| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ancheer SP-4013 Check Discounted Price | L:43" W:20" H:40" | 220 lbs | Friction | Speed, Time, Distance, Odometer, Calories, Pulse, SCAN | 2 years limited |
The Ancheer SP-4013 is one of the newest indoor cycling bikes for 2016. It’s a bike similar in sturdiness to various commercial spin bikes, but comes with a few differences. One of the unique elements characteristic to this bike is the suspension system of the seat, similar to certain off-road cycle types. It also comes with a fitness meter which can track your heart rate, accessory that many indoor cycling bike models don’t include.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 43L x 20W x 40H inches (109L x 51W x 102H cm)
- Assembled weight: 104 lbs (47.1 kg)
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Handlebars: 2-way adjustable
- Seat: 4-way adjustable
- Pedals: With toe cages
- Drive: Belt
- Resistance: Friction
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, distance, calories, pulse, SCAN
- Accessories: Bottle holder (with bottle), resistance cords
- Warranty: 2 years limited
Frame construction
Just as any exercise bike designed for spinning workouts, the Ancheer SP-4013 features a heavy frame, made of thick steel tubing. At full assembly, the bike actually weighs over 100 lbs, weight that adds a lot of stability. Its base bars also include adjustable stabilizers which provide a good grip to the floor.
As in most indoor cycle trainers, the frame is not foldable. However, the front base of the frame integrates transport wheels, which facilitate the relocation of the bike if necessary, once you’ve finished your workout. By leaning the frame forward onto its wheels, you will only have to handle approx. 35% of its total weight.
The bike doesn’t have a large footprint. It takes only 43″L x 20″W (109 x 51 cm) of floor space, which is just convenient if you want to place it in a small room or office.
The bike’s frame is double coated with corrosion resistant black paint. The cover of the resistance system and the transmission belt guard are painted red / black, these being the only colors available so far. Also, the posts of the seat and handlebars have a chrome finish.
One last aspect to mention here, regards the bike’s weight capacity. Although the frame is sturdy enough to support users over 300 lbs (136 kg), due to the spring seat design, the recommended maximum user weight is 220 lbs (100 kg).
Seat and handlebars
The first and most important aspect to mention regarding the bike’s seat, is the fact that it integrates a suspension mechanism which considerably alleviates the impact on your lower back. This is an element that most indoor cycling bikes don’t offer, and the rigidity of their 
seat assembly is a known problem, especially for users new to spinning.
The saddle supplied with the bike is considerably wider than the average slim seat common in most spin bikes. It’s also an element which focuses on providing more comfort. However, it does not integrate air cell cushioning such as the Triathlon X-Class 510 from IRONMAN Fitness. But nonetheless, the comfort supplied by this seat is substantially superior to many other exercise bikes designed for spin workouts.
The seat is 4-way adjustable (up, down, forward and backward). It features 5 adjustment positions, with approx. 2″ (5 cm) in between them, being able to comfortably accommodate users between 5′ and 6’2″ (152 – 188 cm).
The bike’s handlebar features a multi-grip design, with unified aerobars. It’s only 2-way adjustable (up, down), and just as the seat post, it features 5 adjustment positions. It’s fully covered by rubber foam material to provide optimal comfort. Its lateral bars also integrate stainless steel pulse sensors, the fitness meter being able to read your heart rate if you hold onto them.
Drive and resistance
This Ancheer indoor cycle trainer features a belt drive system. This means it’s extremely quiet and its transmission doesn’t require maintenance. It consists of a heavy-duty v-belt, resistant to stretching, designed to last for many years of daily use. It’s equipped with a 
perimeter-weighted flywheel, supplying a smooth and steady pedaling motion, with a consistent momentum.
The bike’s crankset is made of solid steel parts, and can definitely support the user in standing up pedaling routines, or just about any other spin workouts. The crank arms are finished with durable, metallic pedals, with toe cages, for extra thrust. The pedals don’t have SPD inserts for spin shoes, but their threads are standard, so you can replace them with SPD pedals if you want.
This exercise bike permits reverse pedaling, thus you can diversify your workouts by alternating forward and reverse pedaling sessions. But keep in mind that since the bike’s transmission is simple, without a derailleur as in a road bike, resistance on the pedals remains constant when reverse pedaling. Also, you cannot coast on it.
The Ancheer SP-4013 comes with a simple friction resistance system. It consists of a resistance pad connected to the adjustment knob on the main tube of the frame. The pad comes in contact with the flywheel in a top-to-down manner. As you tighten the knob, the resistance pad will also tighten onto the flywheel increasing resistance. Also, the resistance knob doubles as an emergency brake. By pressing it down, you can automatically stop the flywheel from spinning.
As opposed to exercise bikes with manual magnetic resistance, such as the Best Fitness BFUB1 or Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2511H, the resistance knob doesn’t have “clicks” or resistance levels specified on it. You simply tighten the brake pad until you find the adequate tension on the pedals for your workout.
Fitness meter
The meter unit supplied with the Ancheer indoor cycling bike SP-4013 offers a bit more 
than a basic unit, as it can also track your pulse. It features an LCD display which can track your pedaling speed, distance, total distance (odometer), time elapsed, calories burned and as we’ve just mention, pulse.
It has only one button which allows you to navigate through these values and lock the one that you want to see at all time on screen, or to select the SCAN function which rotates the values, showing each one for a few seconds. The values can be reset if you press and hold the button for a few seconds.
The unit is battery powered. It’s powered on when it detects movement on the pedals, or if you push its button. Also, if it doesn’t detect any activity on the pedals for a few minutes, it will enter sleep mode to save battery.
Accessories
Apart from the fitness meter, there are two more accessories to be mentioned here: the bottle holder with bottle, and the resistance cords. The bottle holder is metallic, and attaches to the right side of the frame’s front fork. The water bottle is steel made, and painted red to fit the bike’s color theme.
The resistance bands are meant to be attached to the front base of the frame, but you can also attach them to the rear base if you want. Although their resistance is not extreme, they still offer the possibility to diversify your workouts, and to involve the arms and upper body muscles more.
Assembly and Maintenance
The bike comes partially assembled. The flywheel, resistance pad, crankset and transmission, along with their guards, come already assembled, attached to the main frame. All you have to do is place the frame on its bases, add the pedals, the seat and handlebar, and finally the console. The manual supplied provides clear, step-by-step instruction for assembly, process which shouldn’t take more than 30-40 min. Required tools are also supplied.
In terms of maintenance, the transmission does not require any, as it’s a belt-driven bike. However, the brake pad may need a bit of lubrication, if it emits squeaking noises when in contact with the flywheel. For that, applying a bit of silicone lubricant on the flywheel should do the trick. Other than that, you will need to periodically inspect the joints, bolts and nuts of the bike, to make sure they’re still tight in their places.
The Pros
- Solid frame, similar in sturdiness to the more expensive spin bikes;
- Bases with adjustable, rubber levelers;
- Suspension design for the seat, which alleviates an important part of the impact on your lower back;
- 4-way adjustable seat (up, down, front, back);
- 2-way adjustable handlebar (up, down) with a multi-grip design;
- Pulse sensors integrated in the handlebar;
- Adjustable resistance;
- Perimeter-weighted flywheel, for a consistent momentum;
- Heavy-duty crank, able to support any user up to the maximum listed weight, in upright pedaling position;
- Durable, metallic pedals with toe cages;
- Fitness meter included;
- Bottle holder (with bottle) included;
- Resistance cords for arm workouts included;
- Quiet operation, great for apartment use.
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required.
The Cons
- Not a bike for users with an extremely long inseam (max. 32″);
- Recommended user weight capacity only 220 lbs (100 kg).
Summary
The Ancheer SP-4013 indoor cycle trainer offers a sturdy frame construction, featuring a spring seat, designed to alleviate the impact on your lower back. It’s a bike made for spin workouts, being equipped with a solid steel crank assembly, and metallic pedals. It also includes a fitness meter, resistance cords for arm workouts, and bottle holder. It’s a bike for users of all levels, perfect for cardio training, interval training or weight loss. And finally, even though it’s pretty close to the construction of a gym grade spin bike, it costs less than $500, offering an excellent price / value ratio.