Tuesday 3 December 2013

Review of the Sprint GB Pro Indoor Cycle

It's time that we reviewed another indoor cycle. This time, it's a rear wheel model from Sprint Fitness - the Sprint GB Pro indoor cycle.

How Easy is the Indoor Cycle to Build?
Extremely simple to build. Attach the front and rear stabilisers, seat, handlebars, pedals and you're ready to ride. As with all spinning bikes, remember to follow the instructions when attaching the pedals to ensure that you're threading each pedal the correct way.

http://www.indoor-cycles.co.uk/acatalog/sprint_gb_pro_indoor_cycle_info.html
Sprint GB Pro Indoor Cycle

What are the first impressions?
It's very orange!! We think that this is a good thing because it makes the bike stand out from the crowd, but of course the important thing is the quality of the bike:
- The stabiliser bars (that sit on the floor) are very chunky as is the frame. This is usually a sign that the indoor cycle will be good to ride without any flexing.
- Adjustabiility of the seat and handlbars (both horizontally and vertically) is very easy to do so that you can achieve your optimum position. The seat adjustment on the model that we tried was slightly stiff, but this was soon sorted.
- The rear stabiliser bar is very wide which is great for stability
- The bike is easy to move because of the transport wheels on the front stabiliser bar, so you can move it out of the way when you've finished using it
- 20kg flywheel is a great size and ensure a smooth ride
- Belt drive so there's no real maintenance on this bike. It's also very quiet
- We tested the bike with a Polar computer which is an optional extra on the bike - the computer provides loads of information about your training which makes it a good training companion. The standard monitor provides similar information, but it's not possible to do all of the things that the Polar computer gives you.
- The style of the bike means that the handlebars adjust away from you, so it if you're short you may find it slightly uncomfortable (which is a common complaint of rear drive bikes of this style).

What's it like to ride?
First impressions when riding are excellent. Once you get into your workout this indoor cycle doesn't disappoint:
- Because of the belt drive the ride is very quiet and very smooth
- The resistance is varied by a lever that sits below the handlebars. Although there are only 9 positions, you can position the level between the markers (so for example, you can set the resistance to somewhere between level 4 and 5). This means that you can accurately set the resistance level to meet your needs.
- Adjusting the resistance does take a bit of getting used to - it's easy to adjust the lever a bit too far in which case it's really hard to pedal. Once you're used to making small changes to the resistance then it's perfectly fine.
- At high speeds and/or resistance, when you're putting more strain on the bike, it still feels very stable and solid. There's no frame distortion which demonstrates the qualiity and strength of the frame.
- A really nice indoor bike to ride - very smooth and sturdy.

Any niggles?
Nothing obvious. It felt like a good bike to ride and does feel very well made.
Anything else to add?
It would have been nice to have had SPD pedals as standard but it is possible to upgrade the pedals if required.

Overall Impression?
A really nice rear wheel drive indoor cycle at a sensible price. If you're specifically looking for a rear wheel indoor cycle, then this could be the one for you.