The Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike is a compact, sleek, and stylish low/mid-priced fitness aid from long-established American company Schwinn Fitness, renowned for its durable, high-quality exercise equipment.
It has everything you will need for effective workouts now and as your fitness grows.
The bike’s weighty flywheel and silent belt drive ensure smooth, quiet workouts that can simulate the feel of uphill or downhill road cycling. As well as forward pedaling, you can pedal backward or while standing up to target different muscles.
The seat adjusts to suit users of most heights, and it offers a higher than average user weight limit.
Other noteworthy features include unlimited, continuous variable friction resistance and Shimano pedals with shoe clips and toe cages. The bike has a touch screen LCD monitor, and it is Polar Heart Rate Monitor compatible.
Please keep reading this Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike review to learn its specs and find out about more of its features, as well as its pros and cons.
Table of Contents
Who Does it Suit?
This model comes with infinite resistance, enabling people of any fitness level to experience the benefits of indoor cycling with a Schwinn IC3 Bike.
If you are beginning your fitness journey, you can start with light resistance and work up to more challenging levels as your become fitter.
Intermediate and advanced level cyclists will appreciate that they can undertake intense spin sessions to maintain their current fitness or take it to the next level.
If you are looking for a robust trainer with a small footprint, this model that supports 300 pounds should be on your shortlist. Being quiet, you can buy it knowing that your workouts won’t disturb your housemates or neighbors.
Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike Specs
Dimensions – The Schwinn IC3 bike measures 45″ (L) x 23″ (W) x 49″ (H)
Seat to pedal – The seat to peddle distance adjusts from between 29″ and 38″
Clearance – For unhindered use, you will need a free area of 1′ to the front and rear of the bike and 2′ on each side
Weight – It weighs 100lbs
Flywheel weight – The flywheel weighs 40 lbs
User weight – This model has an upper weight limit of 300 pounds
User height – The manufacturer recommends this bike for users from 5’2″ to 6′, but shorter buyers have left positive feedback
Color – The bike is gray with red highlights
Batteries – 2 x AA batteries (included) are needed for the console to operate
Schwinn IC3 Exercise Bike Overview
Drive –
The Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike uses a belt-drive system and a bi-directional flywheel.
Finish –
Its robust steel frame is powder-coated to resist rust, scratches, and chips. The belt guard and other covers are ABS.
Stability, Smoothness, and Noise Level –
The bike’s solid steel frame, heft, and three heavy-duty cranksets with steel arms make it very stable, even during the most strenuous workouts. Levelers in the base add to the bike’s stability and enable it to be used on uneven floors.
An inertia-balanced bi-directional flywheel delivers a fluid pedal motion and excellent momentum.
A belt-drive resistance system offers smoother and quieter workouts than a chain drive.
During workouts, you will be able to listen to music, watch the TV, or carry on a conversation without any volume adjustments. And you won’t disturb anyone in your household, including sleeping family members or housemates.
Resistance –
The Schwinn IC3 Exercise Bike features manually-controlled friction pad resistance that offers unlimited variation at the turn of a knob.
This enables you to start with light resistance and increase the challenge as you become fitter.
Resistance changes can be made during the workout, making the bike ideal for interval training.
Console –
A 3″ x 4″ 6-panel touch screen LCD tracks your RPM, Time, Distance, Speed, Calories Burned, and Pulse Rate (when used with a compatible chest strap). These metrics are helpful for not just tracking your progress but also for setting future fitness goals.
The stats can the displayed in either Imperial or metric formats. You can view one stat at a time manually or have each automatically display for a few seconds, one after the other.
The four-button console is easy to use. The options are Mode, Reset, Up, and Down. Mode selects your workout goal. Reset sets the display back to zero. Up and down allows you to select
another workout goal.
After four minutes of inactivity, the monitor shuts down to extend the life of the batteries.
There are no built-in programs, but you can set fitness goals related to time, distance covered, and calories burned.
Heart rate monitor –
To monitor your pulse rate, you will need a heart rate chest strap. The manufacturer recommends the Polar T31 or the Polar T34.
(Clicking on either of the two previous links will take you to Amazon’s website, where you can find view the chest straps.)
Seat –
The Schwinn IC3 Exercise Bike seat adjusts up, down, fore, and aft to cater to the user’s height and preference. The adjustments are made by turning a pin, a quick and easy process.
The seat has good airflow, but being of racer style, it is small and thin. While some buyers stated that it is comfortable, and some even said it is exceptionally comfortable, others found the opposite true.
It’s common for new cyclists, in particular, to feel buttocks discomfort until they become used to working out. Most quickly become accustomed to the feel. However, some people may find that they avoid workouts, which defeats the purpose of purchasing the bike.
Place a folded towel on the saddle for more comfortable sessions, wear gel cycling pants, or buy a gel seat cover. Alternatively, you can attach a replacement seat such as the Bikeroo. With their 9/16 threads, most standard-sized saddles will work.
Pedals –
The bike’s durable metallic alloy pedals feature SPD clips on one side and Shimano toe cages on the other.
These are incredibly secure, so you can pedal flat out without fear of your feet slipping. 
Having both options enables you to wear different types of shoes or share the bike with someone who favors the alternative pedal type.
There’s also the option of swapping out the pedals to standard outdoor or power pedals if that is your preference.
Handlebars –
The urethane-dipped multi-grip padded handlebars are very comfortable and secure to grip. They adjust vertically and horizontally by sliding a lever then locking it into position.
Transportation wheels –
Transport wheels in the front base enable quick and easy relocation of the bike by tipping then wheeling it.
Accessories –
A large, easy-to-access water bottle holder provides access to a refreshing drink during workouts.
A conveniently positioned media holder fits phones and tablets of most size that are of a standard depth.
Assembly –
The Schwinn IC3 Bike arrives partially assembled, with the flywheel, belt, and resistance components attached to the frame.
All you need to do is secure the seat, the bases, the handlebars, pedals, and the LCD monitor.
This task takes most people around 30 minutes. The necessary tools and step-by-step instructions are supplied.
Warranty –
This model comes with a 10-year warranty for the frame, 2 years for parts, and 1-year for labor. You will also get a 6-week money-back guarantee.
The next part of this Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike review looks at its pros, followed by its cons.
Schwinn IC3 Review
Pros
- The Schwinn IC3 has a small footprint, so it doesn’t require a lot of free space
- A generous user weight limit makes the bike suitable for almost anyone
- A heavy, inertia balanced flywheel makes for smooth, virtually silent workouts
- The seat adjusts in four directions, enabling you to find the perfect fit for you
- A sturdy bar welded between the frame and the seat allows easy access to and from the saddle
- Ventilation in the saddle will help keep you cooler during your sessions
- Unlimited resistance allows you to increase the intensity of your sessions indefinitely
- The LCD shows important workout stats, and it powers down after four minutes of inactivity to save on battery power
- This model is chest strap compatible for people who want to track their heart rate
- Adjustable multi-grip handlebars are slip-resistant and padded for comfort
- High-quality Shimano pedals with shoe clips and toe cages provide security and safety
- The seat and pedals can be swapped to other types if desired
- Levelers make workouts possible on slightly uneven floors
- Transport wheels will enable you to move the bike by tilting then rolling it
- Useful accessories include a water bottle holder and a media shelf
- The assembly process is straightforward, with clear instructions and the tools you will need supplied
- The warranty is more extended than for many other bikes in a similar price range
Cons
- The Schwinn IC3 Bike doesn’t have any preset programs, but you can customize your own
- Some customers found the seat uncomfortable, so they bought a gel seat cover or changed the seat to increase the comfort of workouts
- It doesn’t fold to store
- The bike is not Bluetooth compatible, and it doesn’t have a USB port
- There’s no cooling fan or speakers
Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike Summary
The Schwinn IC3 Exercise Bike is a compact, simple, and highly functional spin bike that you will never outgrow.
An adjustable seat and handlebars allow a customized fit.
The seat may take some getting used to if you are new to this form of exercise. However, this is usually the case regardless of the make or brand of bike. A gel seat cover will enable you to get the most from your sessions right away.
This model doesn’t have pulse sensors in the handlebar, but you can use a Polar T31 or T34 to monitor your pulse rate. This is the preferred method, as the readings are more accurate than when using hand grip pulse sensors.
While the bike’s accessories are basic, it has what I consider to be two of the most useful: a water bolder holder and a media shelf.
The Schwinn IC3 is very robust, it offers smooth, quiet workouts, infinite resistance, and it has an LCD screen that allows you to track your sessions’ stats and progress.
The bike comes with dual pedal options, comfortable multi-grip handlebars, and transportation wheels that will enable you to move the bike if you need to.
It’s not the least expensive fitness aid of its type, but I think it is worth paying a little more for something as solid and reliable as this model is.
If you like the sound of the IC3 but you’re looking for a model with more accessories, please read my Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike review.
If this isn’t the right bike for you, please click here to read reviews of other popular upright bikes.
