NordicTrack S22i Bike vs Peloton Bike Comparison 2024

Peloton vs NordicTrack, two of the hottest indoor exercise bikes on the market! With lots of cool options both on the bikes and in the apps, you can get a great workout on either one. But let’s take a detailed look at their overall comfort, design and functionality.

The Peloton Bike and NordicTrack S22i are popular, functional, and considered among some of the top exercise bikes on the market.

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Our Video Review

NordicTrack s22i:

Peloton Bike:

Recommendation:

Based on construction, comfort, functionality and cost, we prefer the NordicTrack s22i over the Peloton bike. While both have great features, when compared side-by-side, the s22i is less expensive and gives you more options, such as outdoor routes, Google maps compatibility, automated control in iFit, control buttons on the handlebars, and even a fan in the console. For more detailed information, check out our in-depth review below. You can also compare some of the other popular exercise bikes on the market by checking out our list of best exercise bikes.

In-depth Comparison of Peloton Bike and NordicTrack S22i

Bike Construction

Peloton Frame Material and Design

The Peloton Bike is a standard, studio exercise bike with a sturdy, steel frame set on front and rear stabilizers. Two wheels on the front stabilizer make it so you can tilt the bike forward and roll it out of the way when needed. There are six adjustable leveling feet (3 under each stabilizer) that can be shortened or lengthened to make sure the bike doesn’t move. We love these adjustable feet. If you’ve ever assembled furniture, you know that your floor and/or the furniture is not always level. There are high and low spots, which can cause things to rock a little even if they look level. The adjustable feet make it so you can place your Peloton bike where you want it and then adjust the feet underneath to make sure each one connects with the floor. The Peloton bike does not move. We are impressed with it’s frame stability.

The Peloton Bike is a standard exercise bike with a sleek design.

Peloton Bike Specs

• Footprint: 59” L x 23” W x 53” H
• Bike Weight: 135 pounds
• Max User Weight: 300 pounds
• Incline/Decline: No
• Construction: Feels solid, looks chic

S22i Frame Material and Design

The NordicTrack s22i also has a steel frame with front and rear stabilizers. It has an extra support beam centered under the frame that connects to each stabilizer. The s22i has two adjustable leveling feet under the rear stabilizer. The front feet are not adjustable. However, the s22i is unique because it will incline and decline to simulate outdoor terrain. A motor attached to the rear stabilizer and an expandable front fork allow the bike to lift and tilt. For this reason, it requires more support under the frame. Whereas the Peloton bike looks light and airy, the s22i is a bit heavier due to the added structural support.

With all the additional components, the NordicTrack has more capabilities and is also heavier.

NordicTrack s22i Specs

• Footprint: 61.0″ Long x 22″ Wide x 58″ High
• Bike Weight: ~200 pounds
• Max User Weight: 350 pounds
• Incline/Decline: -10% to + 20% Incline
• Construction: Sturdy, more support under the frame to provide incline/decline

Peloton Handlebars and cockpit

Peloton has four-position handlebars with a soft, spongy grip that isn’t too thick but still offers gentle cushioning. The handlebars angle up slightly so the vertical grips extend in front of the screen. The grips are comfortable and I love the stacked horizontal bars! I find this cockpit space perfect, but it could be a bit compact for taller riders. The angled aero bar offers another forward riding position.

We love the design and comfort of the Peloton cockpit and handlebars.

Peloton Handlebars:

• Multi-position: 4 positions: 2 stacked horizontal, angled vertical, angled aero arc
• Span: 18” between vertical grips
• Length: 12” from front of handlebars to end
• Distance to screen: 12” from front horizontal grip and screen

S22i Handlebars and cockpit

S22i handlebars offer three positions with one horizontal, vertical grip, and angled aero arc. They are also gently padded with a sweat-resistant coating. There are control buttons on the extension grips — resistance on the right and incline on the left. NordicTrack places the weights on the front of the bike between the handlebars and screen. It’s a toss-up whether this is preferred positioning. I personally don’t like the weights in the front, but several other reviewers prefer it, so having them here is a matter of preference. Only one horizontal bar limits your grip options a little. When seated the bar is fine, but when standing, we’d like to see an additional horizontal bar like Peloton has. The angled aero bar is also a little narrow; especially for riders with wider shoulders.

The handlebars and cockpit on the s22i are functional, but a tweak here or there could enhance comfort and headspace.

S22i Handlebars:

• Multi-position: 3 positions: angled vertical, flat horizontal, angled aero arc
• Span: 18” between vertical grips
• Length: 12” from front of handlebars to end
• Distance to screen: 14” from front horizontal grip to screen

Flywheel

Flywheel weight: Generally, an indoor exercise bike functions best with a heavy, weighted flywheel. You’ll find up to 50-pound flywheels on commercial gym bikes, but these can also be tricky to slow down when they start to spin really fast. 30 pounds is just right for at-home use. Flywheels function by gaining speed as they spin. A properly weighted flywheel then maintains inertia as it rotates so the motion is fluid. If the flywheel is not heavy enough, it has a hard time maintaining momentum, creating a jerky feeling in the pedal stroke with heaviness on the back end. The flywheel on both the Peloton bike and s22i are weighted roughly the same and they both spin smoothly and evenly. There is no detectable difference in performance between the two bikes.

The Peloton has a plastic see-through coating over the drive train.

The Peloton bike has a black flywheel that weighs 30 pounds and is 19” in diameter. It uses a drive belt and is virtually silent when pedalling.

The NordicTrack has an enclosed drive train.

The s22i has a chrome 32 pound flywheel that is also 19” in diameter. It also has a drive belt and rides quietly.

Resistance

Both bikes use magnetic resistance, which is created when magnets inside the drive system oppose the rotation of the flywheel. Magnetic resistance is virtually silent since there are no friction points. It is also less abrasive on the flywheel and doesn’t usually require maintenance or repair. I would expect magnetic resistance on bikes of this quality. Both bikes have equally quiet magnetic resistance systems. The resistance is responsive and silent on both bikes.

Resistance Calibration

Both bikes use digital resistance levels, which means resistance levels are electronically preset to be specific and measurable. Since both NordicTrack and Peloton use subscription programming that instructs the rider to set a certain resistance, digitally measured levels are the most accurate way to do this. However, the way the levels are measured on each bike is different.

Peloton Resistance Levels & Automation

The resistance knob on the Peloton feels nice in your hand, but it’s harder to operate.

Peloton has 100 resistance levels and uses a resistance knob. 100 levels is a lot; personally, I prefer between 25-30 levels. With 100 levels, you have to turn it roughly 8-10 levels to feel a significant difference. While breaking the levels up gives you smaller increments, and may be preferable for beginning riders, it can be a bit tricky to find the right level quickly and easily.

The Peloton resistance knob is not my favorite because you have to kind of play it a little to get to the right level. There’s no jump button like there is on the Tread, so you can’t quickly move from 10 to 20 to 30 with just a button. You can lock three resistance levels on the screen to quickly select via the touchscreen, but these may change depending on what kind of a ride you are doing. There are no buttons on the handlebars or the console to control resistance.

S22i Resistance Levels & Automation

The NordicTrack uses buttons on the handles instead of a knob.

The s22i has 24 digital levels of resistance and several ways to adjust it. While 24 levels may be too few for some riders, I prefer having more significant increments. Rather than have to scroll through 100 options, you only need to add one or two levels to really feel a difference. The levels are much more significant and noticeable.

Changing the resistance on the screen allows you to jump from high to low resistance and incline.

S22i resistance is controlled both with touch controls and on the touchscreen. The touch controls on the handlebars are very convenient. They literally sit right at thumb height, so you just quickly adjust up or down at any time. Readouts for incline and resistance are also on the screen, with incline on the left and resistance on the right. A quick tap on the screen will quickly adjust any setting.

NordicTrack s22i has automated resistance control. Whether you are taking an iFit class, doing an outdoor route, using a preloaded program, or even if you create your own route in Google Maps, the bike will automatically match the incline/decline of whatever is happening in the program. This makes it so riders can focus on form and cadence rather than have to listen for cues and manually adjust resistance. You can also override the automation at any time by simply adjusting your resistance where you want it. The resistance will stay where you set it unless you hit the “follow trainer” icon on the touchscreen. This way, automation is convenient, but you still have control.

Peloton Pedals

Unfortunately, the Peloton Bike doesn’t come with toe cages for another riding option.

The Peloton pedals have Delta Look clips so they will only work with a specific cycling shoe and cleat. There is no flat side for regular athletic shoes. I have a pair of road biking shoes with Look cleats and while they will clip in, they don’t lock precisely and my shoe moves back and forth in the pedal, so you may have to buy the Peloton shoes to get a perfect fit. Peloton sells shoes and cleats separately.

S22i Pedals

The SPD clips (as shown here) are easy to clip in, or you can flip them over to use the toe cages.

The s22i has hybrid pedals. One side is an adjustable resin cage to hold your shoe in tight. The toe cages do not require a cycling shoe, so you can ride with any athletic shoe. The flat surface is wide enough to offer good support for most riders and you can cinch the cage tight via an adjustable strap. On the other side, there are clips to clip in your SPD cleats. SPD cleats are commonly found on cycling shoes and spin bikes, so there’s a wide variety of these shoes that are compatible. Both of these pedal options let you choose how you want to ride.

Incline / Decline

Peloton does not have any incline or decline on the bike. The frame is fixed and does not move. Your training variables are position, speed and resistance.

The NordicTrack s22i has automated incline to 20% grade and decline to a 10% grade.

The motor for the incline/decline feature is attached at the rear of the NordicTrack S22i.

This is another reason why 24 resistance levels is plenty. When you add incline, the resistance becomes significantly more challenging. When you decline, the resistance is easier. The combination of variables makes it so you can ride a level 14 resistance and it will feel very different depending on if the bike is inclined or declined.

Incline/decline on the s22i is automated. Once again, when you are taking a class or riding an outdoor route, the incline and decline will automatically adjust to match the terrain. Since both resistance and incline are automated, you really feel like you are riding outside (or in a class).

There are several advantages to offering incline and decline.

• • You increase training variables. Rather than just adjust resistance and speed, you now can add incline/decline to the mix which enhances your training variables significantly.

• • You engage different muscles. Incline will work more of your posterior chain. You have to engage glutes and hamstrings to really get up that hill. Downhill riding strengthens your anterior muscles and requires you to utilize your upper body a bit more to maintain balance. This offers more well-rounded conditioning by activating more muscle groups simultaneously.

• • You can train more accurately for specific events. If you are a mountain biker, riding inside during the off-season, you can train on hills just like you would outside. iFit also includes hundreds of outdoor routes so you really feel (and see) yourself climbing that hill.

• • The automated feature makes riding feel real and natural. You don’t have to worry about adjusting things all the time, you can train on rolling hills like you would outdoors. Automation stops when you make any manual adjustments, so you always have control.

When it comes to overall functionality, the s22i offers significantly more features and benefits with automated incline and decline options.

Console / Controls

Peloton Screen

While it is minimal, the Peloton has a hanging cable attached to the screen that could get caught on something.

• • Size: Peloton screen is a 22” high-definition touchscreen. This impressive screen is thin and streamlined with minimal bevel for maximum screen space.

• • Screen Movement: The screen pivots up and down but does not swivel side to side

• • Resolution: The resolution and graphics on the Peloton screen are crisp and easy to see; we’ve noticed no eye-fatigue even on long rides.

• • Touchscreen: nice touchscreen sensitivity is responsive even with sweaty hands. We love how so much of the functionality is embedded in the touchscreen. A few more external controls on handlebar or bevel wouldn’t hurt though.

• • Casting: You can cast Peloton content to a Smart TV or via an Amazon Fire Stick. This is a nice feature when doing off the bike classes since the screen doesn’t swivel, but you have to be in a room with a compatible Smart TV.

• • Functionality: Overall, the functionality of the Peloton screen is slick and navigable. You can easily toggle through options and classes. Leaderboard is easy to manipulate and the picture is clear.

S22i Screen

The NordicTrack’s screen is thicker, but all of the cables are tucked away, out of sight.

• • Size: The s22i screen is also a 22” high-def touchscreen. It is thicker and heavier than the Peloton screen, but it has a built-in fan which is a huge benefit.

• • Screen movement: This screen pivots up and down and also swivels side to side so you can see it when doing a class off the bike. Having the screen swivel is another huge benefit on the s22i console.

We love that the screen pivots to each side for training off the bike.

• • Resolution: The resolution is crisp and I absolutely love riding the outdoor rides; you really feel like you are on the road. Screen resolution and graphics showcase the gorgeous landscapes in the iFit outdoor rides.

• • Touchscreen: Again, most bike functionality has been incorporated into the touchscreen, so navigation is simple. You can adjust speed or incline right on the touchscreen. The s22i also includes buttons on the handlebars for added control when needed. I love having both options.

• • Functionality:In all, we prefer the screen on the s22i because it swivels side to side, includes a fan and has nice graphics. While the Peloton screen is crisp, it doesn’t do as much as the s22i.

Peloton Accessories

• • Fans: There is no built-in fan on the Peloton bike.

• • Weights: Cages for weights are attached to the back of the bike, but weights must be purchased separately.

• • Tablet/Phone holder: There is no phone or tablet holder included.

The plastic looks nice on the Peloton’s cupholders, but they aren’t the most secure and sturdy.

• • Water bottles/Storage: There is no real storage on the Peloton bike. There are two water bottle cups attached to the handlebar post. They hold some standard water bottles, but they might be too flimsy for larger, heavier water bottles.

S22i Accessories

• Fans: There is a built-in fan under the screen with four power settings. We love this fan! Because you have to face forward while riding, the fan right under the console is the perfect place to cool off your chest and face. Since the Peloton bike doesn’t have a fan, you would have to set one to the side, which isn’t ideal.

• Tablet/Phone holder: There is no specific tablet holder, but a tray in between the weights provides the perfect place to set your phone. It’s easy to see and reach and stable while riding.

Most sized phones can fit well on the NordicTrack’s tray.

• Weights: Weights come standard and sit on a tray between the handlebars and screen. Personally, I don’t love the weights here, but other reviewers do, so it’s a personal preference. I just set them to the side when I’m doing a long ride and want to lean forward. The weights are easy to see and grab, which is definitely a plus.

These water bottle holders are secure and can hold most water bottles.

• Water bottles/Storage:There are two water bottle cups attached to the handlebar post, both of which will hold a standard (but not oversized) water bottle.

Subscription Content: Peloton App vs. iFit

Peloton App Functionality

The studio classes are really fun to take on the Peloton Bike.

NordicTrack S22i iFit App

We love taking outdoor rides on the NordicTrack S22i.

Peloton Pre-programmed workouts

There are no pre-programmed workouts on the Peloton bike. If you do not pay for content, the bike stays on the menu screen and displays no stats or rider metrics. With a subscription, Peloton does offer Lanebreak which is their gamified content. It features multiple lanes that you travel down depending on your resistance and cadence. The goal is to hit the targets in the lanes to earn points.

Lanebreak is a fun way to take a break from studio trainer-led classes that are primarily on the Peloton.

S22i Pre-programmed workouts

The s22i features onboard workouts that are not a part of iFit.

• Interval, Strength, Speed, Calorie Burn: Pre-programmed workouts display a graph of the overall routine. The bike will adjust incline and resistance to match your selected workout. These are of varying length and intensity.

• Manual Workout: A white track and stat bar display stats and distance. You can manually adjust the incline and resistance to create your own workout.

Creating your own route is a nice way to mix up the trainer-led classes on the S22i.

• Create your own Google map route: Select from any location in the world. You can then map a route using the touchscreen. You can then save it as a workout and ride at your leisure. The images update every few seconds as you ride. The bike will automatically adjust resistance and incline to match the geography of each location. This feature is only available with a subscription to iFit.

Bottom Line: We prefer the NordicTrack s22i

In our comparative analysis, the NordicTrack s22i comes out on top. While both the Peloton bike and the s22i have impressive features that will enhance your overall conditioning, the s22i has more outdoor routes, features automated controls for incline/decline and resistance, and has a built-in fan, and rotating screen. The Peloton bike is popular and will certainly look chic in the corner of your room, but for overall functionality, innovative design and upgraded features, we recommend riders take a look at the NordicTrack s22i.