Horizon 7.0 IC Review | Connected Fitness for Less

Dimensions/Storability

The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle measures 47″ x 21″ x 47″ and features two stabilizers with front transportation wheels to move the bike when needed. It weighs only 87 lbs, so it should be easy to move. However, because it is this lightweight, I am unsure how durable and sturdy it will be to ride. Other comparable bikes typically weigh at least 100 lbs or more.

Onboard Workouts & 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 touchscreen and doesn’t require a subscription. It also doesn’t require Wi-Fi or a power outlet.

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

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 and Zwift apps. These apps display your cadence and heart rate.

You must use your own device to connect to these apps through Bluetooth. Conveniently, there is a holder to place your phone or tablet so you can view the screen while you ride. The holder is large enough to hold anything from a phone to an iPad. You could also put the Horizon 7.0 IC in front of your television.

Console

The console appears to be a nice size. It is larger than the Horizon 5.0 IC and has 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. The brightly lit number should be easy to see even in dark rooms. It appears to be large and wide enough to see everything clearly, though. The LCD screen shows everything from your cadence, resistance, watt output, time, and heart rate.

An interesting component is that the magnetic resistance is adjusted using the console. Two arrow buttons maneuver between the 100 resistance levels. 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 using the buttons on the console should make it easy to reach 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 cup holders to fit your water bottle and probably your phone if you don’t want to place it on the device rack. They appear to be plastic but 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 get on and off the Horizon bike.

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Build Quality

For this price range, the Horizon 7.0 IC has some nice qualities. It offers a standard riding experience and is a good budget option. We assume beginners and experienced 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 it means the 7.0 IC should handle users up to this limit, which is on par with the Sole SB900.

Frame

The frame appears to be pretty standard. Once we get the 7.0 IC in our studio, we will update this review to share how it performed for us and 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 flywheel’s weight. The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle has a heavy flywheel at 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 that weighs 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 connecting the pedals to the flywheel is a belt drive. This makes the pedal stroke feel smooth and sound quiet. The belt drive is covered with a panel. Belt drives require little to no maintenance and are commonly found on indoor cycling bikes.

Pedals

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. They are also beneficial if you have multiple users in your household planning on using the bike.

One side has toe cages to slip your feet into, and the other has clips to work with SPD cycling shoes. The adjustable strap on the toe cages lets 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.

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 four 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 mentioned, Horizon backs the frame’s construction with an impressive lifetime warranty. With the purchase of the 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle, Horizon also includes a one-year warranty for parts and a one-year warranty for labor.

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

Should You Buy the Horizon 7.0 IC

The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle is an affordable exercise bike. The console doesn’t require a subscription fee, Wi-Fi, or even electricity, but it comes with onboard workout programs and Bluetooth connectivity to apps like Zwift and Peloton. The device rack holds your phone or tablet so you can stream whatever you want, or you can just put the 7.0 IC in front of your TV screen.

Regarding the quality, we love that the frame comes with a lifetime warranty and that this bike adjusts four ways to fit a wider range of users. The 300 lb capacity and 28.6 lb flywheel indicate that this is a solid bike, even though it only weighs 87 lbs. Users get a lot of training options with the hybrid pedals, multi-grip handlebars, and 100 levels of magnetic resistance.

If you’re on the hunt for a good budget pick, check out the Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle.

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Horizon 7.0 IC Q&A / FAQ

Is the Horizon 7.0 IC a good exercise bike?

The Horizon 7.0 IC is a good entry-level exercise bike with basic but durable features. It is best for beginner to intermediate indoor cyclists. It has a lifetime warranty on its frame, a heavy flywheel, and 100 levels of magnetic resistance.

Where are Horizon exercise bikes made?

Horizon bikes are made in Hanoi, Vietnam.

How fast should I indoor cycle?

A good rpm range is 30 to 110 rotations per minute. I recommend using a heart rate monitor because training in heart rate zones 2 to 4 can indicate that you are going fast enough with enough resistance. Try Zone 2 (60 to 70% of your max) for slow, steady rides and Zone 4 (80 to 90%) for short, intense intervals.

How much should I indoor cycle?

New cyclists can start with short workouts of only 5 to 15 minutes, especially if they were previously sedentary. Slowly build up your training routine until you have reached the desired workout length. You can stick to short, intense HIIT sessions or work up to 90+ minute endurance rides.

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