The exceptional Bowflex VeloCore 16 workout bike distinguishes itself from competitors with its exclusive lean feature and the adaptable, connected experience it offers. The lean feature may be unlocked and boasts 100 quiet, smooth magnetic resistance levels. It is a remarkably strong exercise bike.
By tipping the bike from side to side while in lean mode, the user can strengthen their core, stabilize muscles, and improve their workout. This feature-rich bike has a 16-inch touchscreen that connects to the JRNY app for studio lessons, Explore the World scenic rides, virtual coach programs, and the ability to stream your preferred entertainment.
It also has dumbbells and bottle racks. It is more adaptable than previous versions because you can utilize third-party programs like Peloton and Zwift through your device. To find out how the others performed, see our review of the best exercise bikes with screen available.
Table of Contents
Highlights of Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC
Warranty: Frame: 2 years, Parts: 2 years, Labor: 1 year
Highlight
- Item Dimensions: 60 x 24 x 55.5
- Item Weight: 158 Pounds
- Maximum Weight Recommendation: 325 Pounds
- Maximum Height: 54.5 Inches
- Number of Resistance Levels: 100
Overview
The Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC is a cozy workout bike with many fit customization options. However, compared to some of the other models we tried, its range for adjusting seat height is slightly lower, so those who are exceptionally tall or short should measure the distance from their pedal to their seat to see whether this bike would fit them.
Nevertheless, with a weight restriction of 325 pounds, this bike will suit most users—except for a few outliers in the tallest and lowest height ranges.
For the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC, Bowflex recommends a user height range of 5’1″ to 6’5″. Because of its 22-inch step-over height, getting on and off the bike is not too difficult. We estimated the vertical seat height adjustment to be 7.5 inches and the fore and aft adjustments to be 2 inches.
We also measured the distance between the top of the saddle and the pedal (at the bottom of the pedal stroke), which ranged from 30 to 37 inches. Although this is a narrower range than some of the other versions we tested, which had as much as 13 inches of range, it should still be sufficient for most users.
For comparison, our six-foot-tall tester, who has a 35-inch inseam, could get on the bike without any problems, even though he was quite near the top of the seat height adjustment. The front handlebar has a slightly over 4-inch height adjustment, but there is no fore/aft adjustment. The seat and handlebar posts have numbered lines to make it easy to locate your ideal settings if they alter for any reason. All of the changes are pretty simple to make.
You can fully immerse yourself in your exercise with a built-in JRNY experience and an adjustable 16″ high-definition touchscreen. Use it on your smartphone, tablet, or smart TV with well-known third-party cycling programs like Peloton and Zwift.
Features
Frame Design
While the driving system, seat, and pedals can move from side to side, the bike frame remains securely on the ground thanks to a hinging mechanism. The stabilizers, frame, and touchscreen don’t move.
By improving the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC’s safety, this design prevents the frame from sagging. Additionally, fixing the touchscreen lessens the chance of vertigo or screen wobbling. The Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC’s inventive engineering, which enables both stability and a side-leaning option, is impressive. Although I’m not sure it will suit everyone, this design is fresh and creative.
Handles
The handlebars were nicely padded. They are height-adjustable to accommodate individual preferences. In general, you want your handlebars to be about equal to the height of your saddle.
My lone criticism is the inability to move the handlebars forward or backward. This can be an issue if you have long or short arms.
Footprint
The Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC measures 60″ L by 24″ W by 55″ H. This is about the same length as the Nordictrack s22i (55″) and the Peloton bike (59″), so even with the extra features, the bike doesn’t take up much more room.
The bike’s width resembles other indoor cycles (Nordictrack s22i: 22″, Peloton: 23″). To accommodate the leaning feature, however, you must provide lateral room on both sides of the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC. Generally speaking, a small piece of workout equipment can do much work.
Pedals
The Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC features hybrid pedals: an SPD clip on one side and a flat, conventional pedal with an adjustable strap and cage on the other.
This enables cyclists to use their preferred SPD cycling shoes or the pedal’s flat side to ride in any athletic shoe. This gives riders more alternatives, so while cycling shoes are not required, they have that choice if they so choose.
Screen
You own the 16″ screen. The screen softly tilts up and down to help riders find the ideal viewing angle.
Resistance level
Many cyclists prefer the resistance knob on the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC. It is mounted on the frame’s top tube for ease of access. Silent magnetic resistance is something I would anticipate from a bike at this price range, and the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC provides it.
Magnetic resistance is silent and low-maintenance because it doesn’t require contact or friction. It seems reasonable that you also get 100 resistance levels. Since level 25 resistance equals 25%, level 50 resistance equals 50%, etc., evaluating your work rate about resistance is simple.
JRNY subscription
A complimentary two-month trial of the JRNY programming is included with the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC. The bike’s handlebars have the redemption code fastened to them. You must enter your credit card information to use these complimentary months, which bothers me. Make sure you cancel 48 hours before the two-month period ends if you intend to do so after the free trial. If not, Bowflex will charge your card the following month’s amount.
If you appreciate JRNY’s programming and want to keep watching it, it costs $149 per year or $19.99 monthly. In contrast, an individual subscription to the iFIT programming on the NordicTrack S22i costs $180 annually.
Upon initializing the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC, you will request a brief 15-minute fitness evaluation. The device determines how long you can maintain various speeds to provide tailored, adaptive exercise programs based on your fitness level. After completing the assessment, I expected to receive a score or term for my fitness level, but you don’t see any additional information about how you performed.
You can view the classes after completing the required fitness exam. Once your free trial expires, you can watch any courses or educational films. If you choose not to activate the JRNY subscription, your options will be severely restricted to a maximum of four classes.
You can click on any of the following six tabs on the display: Learn, Favorites, Videos, Explore the World, Just For You, and Programs.
There are numerous class options and program lengths available. I attended several classes covering interval training, fat-burning, and endurance. Depending on your selection, the duration of the classes varies from 10 to 60 minutes.
What surprised me was how much I disliked choosing your music. I’m more used to each class having a unique track selected by the instructor because I use the Peloton app. You can play your music or choose from a playlist when using JRNY. While I believe many will value the flexibility, I prefer the pre-selected tracks for each class.
Another JRNY option is Explore the World, which allows you to “travel” to over 50 locations as though you were riding them. This is an excellent method to unwind and listen to your music or podcast, in my opinion. Without any virtual guidance, you can take a beautiful trip.
Want to watch a show and pedal by yourself? Of course, you can also do that. You may use the JRNY membership to access streaming services from the monitor, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video (all offered separately).
Finally, the “Journal” page lets you track your exercises and other accomplishments. You can view historical stats from various classes you’ve taken to see how far you’ve come.
Pros
- Screen size 16”
- The sturdy 175-pound steel frame
- Maximum user weight of 325 pounds
- Different training alternatives are available
- A monthly JRNY subscription costs only $20.
- If you subscribe to Bowflex’s JRNY app, you may utilize the Velocore touchscreen to view Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Disney+.
Cons
- It is challenging to get to the weights from the bike’s seat.
- Some riders may feel unbalanced as a result of the tilting function.
- This guarantee is a little bit restricted. It is not very comforting to have only two years on the frame.
User Experience
Here is the Bowflex Velocore 16 IC review of the owner
Shockhazard from the United States states: A friend had one, and now I have one. It is sturdy and comfortable to ride, even with multiple riders. I finally got my wife to ride, and she has a blast traveling worldwide.
The lean feature is no joke. After cycling outdoors for several years, putting in 150+ miles a week, I wasn’t ready to move inside, but this is by far the safest option due to where we now live. This bike will do everything your road bike will do, except for one thing: you must realize you can not free spin, which takes a bit of getting used to.
If you are quick with the tension knob, you can back it off to zero and hold a pedal position or just power thru it. The graphics and audio, as well as the videos, show the places you can travel to. You can also do the peloton workouts on this machine with your journey membership. This gets used 4-5 a week by each of us, and we are glad we got it.
Conclusion
It’s a creative design that increases core engagement and injects some fun! To what extent riding this bike can help you improve your core is debatable, but it doesn’t hurt to have the choice. Although no long-term data about durability and maintenance exists, the Bowflex VeloCore 16 IC seems sturdy, doesn’t appear gimmicky, and offers superb training with remarkable programming.
FAQs
Does the Bowflex Velocore Bike Require a Subscription To Use?
While unnecessary, a JRNY membership makes using the VeloCore much more enjoyable. Without a JRNY subscription, you may only perform manual exercises on the bike, and no exercise data is retained.
Is It Worth It To Buy A Bowflex Velocore?
While most home exercise bikes are available today and provide a good workout, the Bowflex VeloCore will make you perspire. It can accommodate everything from a full-out sprint to a recovery cycle.
Which Is Better, Peloton or Bowflex?
Unlike other fitness cycles like the Peloton, the Bowflex VeloCore has two riding modes: stationary and leaning, which gradually tilts you side to side to simulate riding on hills and roads.
