S22i Studio Bike

Reviewed By Melissa O'Shea
Oct 13, 2022

As part of my home cardio weekly regime I have only ever experienced the use of my treadmill. When the NordicTrack S22i Commercial Bike arrived I was full of excitement. We have been cooped up in Covid lock down for so long and I was full of hope that this bike will potentially offer a virtual escape and reboot my weekly training program.

My first impression on arrival was WOW. The aesthetics of this bike was impressive, sleek and compact. I was able to place the bike conveniently in a small corner of the room. The 22inch touch screen with the unique feature of the swiveling display mount 360 degrees and custom tilt really caught my eye given I could structure more diverse workouts on and off the bike with continued access to the screen.

I quickly discovered I could easily make 3 adjustments to the bike using the front handlebar tension knob to raise the bars, along with the seat post adjustment for height and the seat/saddle for comfort forward and back options. This allowed me to really find my most comfortable position and customise the comfort to suit my individual limb lengths.

I am a member of the IFit subscription and recommend this feature to anyone who may be unsure of its value. The subscription for the year is $249. When you break this down to a weekly figure it will only cost $4.80 per week.
(link to Ifit purchase)

The Ifit feature while using the bike is a game changer. The expansive global workout library has endless workout options including studio HIIT classes, road rides and mountain biking. I was constructively prompted by the trainers with regard to posture, hydration, workout tips and tricks and so much more. The program caters to every individual's level of fitness including beginner, intermediate and experienced users. I love how I can set goals for myself and schedule my weekly workouts ahead of time, it really keeps me engaged and focused.

The bike has an incredible feel to it. The handlebars are quite versatile allowing you to change the incline and resistance function easily while also allowing for 3 different hand positions for comfort levels. The pedals come with standard cage style pedals. I found these to be perfect. These pedals can be changed out for your personal needs if you require a more road bike style of pedal. The seat was very streamline and stiff and whilst on long journeys created minor soreness. I have recently purchased a gel seat cover for only $20 to give a little more comfort when on long journeys. The bike is super quiet due to the silent magnetic resistance. There is slight noise when inclining and declining as expected. The fan offers 3 speeds and is in the perfect position and offered me relief through each of my workouts at high intensity.

The feature which was most impressive on the NordicTrack S22i Commercial Bike was when selecting a pre set program the bike would automatically when prompted by the trainer increase the incline and resistance settings while creating the feeling i was in a real life spin class with my own trainer. I was really pushed though I always had the ability to reduce the intensity manually if I felt the intensity was getting too far out of my level of fitness.

Having the bike at home allowed me to continue with my workout routine while recovering from a lower limb injury. The bike provided a low-impact form of training that didn’t aggravate my calf. When sitting I realised i wasn’t bearing my own bodyweight and in turn allowed all my lower body major and minor muscle groups to experience a really intense training session while also managing and strengthening my calf strain at the same time.

Adding the second piece of Nordictrack fitness equipment to my home gym set up has created more diversity in my routine,led to increased levels of motivation, positively shocked my body by adding a new movement and allowed more than one person from the family to train at the same time creating a group training opportunity for the family.

Overall this bike offers an equivalent feel to gym quality with the added market leading features, structure, support and warranty at a very competitive price point. If you are in the market for an upright bike be sure to add this to your home gym set up. My exercise routine is in a stronger position for the addition of the Nordictrack Commercial S22i.

Performance Specs

Technology
22” Smart HD Rotating Touchscreen
Watts Power Readout
HD Graphics Performance with added Processor Cooling
30 Day iFit® Family membership Included
Auxiliary Music Port
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
Android 9 OS
Bluetooth Headphone Connectivity
Bluetooth Heart Rate Connectivity *Forearm/chest strap sold separately
Workout Programs Limitless with iFit*
Comfort
Ergonnonmic Padded Saddle
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Non-slip, Multi-position Handlebar
Vertical & Horizontal Seat Adjusment
Engineering
Inertia-enhanced 13kg Flywheel
Power grade Incline & Decline Drive System
-10% - 20% Incline
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistence
OnTouch™ Controls
Enhanced Corrosion Resistance
Large Diameter Adjustable Leveling Feet
24 Digital Resistence Levels
150kg User Weight Capacity
Commercial Grade Steel Connstruction
Convenience
Dual Water Battle Holders
Two 1.4KG. Dumbbells Included
Fronnt-mounted Transport Wheels
Lifetime Frame Warranty
2-year Parts Warranty
1-year Labor Warranty
Compatible with Standard Road Bike Pedals & Seat
Box Weight: 29kg
Some Assembly Required
*iFit experience shown. WiFi and internet required. A credit or debit card is required for activation. After the included 30-day membership, iFit auto-renews for a fee unless canceled in advance.

Pros And Cons

Pros
Manual controls for Resistance and Incline sit at the end of the extension grip handlebar for easy access.
Handlebars have multiple resting points with a spongy coating for comfort
Bright 22-inch rotating HD touch screen
Built-in fan and accessory tray
inclines and declines sync up automatically with your ride along with resistance
The IFit subscription is priceless at $249 per annum when compared to gym memberships.
Caged pedals; also compatible with road bike pedals
NordicTrack customer support team Australia fast and efficient
Cons
Seating is a little uncomfortable
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