Bowflex VeloCore 16 Review

Bowflex has been a big name in home exercise for a very long time, and their VeloCore exercise bike sets itself apart from the competition in the increasingly crowded exercise bike market. The lean feature is unique to this bike, and it gives you the option to unlock the bike for a more natural ride feel or to follow along with the lean programs on the JRNY app to add a little core/stabilization exercise to the spin workouts. The bike itself provides a great exercise experience; the JRNY app has something for everyone; it is compatible with third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton, and you can even stream entertainment on the screen while you ride. Unlike the Peloton Bike+, for example, the VeloCore doesn't lock you into a single connected experience. We were quite impressed by the VeloCore and feel it is a great option for anyone who appreciates options and a great workout.

Since we tested the Bowflex VeloCore, there have been a few minor updates to the software, but the bike remains the same. Software updates have improved Bluetooth connectivity and the amount of classes offered through JRNY has increased substantially. There are occasional deals through Bowflex where the bike is bundled with other gear, but the basics remain; this is still our very favorite exercise bike.

Tested and Rated

There are no freebies at GearLab; we purchased this bike and all of the others that we've tested at regular retail prices, just like you would, to maintain our objectivity. After testing the VeloCore, I was sure other manufacturers would follow suit and make bikes that also lean and give you a natural ride feeling, but I've yet to see another one on the market. I loved how you could engage your upper body on this bike, creating cross-body torsional resistance like climbing on a real bike. It doesn't have that static, sit-and-spin feel that can become boring even with the most engaging classes.

Performance Comparison

Exercise Quality

The VeloCore is a high-end exercise bike with the exercise quality to match, plus the unique lean feature allows you to add a little whole-body training to your cycling workouts. It has a quality look and feel with loads of adjustability and 100 levels of smooth, quiet magnetic resistance. The JRNY app is a bit different than the competition and offers a huge variety of on and off-the-bike classes and programs, plus it works with some third-party apps and even streaming entertainment.

While the VeloCore looks a lot like any other high-end exercise bike, its subtly different frame design hides the unique lean feature. A locking mechanism below the handlebar allows you to unlock the bike to enter lean mode, where the rider can lean the bike to the right or left on a pivot in the bike's frame. Leaning the bike is incorporated into many of the JRNY app's workouts, forcing the rider to engage several different muscle groups as you go from side to side. The lean feature might sound gimmicky until you try it for yourself. To compensate for the forces involved with leaning the bike, the front and rear stabilizers of the VeloCore are a couple of inches wider than other models, and we were very impressed by this bike's stability, given the ability to shift your weight so dramatically. When locked in stationary mode, the bike is very steady, and there is no side-to-side play, even when you're hammering on the pedals as hard as you can.

With 100 levels of magnetic resistance, the VeloCore has a massive range suitable for riders of all fitness levels. Due to the number of levels, changes in resistance are quite subtle, but they steadily ramp up from very easy at the low end to very challenging near the high end of the range. While following classes in the JRNY app, the instructors provide cadence and resistance prompts (and lean prompts when doing a lean workout), but it is up to the rider to adjust the resistance using the knob. I found myself in the 40-70 range of resistance for most workouts, flirting with 80 occasionally during some really hard efforts.

Along with the lean feature, the JRNY app sets the VeloCore apart from the competition. We'll go into more detail in the next section, but they have all your bases covered. From studio classes, Explore the World scenic rides, virtual coach programs (with the ability to choose the music and scenic ride to go along with it), and the option to stream entertainment from Hulu, Netflix, etc (subscriptions required), there is a cycling experience to suit everyone's tastes. Additionally, this bike is compatible with popular third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton (subscriptions required), though you'll have to use your own device as a screen. Add to that a variety of off-the-bike workouts like strength training, pilates, yoga, and more, and you've got plenty to keep your whole body fit.

Companion App/Connectivity

As a connected exercise bike, the VeloCore relies on a WiFi connection to use the JRNY app and Bluetooth to connect with wireless accessories. The JRNY app is similar to other apps in some ways but sets itself apart from the competition with adaptive virtual coach classes, Explore the World scenic rides, compatibility with third-party apps, and the ability to choose and stream entertainment on the screen (subscriptions required). There is a USB port on the side of the screen that can be used to charge your devices, including the heart rate monitor.

Included with the purchase of this bike was a free year subscription to the JRNY app. At the end of the trial period, you can extend your membership for $20 per month or $149 for a year. While this is undoubtedly an additional expense, it is significantly less expensive than the Peloton, Echelon, iFit, and OpenFit apps, which cost around $35 or more monthly. It also has unlimited user profiles, so every household member can have their own, and your membership can be used across different Bowflex products like a top-ranked treadmill or elliptical. The other nice thing about the JRNY app is that you can stream entertainment through Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and HBO Max (subscriptions required) if you don't want to follow along with any of the studio, virtual coaches, or Explore the World scenic rides. I loved this feature, as sometimes you're just not in the mood for a studio class. The on-demand studio classes feature different instructors, types of workouts, and durations to choose from. JRNY doesn't compete with the volume of studio classes in Peloton or Echelon, but all of the bases are covered with strength, HIIT, intervals, hills, lean rides, and more to choose from. The lean workouts, in particular, are unique to the VeloCore and provide a bit of a core workout along with the cycling. Like any other app, you can filter the results by time, type of ride, instructor, etc, to find exactly what you're looking for. JRNY also includes lots of whole-body workouts ranging from strength, warm-up, stretching, yoga, cool-down, pilates, you name it, to keep you busy off the bike.

A unique element of the JRNY app is the virtual coach classes. There are lots of these on the app, and instead of a studio class with a real instructor, they have generated loads of different workouts that have a virtual instructor giving the prompts. While the voice of the virtual coach is Siri-esque, they give you a lot of variety, and you can choose the music genre from the selection and pull up a scenic ride or stream entertainment on the screen while you follow along. These workouts are also adaptive, meaning the bike monitors your progress and changes the difficulty over time to match. When you start on the bike, it makes you take a fitness test, which helps determine your effort zones for the adaptive workouts. Explore the World consists of a library of scenic rides from all over the world to choose from, so you can pedal through Zion, Thailand, New York City, and many, many more destinations without ever leaving your home gym. While scenic rides aren't a new idea, the JRNY videos correspond to your riding speed for a more realistic experience. JRNY also has a “journal” page where your past workouts and stats are stored, and you can also sync to Apple Health to track and analyze your data fitness there.

The VeloCore 16 can also be used with Peloton and Zwift (subscriptions required). Unfortunately, you can't run these apps through the bike's touchscreen, but a device shelf below the screen holds your tablet or phone while you follow along with either app. We think the compatibility with these third-party apps is an awesome feature that adds more workout variety and broadens the appeal to even more users. We tested the Zwift app and found the power output and data transmitted fairly accurate.

Comfort

The VeloCore is a comfortable exercise bike with a wide range of fit adjustments. That said, its seat height adjustment range is less than some of the other models we tested, so those at either end of the height spectrum would be wise to measure their pedal-to-seat length to see if this bike will work for them. The bike has a 325 lb weight limit and should work for a wide array of users.

Bowflex specifies a recommended user height range of 5'1" to 6'5" for the VeloCore bike. It has a 22-inch step-over height, which makes it relatively easy to get on and off. I measured a total of 7.5 inches of vertical seat height adjustment, along with 2 inches of fore and aft adjustability. I also measured the distance between the pedal (at the bottom of the pedal stroke) and the top of the saddle and found a range of 30 to 37.5 inches. While this should be adequate for most users, it is a smaller range than some of the other models we tested, with as many as 13 inches of adjustability. Our six-foot-tall tester with a 35-inch inseam fit on the bike without any issue, although he was close to the top of the seat height adjustment. A five-foot-five tester had no fit issues but was close to the bottom of the seatpost. The handlebar has just over 4 inches of height adjustment but has no fore/aft adjustability. All the adjustments are fairly easy to make, and there are numbered lines on the seat and handlebar posts, so you can easily return to your settings if you're sharing the bike with others.

Being a performance-oriented high-end spin bike, the VeloCore comes with a fairly narrow saddle. This is typical among bikes of this style, and we found it to be relatively comfortable while still allowing for a powerful pedal stroke. Users who prefer a more supportive platform may find it a little too slim, but it can be easily swapped out for a top-rated bike seat of your choice. The large, rubber-coated handlebar offers many options, so you can be sure to find a comfortable hand position no matter the workout. The VeloCore's Q-factor, or the horizontal distance between the crank arms where the pedals attach, measured 203mm. Wider Q-factors are somewhat common on indoor exercise bikes, but this is a fair bit wider than a typical road bike Q-factor of around 150mm. This width may feel strange to those accustomed to actual road bikes, but those who use spin bikes regularly won't likely notice a difference.

User Interface

Like any high-end spin bike worth its salt, the VeloCore comes with a touchscreen that serves as the primary user interface. When purchasing this bike, you can choose between a 16-inch or 22-inch console. The two console sizes have a fairly significant price difference, so we went with the 16-inch version for our testing. While it is much smaller than the screens on most of the other screen-equipped models we tested, we found it adequate for hours in the saddle. The screen does not rotate, but it has a small range of tilt adjustability to get the right angle while riding the bike. The HD screen has vibrant colors and decent resolution, although some of the scenic rides suffer from pixelation. Touch sensitivity is great, and it's easy to scroll through the various studio and virtual coach programs, select entertainment options, etc. Through the JRNY app, you also have the option to connect with Zwift or Peloton (subscriptions required), although you'll need to use another device to view them. Fortunately, there's a device shelf below the console for that purpose. On the back right side of the screen are several buttons to control the speaker volume and turn the screen off.

Like most exercise bikes, the 100 levels of resistance are controlled by turning a knob down below the handlebar. Turning the knob clockwise increases the resistance, and turning counterclockwise decreases it. This knob also doubles as a brake, and pushing it down slows and stops the flywheel and pedals. With its unique lean feature, the VeloCore also has a locking mechanism. Situated just in front of the resistance knob, this lock is easy to use. Press it down to unlock the bike and go into lean mode, or pull it all the way up, and when it clicks into place, the bike locks in its stationary position.

Features

Bowflex went out of its way to load the VeloCore with useful bells and whistles. At the core of the VeloCore is the lean feature, or the ability to unlock the bike from its stationary position and lean it to the right and left. Not only does it give the bike a more natural, rocking, side-to-side feel, but it also forces the rider to engage the core and other muscles for stabilization. When following along with certain programs on the JRNY app, the trainers will have you lean the bike back and forth to add some core work to your cycling workout. The lean feature helps the bike feel a bit more natural when climbing, and you can utilize your upper body muscles for cross-body torsional strength. While the lean feature might sound a little gimmicky, I can attest that it's quite effective. Leaving the bike locked in its stationary position, it operates like any other exercise bike.

The VeloCore we tested came with a 16-inch tilting touchscreen (it can also be purchased with a 22-inch screen). The screen has a fairly limited range of tilt adjustability, enough to reduce glare, but it can't be flipped for off-bike viewing like other models. Unfortunately, the screen also does not swivel like some other models. One thing I loved about this bike is that you can stream entertainment (think Netflix, Hulu, etc) through the app, and it is also compatible with some third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton. This expands this bike's versatility because sometimes it's nice to look at or follow along with something other than the JRNY app. Below the screen is a device shelf to hold your phone or tablet so you can view it while you ride, plus there is a spot to hold your phone in the middle of the handlebars. The screen is also home to speakers, so you can hear the audio from the app or when streaming other entertainment, and of course, you can connect headphones or the included heart rate armband via Bluetooth.

Bowflex equipped the VeloCore with dual-sided pedals to clip in with cycling shoes or use regular shoes. It also comes with 3 lb hand weights that hang from cradles attached to the console's support arm. Below the handlebar are two relatively small bottle cages, which work well enough for standard-size cycling water bottles. There are adjustable feet at all four corners of the bike so that you can level it for stability on uneven surfaces. Wheels attached to the front stabilizer allow you to roll the bike on firm surfaces, and a large handle at the back of the bike makes it easy to lift and tilt it forward.

Setup and Portability

I assembled our VeloCore test bike at our testing facility, but professional assembly can be purchased for an additional fee. Should you choose to do it yourself, the assembly process is about what you'd expect for a bike of this type and very similar to the other bikes we tested. With a packaged weight of 168 lbs, the box is quite heavy, and moving it from its delivery location to the assembly location is definitely a task for two or more people. Removing the bike from the box can also be challenging, and I found the easiest way to accomplish this is by tipping the box upside down, opening the bottom, then flipping it back over and pulling the box up off the top. With the bike upright, you can then easily remove all of the parts and the main body of the bike from the styrofoam packing materials. It comes with clear, step-by-step printed instructions with exploded diagrams, which can also be found on the Bowflex website, along with an assembly video. The steps required to complete the assembly are fairly standard, and while it isn't particularly difficult, it does take a little time, and some steps are easier with two people. I built ours in about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Due to the 158 lb assembled weight of the VeloCore, it's best to assemble it at or very near the location you intend to use it. Moving it up or down stairs is somewhat challenging due to the weight and shape of the bike, but moving it around on flat, firm surfaces is fairly easy thanks to the integrated transport wheels and the large handle at the end of the back of the bike. The handle may seem like a trivial feature, but it does make it much easier to move this bike around than the competition. This bike's unique lean feature also gives it a slightly larger footprint than most other bikes, but only slightly at 24 inches wide x 60 inches long and 52.5 inches high. The pivots add a small amount of length, as does the console mast, which is in front of the bike, as opposed to being attached to the front of the handlebar. The extra width of the stabilizers is also necessary to keep the bike steady when leaning it from side to side. You'll also want to give yourself a little extra space to the sides of the VeloCore if you wish to use the lean feature. While it is marginally wider than the competition, most of us don't want to sweat it out crammed up against a wall anyway.

Should You Buy the Bowflex VeloCore?

The VeloCore is an excellent option for anyone who wants something different than the studio class-focused competition. This bike's unique lean feature truly sets it apart and provides a somewhat more realistic ride feel while working a number of different muscle groups while you pedal. The JRNY app is less expensive than the others but still provides various workout options with studio classes, virtual coaching, Explore the World scenic rides, and the ability to stream your favorite entertainment. This bike's functionality with third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton gives you even more options to choose your desired experience. If you're looking for an excellent bike with unique features that won't pigeonhole you into one type of workout, the VeloCore might be the ticket.

What Other Exercise Bikes Should You Consider?

If studio-style workouts aren't your thing, the NordicTrack S22i is another great option. The iFit app offers thousands of unique trainer-led scenic rides, and the AutoAdjust resistance and incline/decline provide an immersive cycling experience. If you're more interested in live and on-demand studio cycling classes, the Peloton Bike+ can't be beaten. Peloton's excellent instructors, the incredible number of classes, and the engaged user community are second to none. The Bike+'s swiveling touchscreen and Auto-Follow resistance have further solidified this model's position as the champ for at-home studio workouts. If the Bike+ is more than you want to spend, the Echelon EX-5s and the MYX II Plus provide similar experiences at a lower cost.