The $2,500 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Is a Workout and a Half

Since 2006, SoulCycle has been putting gym-goers through their paces. Now, much the same experience is available in the comfort of our own homes. This is made possible thanks to the fitness brand’s recently unveiled at-home bike.

The $2,500 piece of equipment is SoulCycle’s first bike designed specifically for use at home. The launch of the brand’s exclusive at-home bike comes following months of frustration for SoulCycle fans. As the pandemic has kept gyms across the globe closed, SoulCycle devotees have had to go without their regular indoor cycling and spinning workouts.

SoulCycle is famed for its highly immersive indoor cycling and spinning workout classes. With locations across the U.S. and Canada, SoulCycle workouts take place in candlelit studios to rhythmic, one-of-a-kind playlists.

Dark, loud, and fun, SoulCycle classes combine hills and sprints for cardio with targeted secondary exercises focused on engaging different muscle groups. Classes end with so-called restorative stretching.

These unmistakable sessions, SoulCycle says, are designed to give participants not just a physical boost, but a mental one, too.

Straight away, the SoulCycle at-home bike feels like a quality piece. And it should because it costs around two-and-a-half times the price of the Echelon Fit Connect EX-3, for example.

Reminiscent of SoulCycle’s studio bikes, there’s no mistaking the brand’s at-home alternative’s serious nature. For starters, its impressive 21.5-inch touchscreen affords users with a suitably immersive experience. It’s certainly more engaging than attempting to follow a workout on a smaller tablet or phone screen.

At $2,500, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the SoulCycle at-home bike offered an all-in-one, ready-to-go package. For the most part, this is precisely what the product is. The SoulCycle at-home bike’s price even includes special delivery and expert installation, COVID-19 restrictions permitting.

Some assistance with getting the bike positioned exactly where you want it is very helpful, because it weighs in at over 140 pounds. It’s also more than 60 inches in length. With that, it’s a good idea to set it up somewhere that it can stay for the foreseeable future.

However, there are two additional costs that buyers should be aware of.

To use the SoulCycle at-home bike, a pair of clip-in cycling shoes are necessary. SoulCycle will sell you a pair for an additional $175. If you already have your own, you can use those. Alternatively, you can purchase a suitable pair from another brand. The only requirement is that they have compatible cleats. Both Look Delta and SPD cleats will clip straight into the SoulCycle at-home bike’s pedals.

Elsewhere, you’ll also need a subscription to SoulCycle’s on-demand library of workouts and live classes. This subscription costs $39.99 per month. That’s almost $500 a year – an important factor to consider, especially in the longer term.

SoulCycle could argue that this is entirely reasonable given the existing price of in-person sessions. Just one SoulCycle class currently costs $36. On that basis, you only need to complete two or more subscription-based workouts per month to effectively see a decent savings.

SoulCycle’s at-home bike comes with a limited one-year warranty. This warranty covers its touchscreen and other components. Considering the cost of the bike, owners may wish to lock in added protection, particularly after 12 months.

Upsie offers comprehensive five-year protection against manufacturing defects, malfunctions, broken cables, and more for SoulCycle’s at-home bike. This protection costs just $266.99. Upsie’s extended stationary bike warranties also include prompt in-home repairs – great news for dedicated fitness enthusiasts committed to their regular workouts.

If something goes wrong, Upsie will send a technician straight to your home to repair your fitness equipment with complete parts and labor coverage. If a repair isn’t possible, the company will provide a replacement. Better still, Upsie boasts zero service fees or deductibles with all fitness equipment warranty packages.

So, what’s the SoulCycle at-home bike experience actually like? At $2,500 plus almost $500 per year, it’s to be hoped that the overall package lives up to expectations. Thankfully, it does. Classes, whether enjoyed live or on-demand, will be immediately familiar to SoulCycle fans.

Those unfamiliar with SoulCycle, meanwhile, have a variety of introductory videos and classes at their disposal. These cover everything from the basics to proper riding form and even SoulCycle ‘moves,’ such as tap-backs and on-bike push-ups.

Once you’re up to speed, a plethora of classes, which vary in length, theme, and difficulty, are then immediately available to enjoy. Music lovers can also dial into their Spotify accounts to create playlists from the tracks used in SoulCycle’s workouts.

At the same time, a free-ride option lets you enjoy the bike at your leisure, accompanied by your own choice of music. Outside of instructor-led classes, you can even use the SoulCycle at-home bike’s large screen to watch Netflix instead as you put yourself through your paces.

The SoulCycle experience, though, largely hinges on what goes down in its classes. It’s fair to suggest, then, that most people will stick to instructor-led workouts. Either way, the SoulCycle at-home bike serves up plenty of stats – great for pushing yourself.

While it’s easy to assume that the overall SoulCycle experience would suffer in a non-studio setting, the brand’s recently unveiled at-home bike impresses with its offering. From the bike itself to the workouts on offer via SoulCycle’s subscription service, it strikes a nice balance.

Motivation is maintained effectively, thanks in no small part to the familiar style of SoulCycle’s group-based classes. Especially in light of current events, the at-home bike provides the closest thing to a traditional SoulCycle session presently available outside of its approximately 100 physical locations.

Admittedly, the SoulCycle at-home bike’s $2,500 purchase price and roughly $500 annual subscription cost may be hard to swallow. Yet, for fans of the brand, there’s no better way to get your SoulCycle fix, short of heading to the studio.

The truth is, in fact, that the experience translates almost surprisingly well. As such, it’s easy to imagine legions of new fans developing a passion for SoulCycle without even having to step foot outside of their front doors.

The SoulCycle at-home bike is available now from the brand’s parent company, Equinox Group. Looking for a SoulCycle at-home bike warranty? Head to Upsie.com/fitness-warranty to find out more.