Working out at home can be a great way to burn calories, get and stay fit and train on your own schedule and save some money too. Spinning and indoor cycling helps you to achieve this with their low impact high intensity cardio workouts.
When you buy a spin bike for home you want it to be sure it doesn’t cost the earth but also you want to get many years of trouble free cardio workouts.
The Spinner Sprint is made to commercial grade specifications which seems to be an answer to the concerns of whether it will stand up to rigors of home use. If it is up to gym usage it should be able to cope with being used at home. It seems priced so it doesn’t break the bank and can save money in the longer term when compared to gym fees
Our review looks at how the bike stacks up to these requirements and more to determine how suitable it is for home use. In preparing this review we’ve spent hours studying the manual, the product listings and customer reviews to make sure we understand all there is to give a complete unbiased picture of the bike.
We first looked at how stable a ride it give as no one want to be concerned the bike is going tip them off or shake apart as they exercise.
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Sturdiness
Contents
The bike is solidly constructed of steel and weighs a total of 121 lbs which stops it from bending or flexing while you ride.
It doesn’t shake or rattle at high speeds.
It stays stable when you are spinning or training hard whether you are in the saddle, out of the seat or jumping between the two positions. It feels secure at all times so you can just get on with working out.
The flywheel is made of cast iron, perimeter weighted and it weighs 43 lbs. This gives a fluid cycling motion making for a low impact workout.
The momentum of the flywheel due to the weighting keeps the pedals moving through the cycle so it doesn’t feel like you are stopping and starting (which can cause an impact on the joints) instead it is a natural feel that makes working out easier.
You can use the bike on most floors no matter how uneven because it has 4 levelers underneath the stabilizer bars which you adjust by turning them to smooth out any side to side movement.
So it has the basics of sturdiness and durability covered. Next up is to looking at how well you can get the bike to fit you for an efficient and comfortable workout.
Adjustability
The Spinner Sprint has a good range of people it can be adjusted to fit. The bike is made for people between the heights of 4 ft 10 ins and 6 ft 8 ins. This makes it suitable for most households.
Making the adjustments is quick and simple using pop-pin knobs that you loosen and pull the pin out, then you slide the handlebars or seat into position and then tighten the knobs to fix into place.
This quick adjustment makes it possible for the bike to be used by different people in a household.
There is only a very short period of time needed to get the bike set up if it is not the correct setting when you come to do your workout. There are makings on the seat and handlebar pole that you can use to help with the set the bike up.
It does use pre-set holes in the adjustment bars to hold the seat and handlebars in place so a few people may find that the adjustment is just out of the comfortable range no matter the hole they select but this is the same with most bikes using this method of adjustment.
The seat can be adjusted vertically and horizontally but the handlebars can only be adjusted vertically. For most people this is going to be enough adjustment but some people may find they can’t get it right because of the lack of horizontal adjustment with the handlebars, particularly those with a long or short torso.
The pop pins do need to be fully tightened to prevent the seat or handlebars shaking when you are cycling.
Spinner Sprint Resistance
To increase the intensity of the ride you turn a tension knob at the top of the frame which tightens a leather pad on to the flywheel making it harder to cycle against. It uses friction to cause this resistance.
The resistance is incremental and it goes up and down steadily with a good range of turn of the knob needed so you don’t go from easy to too hard in one small turn.
It doesn’t take much to get used to how much turn is needed to adjust it to the level you want.
The pad grips the flywheel to provide a constant level of resistance so there is no slipping.
It does wear down over time even though the leather pad is hard wearing and should give at least a year of use before needing replacing but it does depend on usage. It is simple to replace with the instructions included in the manual. The pads can be bought from Spinner and details are also in the manual.
There are no markings on the resistance knob to help with returning back to a previous setting and this is normal for spin bikes
Drive Type
The bike has a chain drive connecting the pedals to the flywheel. It is like the one you find on an outdoor bike.
It gives a similar riding experience but also has the same maintenance requirements which isn’t that much. The maintenance involves tightening the chain if it becomes loose and lubricating as needed.
It will only need to be done from time to time and the instructions are included in the manual – they are clear and simple to follow. You don’t need and special tools to carry it out.
When you receive the bike thee chain drive is properly set and shouldn’t require adjusting.
There is guard around the drive to protect it from sweat and damage. This also stops your ankles and clothes getting caught in the chain as well as reduce the noise of the chain.
It does have a fixed gear so there is no coasting or freewheeling. When the flywheel is turning so are the pedals which can take a little getting used to if you are new to spinning.
You can stop the flywheel by pushing down on the tension knob and that stops the pedals so you can get off safely. This is the normal arrangement for spin bikes in this price range.
If you don’t like this you can get bikes with Smart Release technology but they do cost more, the only bike I’ve reviewed to date is the Schwinn AC Sports which has a console but wider Q Factor. It does cost more.
Pedals
The pedals are attached into a solid crank that does not flex or bend when standing up and pushing hard.
They come with toe baskets that you slide your shoe into and tighten up the strap to get a good grip so your foot won’t slip out when you are pushing hard and standing out of the saddle.
They don’t fit shoes with cleats so if that is something you want you can change the pedals for ones that do as the bike takes standard bike pedals or if you don’t want to do that but want to use specialist shoes then checkout our compare post for spin bikes that come with dual pedals that fit SPD shoes.
The bike’s Q Factor is 155 mm, a measure of the distance between the pedals. This is a short distance for home use spin bikes. It results in better alignment from the hips to feet which reduces the stress on hips and knees with less chance of injury especially when using the bike regularly over a long period of time.
Comfort
Seat. The seat has been designed to give a comfy seat for different shapes and sizes of people, but if you are new to biking you may need a padded cycle shorts or gel cover to help initially. However, for some people the seat is just not going to be right for them and in that case the bike seat can be changed for any other seat that fits a standard size bike.
Handlebars. The handlebars are designed to be comfortable when gripped in the 3 positions for spinning – the center, shoulder width apart and at the end of the bars. It has rubber grips to prevent slipping and blisters when your hands get wet.
If you want to cycle in the aero position then these handlebars don’t have sufficient padding to prevent it hurting your arms so you may want to invest in some elbow pads.
Dust And Dirt. As with any spin bike that uses friction pads for resistance and chain drive it is going to drop dust and lubricant as it is used. Also you are likely to drop sweat and the bike is designed so that any that drops on it is channelled off it.
Also it is set up to preventing an accumulation of this dirt at the bottom of the bike but it going to need cleaning from time to time and much of it will end up on the floor which could result in damage to the floor. You can prevent this by placing a rubber mat under the bike, which can help with noise too,
Noise. This is a quiet bike but it isn’t silent. The chain is going to make a quiet rattling noise as it moves round the pedals and the flywheel. The resistance pad will make a shushing sound as it rubs on the flywheel. It not likely to disturb others in the house during the day but if you are using it at night and you are concerned about disturbing them you may want to consider a magnetic resistance and belt drive bike. They are quieter but do cost more with the Sole SB900 or the Diamondback Fitness 510Ic being comparable options and they both come with a console.
Storage
This is a heavy bike weighing in at 121 lbs which could make it difficult to move out of the way when not in use.
To overcome this issue it has 2 small wheels at the front that you can tip the bike onto. They take most of the weight and you can then move the bike to where you want it to go. To store it needs a space that measures 55 inches long by 20 inches wide.
Assembly
The frame, chain and flywheel are put to together when the bike arrives, leaving you to finish off the assembly.
It can be done in less than an hour and the tools required are included in the packaging.
The step by step instructions in the manual are clear and easy to follow. You are required to attach the pedals, handlebars, seat, adjustment poles and stabilizer bars.
The thing that may be the most difficult is holding the bike in place while you tighten up the bolts especially when adding the stabilizer bars. This is due to the weight of the bike and you may want 2 people to complete this to prevent injury or damaging the bike if it is dropped.
Console
The bike doesn’t come with a console as standard which is unfortunate because even a basic one can help in motivation and keeping track.
But a console is not to everyone’s taste, instead they use the beat of the music in the workout to keep their cadence up (RPM) to get to the wanted intensity for the ride.
There is a spinner computer that can be bought for the bike which is an effective option. A more economical alternative is to buy a Cateye computer or cadence sensors and fit to the bike with a bit more effort.
It does involve a little bit of modification to the spoke magnet but it is something people have successfully done on other spin bike models to get the feedback and monitoring they want for measuring progress and monitoring performance while training and working out.
Another important measure is your heart rate, so you can stay in the heart rate zone that is best for your goals and age. To get this information it is probably worth looking at a heart rate strap and a wrist monitor – it not as easy as looking at a display in front of you but it gives you the feedback required.
Dimensions
The dimensions and weights are:
Height 48 inches
Width 20 inches
Length 55 inches
Flywheel Weight 43 lbs
Bike Weight 121 lbs
Max User Weight 350 lbs
Accessories
The bike comes with more accessories than many bikes in this price range but the competition is great.
It includes a water bottle holder that is well constructed so it should stand up well to many times of inserting and removing a water bottle. It is on the middle of the frame which makes it easy to grip but might make it a prime target for sweat – so be prepared for a wet bottle at times.
The extra accessory is the 4 Spinning DVDs . These are great for getting started and give you 4 different workouts. Not everyone likes them and in particular the music but they have everything you need to get started the right way with spinning.
Pros
- Narrow Q Factor similar to that of outdoor bikes making it easier on knees and the hip
- Easy access water bottle holder
- Gives a stable and sturdy platform for intense workouts
- Seat is comfortable as far as bike seats go and can be changed if it isn’t to your liking
- 4 Workout DVDs with 4 different workouts
- It is quiet but not silent
- Minimal maintenance required
- Assembly is quick and easy
- Can be quickly and easily for multiple users between the heights of 4 ft 10 ins and 6 ft 8 ins
- Transport wheel for moving
Cons
- Does not include a console
- No pre-set workouts
- Pedals do not take specialist shoes but can be changed if required
- There is some maintenance required
- You can’t adjust handlebars backwards and forwards which may affect getting a comfortable fit if you have a short or long torso
- Resistance levels are not marked making it difficult to return to a previous setting
- Lack of accessories such as somewhere to plug in MP3 player or rest a tablet
Spinner Sprint Consumer Ratings
There are not too many reviews online currently which is surprising considering it has been around for awhile.
The ones that have been left a very positive.
They like the sturdiness, the quietness with it giving the basis for a good cardio workout that low impact so is kind on the joints.
Spinner Sprint Price
For the price you get a no frills bike that is well put together and is constructed for frequent use by multiple users that will last for years
When I checked Amazon would ship it for free if qualified.
Summary
The bike is well constructed to give many years of use in the home for intense spinning workouts or indoor cycle training. It can be used by a wide range of people heights and sizes.
It can be used by beginners as well as the more experienced.
It is missing a console to make it really good value. They can help in making the most of your workouts but many people don’t use them . You can get a great workout without them however a console is just great for staying on track during a workout as well as checking progress over time.
The 4 Spinner DVD’s included can help beginners get started and stay on track but aren’t really suitable for those with experience i n spinning.
The flywheel provides a natural and fluid riding experience and along with the narrow q factor it means you get outdoor bike style riding experience for satisfying workouts that can be as intense as you want.