NordicTrack S22i Bike vs Peloton Bike Comparison – Treadmill Reviews 2022 – Best Treadmills Compared

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 w