Editorial Policy

Effective Date: 2025-10-04

Purpose Our editorial mission is to help you buy an exercise bike once and ride any app, any time—without lock‑in. We publish independent, method‑driven reviews and guides centered on real‑home testing and future‑proof ownership.

Independence & Funding

• We do not sell rankings or accept payment for positive coverage.
• We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase via links on our site. This does not affect the price you pay and does not influence our conclusions.
• When feasible, we purchase products at retail. If a product is loaned, there is no guarantee of review, timing, or outcome, and loaners may be returned after testing.

Review Selection We prioritize bikes and accessories that claim open‑standard connectivity, broad fit ranges, quiet operation, accessible maintenance, and good parts availability.

Hands‑On Standard Every review is based on direct use, setup, and testing in real living spaces. We document firmware versions and retest after significant updates.

Methodology Summary

• Noise & Vibration: A‑weighted dB at 1 m and in an adjacent room; tri‑axis vibration readings on floor/frame.
• Interoperability: Bluetooth FTMS and ANT+ FE‑C verification; feature mapping across Peloton App, Zwift, TrainerRoad, Apple Fitness+, Kinomap, and others.
• Accuracy & Drift: Reference power‑meter pedals; erg ramps, sprints, and endurance blocks; pre/post calibration checks.
• Fit & Ergonomics: Adjustability ranges, repeatability for multi‑user homes, safety checks.
• Footprint & Moveability: Dimensions, transport wheels, cable management, aesthetic fit in living spaces.
• Maintenance & TCO: Service intervals, spare‑parts pricing/availability, corrosion resistance, warranty realism (3–5+ years).

Rating & Comparisons We publish a total‑ownership score with weighted categories and maintain head‑to‑head comparison pages and an open‑app compatibility matrix. Scores may change after firmware or hardware updates; we note revisions in a changelog.

Corrections & Updates If we make an error, we will correct it promptly and mark the change with an updated timestamp and description. Send requests to [email protected] with details and supporting evidence.

Conflicts of Interest Contributors must disclose any prior employment, consulting, or financial ties with manufacturers or retailers. Individuals with material conflicts do not work on related coverage.

Product Samples & Gifts We do not accept gifts or perks that could influence coverage. Loaned products are returned or donated at our discretion; acceptance does not guarantee publication.

Sponsored Content & Ads Sponsored content, if any, will be clearly labeled. Sponsors have no control over reviews, scores, or test results.

Use of AI Tools We may use AI for clerical tasks (e.g., copy edits), but all testing, analysis, recommendations, and final edits are performed and approved by human editors.

Attribution & Sources We cite primary sources (manuals, standards, firmware notes) and note when information is vendor‑provided. Data plots and measurements are derived from our testing unless otherwise stated.

Audience Feedback We invite owners to share long‑term experiences. When reader reports trigger retests or updates, we note this in the article history.

Contact Questions about this policy or our process? Email [email protected].