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 boasts a high-quality look and feel, featuring extensive adjustability and quiet magnetic resistance. The JRNY app is a bit different from the competition and offers a huge variety of on and off-bike classes and programs.
While the VeloCore resembles any other high-end exercise bike, its subtly different frame design conceals the unique lean feature. A locking mechanism located below the handlebar enables the rider to unlock the bike and enter lean mode, allowing the bike to be leaned to the right or left on a pivot point within 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 they go from side to side. The lean feature might sound gimmicky until you try it for yourself. To compensate for the forces involved in leaning the bike, the front and rear stabilizers of the VeloCore are a couple of inches wider than those of other models. We were impressed by this bike's stability, even when our weight shifted so dramatically. When locked in stationary mode, the bike is very steady, and there is no side-to-side play, even when hammering on the pedals.
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, instructors provide cadence and resistance prompts (and lean prompts when doing a lean workout); however, 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, occasionally flirting with 80 during some particularly intense 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 to Explore the World scenic rides, virtual coach programs (with the ability to choose the music and scenic ride to accompany it), and the option to stream entertainment from Hulu, Netflix, and other services (subscriptions required), there is a cycling experience to suit everyone's taste. 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.
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 that 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's virtual coaches or Explore the World's scenic rides. I loved this feature, as sometimes you're just not in the mood for a studio class. The on-demand studio classes offer a variety of instructors, workout types, and durations to choose from. JRNY doesn't compete with the volume of studio classes offered by Peloton or Echelon, but it covers all the bases 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 core workout in addition to the cycling. Like any other app, you can filter the results by time, ride type, instructor, and more to find exactly what you're looking for. JRNY also includes a variety of whole-body workouts, ranging from strength training and warm-ups to stretching, yoga, cool-downs, and Pilates, among others, to keep you busy off the bike.
A unique element of the JRNY app is the virtual coach classes. There are numerous options available on the app, and instead of a studio class with a live instructor, they have generated a variety of workouts with virtual instructors providing 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 riding, you take a fitness test, which helps determine your effort zones for the adaptive workouts. Explore the World features a library of scenic rides from all over the world to choose from, allowing you to pedal through destinations like Zion, Thailand, New York City, and many more, all without ever leaving your home gym. While scenic rides aren't a new idea, the JRNY videos are tailored to your riding speed, providing 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 fitness data 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. However, a device shelf located below the screen holds your tablet or phone, allowing you to 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 that the power output and data transmitted were transmitted fairly accurately.
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 features a 22-inch step-over height, making it relatively easy to get on and off. We measured a total of 7.5 inches of vertical seat height adjustment, along with 2 inches of fore-and-aft adjustability. We also measured the distance between the pedal (at the bottom of the pedal stroke) and the top of the saddle, finding a range of 30 to 37.5 inches. While this should be adequate for most users, it has a smaller range than some of the other models we tested, with only 15 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 offers just over 4 inches of height adjustment but lacks fore/aft adjustability. All the adjustments are fairly easy to make, and numbered lines on the seat and handlebar posts allow you to easily return to your settings if you're sharing the bike with others.
As a performance-oriented, high-end spin bike, the VeloCore features a fairly narrow saddle. Users who spend less time on a bike or prefer a more supportive platform may find it a little too slim, but it can be easily swapped out. The large, rubber-coated handlebar offers numerous options, ensuring a comfortable hand position for every 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 significantly 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.
Like many high-end spin bikes, 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. We found the 16" screen adequate for the hours we spent in the saddle, but if you really enjoy classes, splurging for the larger screen may be wirthwhile. 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 features vibrant colors and decent resolution, although some of the scenic rides are affected by pixelation. Touch sensitivity is great, and it's easy to scroll through the various studio and virtual coach programs, select entertainment options, etc. On the right side of the back of the screen are several buttons to control the speaker volume and turn the screen off.
Like most exercise bikes, the resistance is controlled by turning a knob located below the handlebars. This knob doubles as a brake, and pushing it down slows and stops the flywheel and pedals.
Bowflex went out of its way to load the VeloCore with useful bells and whistles. The lean feature gives the bike a more natural, rocking, side-to-side feel, but 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. This makes the bike feel a bit more natural when climbing, and you can utilize your upper body muscles for cross-body torsional power. While the lean feature might sound a little gimmicky, it's quite effective. Leaving the bike locked in place, 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). One thing we loved about this bike is that it allows you to stream entertainment (think Netflix, Hulu, etc.) through the app, and it is also compatible with some third-party apps, such as 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. The screen is equipped with speakers, allowing you to hear audio from the app or while streaming other entertainment. Additionally, you can connect headphones or the included heart rate armband via Bluetooth.
The VeloCore uses dual-sided pedals that allow for clipping in with cycling shoes or using regular shoes. It also comes with 3 lb hand weights that hang from cradles attached to the console's support arm. Below the handlebars are two relatively small bottle cages, which work well enough for standard-size cycling water bottles. The bike features adjustable feet at all four corners, allowing you to level it for optimal stability on uneven surfaces. Wheels attached to the front stabilizer enable you to roll the bike smoothly on firm surfaces, and a large handle at the rear of the bike makes it easy to lift and tilt it forward.
We assembled our VeloCore with very little hassle. Removing the bike from the box can be challenging, and we 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 some time, and certain steps are easier with two people. We built ours in about 75 minutes.
Due to its weight, the VeloCoreis best assembled at or very near the location you intend to use it. Moving it around on flat, firm surfaces is fairly easy thanks to the integrated transport wheels and the large handle at 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 handlebars. 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 on 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.
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, providing a somewhat more realistic ride feel that engages multiple muscle groups while you pedal. The JRNY app is less expensive than the others but still offers various workout options, including studio classes, virtual coaching, Explore the World scenic rides, and the ability to stream your favorite entertainment. This bike's compatibility with third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton provides you with even more options to tailor 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.
If studio-style workouts aren't your thing, the NordicTrack X24 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.
