The Stryde Bike is a premium bike with luxury features that’s giving Peloton a run for its money thanks to its versatility and ability to stream other app-based workouts and entertainment apps.

I received my Stryde Bike a couple of months ago and have been riding it ever since. This high-end exercise bike fits right in with my routine, giving me a new challenge and change-up to my home workout routine.

With an affordable price tag, an optional Stryde streaming membership, and the ability to download and stream nearly any app I want, it’s easy to see why this bike is poised to become the next best thing to hit the home cycling market.

In this article, I’m reviewing and sharing everything you need to know about the Stryde Bike so that you can make an informed buying decision and ensure that you’re getting the right bike for your unique and specific needs. My hope is that you find this article helpful as you decide if Strdye has the best stationary bikes available and if it’s the right fit for you.

Features Of The Stryde Bike

The Stryde Bike comes equipped with some pretty competitive features that help it to stand apart from its competition and really offer some amazing value. Let’s take a look at some of the standout features that help Stryde shine in the indoor cycling bike industry.

100 Levels of Magnetic Resistance

If 100 levels of near silent magnetic resistance rings a bell, it’s because Stryde has the exact same resistance system as the Peloton Bike. While some Peloton competitors use alternate forms of resistance, like MYX Fitness, who uses friction, Stryde took a page out of Peloton’s book and went with the premium resistance that so many have come to know and love with their competition.

Using the resistance knob located directly in front of you when you’re on the bike, you can adjust your resistance from 0-100 levels with the simple turn of the knob. A turn to the right will make your ride harder and one to the left will make your ride easier. You’ll know exactly where you’re at when it comes to resistance because it will be displayed for you right on the screen thanks to the Stryde app tracking integration. If you need to stop your bike at any time, all you need to do is press down on the resistance knob and the flywheel will come to a complete stop.

22” HD Touchscreen Stryde Tablet

Stryde Bike offers a 22” HD touchscreen tablet. If you haven’t taken a ride on a bike that has an attached screen yet, you’re in for a treat - spin workouts are taken up a notch when you’re able to immerse yourself into class. WIth a screen streaming front and center, you’re getting an experience that closely resembles that of your favorite indoor cycling clubs.

As opposed to most other connected smart fitness devices, Stryde doesn’t just have a screen, it’s actually a tablet. As soon as you fire up the screen, you’ll recognize that it looks just like any other tablet screen with various apps available for use, including a browser.

Such placement of the screen offers a front row seat to not only on demand cycling classes, but to so many other apps at your disposal as you ride with Stryde.

Near Silent Belt Drive

The Stryde Bike, when in operation, is near silent thanks to the magnetic resistance and the belt drive system. The resistance and belt drive used on Stryde are premium, high-end quality, and on a stationary bike it’s considered to be the smoothest, quietest ride. And after trying several bikes with different resistance types, I can definitely attest to magnetic resistance being the best option as far as ease of use and quietness.

Personally, I really value not only the smooth ride that this bike offers but the fact that it’s just about silent. I often workout when my kids are still sleeping in the morning or are taking a nap in the afternoon. It’s a real bummer when you’re forced to choose between making sure your family stays asleep and whether or not you’re able to get your workout in. I’ve had my Stryde Bike in my living room and have never had an issue with excess noise.

Dual Sided Pedals

This is a big benefit for so many people - the ability to choose cycling shoes or athletic shoes for your cycling workouts. With both SPD pedals and toe cages at your disposal, all your fitness needs are met. I love that I didn’t have to purchase a special pair of cycling shoes to use my bike as I really didn’t want to spend the extra money. Plus, as someone who is just getting into cycling, I wanted to keep the barrier to entry low.

Premier Studio Classes

One of Stryde’s unique value propositions is the fact that they do their programming on their own app a little differently than everyone else on the scene. Styrde contracts with premier cycling studios across the country like City Cycle, Ride Cycle in Denver, Ride House, Vibe Ride, High Ride Cycle, and more, to fill their app with a full selection of on demand classes and global workouts. Instead of using the same studio and the same instructors, Stryde mixes it up by bringing its users workout videos filmed in various studios around the country, all displayed in the large LCD monitor.

Free Ride Option

With Stryde’s free ride option, you can download and use any app you want, including the Peloton apps, and still be able to track your resistance, cadence, and output. This is hands-down one of the best, most unique features of the Stryde Bike that help it to take leaps and bounds ahead of its competition.

Stryde does not lock you into any specific programming. In fact, you get to choose whether or not you even want to pay for a monthly membership fee. You can just as easily pull up the ride app on the screen, minimize it to the corner of your screen and cycle away while watching Netflix, Hulu, Disney +, and more. 

The best way to think about this, in my opinion, is to understand that you’re investing in a piece of home gym equipment and that you might not always want to pay for a cycling workout membership. Plus, your preferences and workout style are bound to change over the years that you own your bike. Spin workouts that excite and motivate you now may not be what excites and motivates you 1, 5, or 10 years from now. Consider the bigger picture when making these purchasing decisions and determine if having flexibility to choose your own membership (or lack thereof) is important to you.

Integration With Other Apps (Internet Browser)

This feature piggybacks off my last point about the free ride option. Because you have the option to track your workouts at any time and you have the option to download and use other apps on your built-in display, you can seamlessly use your bike in any manner that you wish.

From choosing a cycling app that offers live classes like Peloton to having the ability to check your email while you work on your health and adopt healthy habits, Stryde is helping you to not only improve your physical health through cycling, but to improve your mental health, too. I know for me, taking a break in my day to move my body is such a positive way to improve my mood and wellbeing. Since Stryde is so flexible with their tablet options, you have the ability to choose what you want to do every time you hop on your bike. Not many other indoor bikes can say the same.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Although Stryde boasts built in speakers, it also allows for bluetooth connectivity and easy headphone pairing. I always pair my Apple Airpods with my Stryde Bike so that I can make sure I’m not disturbing the peace in my home while I ride (no guarantee that I won’t belt out a tune though!).

Sleek Design and Easy Storage

While this exercise bike does not fold up for storage, it’s very slim and compact and it has wheels on the front which makes it very easy to store in your home. With so many people living in small spaces, it’s nice to know that you can squeeze this bike into a nook and enjoy the benefits of working out from home, even when your space is limited.

Some exercise bikes are lage, heavy, and bulky by design, making indoor cycling not very convenient at home at all. Stryde, on the other hand, offers a sleek, minimalistic design that’s both beautiful and functional, which I 100% appreciate. The exercise bike itself is a matte black finish with very minimal branding and logos. Both Peloton and Stryde offer a size that’s compatible with small spaces, but I prefer the look and feel of the Stryde over Peloton.

Inside The Stryde App: What Are Stryde Classes Like?

Over the last year, Stryde has come a long way as far as their app and classes go. Currently, they do not offer live classes, but they do have hundreds of on demand cycling classes to choose from, with more added to the roster daily. Plus, the Stryde team is now adding mat workouts so that you can have a full, full-body cross-training experience just like the Peloton Bike and the MYX Fitness bike.

As a Stryde App subscriber, you can count on having tons of cycling workouts to choose from. All cycling classes are recorded by some of the most loved instructors in the game who teach at some of the most elite cycling studios in the country. These studios include High Ride Cycle, Vibe Ride,  Prime Cycle, and so many more. Although the Stryde app doesn’t have a dedicated studio to record its classes, at this point, all of the instructors are recording their rides for the app on a Stryde Bike. This allows riders to really connect with the instructors and know that when they tell you to turn up the resistance, you’re feeling exactly what they’re feeling. 

The one thing that I think is important to note about Stryde app classes and something that can be seen as a con to some is the fact that the workouts are a bit less polished than competitors like Peloton and MYX. The video quality is slightly less brilliant and the workouts are a little more raw and unfiltered. Personally, I don’t see this as a big problem as I think it adds to the realistic cycling studio class atmosphere, however, those who are used to the likes of Peloton may find the classes to be a little more gritty.

On that same note, the sound quality of the videos is a little less refined as well. Sometimes, you need to turn up the volume more than you’d like to clearly hear the instructor over the music. Perhaps Stryde will take a note out of MYX’s playbook and add a feature that allows users to adjust the volume of the music and the instructor separately.

Why Choose a Spin Bike Over a Recumbent or Upright Bike?

I get this question a lot in my Facebook group, so I wanted to address it here as many of you might be in the same predicament. There are so many stationary bikes on the market to choose from, each one having its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

The most popular type of stationary bike today, by far, is a spin bike. Spin classes have been made popular by cycling studios and connected home exercise bikes that have brought the experience home. Many people prefer Spin bikes over recumbent bikes and upright bikes because the calories burned tends to be higher with spin bikes.

Spin bikes are the closest experience you can get to a real road bike where users are leaning forward, which is why many cyclists tend to gravitate towards spin bikes. These types of bikes also offer the best streaming content and workouts for those who want to lose weight and have a lot of fun in the process. An upright bike is closer to a hybrid or a touring bike (where you’re in the upright position) and recumbent bikes give the experience of sitting in a recliner and just using your legs to pedal. Each bike has its own value, and this article does a great job of outlining that for you.

How Much Does The Stryde Bike Cost?

The Stryde Bike starts at $1,745 for the bike, the 22” touchscreen, a 12-month warranty, and free delivery to your home. If you want to opt into the optional Stryde app, which includes up to four profiles so that the whole family can ride and track their stats separately, the cost is $29 per month.

There are no additional costs associated with purchasing a Stryde Bike. Since the pedals include toe cages, you don’t need to worry about purchasing special cycling shoes like you do with some other bikes.

Pros and Cons

As I start to wrap this review of the Stryde Bike up, let’s touch on some of the biggest pros and cons that these bikes offer:

So, Are Stryde Bikes Any Good?

The quality of the Stryde bike is top notch. It features a sturdy, smooth, and attractive design that’s eye-catching and sleek. This bike absolutely rivals the quality of Peloton, but at a much more affordable price. The open tablet allows for complete freedom while riding and the Stryde app classes are fun, interactive, and full of a variety of cycling and mat workouts across varying durations and difficulty levels.

Is the Stryde Bike Worth It?

After using this exercise bike for a couple of months now, I am fully convinced that the Stryde Bike is 100% worth it. Not only that, but I think that it’s one of the best exercise bikes available right now thanks to its flexibility and ability to cater to your fitness needs in the long term. When I consider purchasing a piece of fitness equipment, I like to consider how I’d like to be using it not just in the here and now but in the future, too. 

Maybe you’re excited to get an exercise bike so that you can take some high energy rides at renowned studios like Ride Cycle in Denver, but perhaps a year from now, you no longer have a desire to do so. With Stryde, you can choose your programming that best suits your fitness goals and personality. Plus, you have the option to use the free spin functionality which tracks your stats and calories burned without doing it along with a class or instructor. Additionally, this means that you get to choose whether or not you want to continue to pay for a monthly membership or not. The freedom and flexibility are unmatched.

Between the luxury features found on Stryde bikes and the fact that you get to choose your own programming or none at all, it’s safe to say that the Stryde Bike is an investment into your health that’s well worth the money.

Conclusion: Is Stryde One of the Best Indoor Cycling Bikes On The Market?

Navigating the stationary bike or spin bike market can feel daunting. It’s hard to know whether to go all out on the widely successful brand that has a cult following or to choose a more affordable and perhaps more practical bike that may be a better fit for the long-term.

Personally, I love the Stryde bike and all its features. Stryde is one of the only exercise bikes that I routinely recommend to my audience as I can confidently say that it has something for everyone and that you won’t ever feel trapped or limited by your workout options. Structurally and mechanically, it’s nearly identical to it’s biggest competition, but Stryde stands apart from the pack and really shines when it comes to their willingness to share their stationary bike with other apps. 

I really admire that this brand is not trying to lock you into their programming and convince you that it’s the best. They truly want you to enjoy the benefits of having a premium bike and then choose to ride it how you wish, which says a lot about this brand and about its longevity. I am convinced that if more people knew about Stryde, they would opt to go for this bike over the others!

I hope you found this article helpful as you decide if the Stryde Bike is a good match for you! If so, I’ll see ya on the leaderboard!