LifeSpan S2 Indoor Cycling Bike

So I bought my spin cycle from Amazon approximately a month ago when it was a gold box special...at that price (about 40% off the 699 price) it is a solid deal.Pros:- Very easy assembly...the cycle comes 90% assembled and only took me 20 minutes to put together.- Pretty solid construction / stable- Price is great if you get it via gold boxCons:- Cheap pedals (plan on buying some SPD pedals and shoes for a much more productive workout) I bought the Shimano PD-M324 SPD Pedal 9/16 w/SH-51 Cleat Silver...which have the advantage of having an SPD side and a normal pedal side. This way someone without the SPD shoes can use the cycle. The pedals come with the cleats so all you'll need is the SPD Shoes.- You will notice a difference between the feel of this cycle and the ones at your gym (for instance the tension adjustments seem less consistent)...of course gym cycles cost three times as much- The bike is quiet when seated but makes a cricket noise when pedaling while out of the saddle.Do yourself a favor and take some time making adjustments to get the bike's fit correct...this will help prevent injuries and make for a much more productive workout. There are plenty of Internet sites that will tell you how to do this.Also...and this is VERY important...use your first workout to get use to the tension of your cycle. I made the mistake of going all out with the tension unwittingly set way too high and strained my knee a bit.I also recommend ordering a couple of Spinning DVD's...with spinning to get a good workout you can't just ride...it takes speed work, strength work and interval work...and this is much easier to accomplish if someone is pushing you through it. I also recommend a heart monitor. I use the Polar RS100 It will give you heart rate, calories burned and your elapsed time.In summary if you can find a high end spin cycle used and in good repair that might be a better way to go...but if you can get this bike on sale it will make you sweat and serve you well.

I purchased this spin bike in January of 2009 and have been absolutely thrilled with its performance. I am a certified fitness trainer and workout at home regularly. This bike has been ridden by me about 3 to 4 times a week for the past year and it still works very well.The bike setup was simple enough for me to handle, but I did elect the help of a friend just in case I needed an extra set of hands. His hands did come in handy while putting this together. So, if you have a friend to help put this together, super! If not, you might be fine on your own.The seat is adjustable both vertically and horizontally and works perfectly for my 5'5" height. The handlebar is customizable in position also and works well with my frame.The pedals have straps on them so you may use your typical gym shoes rather than purchasing spin shoes.There is a bottle holder on the right side of the bike that does not get in the way of your legs and is easily accessible while riding.As with all spin seats, your rear-end needs to adjust. I've built up resistance to spin bike seats and this one is fine for me. However, I do have a gel pad that I purchased a few years ago (before I bought this bike) for when I was a newbie at spin. If you are new to this, you may want to invest in a gel-pad cover for your seat. Your bum will thank you.The bike comes with two wheels on the bottom front part of the bike enabling you to move it around the floor easily. As a result, my bike lives in my living room half of the time and in my office the other half. I enjoy having the flexibility to move my bike from room to room, in front of a mirror, television, or window.I really love this bike (so much that I put an "I love this bike" sticker on it)! I find it to be an attractive piece of furniture. It was a wise investment.

I have been spinning for 15 years at the gym, so I am very familiar with spin bikes. I like this bike a lot. The mechanism is very smooth and it is heavy and sturdy, so it doesn't move when I stand, sit, etc. I am 5'3" and 115 pounds and it is a perfect size for me. The resistance knob works well -- pretty much the same as the spinners at the gym. There were/are a few issues, though:1. the bike came broken. The box came crushed and plastic insert in the metal stem where the seat is attached was shattered. It is not well packed for such a heavy piece of equipment. I didn't return it, though, because it would have been so difficult to repack.2. the pieces that allow you to adjust the height and position of the seat and the handlebars fit so tightly that once in place they are impossible to move. I am the only one using this bike so it's ok for me but if more than one person plans to use the bike, you are forewarned. Maybe WD 40 would help...3. the seat is incredibly uncomfortable, even with padded bike shorts. I had to buy a gel cover for it.All in all, it is a good bike for the price, but not perfect.

I purchased this spinning bike a few months ago. I have taken a number of spinning classes and my wife was a novice. We both like the bike in general. She uses CD's on the TV to guide her workouts, I use the CD's or just music.Pros -Very easy to assemble (almost completely pre-assembled)Sturdy, solid feelCons -Inconsistent resistance levelsOkay -Seat and handle bar adjustments are okay, not greatSeat is a road bike style, a gel cover makes this much better (especially for those not used to a road bike seat)For the resistance levels, sometimes it changes drastically with minor turns of the resistance knob and other times you have to turn the knob a lot. And it is not consistent within a ride, so trial and error as you ride. Knowing that, you adjust as needed.Overall I would recommend the bike, but I wonder if there are bikes in this price range with more consistent resistance levels