A detailed review of the Echelon Connect EX-5 spin bike from a multiuser household. Find out if this rear flywheel set up is right for your at home workouts.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve tested a lot of cardio equipment. From treadmills with crazy automated features, to magnetic resistance cable machines that take up a tiny amount of space to tools that take 30lbs off your run! Now it was time to jump in the saddle for some spin bike thoughts.
Lucky for you, it’s not just this runner testing, but my husband who is an intense mountain biker and loves the spin bike for cross training days. He is also a person who MUST follow an on screen workout, where I go rogue. This allowed us to really put the Echelon through its paces in a variety of different ways.
The pedaling is smooth, the bike is really stable, the live classes are amazing, but there are a few drawbacks.
Echelon Connect EX-5 Review
One of the biggest things with any spin bike is the setup and ensuring you can get a comfortable fit. I was really impressed to find that we could adjust pretty much everything with ease on the Echelon EX-5 (and I followed their demo video) to get that correct spacing from seat to handlebars.
The ability to adjust the handle bars forward, up, down, the seat, the seat post, honestly all of it really ensures that you can dial in the fit. Everything is easy to loosen and tighten so using the markers, you can have the whole household use it and get back to your settings easily.
If you haven’t heard of Echelon, they aren’t a new player in this market! They have a large library and a long history of equipment. Which we realized as soon as we started going through the library to find workouts.
A few things we immediately liked about bike:
- It’s extremely stable, even when you’re going hard
- Set up was really easy
- No issues with bluetooth connection, that took seconds to figure out
- Easy to make adjustments to overall fit
- Loved the cages and the clip in options (David clipped and I used the cage)
- Overall quality feels like a commercial studio bike
You’ll see a small blue light that will flash on the handlebars when the bike is in connection mode. It will try to connect any time you start pedaling. And after you finish a workout, it will self shut off once it stops finding a connection.
A few issues we ran in to were only being able to use an Echelon HR monitor, the seat and realizing you’re tied to the Echelon fitness world of workouts to see your basic biking data.
While they have an incredible library which we will detail below, the only way to see your cadence, resistance etc is through their app.
You can set up a free ride to see your stats and then use something like your TV to play a Peloton workout if that’s what you’d like to do. But you can’t have their app open to collect data and use any other app on your tablet or phone.
The bike will work without a subscription, but it’s going to be easier to use with their programs. So you’re saving big by not having a screen, but could feel more locked in to their programming.
Now the other issue is the seat. We’re still playing around with it to try and find the right angle to make it more comfortable and I think that’s probably on us. Or I may need a less performance oriented seat for this runner bum.
That being said, this bike is being put to work! I’m pretty excited to have a consistent option for cross training as I know how much it improves running and David is all in to stay strong during the winter when trails are closed.
Echelon Connect EX-5 Specifications
This is a savings big win for those who plan to only use the Echelon workouts, you save by not paying for a screen while getting a stellar fitness app.
- Price: $1,250 but currently on sale for $850
- Resistance: 32 levels of magnetic resistance
- Bike dimensions: 58″ L x 20″ W x 55″ H
- Bike weight: 129 lbs
- Max weight limit: 300 lbs
- Warranty: 1-year comprehensive warranty. Premier Members receive coverage up to 5 years
- Premier Membership is $39.99/monthly or $399.99/yearly
- Tablet holder that flips 180° for off-bike workouts
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Dual-sided pedals with SPD clips and toe cages
- 2 water bottle holders
- 2 dumbbell holders for 2 lb weights (DBs not included)
Quick Take
- No cycling shoes required, thanks to the toe cages.
- Echelon Fit App offers a variety of classes, both on and off the bike.
- Handlebars and seat are adjustable for a custom fit.
- Ability to plug in your device while riding to avoid draining your battery.
- Bluetooth connectivity to track your stats on Apple watch.
- No touchscreen monitor; you have to use your tablet or phone via Bluetooth
- Can only connect via Bluetooth to Strava, FitBit, and Apple Watch through the Echelon Fit app
- Required to purchase the Echelon Fit membership when buying from the Echelon website.
- The seat isn’t the most comfortable, especially for longer rides.
- Can only use Echelon HR monitor.
We recommend bumping up one level to the EX-5s-22 which has a screen. Again, you can save around $400 here off regular price, but right now it’s on sale for $1099! UNLESS you want a machine that’s easier to move around, you plan to use their workout programs or you have an easy set up with a TV to use another program.
Echelon Memberships
When you buy the bike through Echelon.com, you’ll be required to select between two membership options: Premier and Fitpass.
The Premier membership offers a complete experience, including live and on-demand classes, expert instructors, scenic rides, and even entertainment streaming, so you can choose to stick to a specific workout or not.
Plus, with the Premier Membership, you can have up to 5 members per account. It also gives you an extended warranty of up to 5 years.
As noted, David LOVES classes. So the fact that this has not just cycling, but yoga, weights, etc means he has been doing a variety of workouts thanks to the programming.
Fitpass, on the other hand, is much more limited. It only provides access to non-equipment workouts, such as yoga, strength training, Pilates, and HIIT.
If you plan to use the Echelon Connect EX-5 for cycling workouts, this isn’t the right membership choice for you. This allows for one member profile, so that means no one else can join in on the fun.
The Premier Membership is $39.99/monthly or $399.99/yearly, which is the same as iFit and less than All-Access Peloton.
Once you purchase a membership, download the Echelon Fit app and get ready to sweat!
Buy the Echelon Connect now with membership >>
Echelon Connect EX-5 vs Other Indoor Bikes
The biggest difference between the Echelon Connect EX-5 and its competitors really comes down to one thing: a built-in touchscreen.
Bikes like the Peloton and Nordictrack S24 Studio cost more due to the screen.
Both offer large, built-in touchscreens for a more connected experience. They’ll also track your metrics, such as resistance and distance, directly in front of you.
If we were doing things over, we’d simply get the Echelon EX-5s, which as you might guess the S means it has a screen! Right now it’s on sale for $1099 which is such a stinking good price. 
All three brands provide access to a huge library of live and on-demand classes, as well as streaming options for shows, movies, and music. In terms of workout variety and community, they’re pretty comparable.
We’ve got no qualms recommending this spin bike to anyone.
Any other questions? What else would you like to know?
What to read next?
- Best Cardio Cross Training for Runners
- How Less Runs and More Cross Training Can Make You Faster
- Strength Training Program for Runners
The post Echelon Connect EX-5 Spin Bike Review: All the Classes, None of the Screen Premium appeared first on RunToTheFinish.
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