Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle Review – 2023

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Last Updated: January 3, 2023

The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle is a new exercise bike on the market. Some stand-out features are the Bluetooth-enabled console that connects to third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton, the hybrid pedals, included forearm heart rate monitor, and the easy-adjust console for the 100 levels of magnetic resistance. All of this comes packed into an affordable bike backed with a lifetime frame warranty. There is a lot to like. In this Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle review, I’ll go over what our team thinks and everything you should know.

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Why Trust Our Review Of The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle

Although we don’t have the Horizon 7.0 IC in our studio to test just yet, we can get a great idea of how this bike will perform based on our experience testing exercise bikes. We’ve been doing this for years so when we see a list of specs, we can predict how a bike will function and who it will be best for. We’ve also spent time thoroughly testing Horizon treadmills, so we know what to expect from the brand. We’ve created this spec review to give you insight into the 7.0 IC so you can decide if it is a good fit for you.

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In-depth Review of the Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle Review

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3rd Party Apps

The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle is appealing if you’re looking for an affordable bike with plenty of entertainment options. At under $1000 this bike doesn’t come with an attached touch screen and it doesn’t require a subscription to use. It also doesn’t require wifi or a power outlet either.

Instead, the console is Bluetooth enabled with the touch of a button and it comes with onboard workout programs built-in. These programs include target calories, distance, intervals, and weight loss training goals. There is a manual mode to do your own thing, too.

For Bluetooth connectivity, the 7.0 IC syncs with fitness tracking apps like Fitbit, Google Fit, Apple Health, and Strava. For workout options, you can connect to the Peloton app and Zwift app. In these apps, you’ll see your cadence and heart rate shown in the app.

In order to connect to these apps through Bluetooth, you must use your own device. Conveniently, there is a holder to place your phone/tablet so you can view the screen while you ride. The holder is large enough to hold anything from a phone to an iPad. This included accessory lets you use the compatible apps as well as stream whatever you want. You could also put the Horizon 7.0 IC in front of your television, too.

Console

The console appears to be a nice size. It is larger than the Horizon 5.0 IC and has a few more training options. As I mentioned, there are workout programs available to choose from for guided training. Each program has a button to select. Overall, we think this console should be easy to use.

Horizon states that this is a high-contrast console. It might be backlit but we aren’t entirely sure. It appears to be large and wide enough to see everything clearly though. Everything from your cadence, resistance, watt output, time, and heart rate is shown on the LCD screen.

An interesting component is that the magnetic resistance is adjusted using the console. Two arrow buttons are used to maneuver between the 100 levels of resistance depending on the amount of tension you want to pedal against. Other bikes like bikes from Peloton, use a resistance knob to adjust the resistance. The knob on the Peloton Bike+ is sensitive and hard to adjust to a specific resistance level.

Adjusting the 7.0 IC by using the buttons on the console should be easy to get to a specific increment, but it might be annoying if you want to jump from high to low resistances and vice versa.

There is a knob but it is a brake to stop the flywheel when you’re pedaling. It is located below the handlebars.

On either side of the brake are two cupholders to fit your water bottle and probably your phone, if you don’t want to place it on the device rack. These cupholders are definitely a step up from the 5.0 IC. They appear to be plastic but seem to be sturdy enough to hold a standard water bottle. I like the placement of these, too. They are out of the way so you don’t have to worry about your feet knocking them when you’re getting on and off the Horizon bike.

Construction Quality & Durability

For this price range, the Horizon 7.0 IC has some nice qualities. It offers a standard riding experience is a good budget option. We assume beginners, intermediates, and riders wanting an affordable bike will get a lot of use out of the 7.0 IC.

The 300 lb weight capacity is impressive and means the 7.0 IC should handle users up to this limit. This limit is on par with the Sole SB900.

Frame

The frame appears to be pretty standard. It features two stabilizers with front transportation wheels to move the bike when needed. Considering that the Horizon 7.0 IC only weighs 87 lbs, it should be easy to move. With it being this lightweight though, I am unsure of how durable and sturdy the 7.0 IC will be to ride. Other comparable bikes typically weigh at least 100 lbs or more.

Once we get the 7.0 IC in our studio, we will update this review to share how it performed for us and we will test the durability ourselves. In the meantime though, we assume the 7.0 IC will hold up with use and the lifetime frame warranty helps to instill confidence that this is a durable bike.

FlyWheel

Another factor that helps determine the overall durability is the weight of the flywheel. The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle has a heavy flywheel of 28.6 lbs. This weight should make the pedal stroke feel even and consistent.

When testing bikes under $1000 we hope to see a heavy flywheel of at least 20-30+ lbs. There are bikes with light flywheels (under 10 lbs), but these tend to be in a higher price range. The bike must be engineered to use a light flywheel and this design usually costs more.

The 7.0 IC also uses adjustable magnetic resistance. This bike is mostly quiet to use because of its resistance. Magnetic resistance requires less maintenance than friction resistance. Magnetic resistance is appealing because the resistance can be shown on the console, unlike friction resistance.

Drive System

The mechanism that connects the pedals to the flywheel is a belt drive. This makes the pedal stroke feel smooth and sound quiet. It can’t be seen on the 7.0 IC because it is covered with a panel. Belt drives require little to no maintenance and are commonly found on indoor cycling bikes.

I’m glad to see hybrid pedals on the Horizon 7.0 IC. Hybrid pedals are valuable because they allow users to choose how they want to ride. It is also beneficial if you have multiple users in your household planning on using the bike. One side is toe cages to slip your feet into, and the other is clips to work with SPD cycling shoes. The adjustable strap on the toe cages let you wear any type of athletic shoe, and the SPD clips are commonly found on indoor/outdoor bikes.

Handlebars And Saddle

The comfort of the handlebars and saddle are subjective and I can’t explicitly say how they will feel because I haven’t used them yet. However, looking at the handles, they offer a lot of grip options, so whether you’re riding in or out of the saddle, you have different places to hold onto. The coating on the handles might have a slight texture to help your hands from slipping, too.
The saddle is narrow and lightly padded – exactly what you want in an indoor cycling saddle. Wide saddles can make you more prone to getting saddle sores, so this saddle should be great for pedaling a lot of miles on the 7.0 IC.

An upgrade from the 5.0 IC from Horizon is the 4 adjustment points. The saddle can be lowered/raised and shifted forward/back depending on your height. The handlebars can also be moved up/down and forward/back. This amount of adjustability allows users to get a good bike fit.

Warranty

As I mentioned, Horizon backs the construction of the frame with an impressive lifetime warranty. Horizon also includes a 3-year warranty for parts and a 1-year warranty for labor with the purchase of the 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle.

You also have the choice of white-glove assembly, in-room delivery, and curbside shipping when you buy the Horizon 7.0 IC. So, if you want to use the bike upstairs, in-room delivery or white glove assembly are nice options to have.

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