There weren’t many, but the one silver lining of the pandemic is my newfound love of moving my body.
As a former couch potato, it’s no small feat that I now revel in the joy that contorting and flexing brings me.
And then an Echelon indoor exercise bike arrived on my doorstep and just like that, the game changed once again. Gone were the virtual HIIT live streams, and in their place came choreographed spin classes in the comfort of my own home.
If you’re wondering whether you’ve heard the name Echelon before, we are sure you will recognise the brand’s more dominant industry rival, Peloton (which is reportedly Joe Biden’s favourite way to exercise). The premise is similar: you buy a static indoor exercise bike and pay a monthly subscription to be able to access live and on-demand classes. With Peloton, the bike comes with a built-in screen to watch classes on, while with Echelon there is a prerequisite that you already own an iPad or smartphone that connects to the bike as a screen (I didn’t have one, and so was provided one for the purpose of the trial, but it’s worth noting before buying).
The Echelon bike, which admittedly was a bit of a faff to build from scratch, is a really seamless choice for beginners once the construction is complete, owing to its user-friendly app and classes. For those familiar with Peloton, the bike and its classes are even more accessible and don’t have the pressure of being led by Instagram influencers - which I’m sure could act as a deterrent to many. We particularly enjoyed the ones taken by Nicole Griffin, Michael Browne, and Rilde Leon.
The issue with Echelon’s classes is that the instructors don’t state which resistance you should be in, which, if you’re a spin aficionado, can make the workouts feel quite relentless, as you’re encouraged to push harder and harder with no apparent goal. It would be more useful for instructors to offer a bit more guidance for the experienced spinsters, but also for those new to the at-home spinning hype. That being said, not having a goal could be quite refreshing as it slightly relieves the pressure to perform.
The music quality in Echelon’s classes - a key part of the spin experience - is also a little tinny, as it sounds as though it’s played in the room with the instructor, but this is minor.
Overall, if you’re a beginner and on the fence about investing in an Echelon bike, I’d say take the plunge. To have an accessible and fun way to exercise in the midst of a national lockdown is a reprieve from the doom and gloom of trudging outside for a frosty jog. But if you take your spinning seriously and want a smooth operation, then there may slightly more expensive and efficacious static spin bikes out there for you. For me though, it’s been a blessing in disguise.
Echelon Connect Sport with Monthly Plan, prices from £499
Echelon Fitness bike
Buy now £499.00, Echelon
