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Echelon EX-4S Exercise Bike w/screen and 1yr membership $999 in store at Costco YMMV

$999.00
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So I started researching Pelotons for my wife yesterday, and have major issue spending that much. Came upon this Echelon company in another SD thread. See that they have an EX3 that has no screen, and then an EX5 that has a big Peloton-size screen but that is like $1600 or something. Costco online has that EX5 for delivery and there are a fair number of negative reviews.

Someone had mentioned this EX4 in store Costco so I went to my store today and they had 6 on the floor. Nothing online I can find about it. Has a 10 inch "HD" screen so certainly smaller than an EX5, but better than EX3 which has none. I don't know the stats on flywheel but I can say that the box was surprisingly freakin heavy (says 120 pounds) so something in there must be "solid" haha.

I nabbed it just to have it, in case these start flying off the shelves once I post this haha. It says it comes with 1 yr of the app membership, which right there would be worth $480 I think. For me, much better to spend a thou and see if my wife really uses this, and can always do Peloton later or just stick with Echelon. We might find out that the 1yr app membership is hobbled in some way (like doesn't include live classes or something) but will see. I just nabbed the item and will store it till Xmas and then figure it out. If anyone else gets better info they can share. Benefit of this unit beyond the price is that I actually have it in hand, vs some vaporware delivery slot for Echelon EX5 or Peloton....

Store locator: https://www.costco.com/warehouse-locations
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Created 11-30-2020 at 01:19 PM by Hogan773
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Hogan773
11-30-2020 at 03:29 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:29 PM.
Quote from IGGUS :
Points off this device for being walled garden proprietary approach. I was all obsessed with Peloton or similar for a couple years until I started looking into actual cost of ownership, and some shady stuff the do to keep people always on the hook to pay them more, etc.

Recently got a smart Wahoo trainer, and been using it almost daily for the last month. Hooks up to my Wahoo computer, but even without, it hooks up to Zwift. This Echelon does not look Zwift compatible, which makes it a show stopper for me to recommend to anyone. So if Echelon sells out to another company or goes out of business, you've got a really expensive paperweight on your hands. And you can't use their hardware without their subscription service. At least they did bundle the first year of service into the price, something stingy Peloton won't even do.

Zwift has training plans created with Olympians, world class cyclists, runners, triathletes, etc. They customize them all based on your actual metrics like age, weight, HR, power, cadence & speed. You participate with your 3D character in any of around 10 Grand Theft Auto open type worlds (no cars or prostitutes to deal with) and decide if you want to ride up a mountain, through the desert, in Central Park NYC, Paris, London, etc. You can ride on your own, join a league, select group rides with "Mario Kart" type physics where no one is dropped or have a legit competitive race with awards. You can race for a cause (ie: I'm going on an hour ride tomorrow to raise funds for Crohn's) or create a meetup with friends. There was a Thanksgiving ride with the Zwift CEO last week where 3000+ people joined in that one event. You can "play" on your phone, tablet, Windows/Mac, AppleTV, etc.
Zwift does have a 7 day trial, then $15 a month - something I can even charge to my HSA card. And then detach my bike from the trainer and go ride it outside.


TL;DR: I'd recommend against this exercise equipment which is locked into a subscription service, which may increase in cost or turn off at any time. Get a real bike for outdoors and a trainer for about the same price, connect to Zwift, and have equipment that's higher quality and will last far longer than some future bad decision of a CEO or PE group's money grab.

https://zwift.com/hardware

I will research Zwift too. Thanks for the tip. I haven't committed to this Echelon...just bought it in case they go fast out of the stores. I know bikes are a hot item due to Covid.
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Licin
11-30-2020 at 03:32 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:32 PM.
Anyone compare the Costco ex4s to the Walmart Sport version?
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Hogan773
11-30-2020 at 03:33 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:33 PM.
Quote from joedaark :
A few things here... I went with the Peloton because of the wide variety of content and high-quality instructors. I also have a Chase Sapphire credit.

That link talks about the EX5 which Costco is also selling on the website for 1599 or something. Delivery only item and negative reviews for long delivery time. I also don't know that that 1599 includes any months of class.

My only fear is that I will open this box to find out that the "free year of app" is for some basic plan that doesnt include online classes or something. Will see on Dec 25 (or 26 if I am lazy).

My mantra is "can always return it to Costco" so I grabbed it and then posted here to tip off others
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Hogan773
11-30-2020 at 03:38 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:38 PM.
Quote from Licin :
Anyone compare the Costco ex4s to the Walmart Sport version?

I just clicked real quickly to Walmart and that Sport does not have a screen. You need to provide your own. It also has 6 months of classes vs 1 year. Now whether that is a better deal, maybe? I am intrigued. Certainly I already have an iPad so if that is the only difference, plus 6 more months of classes, then hmmm. Is that Walmart the same as the EX3?
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dealsdyker
11-30-2020 at 03:38 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:38 PM.
I bought the Walmart echelon and have really enjoyed the classes. But when my free membership is done I'll probably go pelaton because... Well... 13 a month vs 40 a month. I do love the leaderboard but not for 27 dollars a month.
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supercard
11-30-2020 at 03:51 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:51 PM.
Anyone have experience with Myx Fitness? They have $250 off their bike plus Amex has an offer for $250 off a $1199 Myx Fitness purchase. That would put the price comparably close to this bike, but you have to pay the subscription separate ($30/mo).
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Original Poster
Hogan773
11-30-2020 at 03:51 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:51 PM.
Quote from dealsdyker :
I bought the Walmart echelon and have really enjoyed the classes. But when my free membership is done I'll probably go pelaton because... Well... 13 a month vs 40 a month. I do love the leaderboard but not for 27 dollars a month.

You mean you will just use the bike as a dummy bike and load up the cheaper Peloton app on your iPad I assume. I could do that on this bike too right? Would just need to put the ipad over top of the screen.

So you used your iPad for the Echelon app? Did you get good stats and leaderboard etc from the bike? How does that Walmart bike hook up to the iPad? Bluetooth?
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slick5150
11-30-2020 at 03:56 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:56 PM.
Quote from Hogan773 :
That link talks about the EX5 which Costco is also selling on the website for 1599 or something. Delivery only item and negative reviews for long delivery time. I also don't know that that 1599 includes any months of class.

My only fear is that I will open this box to find out that the "free year of app" is for some basic plan that doesnt include online classes or something. Will see on Dec 25 (or 26 if I am lazy).

My mantra is "can always return it to Costco" so I grabbed it and then posted here to tip off others

Echelon only has 1 subscription level, which includes all live and on demand classes. I got 6 months free with my bike and have been happy with it
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dealsdyker
11-30-2020 at 03:58 PM.
11-30-2020 at 03:58 PM.
Quote from Hogan773 :
You mean you will just use the bike as a dummy bike and load up the cheaper Peloton app on your iPad I assume. I could do that on this bike too right? Would just need to put the ipad over top of the screen.

So you used your iPad for the Echelon app? Did you get good stats and leaderboard etc from the bike? How does that Walmart bike hook up to the iPad? Bluetooth?

If you want to see your echelon output but watch a youtube or other service then on the echelon app you do a "freestyle" ride. Those are free and do not require a subscription. I use the Android app. I could do split screen on android with echelon stats on one split and pelaton on the other. Some people cast to their TV.

The bike connects through encrypted bluetooth through the app.
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GoGo98102
11-30-2020 at 04:00 PM.
11-30-2020 at 04:00 PM.
I also got the $499 Walmart bike. If I had to do it all over again, I might not have done it.
1. I didn't wanna spent over $1000 on the bike, regardless if I use it every day. I thought I would just use many tablets I haven't used in ages to use it with the bike.
2. Unfortunately, this became a problem pretty soon- the Bluetooth module wasn't the greatest. It often disconnects. It could be very frustrating to keep trying to connect it every time you wanna ride.
3. Without a screen, even though you could still ride it, you are adjusting the resistance blind. You can't tell what number you are on.
4. That's why if I had to do it all over again, I might pay for the screen just so I don't have to worry about the finicky connection.
5. My unit went from finicky connection to completely dead within a month. It also came back to life SOMETIMES. it would stay dead for days (no light, no sound, nothing) and all the sudden came back to life.
6. Good thing that Echelon has pretty decent customer service. After chatting with a rep and took some pictures, they are sending me a new bike. I don't know how to pack up the old bike but I do need to send it back to them.
7. I tried joining the online classes. They are not for me. I am more of reading Facebook while biking kinda person. I decided I would just stick to Facebook and bike for now.
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Methodman
11-30-2020 at 04:00 PM.
11-30-2020 at 04:00 PM.
I can't vouch for the Echelon equipment (I'm sure its fine), however I can't recommend the Peloton bike + service enough. I bought my Peloton bike 16 months ago and I have about 475 rides in and another 300+ in their other classes. The instructors, content, and community are what make Peloton. If you know you have no problem with getting motivated to exercise, then by all means there are cheaper methods/hacks out there. Pre-Peloton, I exercised about once a week. Now, I exercise daily and put about 500 miles/month between my Peloton and road bike. I toned up and lost about 18% of my body weight and overall feel much better. Some will complain about the Peloton bike ($1900-2500) and the $40 monthly fee, but I can honestly say it's probably the best money I've spent. I'd rather pay more for equipment and service that keeps me engaged vs saving money with another service that just collects dust.
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Hogan773
11-30-2020 at 04:23 PM.
11-30-2020 at 04:23 PM.
Quote from Methodman :
I can't vouch for the Echelon equipment (I'm sure its fine), however I can't recommend the Peloton bike + service enough. I bought my Peloton bike 16 months ago and I have about 475 rides in and another 300+ in their other classes. The instructors, content, and community are what make Peloton. If you know you have no problem with getting motivated to exercise, then by all means there are cheaper methods/hacks out there. Pre-Peloton, I exercised about once a week. Now, I exercise daily and put about 500 miles/month between my Peloton and road bike. I toned up and lost about 18% of my body weight and overall feel much better. Some will complain about the Peloton bike ($1900-2500) and the $40 monthly fee, but I can honestly say it's probably the best money I've spent. I'd rather pay more for equipment and service that keeps me engaged vs saving money with another service that just collects dust.
That's a great testimonial and sounds like this was money very well spent for you! I am always happy to hear about another person getting healthy in this world of excessive junk food, phone usage and sedentary lifestyle. For me it was starting to run daily, although in the cold winters of Chicago I might find that I am taking an Echelon spin class after my wife is done haha
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Hogan773
11-30-2020 at 04:32 PM.
11-30-2020 at 04:32 PM.
Quote from GoGo98102 :
I also got the $499 Walmart bike. If I had to do it all over again, I might not have done it.
1. I didn't wanna spent over $1000 on the bike, regardless if I use it every day. I thought I would just use many tablets I haven't used in ages to use it with the bike.
2. Unfortunately, this became a problem pretty soon- the Bluetooth module wasn't the greatest. It often disconnects. It could be very frustrating to keep trying to connect it every time you wanna ride.
3. Without a screen, even though you could still ride it, you are adjusting the resistance blind. You can't tell what number you are on.
4. That's why if I had to do it all over again, I might pay for the screen just so I don't have to worry about the finicky connection.
5. My unit went from finicky connection to completely dead within a month. It also came back to life SOMETIMES. it would stay dead for days (no light, no sound, nothing) and all the sudden came back to life.
6. Good thing that Echelon has pretty decent customer service. After chatting with a rep and took some pictures, they are sending me a new bike. I don't know how to pack up the old bike but I do need to send it back to them.
7. I tried joining the online classes. They are not for me. I am more of reading Facebook while biking kinda person. I decided I would just stick to Facebook and bike for now.
Good to know, thanks. I am confused by something though...on the Walmart site it says "comes with 6 months of classes...$120 value". If the Echelon classes are $40 a month, isn't Walmart selling itself short marketing-wise?

That was also one reason I decided to grab this bike while I researched....hopefully the monitor is well-integrated. However if the monitor is just a cheap android tablet that bluetooths to the same stats output as on the EX3, then I could see this EX4 as being not the best value....
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nithos
11-30-2020 at 04:32 PM.
11-30-2020 at 04:32 PM.
Quote from IGGUS :
And you can't use their hardware without their subscription service.
There is a "free ride" option in the Echelon App that doesn't require a subscription. But as soon as the app goes MIA, you are riding blind.
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Joined Nov 2004
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nithos
11-30-2020 at 04:35 PM.
11-30-2020 at 04:35 PM.
Quote from Hogan773 :
My only fear is that I will open this box to find out that the "free year of app" is for some basic plan that doesnt include online classes or something. Will see on Dec 25 (or 26 if I am lazy).
When you sign up, select the $40 a month plan and you will have access to everything. If you select the cheaper plan, you will not have access to the cycling classes. Customer support via chat was great when I reached out with questions on my Walmart Sport.
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