Mine arrives tomorrow- I bought it as a much cheaper smart bike option for Zwift. I use a regular bike and smart trainer but wanted another option that is versatile for use for both me and my elderly Mom in her management of her chronic disease and the need to build strength. I’m so thrilled to continue to see good reviews of this bike! Thanks for taking the time to do this!
Day 2 here with the Renpho, absolutely loving it ! I did a 14km row on the Concept 2, then did the 8km Fat Burning Video Class on this, was drenched afterwards and really felt I got a SOLID workout on it. A great investment over the Peleton or Echelon for the price paid !
Best review of this bike I have seen. I bought it for my wife and she loves it. I use it once in a while when I want to keep my workout on cruise. I like the rides, the courses, the customer support is some of the best I have ever seen. This is the best bike for the money you can buy!!! I agree that at the highest resistance it gets choppy. Noone has mentioned this small flaw. And yes, you can use it with biking apps that adjust resistance automatically like Zwift. Super quiet, and I ride it in socks!!!!
Thank you so much and glad to hear my review was accurate! Glad it is working out so well for both of you and you are enjoying the other apps you can use with it. Have a good one!!!
I just purchased a Renpho bike. As a complete novice, it would be helpful if you could include how to setup seat and handlebar heights as well as the seat forward/backward adjustment. I also did not find the AI Gym app to be intuitive for how to get started. I enjoy your channel.
Hi mate, thanks for your video. Does this bike automatically change load for Heart Rate Zone training? Like training in zone HRZ1 and 2 with a garmin HRM (via ANT+)? Cheers
That was an excellent review of a bike I've never heard of. Now I'm wondering what I might have chosen before taking delivery of my Sunny 1805. One thing I do like about the RENPHO is the handlebars, which is one thing I'm not too keen on with the Sunny 1805. They are way too long, well, for me anyway. I guess the proof now is how well it will stand up over a long period of use. Much mahalo!!
@@Learnwithtravis spin bikes are, in some way, an emulation of an actual bike, so why put on handlebars that resemble a reindeer's antlers. I mean, really. I have a friend in Japan who's spin bike has drop bars, but, unfortunately, the bike is only available there. There's a company that's got it right. And I think RENPHO has got it right as well, a simple handlebar design. If I stretch out on the handlebars of my Sunny 1805, I'll be lying on them HAHAHA!! Perhaps companies should hire cyclists to design their spin bikes, and not engineers in long white coats 😂. have a good one.
Would you say at high resistance, when you are off the saddle pedaling really hard, that the Renpho bike (the step climbing like feel with the pedaling) is more like an actual bike than a spin bike or the reverse, that a spin bike is more like an actual bike at really high resistance? Great review, btw!!!
Thank you! I guess I would say it feels more like a real bike when you have the gears set really low to make it up a really steep hill very slowly. Hard pedal on one side, stop, and then hard pedal on the other side.
Because I've been researching bikes adds pop up..I recently saw one call Carol that was AI this seems similar at a better price take.. I think I like the bowflex velocore..idk yet for now I use the lifefitness cycle in my apartment complex fitness room
The bike from this video is 700 dollars. The Carol bike is 3,000. (Just an FYI) If we are talking about the same bike the Carol states that you only need to workout for 40 seconds 3 times a week or something along those lines. I have a hard time believing that so I have not taken the Carol too seriously. If looking at higher tier bikes, I do really like the Velocore. Good luck with your decision!
@@Learnwithtravis yeah .. I think I like the lean..lol waiting on your review on it using the peloton app ..I have patience I still have a usable solution.
Great bike, thanks for the review. Is it able to upload activities to Strava or watch apps like Garmin Connect or at least to manually export activities to .gpx/.fit files? Thanks
Thank you for the great review. This bike really piqued my interest. I'm torn between this bike and the Schwinn 570U/170U model and it seems that the Renpho is packed with more training programs based on power/watt/FTP and the Schwinn 570U has 29 programs and it doesn't adapt resistance to your own fitness level, which is provided by the Renpho. Hmm, I'm really interested in the Renpho. Do you reckon they will keep adding more free workout programs in the future. I'm concerned they might convert to a paid business model down the road.... but you still get more out of the box than the 570U. The 570U has 10kg flywheel, do you reckon it rides very differently than the Renpho? Thanks!
I am not familiar with the 570U so honestly, not sure. The Renpho has a very unique resistance and was challenging while sitting. The areas it did not do as well was out of saddle riding or extremely high resistance. So, understanding what type of rider you are will help a lot in deciding if this is a fit. While I don't have any insider information, I got the feeling that they want to be the provider that can provide the connected fitness experience without charging for it. I didn't get a feeling like they planned to start charging.
I'm looking for a bike to serve as my main source of cardio + build stronger/muscular legs as a supplement to my normal weight lifting routine. Would you say this is a good bike for my goals?
I feel like this can be a very good cardio for the price point. My concern is you mentioning building stronger and more muscular legs. By all means that can happen to some degree but I think what really helps in that category are bikes that have very challenging resistance. Those make you really work for it bikes. I would not say this bike is that. Great cardio, sure thing. Push you to the resistance limit and notice muscle growth as a result... probably not as ideal of an option. If you want to keep the price point low, some of the Sunny bikes can do a good job of this. Hope that helps!
Another great review thanks. I am going to be 59 (ACK) this year and looking for a more comfortable upright position with a more comfy seat to get some exercise. We have a Schwinn recumbent but I want to feel more like riding a regular bike. Went to Dicks sporting goods yesterday and checked out the Norditrack S22i and did not care for the riding position and skinny seat. Did not like the way it wants to rip your legs off if you want to stop. Glad I was able to check it out..just not the bike for me. Does this bike allow for a little better upright position or is it just me? Should I be looking elsewhere? The free apps ook good enough to me.
My pleasure and thank you! This bike is a little more upright. Probably still somewhat close to the S22i but I do believe it is more upright and relaxed. This is a simpler bike and the resistance has a different feel than the S22i if you really preferred how that felt. But in short, this does sound like it could be a good fit for you. It is not a in and out of saddle bike. It is a sit and be more comfortable, keep money in your pocket, and no membership while still getting quality exercise bike. Hope that helps!
@@Learnwithtravis Thanks, order placed thru above Amazon link. Let me know if Amazon does not do their part for you. First time I used an affiliate link.
How tall is your ceiling? How tall are you while pedaling in the sitting position? The reason I ask is, I have a low ceiling basement and at 5'10" I'd like to get a feeling for the amount of ceiling clearance I'd have. Thank you
I think my ceiling is just barely under 7'. I am 6'3" and never have a problem in or out of saddle. Not sure what my sitting height is but it has never been a problem.
Been looking for a review of this, thank you! A few questions if you don't mind! I saw somewhere else that Renpho said that this bike should bluetooth connect with Peloton, did you happen to see if cadence does transmit to the peloton app? What does the resistance level range from? Does the bike have to be plugged in to work at-all, or does it just light up the resistance display?
Hey Michael! They did tell me that it syncs with the Peloton app and shares data but I have not tested that yet (will try to do so). I can't remember the resistance range off the top of my head but it does not sync up to the 0 - 100 of the Peloton app. It does need to be plugged in to work (just tested).Without being plugged in the resistance does not engage. To be honest, while I think this bike could be great for a lot of people... I don't know if I think it is the best fit for pairing with Peloton Digital. It is a good in saddle bike but not out of saddle which Peloton does a lot of. The resistance does not match which is not a huge deal but another factor. Hope that helps!
@@Learnwithtravis That's super helpful, thank you! I have a plain spinbike with no smarts, no features, not even a tablet holder, that I've jerryrigged through sensors/such to be a peloton digital bike. It works fine but every time a new "sort of smart" bike comes around I have to explore if it's worth the upgrade haha
@@Learnwithtravis Thank you for this good, well-timed video. I was surprised and relieved that the Renpho is more sturdy than it looks based on its size. I'd like to hear if you have any more suggestions along the lines of Michael's setup (ie jerryrigging sensors to a dumb bike). I am currently using the Peloton app with an old Sunny, but no sensors at all. So all of my resistance amounts are relative (increase/decrease & a little / a lot) and I use the beat of the music for cadence. I've looked into power pedals, but at that price point it seems like something like the Renpho (a cheaper but AI bike) would make more sense. Would the Renpho with the Peloton app be a good fit, despite the different resistance ranges? Thanks for any input.
Hey William, glad to help! So, I am being told the Renpho can be used with Peloton Digital so it is an option. (I have not tested that yet) So, you could make it work... but, I honestly don't think it would be the best match. The resistance structure does not line up. The resistance (again not bad) is different so it would be harder to follow the Peloton instructors just because the feedback esistance type is so much different than a Peloton. I think this bike is a solid in saddle bike but not so much out of saddle. Peloton likes to go in and and out of saddle so I don't think bike is a great match for that either. Honest take, I think the Renpho is best used if you do your own thing or use their content. It can be a very solid option and fun great quality exercise, but I don't think I would use it as a Peloton option. Depending on how much you want to spend, I would consider Sunny bikes - No resistance display but use Wahoo cadence sensor, IC4 - Cadence sensor and resistance display, Stryde - cadence and resistance built into existing tablet.
Depends on how you want to use it. If you want to be out of saddle, yes. If you want to do Peloton\other content - yes. If you think you will stay in seat, want a light connected fitness option that does not tack on subscription costs, go Renpho. But good options but completely depends on how you plan to exercise. Hope that helps.
@@Learnwithtravis thanks Travis you do a great job. I just got a Velocore. This past summer I purchased the Proform 22 (before seeing any of your reviews). But I had wanted the Velocore and I went for cheaper. My father ended up seeing the Proform and we worked something out so I just got the 16inch Velocore. It’s the right bike for me - and it came down to Velocore and Stryde . I think lean mode is very underrated - if you leave the bike in lean mode it really has an outdoor feel. I still love doing the outdoor IFIT rides. Wish they would have gone with bow flex over Nordic track - the leaning is far better than the incline
Glad things worked out in the end. Glad to hear you are enjoying lean mode! It is really neat and glad it is working out well! Thank you for the kind words. Have a good one Eric!
It is one I have had my eye on. I believe that is the one that says you only have to work out for second a few days a week. I have a hard time wanting to invest in a product that makes claims like that. I don't think most people looking to get cardio from these bikes would reach the health goals they want by exercising 2 minutes a week.
fyi - I read on reddit that Zwift updated their software and after that this bike didn't work. It was never supported by Zwift to start with, it seems from comments that Zwift isn't doing anything to make it work.
Click on this video searching for video reviews for this specific bike since within budget and features(esp power meter)...get an ad for an unaffordable Peloton spin bike.
And the ad after the video is Peloton. Great review, btw. It looks like it is what I'm looking for. Since it is a budget bike, I expect the flaws you mentioned, but it seems worth it.
Thank you! For the record, I have no control over the ads shown. 😂 it is a good balance bike to keep cost down while still getting solid features for the price point. If you get it, I hope it works out great for you!
Not really. The resistance is pretty good sitting but once you stand it, the resistance is no longer smooth. I am pretty heavy so maybe lighter people will have a better experience but I doubt it.
@@Learnwithtravis When I download the videos on my I phone they take a lot of space/ data. Where do these videos get stored, also? How can I save phone storage and still download the videos.
Sorry not sure what platform you are talking about, but this probably a question for that provider. They might have quality settings to determine space requirements but I doubt it.
