Although the two bikes are generally priced similarly, we recommend that you compare their prices before buying. Even though from this point our discussion focuses on the IC4, we’ve tested both bikes, and we recommend both. On May 11, 2023, Peloton and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a voluntary schwinn mountain bike recall of around 2.2 million original Peloton Bikes (model PL-01). The CPSC recommends that “consumers should immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes and contact Peloton for a free repair.” If you own a recalled Bike, here’s what to know. I’m new to the e bike scene and just want to give you all a little back ground.
Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Ingrid Skjong is a supervising editor on the appliance team, focusing on the likes of ranges, refrigerators, dryers, and dishwashers. She previously covered fitness for Wirecutter and has been an editor and writer at various lifestyle magazines. This no-frills bike is surprisingly sturdy for the price. If you don’t care about onboard metrics or lots of extras, it may appeal to you.
This popular exercise bike is sturdy, easy to move and has an almost silent flywheel. Retailers are battling to offer the cheapest price, with Walmart winning the race. The Peloton Bike is expensive and requires a subscription ($44 a month) to function maximally. Without it, your options shrink to three 45-minute classes, plus a basic “ride” mode that allows you to pedal and adjust resistance. Schwinn Protocol, much like the Traxion, is a full-suspension mountain bike.
I am looking for a nice comfortable steel bike with no suspensions to ride around the city, rough cobblestone, and trails if necessary. This bike is suited to shorter people than the Traxion, so Schwinn has given it smaller wheels at the size of 26″. This makes it much better for the user and does add a lot of control to the rider but takes away some top speed. Like all the Schwinn bikes, it’s made on aluminum and is going to be relatively lightweight and super strong. This is a bike that is going to be at home more in the mud than on the road but will be able to go anywhere. It also has trigger shifters instead of twist shifters which are a lovely touch and much better for off-road riding.
Then we come to wheels, and unlike the Mesa, the High Timber has various sizes. You have wheels as small as 24″ for juniors, and then it goes to 26″, 27.5″, and 29″ for tall adults. This is excellent from Schwinn, and it makes the bike much more suited to your height and size. On the standard models, you have rim brakes which are going to give you ok stopping power, and on the ALX, you get disc brakes which are much better at stopping and in all conditions. The brakes are rim brakes on the Mesa 3, but on the Mesa 2, you get mechanical disc brakes which give good stopping power.
This machine is very rugged with minor mechanical upkeep. Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. Each bike uses a triple front chainset and a large cassette on the rear. You won’t struggle with hills as there are many options.
A small, inward-facing, paddle-like extension at the tip of each handlebar provides a surprisingly satisfying surface to hold during out-of-the-saddle (standing) riding. The Schwinn IC4’s seat didn’t leave much of an impression in our tests—a good sign. During our testing, we rode the IC4 with cycling shoes compatible with its SPD clips; the bike has toe-cage pedals on the flip side for use with non-cycling shoes.
The High Timber comes in two levels of performance – standard and ALX. The standard is basic, and the ALX has upgraded components. They all use 27.5″ tires which makes the bikes fun and agile to be off-road, and they are also equipped schwinn tricycle with 2.25″ grippy tires to help control. The geometry is comfortable, and this bike is going to be a pleasure to go on and off-road with. These bikes will suit users from 5’0″ all the way to 6’5″ depending on the frame size.
In addition to writing for Live Science, Ravi has written for Health, Verywell Fit, Garage Gym Reviews, and other health publications. The bike went together ok, the manual was lacks many steps. Received the battery a week after ordering a back up battery for my ebike. It fits perfectly on my bike and is exactly as described. Love to walk around with it and pedestrians turn when we pass by. It’s not came through in time and I’m very disappointed.