If you want to become a part of the Peloton tribe without a high-priced Peloton bike, you might consider Echelon bikes.
But given that neither Peloton nor Echelon clearly states whether their equipment is compatible with the alternative subscription service, you can get confused. Paying for an Echelon bike can be risky if it entails not being able to use it with the Peloton app. That's why you should understand what to expect from the bike you get.
You can use the Echelon bike with the Peloton app on your phone. The Echelon screen does not run Peloton, and the bike must be in freestyle ride mode to be used as a stationary bike. Since the Peloton app is generally compatible with exercise bikes, it works with Echelon bikes too.
In this article, you will learn more about what to expect with an Echelon bike as Peloton equipment. It also covers whether you should even get an Echelon bike or an exercise bike would be better. By the end, you will know how to put your Echelon in freestyle ride mode to use with the Peloton bike and which exercise bikes to get if you don't want to buy Peloton.
The information in this post is derived from Echelon support resources as well as exercise bike compatibility monitors. It also features products that are judged based on their collective average rating sourced from verified customer reviews. In other words, it is a complete guide for anyone thinking about using Echelon equipment with the Peloton app.
Using the Echelon Bike With Peloton: What To Expect?
Knowing that the Echelon bike can be used with a Peloton bike is not enough because there are usage restrictions that prevent one from using the brand's screen-enabled bike to download and run with the Peloton app.
When you use the Echelon bike with the Peloton app, you can expect all the functionality of a common stationary bike alongside a wide enough range of resistance settings to match the Peloton bike. In other words, the Echelon bike screen is useless, but its resistance settings are pretty close to Peloton.
Buying an Echelon Bike vs. Using a Stationary Bike With the Peloton App
Let's suppose that getting the Peloton bike is not in the cards for you, so you're considering getting the Echelon bike to use with your Peloton subscription. Now that you know that the Echelon bike works as an ordinary exercise bike when you use it with alternative fitness apps, the main question is whether one should get an ordinary exercise bike.
Buying a stationary bike is better if you want to use the Peloton app because it costs less and provides the same level of Peloton compatibility. Where the Echelon screen doesn't facilitate the Peloton app, the stationary bike has no screen. In both cases, you need to use your mobile phone as the primary display.
On average, you save $300 getting a regular stationary bike. But before you get just any stationary bike, you need to know more about Peloton resistance tiers so you can mimic the Peloton workouts more closely.
Peloton, Echelon, and Resistance
Both Echelon and Peloton bikes have their own resistance tiers. These are used in the respective workout sessions, instruction, and classes. When you use the apps across a different bike, it helps to know which resistance tier on one bike matches the other and vice versa.
Here is how Echelon and Peloton resistance tier equivalents
Regular exercise bikes also have resistance levels, but they can be very product-specific. It is possible that out of 100 stationary bikes in a shop, no two have matching resistance levels.
Fortunately, Peloton has omitted cueing specific resistance levels in instruction. Instead, 10 levels are referenced, and you can choose where to set the levels.
Therefore, if you choose to get a stationary exercise bike to use with the Peloton app, you should make sure that it has at least 10 speed adjustments. As long as you can follow the one to ten scale alongside the instructor, you'll get a varied yet challenging workout.
Knowing this means you can get a bike cheaper than the Echelon spin cycle and have zero competitive drawbacks.
Echelon Bike vs. Exercise Bike
If you want to use the Peloton app without the Peloton bike, you have two options. You can get an Echelon bike or an exercise bike. Here is how getting either will affect your exercise experience.
What To Look For in a Stationary Bike for the Peloton App
- Ipad mount - Your life becomes much easier if the bike has a place for a tablet like the iPad. This allows you to play Peloton content on a larger screen than your phone.
- 10 speed adjustments - You need at least ten speed adjustments or resistance levels to match the variation of a Peloton workout.
- Pedal traction - To avoid spending more money on bike shoes, get a bike with toe cages or pedal straps, so you don't need cleats. This way, you can cycle in your exercise shoes.
The Best Exercise Bikes for the Peloton App
When one looks up an Echelon bike's compatibility with the Peloton app, they are in one of two situations. The first is that they own an Echelon bike and want to switch to Peloton classes. In that case, this section isn't too helpful.
The second context is that an individual is thinking of buying the Echelon bike to use with their Peloton subscription. In that case, buying one of the following exercise bikes can save more money.
Best for comfort: YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Bike
The YOSUDA stationary bike features a comfortable seat that allows you to bike at low resistance for a longer period. If you plan on participating in sessions of over one hour, you should get the Yosuda bike.
It doesn't come with a monitor like the Echelon bike, but it allows you to use your own tablet and its Peloton app to follow along. The price difference between this bike and the basic Echelon bike is less than 100 dollars. It is a better purchase for comfort and not for saving money.
Best for Budget: GOFLYSHINE Stationary Bike
If you're looking to save a meaningful amount of money, then GOFLYSHINE Indoor Bike will save you over $250 compared to the basic Echelon bike and over $500 if you buy it instead of the premium Echelon bike.
The resistance on this bike can be adjusted with a knob. There are no pre-set resistance levels, but if you consider half a turn as one level, you can get 10 levels out of it.
How To Use the Echelon Bike With the Peloton App?
With cheaper bikes covered, let's address the situation where one already owns an Echelon bike but wants to use the Peloton app with it. Here are the steps you need to take to take your Echelon bike into freestyle mode.
- Boot your Echelon bike - Turn on the screen and load the Echelon app home.
- Tap 'more' - This will open more options, including 'Freestyle Ride.'
- Select 'Freestyle Ride' - This temporarily breaks free your Echelon bike from Echelon classes and the app ecosystem. Up until you end the freestyle ride, your bike is a regular stationary bike.
- Open the Peloton app on your phone - Since your Echelon bike screen is occupied by the Echelon app, you need to use your mobile to participate in a Peloton session.
- Take your class - Because the Peloton app is designed to be used with stationary bikes as well, you'll be able to follow your Peloton instructors' instructions.
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