It’s the battle of the bikes! Peloton or Echelon? If you’re in the market for an at home spin bike, I present you with the Echelon Connect EX-4S, exclusive to Costco.
Iβve never been a gym rat, but I do try and keep active. Back in the day, I was a three-season athlete and even then I did a lot of at-home workouts. My health habits into adulthood have been no different, especially with the growing demands of balancing home life, motherhood, two businesses, and, in recent years, a global pandemic.
As a health and fitness coach, I had a pretty decent home gym already. Still, I was looking to upgrade. I had been eyeing up a Peloton bike for a few years now and just never bit the bullet. Being home more and more and being out walking less and less changed my mind. I wasnβt happy about that price tag, though. $2500+ just didn’t seem worth it to me. I searched high and low for an alternative. Iβm happy to say I found one at a fraction of the cost and am just as in love with it so, one week later, no FOMO here.
Costco had (and currently still has!) a great deal on both the Echelon EX-4S and Echelon EX-5S models. I went with the Echelon Connect EX-4S, a Costco exclusive. A cross between the EX-3 and EX-5S, this indoor bike does come with a 10.1 inch HD screen on a hinge to allow in front of the bike floor exercises. Itβs worth noting the flywheel on both Echelon models is in the back versus the front like Peloton’s. My bike also included a full year subscription to Echelon’s online FitApp membership.
I seriously couldnβt pick it up fast enough. The Echelon Connect EX-4S is available in select Costco warehouses. Definitely call ahead of time if you’re serious about getting one! The EX-5S has to be ordered online and would have taken 6-8 weeks to deliver. (Same with either of the Peloton models.) The Echelon’s EX-5S is most comparable to the Peloton’s Bike+, and I could not care less. For less than half the cost, I can use the Peloton Digital App (and for less mind you!) with an off-brand, fewer bells and whistles bike than if I had purchased their pricey model.
I donβt show up on Peloton’s leaderboard during rides, but with a cheap cadence tracker, I am able to record my stats in the app for my personal viewing pleasure. That’s not even necessary, though, with an “S” model Echelon (S stands for screen, by the way). The EX-4S can display cadence and resistance on the Echelon screen while running the Peloton app on an iPad or tablet. It’s working out great!
The EX-4S box was heavy (120ish pounds!) and took two of us struggling to get it in my truck and then again into the house. Assembly was far less stressful. Putting it together took all of 30-45 minutes. Had I gone at it alone, maybe an hour tops. It does help to have at least one other person: one of y’all can read the directions while the other does the work.
Since getting and setting up the bike, I have taken a spin class at least once a day, every day. I truly love it! My rear was sore the first few days, but then I got smart and purchased padded shorts, a wider seat, and a whole bunch of other accessories you can read about in a separate blog post.
If you’re on the fence about getting Peloton, consider why you want one in the first place. If you’re into brand names and don’t mind the hefty price tag, go for it. I wasn’t about that life, though. For me and my needs, the Echelon Connect EX-4S has been awesome. One week later, I regret nothing!
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