Myx Fitness Bike Review: My Honest Thoughts After 6 Months of Riding

Hey there fitness fam! Kara here, your trusty workout bestie and activewear addict. If you‘ve been following me for a while, you know I‘m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in home gym equipment. Well, I recently took the plunge and invested in a Myx Plus bike package, and I‘m finally ready to share my totally unfiltered, unsponsored review.

In case you‘re not familiar, Myx Fitness is a relative newcomer to the connected fitness space, offering sleek indoor cycling bikes and a digital membership with tons of workout content. Founded in 2017, the company‘s mission is to make fitness more fun, accessible, and personalized for everyone. Sounds great in theory, but how well does Myx deliver IRL? Let‘s dive in!

Why I Chose Myx

I‘ll be honest, I was THIS close to joining the Peloton cult. I mean, who doesn‘t want to feel like they‘re riding with the ultra-glamorous Cody Rigsby every morning? But when I started comparing costs, Myx quickly pulled ahead. Check out this price breakdown:

Features	Myx Plus	Peloton Bike
Bike Price	$1,599	$2,245
Membership	$29/month	$39/month
Shipping/Delivery	Free	$250
Accessories	Included	Extra $
Total Cost (1 Year)	$1,947	$2,963

Prices as of June 2022. Peloton accessories include shoes, weights, resistance bands, yoga mat, etc.

As you can see, Myx comes out over $1,000 cheaper for a comparable setup. And unlike Peloton, it includes all the extras like weights and mats in the package price. Score!

Besides the budget factor, a few other things drew me to Myx:

• Focus on personalized heart rate training: As someone who geeks out on fitness data, I loved that Myx uses your individual heart rate zones to optimize workouts and track progress over time. The bike comes with a fancy Polar OH1 armband monitor that syncs seamlessly with the app. No more guesstimating if you‘re working hard enough!

• Flexibility to take classes on and off the bike: Don‘t get me wrong, I love a good cycling sesh. But I also crave variety to keep things interesting and target different muscle groups. With a Myx membership, you get access to hundreds of classes across modalities like strength training, yoga, pilates, and meditation. The touchscreen swivels a full 360° so you can take it on the mat and still see your stats.

• Hype-free, user-friendly vibe: Maybe it‘s just me, but I find the whole Peloton scene a bit… intimidating? All those picture-perfect instructors with their fancy athleisure and peppy mantras. I appreciate that Myx takes a more laid-back, come-as-you-are approach. The app interface is super intuitive and the class descriptions tell you exactly what to expect, which I value as a newbie.

The Myx Bike: Up Close & Personal

Alright, let‘s talk hardware. As a refresher, here‘s what you get with the Myx Plus package ($1,599):

• Star Trac Stationary Bike
• 21.5" HD Swivel Touchscreen Tablet
• Polar OH1 Heart Rate Monitor
• 6-piece Weight Set
• Kettlebell
• Foam Roller
• Exercise Mat
• Resistance Band

The regular Myx ($1,399) includes just the bike, touchscreen, and heart rate band. Honestly, if you have some dumbbells at home already, you could probably get away with the base model. But if you‘re starting from scratch, the Plus is a solid value IMHO.

When my bike arrived, I was stoked to find that assembly was a breeze. The package comes with all the tools you need and an easy-to-follow instruction booklet. I had mine set up and ready to ride in under an hour, and I am FAR from handy. So don‘t let that part intimidate you.

The bike itself is sleek, sturdy, and basically silent thanks to its smooth magnetic resistance system and belt drive. At 150 lbs, it‘s heavy enough to feel stable while you‘re riding but not impossible to move around if needed. I‘m about 5‘6" and had no trouble adjusting the seat and handlebars to find a comfortable fit, but it accommodates riders from 4‘11" to 6‘8" and up to 350 lbs.

Here are the key specs on the Star Trac bike:

• 41 lb flywheel
• Fully adjustable seat & handlebars
• Dual-sided pedals (SPD clips & toe cages)
• Standard Q-factor distance
• Water bottle holder
• Dumbbell rack behind seat
• USB charging port
• ANT+ & BLE connectivity

Performance-wise, this thing is smooth like butter. The heavy flywheel and micro-adjustable resistance knob allow you to fine-tune the intensity and recreate the feeling of riding on flat roads or steep hills. No jerky starts and stops here! I also love that it‘s basically noiseless, so I can squeeze in early morning workouts without waking up my roommates.

One of my favorite features is the touchscreen – this thing is massive at 21.5" and swivels a full 360° so you can easily follow along with mat-based workouts. The built-in speakers are surprisingly great quality and can get LOUD, which is clutch when you need that extra push. Navigation is a breeze with the crisp, intuitive interface. You can search and filter classes by all kinds of criteria to find exactly what you‘re in the mood for.

The Myx Membership: So Much More Than Spinning

In my opinion, the real magic of Myx comes from its robust digital platform powered by openfit. For $29/month, you unlock unlimited access to a huge variety of workouts that go way beyond the bike. I‘m talking strength training, cardio HIIT, barre, pilates, yoga, meditation, stretching, and more. There‘s even content specifically for prenatal/postnatal!

As a certified group fitness junkie, I have pretty high standards when it comes to workout programming. And I have to say, Myx‘s classes consistently deliver. The instructors are knowledgeable and charismatic, the music is fire, and the production quality is top-notch. You can really feel the passion and expertise that goes into planning each session.

One thing I really appreciate is how beginner-friendly many of the ride options are. Don‘t get me wrong – you can definitely find advanced classes that will leave you breathless and dripping in sweat. But if you‘re new to indoor cycling or getting back into fitness after a hiatus, there are tons of shorter, low-impact rides focused on form and building endurance. The instructors are great about offering modifications so you can work at your own level.

Outside of cycling, I‘ve been surprised by how much I‘m enjoying the strength and yoga content. Myx recently introduced "cross-training" classes that combine a short ride with a circuit of bodyweight exercises like planks, squats, and push-ups for a full-body burn. It‘s a great option when I‘m crunched for time but still want to hit my whole system. I also love winding down with a deep stretch or guided meditation to manage stress.

If you‘re a stats nerd like me, you‘ll love geeking out on the heart rate-based training zones and post-class summaries. After each workout, you get a detailed breakdown of how much time you spent in each zone, calories burned, and "Myx heartbeats" earned. You can track your progress and streaks over time, which is super motivating. I also appreciate that the app learns your preferences as you take classes and serves up personalized recommendations.

Myx vs. Peloton: How They Really Stack Up

Of course, we can‘t talk about Myx without addressing the elephant in the room: how does it compare to industry leader Peloton? Is foregoing the live leaderboard worth the cost savings? Buckle up, I‘ve got thoughts.

Having taken classes on both platforms, I can confidently say that Myx offers at least 80% of what makes Peloton great at a significantly lower price point. The bikes themselves are pretty dang similar in terms of build and ride feel. Peloton‘s hardware is definitely a bit more polished and high-end – I mean, have you seen those curved HD screens? But in terms of core functionality, both deliver a smooth, stable, and near-silent ride. Unless you‘re an elite cyclist, I bet you‘d be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

When it comes to class content, Peloton is the OG and has a deeper bench of "star" instructors with cult followings. The production quality is more glamorous and immersive, and they‘re pumping out new live rides daily. If keeping up with the latest drops and showing up on a competitive leaderboard is your thing, that brand cachet could be worth the premium price.

However, I‘ve found Myx‘s on-demand library to be super extensive and engaging. No, it doesn‘t have Robin Arzón coaching me to "JFDI", but the instructors still bring big energy and plan rides around fun themes. Mentally, I also kind of prefer not knowing how I‘m stacking up against thousands of other riders. I‘m able to focus more on my own performance and tuning into my body, ya know?

Feature-wise, Myx actually has a leg up on Peloton in a few areas IMO:

• Heart rate-based training: Peloton only recently introduced its own armband monitor, and it costs extra. With Myx, zone training and real-time metrics are core to the experience. For an extra fee, you can even work one-on-one with a coach to personalize your zones.

• 360° rotating screen: This was a biggie for me. I love being able to swivel the touchscreen and take it on the floor for a seamless cross-training experience. With Peloton, you have to stream non-cycling content on a separate TV or device.

• More beginner-friendly: Don‘t get me wrong, you can find intro rides on Peloton (shoutout to the goddess that is Hannah Corbin). But in general, I find Peloton‘s ethos to be a bit more intense and competitive. With Myx, there‘s a stronger emphasis on meeting users where they‘re at and celebrating individual milestones.

• Less cultish: This is maybe a personal preference, but Peloton stans can be a lot. I dig working out as much as the next gal, but I draw the line at wearing an instructor‘s face on a t-shirt or joining a fan club. Myx‘s community feels supportive without the cringe factor.

All this to say, I think Myx is a fabulous Peloton alternative for the value-conscious consumer who still wants a premium experience. What you save in cool factor, you more than make up for in training quality and features. But that‘s just one girl‘s opinion!

The Bottom Line

Phew, if you‘ve made it this far, you‘re clearly doing your due diligence on all things Myx Fitness. I applaud you. So, after six months of riding, sweating, and data crunching, what‘s my verdict?

I am thoroughly obsessed with my Myx bike, and I‘m so glad I took the plunge. Honestly, it‘s the most consistent I‘ve ever been with working out, period. Having this incredible machine just steps away from my bed makes it so much easier to show up and put in the work. And the heart rate tracking is a serious game-changer. Seeing those zones light up on the screen is crazy motivating and helps me push past mental blocks.

Myx has made me fall in love with exercise again. I used to dread going to the gym and forcing myself through boring routines. Now I legit look forward to waking up and clipping in. The music, the instructors, the variety – it never gets old. Even on days when cycling feels like too much, I can roll out my mat and do some feel-good yoga or mobility work. My body has never felt stronger or more capable.

Look, I get it. Dropping over a grand on an exercise bike is a big freakin‘ deal. But if boutique fitness classes are your jam (guilty), the cost of a Myx membership is an absolute steal compared to IRL studios. $29/month for unlimited content across modalities? With leggings costing $30+ a pop these days? Come on now.

And not that we should put a price tag on our wellbeing, but the health benefits are kind of priceless. My mood, energy levels, and confidence are at an all-time high since integrating the Myx bike into my life. Crushing a climb ride first thing sets such a positive tone for my whole day. It‘s become a non-negotiable form of self-care, much like brushing my teeth or putting on sunscreen.

Is the Myx bike a fit for everyone? No, of course not. If you‘re an elite athlete, super strapped for space, or just not enthusiastic about home workouts, it may not be your ride or die. And that‘s okay! But if any of the following resonate with you, I can‘t recommend Myx enough:

• 🙋‍♀️ You‘re tired of wasting money on gym memberships you don‘t use
• 🌟 You want to get consistent with exercise without the hassle/time suck of commuting to a studio
• 📈 You‘re motivated by concrete performance metrics and seeing progress over time
• 🎶 You love following along with energetic instructors and jamming out to sick beats
• 💪 You crave variety and like mixing up cardio with strength training
• 💰 You want a ton of bang for your buck when it comes to fitness content
• 🙏 You prefer a balanced, low-pressure approach vs. an intense "push yourself to the max" mentality

At the end of the day, only you can decide what fitness routine will be most enjoyable and sustainable for your lifestyle. Myx isn‘t magic – you still have to show up and do the work. But if you‘re willing to commit (and have the budget), I truly believe this bike can be an incredible tool for enhancing your physical and mental health.

It‘s not about becoming a workout warrior overnight. It‘s about moving your body in ways that feel good, connecting with an inspiring community, and finding more confidence in your own skin. THAT is the real power of Myx, and why I‘ll be riding with them for the long haul.

So saddle up, fit fam. I‘ll see you on the leaderboard! (And by that I mean safely hidden in my living room, dripping sweat and feeling like a total badass.) Let‘s ride.

🚴‍♀️🔥💕
-Kara