Schwinn 130 “My20” Upright Exercise Bike Review
Schwinn 130 Model Year 2020
If you are looking for a cheaper stationary upright bikes that would offer some good resistance at home, it can be a difficult search. There are a great deal of upright exercise bike options on the market that just don’t stand up under further examination or simply are not worth the price asked. However, one of the brands that typically does a good job of representing the accurate value of their machines is Schwinn. We’ve already looked at the Schwinn 130 upright bike, but now we’re going to look at the My20 variant of the same bike. This bike comes in a similar price range to the regular 130, but offers different elements. We’re going to check out all of these elements and see just how they compare to the asking price and the original 130. So with all of that out of the way, let’s hop into our review of the Schwinn 130 “My20” upright bike!
We’ve already mentioned the price of the Schwinn 130 My20 upright bike, so it only makes sense to start with and expand on it. You can generally find the My20 cardio bike for a price that ranges between $400 and $350. This is actually a more narrow range than the regular Schwinn 130, as it has an upper limit of around $500. The warranties that come with Schwinn upright exercise bikes are normally pretty solid and the same rings true here. You get a 10 year warranty on the labour, 1 year warranty on the electronics, 2 years on the mechanical parts and 90 days on the labour. A solid package overall, especially when considering how it looks compared to others warranties on the market. The shipping process should only take about 1-2 weeks, but this can also be affected by factors outside our control. The weather, pandemics and simple human error can all affect that. Once it does arrive, the assembly process shouldn’t be anything to get too bothered about. The manual that comes with the bike should make the entire thing much easier, even for those who aren’t particularly skilled at such a process.
The next part of the Schwinn 130 My20 home exercise bike that we’re going to look at is the monitor. These are some of the most important elements that are part of exercise bikes in the modern day, and can lead to some absolutely excellent feature additions. The My20 upright bike has an identical monitor to the one on the regular Schwinn 130. It isn’t backlit, so it’ll be difficult to see in darker conditions. There are 13 different preset programs on the monitor to challenge and add variety to your workouts. In addition to the standard Quick Start (or Manual Mode), you have interval and challenge modes programmed in. All of these combine to give a wider variety to the workouts and challenge everyone who gets on, regardless of skill or experience. You’ve also got different data displays on the monitor that will show you how you are doing. Your time, speed, RPM, heart rate, distance, and calories are all available on one screen. This is quite convenient, as is the ability to switch the measurements between metric and English measurements. There is a Bluetooth connection that allows you to connect to outside apps like Explore the World® and Zwift®, but it doesn’t give you subscriptions to those apps. You’ll need one already/subscribe to a new one. It also has the ability to connect to a chest strap for heart rate monitoring, although the strap doesn’t come with the My20 upright bike either. For a bike that is under $500, these are a lot more features than you would normally expect, and we can appreciate that.
What many people probably want to know about is the resistance and challenge offered by the Schwinn 130 My20 upright bike. After all, you buy one of these stationary bikes for the exercise and fitness that it can provide. Once again, you’ll find a pretty similar experience to the Schwinn 130 on this machine. It is a magnetic resistance bike with 16 levels that you can choose from. This will allow for a nice variety of challenges for both newcomers and experienced cyclists. Combine this with the belt drivetrain and you’ve got a pretty silent experience while working out. Even the higher levels don’t provide that much sound. We don’t know the specific weight of the flywheel. Considering that this bike weighs more than the standard Schwinn 130, we estimate that it weighs more than the 13 lbs (5.9 kg). Although it probably doesn’t weigh more than 30 lbs (13.6 kg) just based on the overall weight of the My20 cardio bike (but more on that in a minute). The crank of the My20 is actually a 3-piece one, unlike the base 130. This is one area that it has a definite advantage, as the 1-piece cranks are just not that good. You still can’t stand up on these pedals, as the crank arms are extremely small and thin, but they are at least more than 1 piece welded together. Then there is the unknown Q-Factor. For those who don’t know, the Q-Factor is the distance between the pedals. If it is too wide, the workout can become uncomfortable. If it is too narrow, the same can happen in addition to the risk of injury.
Then there is the actual size and weight of the Schwinn 130 My20 upright bike. As we mentioned, it is ever-so-slightly bigger than the base Schwinn 130, but it weighs about 12 lbs more. Specifically, it weighs 70 lbs (31.7 kg) and can hold a maximum weight limit of 300 lbs (136 kg). It has a footprint that measures out to be 41 in (104 cm) long, 22 in (56 cm) wide and 58 in (147 cm) tall. The My20 cardio has similarly good floor stabilizers compared to the 130 on the rear of the bike. It’s got a pair of transport wheels on the front, although these are quite small. Still, they help with the movement of the bike. The My20 has a pretty standard steel frame.
We’ll finish our examination with the last physical elements of the Schwinn 130 My20 upright bike. The handlebars of the My20 cardio bike are angle adjustable with a selection of multiple grips. They are coated with a nice foam padding, which is always appreciated. Otherwise, there really isn’t that much to praise with the handlebars. They do the job. The saddle is somewhat of a similar case. It shares the weakness of the Schwinn 130 in that it is only vertically adjustable about 10 levels. It should still allow for people between the heights of 5’0” (153 cm) to those up to 6’5” (196 cm) to fit comfortably. There are a couple of complaints about the comfortability of the saddle itself, but one could always solve this with a seat cover or more padding. The tube saddle is a bit narrow, so you might get a little shaking on the more intense rides. The stabilizers should help offset this somewhat, but there still might be the shake or two. The pedals of the My20 cardio bike are pretty darn basic, with their plastic make and adjustable straps being essentially the only parts to them. As for the final little bonus features that you get with this bike, there is a water bottle holder and a media tray that would cover the monitor screen. A good combination for hydration and entertainment during the workout.
Schwinn 130 Model Year 2020 Pros:
- 16 levels of resistance is a good variety
- The magnetic resistance and belt drivetrain make for quiet workouts
- The monitor offers a variety workout programs
- The monitor displays a nice range of stats all on one screen
- The monitor can display said stats in metric and English measurements
- The monitor has Bluetooth connections to outside apps and heart rate monitors
- The water bottle holder and media tray are nice bonus features
- The warranties that come with the My20 are pretty fair for the price
- A 3-piece crank is always appreciated
Schwinn 130 Model Year 2020 Cons:
- The seat is only vertically adjustable
- There are complaints about the comfort of the saddle
- The pedals don’t add a lot outside of a place to put your feet
- The weight is a fair bit heavier than on the Schwinn 130
- The monitor is not backlit, making it hard to see in darker conditions
- The media tray requires covering the monitor
Final Verdict
The Schwinn 130 My20 upright bike actually delivers a pretty solid package for the price range. The magnetic resistance that it delivers is smooth, quiet and provides plenty of different challenges. The monitor that comes with the My20 provides a lot more features than you would usually expect on this sort of bike. The downsides that this bike has are actually quite minimal, with a slightly uncomfortable seat and a heavier overall feel than the Schwinn 130. Otherwise, it still offers a pretty good package compared to many other options available on the market in this price range.
Hi there, I'm Sayed Hamed Hosseiny, the founder and one of the authors at yourexercisebike.com (YEB). I am a former indoor cycling instructor and personal trainer with nearly 20 years of experience. With a passion for indoor cycling, I have spent years designing cycling parts, repairing, and importing exercise bikes. All the articles, tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on YourExerciseBike.com (YEB) reflect my personal opinion and expertise in the field. I'm excited to share my knowledge with fellow exercise bike enthusiasts and help people find reliable indoor cycling information and the best exercise bike for their needs. If you have any questions or suggestion, you can contact me at sayed@yourexercisebike.com.
