I bought a spin bike when I returned from my Nova Scotia trip. I was worried that I would lose more of my fitness, the longer my ankle took to recover.
Friends who have had a broken ankle or similar injury swore that spending time on a spin bike would help maintain my fitness.
A Peloton isn’t in my budget range, so I bought an Echelon Connect Ex-5 Spin Bike, which is a similar set up with live and on demand classes but more than half the price. I picked it up on sale for $500 at Costco and it came with a one-year subscription to all its cycle, row and run classes including a FitPass where I have the choice of strength classes, core, ZUMBA, yoga, breathing and more.
I put the bike together over three days. In retrospect, it wasn’t that difficult. However I did have one minor hiccup putting the pedals – the stupid nut on the left pedal refused to screw on the bolt. Thankfully after a few time outs and some handy WD40, the pedal finally settled into its place.
What I like about my Echelon bike
I opted to go with a bike without a built in screen so I could use my iPad or iPhone in the adjustable/moveable console holder and cast on my TV. I just downloaded the app and I was ready to go. I like the option of casting on the screen or doing a class on my bike while watching a show.
There are 32 levels of resistance on the bike. The bike pedals are very quiet. That was one of the selling points for me. I can charge my iPhone or iPad while riding. I didn’t attach the water bottle or the weight holders but those are good options. The bike itself has a small footprint so it easily fits in my workout space.
Spin classes
There are many different spin classes. There’s cadence, fusion, endurance, speed, hills, Tabata, low impact and more. Instructor-led classes are available either live or on demand. There’s a also scenic rides without an instructor.
My first live instructor-led class was fusion. It’s a combination of resistance and speed. I learned later that fusion classes are very challenging because it’s a lot of in saddle, out of saddle with little rest in between. I can’t argue because I was dripping with sweat and my heart rate was definitely elevated.
I have since tried low impact, Tabata, cadence and speed classes. I’ve stayed away from the endurance classes because I don’t think I could spend an hour or more on the bike. Besides it’s so nice out right now that I would rather spend that hour running.
There’s also a very active and fun Echelon Facebook where the students and instructors interact quite frequently.
Final thoughts
Now that I am back to running consistently, I am throwing indoor cycling into the mix for recovery and crosstraining. These days I will take a class on my days off but sometimes I will do a 20 to 30 minute ride after my long run to shake out the legs.
But I also love the high intensity speed and interval classes. I really feel like I am working and shaking out my legs. It’s great to have the option to mix up my training.