Personalized at-home workouts are all the rage thanks to machines like Tonal, Mirror and Tempo, plus Peloton, Nike Training Club and myriad other fitness apps that let you stream classes from wherever. Of course, the current world health climate has people thinking even more about home fitness vs. gyms. And starting today, there’s one more reason to stay in: you can pre-order an at-home SoulCycle bike to get in a sweat whenever you want.
Soul and parent company Equinox Group are leaning into the whole exercise from home trend with the bikes and the new app, Variis. The bike will retail for $2,500 (including shipping), and then you’ll have access to five Soul classes in the studio, so you’re able to get a feel for what it’s actually like.
All classes are filmed in advance so that you can access them on-demand. Soul classes will be closer to 30 minutes, but there are many other modalities. On the Variis app, you’ll also get access to Equinox classes, Precision Run, Pure Yoga, Myodetox and Headstrong. The app membership costs $40 per month and requires a 12-month commitment, which will start as soon as you get your bike.
The all-black bike is as sleek as you would expect from the parties behind it; the angles and curves are beautiful. While I only tested the bike and subsequent classes for five minutes each, my ride felt just like the bikes I’ve ridden in the studio. It’s adjustable and comes with a built-in 21.5-inch screen.
You can choose to wear headphones or listen to music from the screen itself. I wore my Jaybird Vista buds and the sound was great. During class, you’ll watch the instructor lead, plus the camera will pan to show you the other folks in the class.
That element is particularly interesting because with almost all other at-home workout apps and devices I’ve tested, the focus is solely on the instructor. While there are pros and cons to seeing your classmates as well, Equinox and SoulCycle are trying to replicate the in-class feeling, and though my experience was brief, it does feel different.
Bike pre-orders launch today, and we’re excited to get more hands-on testing with the app to see how it works sans gym.
KEY STATS AND INFO
Dimensions: 62.2″ (length) x 22.2″ (width) x 53.5″ (height)
Weight: 142 pounds
Rider specs: Can support 4’10” to 6’10”, up to 350 pounds
Power Cord: 15.5′
Accessories: Bike comes with LOOK Delta compatible cleats (shoes sold separately). You can use either SPD or LOOK Delta cleats.
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