Bowflex VeloCore is an exercise bike that lets you lean into turns here's what it's like to ride

• Unboxing the VeloCore
• To lean or not to lean
• All about the JRNY
• A few minor nitpicks
• Should you buy it?
• What are your alternatives? 
• The bottom line

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• With Bowflex's VeloCore stationary bike, users can lean left and right during a ride to add more of a workout.
• After trying the bike myself, I found it makes a big difference in a workout, so long as you actually use it.
• Overall, the VeloCore is an effective stationary bike featuring impressive versatility and a unique ride experience.

Iterating on the rudimentary yet solid concept of a stationary cycle for indoor training is a daunting task. Beyond incorporating the ability to track metrics, adding the types of entertainment options enthusiasts like to use while training, and providing video-or-live-streaming training, what's the next big thing in biking?

As it turns out, it's leaning.

I'm being sarcastic but it makes sense that the next evolutionary step for exercise bikes is to translate a fundamental bike movement to a stationary format. This is Bowflex's thinking with the Bowflex VeloCore, a cycle that aims to show that stationary doesn't need to be so stiff.

I recently had the chance to try out Bowflex's new take on stationary cycling and while the leaning component is an interesting new feature (and not just some tacked-on gimmick), I walked away impressed mostly by the bike's versatility.

Unboxing the VeloCore

Inside the hefty box Bowflex sent me is what looks like a typical exercise bike apart from the fact that the main assembly is balanced in the middle of a tubular frame like a gimbal. At the front end sits either a 16-inch or 22-inch high-definition touch screen with integrated speakers mounted at the end of an arm featuring a mobile device holder. The VeloCore also features mounts for a water bottle and a set of 3 lb. dumbbells, which are included.

A small Bluetooth heart rate monitor armband came packaged in the box, as well, which works in tandem with Bowflex JRNY, a gateway to loads of entertainment options, training tools, and metric tracking.

I mean it when I say this bike is "hefty," by the way. The VeloCore's leaning function requires it to endure much more abuse than a standard bike, and the extra reinforcement ups the bike's poundage — 175 of them, fully assembled, to be specific. This is something to keep in mind if you're planning on tackling pickup, delivery, and assembly on your own.

The process of putting it all together does seem a bit daunting at the start, with instructions that seem overwhelming at first glance but stick to them, and you'll be surprised at how easily the bike manifests before your eyes.

Once it's in one piece, it's quite simple to get started with the VeloCore. The seat can be adjusted vertically and horizontally, with handlebars that can only be raised or lowered. Pedals include toe cages but are compatible with clip-in cycling shoes for those so equipped. The bike's spin wheel is controlled magnetically, with resistance doled out to 100 units, all of which is adjusted by way of an easy-to-reach twist knob.

To lean or not to lean

The easy-to-use locking pin is the gateway to VeloCore's main party trick. Pushing it frees the bike's main assembly to lean left and right, adding new dimensions to your routine. First off, unlocking it doesn't mean the bike simply crashes over to one side. The farther you lean, the more the built-in resistance builds up to push you back to the center. This is both in service to the workout and to prevent riders from just flying off.

Even still, the leaning aspect of the VeloCore takes some getting used to. It feels like a road bike so far as you're responsible for maintaining balance, and even without leaning, it's apparent how much fine motor control is being unused in a regular stationary setting. Indeed, unlocking the bike and trying a simple warmup ride that would normally be a breeze offers a much more robust experience, like running in the sand.

Going "full-tilt" is as fun as it looks, and definitely adds an extra element to a riding session. The aforementioned resistance makes you really work for a full lean, and it's felt in your arms and sides. Throughout your workouts, the VeloCore keeps track of how much leaning you've done, in case you feel like you've favored one side over the other.

The one major problem with the lean function has more to do with who's using the machine. Simply put, you don't have to use it, which means it's easy to get into the habit of excluding VeloCore's key selling point. There is a substantial array of "virtual lean coach" programs that incorporate it, plus most if not all of the instructor-led videos feature a leaning component, but it's simple enough to stick to any of the leaning-optional workouts and after a while, forget it altogether. At that point, it's up to your own mental gymnastics to decide whether or not getting the $1,699 to $2,199 Velocore was worth it.

It's a trap your reviewer here certainly fell into over time, but apart from making the effort to use the lean function more often, I ended up enjoying it on the scenic ride workouts more than anything. I'd queue up one of those with the VeloCore unlocked, and quickly find myself instinctively bobbing and weaving with the virtual road ahead of me. It provides that extra degree of immersion that made me feel like a participant in the videoed ride rather than an observer.

All about the JRNY

On the software side of things is the Bowflex JRNY experience, an all-in-one portal to training and entertainment options. This is free for the first two months but costs $19.99 per month after the trial period.

In terms of guidance, there are multitudes of trainer-led videos that are suited for various skill sets. Bowflex does a good job of getting first-timers started with videos that talk about bike setup, fundamentals, and how to best utilize the lean feature.

The main UI you work with revolves around a "burn rate" meter calculating your calorie-per-minute performance. Instead of dictating that you need to change resistance or RPM speed, training programs highlight a target range for you to hit. Whether that means pedaling faster or increasing the resistance is entirely up to you.

As great as the videos are for presenting a more personable element to the training, JRNY's bread-and-butter is its versatile virtual coach. This is where the software acted as a digital guide either with some pre-recorded dialogue or by quietly dictating progress in the background of whatever entertainment I chose.

During the initial setup, the VeloCore tasks you with building a short profile based on a few relevant personal details, along with checking off a few goals. Are you looking to slim down? Improve your cardio? How about strength training? Based on your choices and a quick fitness test, the virtual coach sets a baseline for your training, providing a dynamic workout that changes based on your progress.

Throughout your performance, the virtual coach chooses from a set of pre-recorded phrases to comment on how you're doing. It's done well enough to almost convince you there's a fit-focused AI keeping tabs on you. For instance, after I'd skipped a couple of rides, the virtual voice casually slipped in a comment on the importance of consistency after a workout, which I wasn't expecting. Suddenly, I didn't want to let the bike down.

Conversely, once I'd settled into a routine of revisiting one of my favorite programs, I noticed after a while that the adaptive programming had upped the difficulty to keep me from being stagnant. Was it just me having an off session? Not according to the numbers. Looking at my ride history, my performance numbers were higher, my average resistance increased, and I was hitting burn rates that previously seemed out of reach.

Setting personal goals and the gamification of stat monitoring goes a long way to keep users engaged with the VeloCore, and that's further supported by what else is offered on the device. Through JRNY, there are several built-in entertainment options such as streaming Hulu, Disney +, Prime Video, and Netflix along with radio stations powered by Bowflex Radio. All entertainment options are compatible with most of the workouts so you can mix things up as you see fit.

Bowflex also touts compatibility to other subscription apps such as Peloton and Zwift, which is technically true, but in practice, it means the VeloCore bike connects to the app on a mobile device rather than logging into one built into the bike's operating system. This means Pelotoners can participate and get their metrics as usual while taking advantage of the bike's leaning mechanic but won't be using its big 16-to-22-inch screen.

A few minor nitpicks

My overall gripes with the VeloCore are minor. The hardware itself feels fine and holds up to plenty of hard sessions over time. With 100 degrees of resistance, there's the urge to fine-tune it with the knob during workouts but small twists tend to not register right away, if at all. Sometimes the fine-tuning does nothing only for the bike to register all the attempts a moment later, shooting the resistance far higher or lower than you'd intended.

JRNY also has an overall lack of accessibility for the hearing impaired. There's certainly plenty of visual data being communicated but the virtual coaching, trainer-led videos, and certain prompts have little to no closed captioning. Accessibility for the hearing impaired is paramount here, but it would also be convenient for users listening to external devices or who otherwise need to keep their bike's volume as low as possible.

Lastly, the lock mechanism for the lean function is a big red plunger between the handlebar and the seat. Pulling it up locks the VeloCore in place and pushing it down frees it to lean. If you're not careful, it's very easy to press this button with your knee if you're reaching over the handlebars.

To be fair, it takes a big lean and for a knee to be in the right (wrong?) position but it can happen in instances when you're interacting with the screen or adjusting a mobile device. Feeling the VeloCore having a sudden, surprise freak out underneath you feels both incredibly silly and terrifying at the same time, if not a little dangerous. 

Should you buy it?

Answering this comes down to whether you're in the market for a full-featured interactive stationary bike or not. If, for instance, you already own a Peloton, then perhaps not. However, if you're looking to upgrade from an older model of a stationary bike or are keen on buying one for the first time, then Bowflex's VeloCore is an appealing package and one you should strongly consider if you have the budget.

What are your alternatives? 

The interactive stationary bike market is full of competition, mainly from two massive competitors in Peloton and NordicTrack. For the former, it's not just name-recognition that puts it near the top of its class but the bike Peloton manufactures is quite good.

Bike+, the next-generation version of Peloton's flagship, released in late 2020 and expanded on much of what the previous iteration already got right. Now it features a larger, swiveling HD touchscreen display, automatic shifting resistance, and Apple Watch compatibility, among other subtle upgrades. We liked the bike during our review but did find the seat to be one of the most uncomfortable things we've sat on.

NordicTrack's heavy hitter is the S22i Studio Cycle, a stationary bike that features automatic resistance shifting (something it had far before Peloton introduced the tech), a library of interactive classes, and a 22-inch HD touchscreen. It's one of our favorite bikes due in large part to its streaming classes which are presented by iFit. Not only do the classes feature a wide variety of studio sessions but there are also riding series' that take you to places like Mt. Fuji or the shores of Mallorca.

The bottom line

What makes the Bowflex VeloCore a solid long-term machine is its overall flexibility. When it comes to entertainment, there are several options baked in for convenience but the ability to connect a mobile device to the bike's Bluetooth when I wanted something else was a welcome one.

It features a robust collection of workout programs and videos that are constantly being updated and being able to connect to apps like Peloton and Zwift means not feeling as much FOMO for choosing the VeloCore and being tied to Bowflex's JNRY for each and every workout.

As for the leaning, again, it's the flexibility that makes it worthwhile. Use it, and you've got a great addition to your training repertoire — or don't, it's up to you. What matters most is that the VeloCore provides a choice that others don't.

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