schwinn website, all the models appear to come with SPD clips so I am baffled as to why the bikes at the complex don’t. Do you know if it would be easy for me to replace the pedals myself if need be?
It’s not difficult as the pedals screw in – you’ll need a wrench (left pedal is reverse thread). Most spin bikes have standard 9/16 thread but not all. You’d need to check the model with manufacturer to confirm. It’s like changing pedals on a road bike.
I have just ordered a NordicTrack “grand tour” indoor bike I want to change the pedals to the SPD clip type. Do you know if the thread on this type bike is standard.
Thank you!
I’ve confirmed with Nordic that you can change the pedals and the thread is 9/16 which is standard
Hi, just purchased a Sunny SF b-1002 spin bike and realized too late I can’t clip in. Any recs for pedals I can purchase that work with this bike? Thx!
If you have clip in pedals already for a bike you can use them or the same type as the Sunny SF-B1002 fits standard bike fit -9/16 pedals. If you have SPD shoes then this pedal can be a good choice SHIMANO SPD Pedal Clipless Pedals.
Do you know if you can change the pedals on Ancheer spin bikes? I can’t tell from any of the reviews but I’m interested in purchasing one if I can change the pedals to spd pedals.
Sorry, I can’t give you an answer on this. I’ve not investigated these bikes yet. It is not clear from the product listing or reviews. They do sell road bikes. I have asked Ancheer to let me know. When they respond I’ll let you know.
Hi. I just bought a spin bike. Would like to change the pedal but I really don’t know which one to buy. The seller said to for a M18 Threaded spindle shaft. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I want to be able to wear my mtb shoes. Thanks
I don’t think you need to know the spindle shaft. I think they are referring to the crank spindle which connects the crank arms that the pedals attach to. Can you let me know your spin bike brand and model and I may be able to help to get an answer.
I bought it from a company called fitness world New Zealand. https://www.fitness.co.nz/aero-4000-spin-bike.html
Okay, after a bit of going back and forth with the company who are minimalist with their emails responses – I think I have an example of a pedal that fits. The company suggested ebay.
It is on ebay US as I can’t find one in NZ – it is here Commercial Spinning Bike Pedals JD-304V Bearing Clip Cleats/SPD 9/16 5/8 M18 M20 . You can select the M18 pedals in the drop dowm box.
Hopefully, the bike performs well for you once you have it set up as you want. I hope this is of some help. I will see if I can find somewhere in NZ
Thank you so much for helping. I did try to ask but the company wasn’t very helpful. I ordered pedals from eBay. Will be here in June. The bike did perform well tho. Thanks again for your help
Good Morning, I just purchased a Precor Spinner Rally spin bike and I need to change the pedals so my whole family can use it. I have spin shoes but everyone else does not and the pedals don’t have a cage or strap on the other side of the pedal. I’ve been trying to figure out if I can switch the pedals out with nonPrecor pedals because they are so expensive and now is not a good time to spend another $200! I’d appreciate any help with this. Thanks, stay safe. Stuck in quarintine in New Jersey.
I think unfortunately you need to replace with morse taper pedals. I’ve contacted the manufacturer to confirm this. (I thought the Precor Spinner Rally came with dual pedals with toe cages on one side for athletic shoes and clipless on the other.)
Sorry I’ve taken so long to update. I was hoping for a better answer but this seems to be as good as it gets. The response to my question on replacing was “The pedals are dual-sided SPD compatible pedal attached to oversized crank arms utilizing the patented Morse taper connections.” I think that confirms my original response.
Hi,
Precor have replied with a link to https://precor.mcoutput.com/111490/Content/SourceTopics/Replacement-Pedal.htm?Highlight=pedal.
It includes a link on how to replace the pedal. Again sorry for the delay
Hi there- I have a Schwinn IC2 and I would like to replace the cage pedals with clip-ins and am wondering what kind of pedal and shoes would be best. I have a reletively small foot, size 6 womens.
One of the top rated pedals is SHIMANO M520 Clipless Pedals w/Cleat. This pedal only has the option of using clip-in shoes. They don’t have cages for athletic shoes. It includes cleats needed for clipping-in. You can buy dual sided pedals such as Venzo Fitness Exercise Spin Bike Compatible with Shimano SPD Pedals with Toe Clips & Cleats which have toe cages on one side and are designed for indoor cycling bikes. Availability is not the best at present and can affect pricing too.
For shoes you can choose any MTB compatible shoes and it may come down to the ones you feel best on your feet. It would be good to try some on, which is probably not possible currently.
2 choices of women’s shoes that look good to me Louis Garneau Women’s Multi Air Flex II Bike Shoes for Indoor Cycling, Commuting and MTB, SPD Cleats Compatible with MTB Pedals – they are easier to walk in and have a breathable upper and soles to help keep feet from overheating. THey have a bigger fit with support to keep feet in place while you pedal. An alternative that i’ve seen good reports for comfort and fit is Pearl iZUMi Women’s W Select Road v5 Studio Cycling Shoe Black, 37.0 M EU (6 US) – although availability in Size 6 may be difficult. A guide to sizing from an Amazon review is here: https://www.pearlizumi.com/medias/?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MTIwODQ4fGltYWdlL3BuZ3xoYzMvaDU3Lzg3OTY0MzQyMzU0MjIucG5nfDBiZDZjN2JiZGZkNTY1YWU4ZTMxNDI4YmFjODRlNWRhMDBiMzFhYzA1NTE1ZDk5YWYwNGY2ZjdlM2QwNzM5ZTQ
Hope this helps. I need to write a proper guide to pedals and shoes. There are other clip-in designs but these ones are common at gyms too.
Hi there, I.m thinking of purchasing an ajumker spin bike, I would like to know if the seat can be changed if it’s very uncomfortable.
I’m not familiar with that bike and from the pictures of the seat I can’t see the attachment clearly, so can’t give a definitive answer. The model I looked at doesn’t seem to be to be that positively rated by customers. If you do get it you can try padded bike shorts or a gel seat cover if the seat is too painful to persevere with and you can’t change it.
Hello. This article is fantastic! Thank you. I’m looking to buy a Body Power SP.IC20 Indoor Studio Cycle . Do you know if the pedals can be changed on this make/model ? Many thanks in advance.
Thanks for this. The Body Power Indoor cycle looks like the pedals can be changed but I can’t find anything to confirm that. I’ve asked a question at a store that sells it. If/when they respond I’ll update my response.
I recently purchased a floor model Horizon S3+ | FC052 | 2016 and want to add the SPD clips. Do I have to change out the whole pedal or can I just buy the clips? Regardless of which option, which ones do I get? I live in Canada and have already used the “official” parts supplier but they have been super irregular to deal with and would like to get this changed out for myself. HELP! 🙂
I haven’t looked at the Horizon S3+ in detail, so Can’t definitively answer whether the pedals have a standard thread but they look like they do (unfortunately you probably need to check with the supplier). You will need to replace the pedal as I am not aware of any SPD clips designed to attach to standard pedals. Sorry, I am not more help.