The Schwinn IC4 is an indoor cycling bike with 100-level magnetic resistance and Bluetooth connectivity for Peloton, Zwift, and Apple Fitness+ — making it the most popular Peloton alternative in Canada. Available on Amazon.ca (ASIN B07P3JS6K1) at around $1,099 CAD.
13 mentions · 4 threadslast mention Jul 2026
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
I see a lot of people on Zwift who need a similar "recalibration". I'm not proud, but I Strava-stalked a guy who set all of the fastest times on the route I rode yesterday. He posted a ride where he supposedly averaged 425 watts for two hours. Sure buddy. The one outside ride he's done in the past four months was 18 miles at 16mph avg. Maybe a small clue to him that his Zwift numbers are fake.
assioma's dont lie.. super tough isnt it...? ugh.. I have moved my pedals around a lot usng Gym spin bikes and proper trainers etc.. the pedal power fluctuations are to be expected and are largely a function of how 'well' you pedal...
When you are using a power meter there will be spikes of power, especially when first getting up to speed even when cadence is the same. Trust your new equipment to be accurate even if it is humbling. I would rather be humbled in my basement than on a group ride, although both happen on a far to regular basis.
I have a Bowflex C6 (love it!) and completed my 135th Peloton app ride on it tonight. I did a TON of research before buying it in November, comparing it against many other bikes (including Peloton) and am very happy to help answer any questions.
This is why you need to zwift for yourself, not to compete with others. Unless you have a direct drive smart trainer, you're not 100% getting your real numbers. Gradient changes affect how easy it is to output power in the real world where you don't have infinite gear ratios. Don't get too hung up on Alpe times and racing in Zwift.
I've been using the IC4 for a little over a month and have found that the resistance seems to be 10-15 under what the instructor calls out for peloton. My cadence has been spot on, however if you do pedal backwards at all the bike quits sending data.
I had discomfort when I started with the bike, but after about a month, or 10 or so rides, my body had a better tolerance for that pressure and I no longer feel that pain/discomfort even on the stock seat they provide. The Schwinn memory foam seat cover is a nice addition to alleviate some of that discomfort immediately though.
It's called the perenium. Try this: Put your hands under your glutes and feel for the bones underneath in your pelvis. This is what you should be sitting on. They will be sore for about two weeks or so, but eventually it gets much easier.
Anyone have issues with the calorie estimation on the IC4 being ~3x what it probably should be? Any fixes for this?
I did a couple tests comparing IC4 output as reported in the Kinetic app with my power pedals (Favero Assioma Uno). ... The main takeaway from these tests is that Kinetic underestimates output at high cadence/low resistance, and overestimates output at low cadence/high resistance, while a power meter would be reading similar output.
Regarding the Peloton app suddenly stopping when you stop pedaling, it appears that this issue actually occurs (and is 100% reproducible) whenever the pedals move BACKWARDS, even for a tiny bit. Because of the heavy weight of the flywheel and its smooth, friction-free, rotation, it is almost impossible to **not** have the pedals move backwards, even when we think we are keeping our feet absolutely still.
I have been using the bike for about a month and for the most part I am very happy. Smooth quiet and sturdy. I am 6'1" 220 wife is 5'1" 120 and it fits both of us. I ride on the road during the warmer months but wanted something for the winter. I bought the schwinn version if for no other reason than a mat is not worth the $100 dollars.
I already owned a Schwinn IC4 Spin Bike, so I started with that. I knew that my output was inflated - but my first few workouts absolutely destroyed me, so I was content with my setup at first. Then, I started joining group rides and races. After 4 events, Zwiftpower had me in the B Category - and I was flirting with podiums. And as much as I wanted to believe I was a 32-year-old biking prodigy, I knew I was misrepresenting my power in a major, and unfair way.
Of 13 tracked mentions, 4 are negative and 6 mixed, centered almost entirely on the accuracy of the bike's built-in power/output readings rather than the ride itself. Multiple owners and Zwift racers describe the IC4's reported power output as inflated relative to a dedicated power meter, with one owner discovering they'd been unfairly competitive in a race category before realizing their numbers were "misrepresenting my power in a major, and unfair way." Independent testing cited by owners found the companion app both under- and over-estimates output depending on cadence and resistance. A separate quirk: the app stops registering data if the pedals move backward even slightly, which owners say is nearly unavoidable given the flywheel's momentum. On ride feel, the bike itself is consistently called smooth, quiet, and sturdy. Good for casual home cycling and following along with instructor-led classes; not a substitute for a real power meter if you race or train competitively on wattage.
