Pro-form Carbon CX Review

The Pro-form Carbon CX is an outstanding value for those wanting to utilize iFit fitness classes. This bike stands out from others by giving us a great value bike and making their top-notch workout classes optional. Resistance and adjustability are all adequate for most levels of riders, and the weighted flywheel and magnetic resistance provide a realistic pedaling experience. This bike has the look and feel of a gym-quality spin bike in a no-frills package and an affordable price tag. If you choose to utilize iFit, you'll have entertaining and exciting classes with scenery from around the world.

Performance Comparison

Exercise Quality

The Carbon CX has similar exercise quality to other, higher-end studio spin bikes. The bike's frame is supportive and doesn't move beneath you, even in all-out efforts. The feel of the resistance is realistic, which helps you to immerse yourself in the experience of the classes. The bike's positioning is adjustable but has a generally athletic feel that is likely better suited for people already comfortable on bikes. The belt-driven 27.5 lb flywheel provides inertia and a large magnet provides 16 levels of resistance to recreate the feel of riding outdoors. Resistance is adjusted manually through small buttons on the tablet holder, which aren't incredibly convenient, but if you're using iFit, resistance is adjusted automatically based on the terrain you're riding. The bike has no pre-programmed workouts or fancy features but remains usable and will hold your tablet for whatever entertainment you prefer. If you're using a tablet for something other than iFit, you'll have to move the tablet to adjust the resistance, as the buttons are located in the center of the tablet holder.

The athletic positioning of the Carbon CX puts the rider in a sporty body position similar to a regular road bike. While the overall position is adjustable, the general positioning of this bike is best suited for cyclists and those already comfortable in a riding position. The heavy flywheel is impressively smooth and creates realistic momentum at all resistance levels. Should you stop pedaling, the belt-driven flywheel keeps the cranks turning like riding a fixed-gear bicycle. Riders needing to stop immediately can use the brake, a large red knob that most would mistake for a resistance adjustment knob. The resistance is adjusted through two small buttons on the console or automatically while using the iFit app. The magnetic resistance is smooth and never feels like mechanical friction; out-of-the-saddle efforts were no problem in its power range. The pedals feature toe cages and straps to keep you secure while pedaling, which is fairly standard on models like this. The weight limit for this bike is a fairly low 250 pounds.

Companion App/Connectivity

The Carbon CX is a very basic budget exercise bike at first glance. Pairing the bike with a tablet and the iFit app gives way to an immersive workout experience that can go head-to-head with any of the best exercise bikes on the market.

Comfort

The Carbon CX isn't the most comfortable exercise bike we've tested, but that's largely due to the saddle that was universally disliked by our testers. Finding a more comfortable seat is simple and generally not very costly (see our favorite bike seats here. The large increments of adjustment aren't ideal, and serious cyclists will be unable to dial in their exact saddle height as the seat moves up and down in 1-inch increments for a total of nine positions.

The sporty style of the Carbon CX requires a more athletic position than some other exercise bikes. While similar to a spin bike you might ride at the gym, this bike feels better suited toward flexible athletes than those at the beginning of a fitness journey. Even with the handlebars in the highest position, they adjust 3.75 inches up and down your body positioning, leaving a bit of your weight resting on your hands. The handlebar is coated with a coarse rubberized grip material that doesn't get slippery when wet but doesn't have the silicone softness that we've appreciated on other bikes. The handlebar shape allows for multiple different positions and should be comfortable for the vast majority of riders.

User Interface

The console of the Carbon CX could easily be mistaken for a tablet holder. The center of the tablet holder features a small LCD and four buttons. The buttons change the display field, connect to iFit and adjust resistance. Using this bike without a tablet is totally possible but boredom-inducing. Any tablet or reading material you place on the tablet holder blocks access to the display and resistance adjustment buttons.

The interface of the Carbon CX is quite basic compared to the more complex displays on other models tested. To properly discuss the user interface, we must also talk about iFit. The user interface through iFit is one of the best we've experienced, with interactive rides worldwide led by world-class athletes. The workouts are fantastic, the scenery spectacular, and the bike resistance integration is a nice bonus that lets you focus on the ride instead of adjusting knobs or buttons. The bike includes a free trial for iFit; if you choose to maintain an iFit account, it will cost several hundred dollars per year. The price of connected fitness classes isn't cheap.

Features

The Carbon CX is a simple exercise bike with few features. The features it does have enhance its usability and help it pair well with iFit. A water bottle cage holds a standard cycling bottle water bottle and is easy to reach while spinning. 3 lb dumbbells are included and rest in their carrier under the saddle, accessing them while spinning is effortless and transport wheels give the bike some user-friendliness.

While exercising, our most appreciated feature was the bottle cage. Attached to the main frame just below the resistance adjustment knob, the bottle cage ensured we always had water at close reach. The pedals feature toe clips and straps that keep your foot in the proper position for spinning out the miles. The ends of the stabilizer bars feature adjustable feet that allow you to level the bike on uneven surfaces.

Ease of Setup/Portability

The Carbon CX exercise bike was not complicated to assemble but does require a bit more time and muscle than others. The shipping box it arrived in weighed just over 125 pounds, so moving it around isn't easy. The assembly instructions were clear, and all of the necessary tools were provided. Packaging was styrofoam intensive, but all parts were in good condition. Almost half of the assembly time was simply unwrapping packaging. The total assembly time was 51 minutes, and once assembled, the bike can be rolled on its transport wheels. The final assembly involves installing 2 AA batteries to power the console, as the bike itself doesn't require electricity.

Our Carbon CX arrived with the laminate cover separating from the flywheel. They quickly sent a replacement flywheel that had no problems with the laminated cover.

Should You Buy the Pro-form Carbon CX?

The Carbon CX offers a gym-quality workout and pairs with iFit for a seamless workout experience. This bike feels high quality but lacks the comfort of our favorite exercise bikes. The steel frame, heavy flywheel, and minimal electronics bode well for its durability, but the long-term cost of the iFit membership should be a major factor in deciding if this is the bike for you. If iFit is compelling to you, this bike is an inexpensive way to facilitate your workouts and should be on your shortlist. If iFit wouldn't be your dominant workout app, then you'd be better off on a bike with better adjustability.

What Other Exercise Bikes Should You Consider?

There are many great bikes available in this price range, and many of them limit you to an app or brand of workout class. This affordable model is ideal for a particular app but not as well suited for using a competitor's app. This is very common for most models as the majority of exercise bikes are designed to tether to an app where the real cost of ownership comes through the app fees. If you want a great bike that won't limit you to one app or can be used without any connectivity, we recommend the Schwinn IC4. The bike has excellent mechanics and adjustability, and it won't leave you dependent on any particular subscription. The Renpho AI Smart Exercise Bike is another value option offering a connected cycling experience in a very user-friendly package.