Unit | Size | Supported weight | Flywheel weight | Resistance | Fitness meter |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
pooboo D578 Check Discounted Price | L: 46.6" W: 20.8" H: 51.9" | 300 lbs | 44 lbs | Friction | Time, Distance, Odometer, Speed, RPM Calories, Pulse, Goals |
The L NOW pooboo D578 is the heavier version of pooboo D680 model. It’s a commercial-grade, designed to support 24/7 use within the premises of a gym club. It has a heavy-duty construction, offers superior micro-adjustability, and also includes a fitness computer to monitor your workout metrics and keep yourself motivated.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 46.6″L x 20.8″W x 51.9″H (118L x 53W x 132H cm)
- Assembled weight: 123.4 lbs (56 kg).
- Flywheel weight: 44 lbs (20 kg)
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Seat: 4-way adjustable
- Pedals: With toe cages
- Drive: Belt
- Resistance: Friction, adjustable
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, distance, total distance, calories, pulse, scan
- Extras: Bottle holder, phone holder
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Frame construction
As we’ve mentioned above, the pooboo D578 is a gym-grade bike, featuring a heavy-duty, 120 mm thick frame made of steel tubing. It has a classic triangular design for improved sturdiness. Its construction is pretty heavy; the fully assembled unit is approx. 123 lbs (56 kg) which is more than three times the weight of the average road bike. All this weight delivers superior stability, enabling the bike to support any spin workout.
Most of the bike’s frame is coated with a chip-resistant and corrosion-resistant paint finish. The main color used is black, with the “pooboo” logo and several other inscriptions painted white, these being the only colors available for this model. The only exceptions are the seat post, the handlebar post, and the flywheel which have a chrome finish. Of course, the bike also integrates several durable ABS plastic parts. These are the belt cover, the flywheel side covers, and several other small covers.
Compared to other bikes, the L NOW pooboo D578 is a bit larger. With the frame fully assembled, it is approx. 46.6″ (118 cm) long, and 20.8″ (53 cm) wide, while with the handlebar extended all the way up, its height reaches approx. 51.9″ (132 cm). It is also recommended to leave at least two feet of clearance on each side of the unit, and at least one foot of clearance at the front and rear, for ease of access and unhindered operation.
Last but not least, both base bars of the bike are equipped with adjustable stabilizers. They have rubber pads in order to provide a better grip onto the floor. Also, the front base has a set of transport wheels which allow you to easily relocate it if needed.
Seat and handlebars
The pooboo bike D578 features a four-way adjustable seat (up, down, forward, and backward). Its upright bar has multiple adjustment notches while the horizontal slider provides a few extra inches of front-to-back adjustment. This being said, the bike can accommodate users between 5’0″ (153 cm) and 6’5″ (196 cm) with no problem. Also, the seat assembly is durable enough to support users up to 300 lbs (136 kg).
The saddle itself is designed for comfort. It is considerably larger than the average spin seat and integrates a thicker layer of cushioning. It is approx. 10″ (25 cm) long and 7.5″ (19 cm) wide, providing plenty of contact surface. Its top is made of durable rubberized material. It is contoured and has a central groove to provide superior breathability during seated workouts.
In terms of cushioning, the saddle also integrates a set of two springs in its rear section which enable it to adapt to your movement during seated workouts which results in a custom fit. Plus, the seat has a standard connection system to its slider, so, in case you will ever have to replace it, compatible options are widely available.
The bike is equipped with a multi-grip handlebar. It is completely covered by a layer of foam material to provide a secure grip. Also, its side grips integrate pulse sensors, while the center area hosts the exercise meter and a dual bottle holder.
Just like the seat, the handlebar is four-way adjustable. So, not only you can adjust its height, you can also lock it in a position closer or farther from the seat, depending on the posture you want to adopt, or feel more comfortable with.
Drive and resistance
The L NOW pooboo D578 indoor cycling bike is equipped with an extra-heavy, 44 lbs (20 kg) flywheel. It has a perimeter-weighted design in order to provide an aggressive inertia, which is great for spin workouts. This design also improves its stability, so the pedaling motion is very smooth.
The flywheel permits reverse pedaling. However, the pedals continue to spin for as long as the flywheel is spinning. So, it is recommended to use the emergency brake when changing the way of pedaling. Also, coasting on this bike is not possible.
Since it’s a heavy-duty bike, designed to support spin workouts of any kind, the pooboo D5678 is equipped with a durable crankset and aluminum alloy pedals. As we’ve mentioned above, the bike’s capacity is 300 lbs (136 kg), and this applies to the crank and pedals as well. So, as long as you don’t exceed this weight, you should be able to exercise while standing up on the pedals without any problem.
The pedals feature a non-slip surface. They do not have SPD clips for spin shoes but do have toe cages, in case you need an extra thrust for each pedal stroke. They have standard 9/16″ threads, though, so you can always replace them with SPD pedals if you want.
The bike’s drive system uses a heavy-duty poly-v belt. This being said, the pedaling motion generates very little noise (it’s almost completely silent) and vibration. Plus, you will never have to worry about its lubrication as it is the case for bikes with a chain drive system.
In terms of resistance, this pooboo exercise bike is equipped with a friction system. Its brake consists of a felt-pad placed at the top of the flywheel and concealed by the large cover. The brake pad is connected to the tension knob on the oblique frame tube. So, by turning this knob, you can add more friction or reduce the drag in order to benefit from a satisfying pedaling tension level.
The tension knob doesn’t have pre-determined levels on it like it is the case for most magnetic resistance bikes. You simply tighten it until you get the resistance you want for your training. It also integrates a metallic spring which allows you to press it down and quickly stop the flywheel from spinning if needed.
Exercise meter
The pooboo bike D578 is equipped with an exercise meter similar to the one on the PYHIGH S7. It features an LCD display with multiple sub-sections, showing up to 5 workout metrics at once. It tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, RPM, calories, and pulse. It is not telemetric, though. So, for the pulse reading, you will have to use the sensors integrated into the handlebar. It cannot read your pulse from an HR chest strap transmitter.
The workout monitor unit is very easy to use. It only has three buttons – Up, Down, Enter. The Up and Down buttons give you the possibility to select a goal for time, distance, or calories burned, while the Enter button fulfills the selection function and the reset function. In order to reset everything on the unit, you can simply press and hold the Enter button for a few seconds.
The meter unit is battery-powered. It requires a CR2032 lithium battery (3V) which is not included. It starts up when you begin pedaling, and also automatically shuts off after a few minutes of inactivity on the bike, to save battery.
Assembly and Maintenance
The main frame of the bike comes pre-assembled with the main drive and resistance elements already attached. You only need to attach the base bars, the seat post, the seat, the handlebar post, the handlebar, the console, and the pedals. This shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. A basic set of tools is included with the bike, and the manual provides clear assembly instructions.
Since the bike has a belt drive, its transmission doesn’t need lubrication. The brake pad may require a bit of silicone lubrication if it emits a loud squeaking noise when in contact with the flywheel. Other than these, you should keep the bike clean, and periodically check for loose or broken parts.
The Pros
- Commercial-grade, heavy-duty frame construction;
- Can support users up to 300 lbs;
- Adjustable stabilizers included;
- Transport wheels included;
- 4-way adjustable seat;
- 4-way adjustable handlebar;
- Cushioned seat with rear spring shock absorption and a longitudinal groove for breathability;
- Multi-grip handlebar;
- Pulse sensors integrated into the handlebar;
- Smooth, almost silent belt drive;
- Extra-heavy 44 lbs flywheel;
- Friction resistance for a wide array of pedaling difficulty levels;
- Aluminum alloy pedals with toe cages;
- Exercise meter included – it can track time, distance, total distance, speed, RPM, calories, and pulse;
- Goal settings for time, distance, and calories;
- Dual bottle holder included;
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required.
The Cons
- No SPD clips on the pedals;
- The battery for the meter unit is not included;
- No backlight on the meter unit.
Summary
The L NOW pooboo D578 is a commercial-grade indoor cycling trainer designed to support any spin workout. It is equipped with a friction resistance system, a comfortable seat, a 44-lb flywheel, and an exercise meter which can track all the important workout metrics. It also offers superior micro-adjustability and comfort factors. It’s a great exercise bike for intense cardio training, interval training, leg muscle strength development, stamina development, and weight loss. It’s not one of the most affordable exercise bikes, but still is a few $100s cheaper than many other commercial spin bikes, so we can safely say it offers excellent value for the price.