| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Apps | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bladez Master GS Check Discounted Price | L: 48.4" W: 20" H: 46.9" | 300 lbs | Felt-pad | No | Frame: 5 years Parts: 1 year Wear: 1 year Electronics: 1 year Labor: 1 year |
If you’re looking for prime quality exercising equipment, Bladez Fitness should be a brand name to put on your list. That’s because they do offer quite an array of rowers, ellipticals, treadmills and exercise bikes, all gym-quality rated. And since we’re talking here about exercise bikes, one of the top-rated indoor cycles that you can find at the moment is the Bladez Fitness Master GS indoor cycle.
This particular exercise bike is designed for heavy spin training. It’s a solidly built exercising machine, which you can be sure it will make you sweat.
Details and Specs
- Product dimensions: 48.4L x 20W x 46.9H inches (123L x 51W x 119H cm)
- Product weight: 117 lbs (53 kg)
- Flywheel weight: 45 lbs (20.4 kg)
- Supported weight: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Handlebars: Adjustable
- Seat: Adjustable
- Pedals: With toe-cages and cleats
- Drive mechanism: Belt
- Brakes: Direct-contact, up-to-down leather pad
- Resistance: Adjustable
- Bottle holder: No
- Performance monitor: Yes
- Warranty: Frame 5 lifetime / Parts 1 year / Wear items 1 year / Electronics 1 year / Labor 1 year
Frame, seat, handlebars
The Master GS cycle from Bladez features an extremely solid, one-piece, massive steel 
frame, powder coated with anti-corrosive paint. Both bases of the frame are equipped with rubber levelers, to provide maximum stability even on irregular flooring. The front base also features silicone wheels, to facilitate the relocation of the assembled bike, if it’s the case. Due to its fairly decent weight, you can be sure that this bike will stand still even when pedaling hard.
The frame features a very sturdy design. It could easily hold users heavier than 300 lbs (136 kg). The only reason this is listed as the maximum weight limit supported by this bike, is the fore to aft. design of the seat.
The seat on this exercise bike features a design similar to the one on the Sunny Pro SF-B901. It’s a pretty slim seat, similar to the ones on race bikes, slightly cushioned, providing the required amount of comfort for a spinning bike. In it’s highest setting, the seat post stands 43.7″ (111 cm) tall from the floor, while in the lowest setting, it’s 36.8″ (93.4 cm) tall. The pedals are about 5″ above the floor at their lowest, so these being said, this bike requires a minimum inseam of 31.8″ (80.7 cm) inseam. In other words, it should accommodate users between 5’2″ – 6’8″ (157.5 – 203 cm). The seat is also horizontally (or fore to aft.) adjustable, expanding the exercising posture spectrum, giving you the 
possibility to choose the position that you feel most comfortable with.
The Bladez Fitness Master GS indoor cycling bike is equipped with a multi-grip handlebar, the whole handlebar assembly being covered with rubber foam. This material offers a comfortable and firm grip, preventing hands from slipping, even when sweaty. It also prevents the formation of blisters on your hands. The handlebar assembly incorporated aerobars (or elbow rest bars), supporting the steeply leaned forward posture offered by race bikes. Last but not least regarding the handlebar, it is also adjustable horizontally, just like the seat.
So far, this bike is only available in black.
Drive and brake system
Similar to many other spin bikes, the Bladez Master GS comes with a direct contact brake system. This brake system features and extra large leather pad, which comes in contact with the flywheel, in a top-to-down manner. The resistance system doesn’t feature levels like in upright or recumbent bikes. The resistance is manual, and to increase it, you can basically tighten the tension knob up to the point when you cannot pedal anymore. The bike also features an emergency brake, for the quick-stop of the flywheel.
This exercise bike comes with an ultra-heavy, 45 lbs (20.4 kg) flywheel, for a natural pedaling feel, and a consistent momentum. Due to its weight, no matter the resistance setting, the first pedaling strokes will be a bit hard to pull. The flywheel is perimeter-weighted, in order to cut back the stairmaster effect, which may be quite an annoyance especially when training on a high resistance setting. Thus, the pedaling is smooth and 
steady, the flywheel’s weight also adding to the stability of the bike.
This stationary bike has a rather small crank pulley, and two solid, steel-made crank arms. The bike’s Q-factor is 9.1″ (231 mm), just about right for this bike, and wide enough to prevent the user from hitting the crank or the crank cover. The crank arms are equipped with aluminum pedals, with toe cages and cleats for spin shoes.
Last but not least, the connection between the crank assembly and the flywheel is done via a heavy-duty rubber belt. Evidently, since it’s belt-driven, pedaling is pretty quiet and smooth, and the belt requires virtually no maintenance.
Performance monitor
Many indoor cycling bikes don’t come with a performance console, or it’s not included with the box, only as an additional purchase. The Bladez Master GS model does include a basic progress tracking monitor. This unit provides information regarding several values such as distance, speed, time, RPM, and calories burned. The console is also telemetry enabled, being able to read your pulse through a compatible HR chest strap. This console does work with Polar straps.
The console is battery powered. It doesn’t feature any buttons, being powered up with the first pedal stroke. It also automatically shut’s 3 minutes after you’ve stopped pedaling.
Assembly and Maintenance
Like most indoor cycles, the Bladez Master GS comes partially assembled. The flywheel, crank, belt, and brake system are already connected together and to the main frame of the bike. So, for the assembly part you only have to connect the bases to the frame, the handlebar post and handlebar assembly, the seat post and the seat assembly, and then connect the console. It’s all fairly easily, shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. Tools and assembly manual are included in the box.
Since the bike has a direct-contact brake system, the brake pad will wear out after a while, depending on how often you use the bike. When completely worn off, evidently it requires replacement. Also, in case the brake pad squeaks when in contact with the flywheel, it should be lubricated with silicone-based lubricant. Other than this, there isn’t much to be done in terms of maintenance. All you have to do is keep the bike clean, wipe the sweat off after each workout session, and re-tighten the bolts after a while if it’s the case.
What’s Best About This Exercise Bike
- Solid, durable, stable frame
- Ultra-heavy flywheel for consistent momentum
- Pedals with toe straps and cleats for spin shoes
- Adjustable seat and handlebars, both horizontally and vertically
- Belt drive system, for quiet and smooth pedaling
- Performance tracking console, which works with HR straps
- Low maintenance machine
- Rather small footprint, fit for users who lack space
- Consistent warranty package
Drawbacks
There are two main drawbacks regarding this bike. The first one regards the seat height. It’s minimum height setting is still pretty high for users shorter than 5′, so this bike doesn’t exactly fit short users. The second one is the lack of water bottle. The last one however, is hardly an inconvenience.
Final Conclusion
The Master GS indoor cycle from Bladez Fitness is one of the most compact and durable exercise bikes that you can find at the moment. It’s a great choice for your daily aerobic exercise, for alternating training routines, for building / maintaining stamina in off-season periods, tone muscles, keep a healthy cardiovascular shape, and of course, lose weight. Within a one hour of heavy spinning on this bike, you can burn up to 6-700 calories. Even though it’s not the most affordable indoor cycle, everything about it simply screams quality.