Exploring the Fitness Town Spin Bike Lineup: Fit Spin Pro, Fit Spin 68W, and More

When it comes to cardio, cycling is a classic. It’s low-impact, beginner-friendly, and experts say a 45-minute ride can burn up to 600 calories! 

But when you live in a city like Vancouver, where the weather can be unpredictably wet, outdoor cycling isn’t always an option. Luckily, indoor spin bikes offer a suitable alternative to outdoor cycling, so you can ride through any season, rain or shine. 

And today, we’re introducing you to our very own lineup of spin bikes: The Fit Spin Series. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, an entry-level bike, or a spin-club-worthy cycle bike, there’s something for you in the Fit Spin line.

In this blog, we’re going to give you a detailed breakdown of each of our bikes, plus offer you some tips and pointers to keep in mind when searching for your perfect spinner. 

What to Look for In a Spin Bike

Searching through the sea of spin bikes to find one that fits your needs can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to break down the key features to look for when choosing your indoor cycle bike.

Flywheel and Resistance

The heart of a spin bike’s performance lies in its resistance system and flywheel. 

Every spin bike features a flywheel either in the front or rear of the bike. The flywheel weight will impact the bike’s momentum, which is why a heavier flywheel will often offer a smoother, more realistic riding experience. For optimal stability, look for a flywheel that’s at least 30 lbs. 

To keep your spin workouts challenging and engaging, your bike will offer adjustable resistance levels. And the type of resistance, whether magnetic or friction, impacts the feel and maintenance of the bike.

Adjustability

Comfort and the correct positioning are crucial for your spin ride. If you struggle to touch the pedals or you’re hunched over trying to reach the handlebars, you will be riding with improper form. This not only impacts the outcome of your workout but can lead to injuries.  

A spin bike should cater to your body’s needs, offering adjustable seat positions, handlebar heights, and pedal straps (unless you use SPD clip-in pedals). Ideal adjustability includes the ability to move the seat and handlebars both vertically and horizontally, accommodating athletes of different heights and leg lengths.  

Technology and Connectivity

Many modern spin bikes (like the Fit Spin Pro) come equipped with technology that can transform your workout. Features like built-in LCD monitors that track key metrics like speed (RMPs), distance, time, and calories burned can help you hit your fitness and weight loss goals. Connectivity options like Bluetooth allow you to integrate your favourite fitness apps so you can join virtual fitness classes, track your progress, or challenge your friends online. 

But if you decide on a bike that doesn’t come with these techy extras – don’t worry. You can always MacGyvre your own cadence and calorie tracking methods through tools like 3rd party cadence sensors and wearable heart rate monitors. 

Build and Quality

The durability of your spin bike is essential for longevity and safety. Every bike in the Fit Spin collection is crafted from heavy-duty steel for maximum stability during intense HIIT or climb rides.

Other features, like adjustable feet, ensure there’s no wobbling during your workout. And for added convenience, look for transportation wheels on the front or back of your bike. This makes it easy to move your bike from room to room between rides or in front of the TV when you want to follow a class or watch your favourite show. 

Friction vs Magnetic Resistance: Pros and Cons

Spin bikes will use one of two resistance systems: Magnetic and Friction

Friction Resistance:

Friction resistance is a simple yet effective way to adjust your workout intensity. This method uses a felt pad and tension knob to control the resistance level of your spin ride. When you turn the knob to the right, you create more resistance as the felt pad presses down on the flywheel. 

Pro:

• Usually, the more affordable resistance method
• Infinite resistance levels
• Instant adjustments

Cons:

• The felt pad wears out over time and needs to be replaced
• It produces slightly more noise
• Less consistent/controlled levels of resistance

Magnetic Resistance

Magnetic resistance is created by a set of magnets that move closer and farther to the flywheel with each turn of the resistance knob. Unlike friction bikes, magnetic bikes have limited resistance levels as the magnets never touch the flywheel. This also means magnetic bikes are virtually silent since there’s no direct contact. 

Pros: 

• Provides a smoother, quieter ride since there’s no physical contact with the flywheel
• Magnetic resistance spin bikes generally require less maintenance
• Consistent control of the resistance level (easier to follow along with virtual classes)

Cons: 

• They tend to be more expensive due to the advanced magnetic technology
• Limited resistance levels 

Breaking Down the Fitness Town Spin Bikes

We may be a little biased, but you can’t go wrong with any of the bikes in the Fitness Town lineup. But if you need some help narrowing down bikes with magnetic vs friction resistance, or chain vs Poly-V belt drives, check out our comparisons below. 

The Fit Spin 68W

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense spin bike with unlimited resistance levels, a heavy-duty flywheel, and accurate stat tracking, look no further than the Fit Spin 68W. The 40lb flywheel and chain drive system offer a smooth and authentic road bike feel without having to leave home. The thick friction pad allows you to make “micro-adjustments” to the resistance level, which is perfect for beginners starting their spin journey. 

Resistance: Friction 

Flywheel: 40lbs

Adjustability: Micro-adjustable handlebars/saddle and adjustable toe cages/SPD clip-in pedals

Technology: LCD screen

Ideal for: Want the best bang for your buck? This spin bike’s for you. It’s perfect for all fitness levels but especially beginner riders who are new to cycling and need small resistance adjustments

The Fit Spin Pro Spin Bike

The Fit Spin 68W’s big brother, the Fit Spin Pro Spin Bike, has everything a cyclist needs to crush their cardio workout. It also features friction resistance but with a slightly heavier 44lb flywheel for a ride smoother than your dad’s jazz radio. The Fit Spin pro swaps the chain drive system for a Poly V-Belt drive for a quiet and virtually maintenance-free ride (no oiling required!). 

• Resistance: Friction 
• Flywheel: 44lbs
• Adjustability: Micro-adjustable handlebars/saddle and adjustable toe cages
• Technology: No built-in connectivity, but can be combined with 3rd party cadence sensors
• Ideal for: Are you a late-night or early-morning rider? The heavy flywheel + the poly v-belt drive is the perfect combo for a super quiet ride. And remember, friction resistance allows for microadjustments which is perfect if you’re a beginner athlete. 

The Fit Spin Pro Magnetic Spin Bike

Why would you need the spin studio when you have the Fit Spin Pro Magnetic in your home gym? This club-quality bike features a heavy 31lb flywheel, a smooth V-belt drivetrain, and whisper-quiet magnetic resistance so you can get a cycle ride in at any hour. Plus, the resistance knob is ultra-responsive to easily adjust the intensity of your workout. 

• Resistance: Magnetic
• Flywheel: 31lbs
• Adjustability: Micro-adjustable handlebars/ saddle and adjustable toe cages or SPD pedals
• Technology: Distance, time, calories, speed, pulse, RPM, watts tracking
• Ideal for: We call this one the “universal spin bike”. It’s perfect for all fitness levels but is ideal for athletes looking for precise resistance changes to follow along with fitness classes and athletes who want a quiet bike for early morning or late night rides

The Fit Spin Pro Magnetic Spin Bike Bluetooth

We pulled out all the stops on this spin bike. This commercial-grade indoor cycle bike combines smooth, precise magnetic resistance with powerful Bluetooth connectivity to completely transform your spin experience. You can easily connect your phone or tablet to popular apps like Peleton, Zwift, and Strava to take online classes, track your performance, or join your friends on a virtual ride.  

• Resistance: Magnetic
• Flywheel: 31lbs
• Adjustability: Micro-adjustable handlebars/saddle, and adjustable toe cages or SPD pedals
• Technology: Bluetooth connectivity + distance, time, calories, speed, pulse, RPM, watts tracking
• Ideal for: The crème de la crème of commercial grade-spin bikes. If you want to connect to fitness classes or popular cycle apps, this one is for you. Athletes will love the maintenance-free, super smooth ride of this spin bike from Fitness Town

Comparison Chart of the Fitness Town Indoor Spin Bikes

Final Thoughts on the Fitness Town Spin Bike Collection

The Fitness Town spin bike collection stands out for its variety and quality. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cyclist, our Fit Spin lineup has something to fit your needs and help you reach your health and wellness goals. 

For more details on each of our Fit Spin cycle bikes, check out this page. And if you want to see some of the other spin bikes we carry at Fitness Town, check out the entire collection here. Don’t forget – before you buy, you can always stop by a Fitness Town store and take a bike for a spin yourself. Our fitness experts are always happy to help you find your perfect fit(and offer more bad cycling puns!)