I have been spinning at the gym for years and due to work I wasn’t able to get to the gym as often and really missed being able to spin. I chose this bike because it seemed to be most like the models at the gym that I was familiar with, plus it has the 43 pound glide-wheel which is what most gym models have. I received the bike in about a week. It took about 20 minutes to get the bike set up. Assembly was simple. Because of the weight of the bike the most hard part was screwing on the front and back platforms but I was able to do this by myself easily. The directions provided in the box weren’t really for the “velo” model, but I figured it out as there really isn’t much to do. All parts and tools are provided. I opted to use my own spd pedals instead of the pedals provided with the bike. I was a small concerned with the seat being too soft, but it provides excellent support without being squishy. The feel of the bike is nearly identical to the bikes at the gym. It is simple to adjust to the right size. If you aren’t familiar with how to fit a bike to your body there are instructions in the materials provided. I’ve worked out on the bike twice since receiving it and I can’t tell the difference between this bike and those at the gym. Fantastic ride, simple to adjust resistance. As per most spin bikes, this model has wheels on the front platform that allow you to tip the bike forward onto the wheels and go it. This is a fantastic plus because the bike weighs a lot (120 pounds) and it allows you to easily go the bike out of the way when you are done using it. It also doesn’t take up a lot of space, so that’s another nice feature.

This bike was supposed to come with four DVD’s, but they were not in the package when I received my order. I called Amazon and they told me I needed to call Star Trac directly since they really package and ship the bike. Once I got through to the right person at Star Trac they told me the DVD’s were out of stock, but they promised to mail them to me in a couple weeks when they get in the next shipment. I’m not sure if they would have sent them if I hadn’t called though, so if you don’t receive them be sure to follow up.

I was also very pleased with the shipping company. Ceva provided online tracking and even sent me a text message to let me know when the package was out for delivery. Ceva called me directly to set up a delivery appointment (very polite and professional). They gave me a four hour window (between 9:00 a. m. and 1:00 p. m. )the next day, but I didn’t have to wait the whole time. The delivery arrived at 9:10 a. m. The delivery men carried it into my condo at my request and were very polite.

Probably the only thing that was not as expected is that the water bottle cage is not on the down tube as it is shown in the photo. Instead it is on the right front fork. I wasn’t thrilled about this as I would prefer to have it on the down tube, but after using the bike a couple of times I don’t really mind it. This might be a problem if you are a lefty.

This was a huge buy for me. I did a lot of research and comparing and this one seemed to be the best model for the best price. I don’t regret the buy and would recommend this bike to anyone considering purchasing a velo model.

Rating: 5 / 5