The LCB is Sole’s most advanced upright model to date.
It’s so advanced in fact, that it’s actually rated for light commercial use- meaning it can handle the stress of multiple users and up to 5 hours of daily operation.
Like any other Sole machine, the LCB is built to perform.
The spec sheet for this stationary bike is impressive, but highlights include a 27 lb flywheel, 40 resistance levels, and a fully-adjustable seat.
It also comes with some interesting tech features that add to overall enjoyment, including a 10″ touchscreen console with built-in entertainment apps, free streaming workout access (Sole+) and screen mirroring.
Long story short- yes, the LCB is likely the best stationary exercise bike in its price class.
So if you’re looking for a durable upright bike that feels commercial grade, Sole’s LCB is a smart choice, but there are some other nice bikes in this price range too.
In this thorough review, I’ll take you an up-close-and-personal tour of everything the LCB has to offer; I’l also discuss how it compares to the other top options in this price range.
After reading, you’ll know whether or not the LCB is the right bike for your home gym.
With impressive performance specs and a new updated console loaded with fun features, Sole’s LCB is likely the best upright bike in its price range. However, if you don’t want a touchscreen console, you may want to consider Spirit’s XBU55, which comes with an even longer warranty.
Sole’s LCB Upright Bike
I’m a sucker for the Sole brand.
Their products always end up on my “best of” lists each year (I swear I don’t work for the company).
It’s just that I’m a fan of their “performance first, everything else second” way of doing things.
Sole is probably most well-known for their home treadmills, but their exercise bikes are just as impressive.
Their bikes come highly recommended for their hardy frames, heavy flywheels, and great warranties.
And now that Sole’s updated just about all their consoles, we don’t have to choose between performance or features any more.
Anyway, when it comes to upright bikes, they offer 2 to choose from – the LCB we’re here to discuss now and the budget-friendlier B94, which is also an impressive specimen in its own right.
Pros
- 27 lb flywheel
- 40 levels of magnetic resistance
- Large, fully adjustable gel seat
- Multi-grip handlebars
- Heavy-duty steel frame
- 350 lb weight capacity
- 10″ touchscreen
- Bluetooth speakers
- Entertainment apps
- Free streaming workouts through Sole+
- Wireless charging
- Screen mirroring
- Integrated tablet holder
- Cooling fan
- Compatible with heart rate monitors
- Easy assembly
- Great warranty
Cons
- Console not adjustable
Resistance
Flywheel weight is usually more stressed when talking about indoor cycles, but it’s an important consideration when doing your research for any type of exercise bike.
And just to make sure we’re all on the same page, the flywheel is the part of the bike that spins as you pedal, providing the “feel” of riding a real bicycle.
The idea is that heavier is (usually) better because the extra weight builds more momentum as it spins, which makes for a smoother ride.
It also makes sense that a heavier flywheel would be able to provide more overall resistance, but this depends a lot on the quality of the magnetic resistance system too.
Indoor cycles stress flywheel weight because the heavier flywheels are supposed to more closely mimic the feel of riding a road bike outdoors.
Well, even though upright exercise bikes aren’t as popular for the high intensity training that indoor cycles are often used for, it doesn’t mean that flywheel weight isn’t important for them too.
Remember- regardless of what type of exercise bike it is, heavier flywheels usually provide smoother operation.
That said, the Sole LCB comes with a 27 lb flywheel, which is heavy enough to give a lot of indoor cycles flywheel envy.
With a flywheel this heavy, this bike is more than capable of providing a smooth, fluid ride.
This massive flywheel is paired with a quiet magnetic resistance system that offers 40 different levels of resistance for you to use at your disposal.
Having this many resistance levels gives you a ton of control over your workout intensity.
You’ll be able to fine tune how hard you work depending on the type of workout you’re performing and it also gives you a lot of wiggle room to progress your workouts as you get in better shape.
Overall, the LCB scores very highly with its heavy flywheel and high number of resistance levels.
Seat
One of the biggest benefits of choosing a traditional upright bike over an indoor cycle is the seat- upright seats tend to be a bit more comfortable.
And that’s because they’re larger.
Like indoor cycles, upright seats usually don’t come a backrest either, so if you’re worried about your back, you may be better off with a recumbent bike.
Regardless, when comparing upright bike seats, the most important thing to look at is whether or not they’re fully adjustable.
A fully adjustable bike seat allows you to adjust it both vertically (height) and horizontally (fore/aft).
Fully adjustable seats are preferred because they allow you to fully customize your fit, ensuring you find a more comfortable position to exercise in.
The LCB comes with a large, fully-adjustable gel seat that most users find comfortable. So, if you do decide on this bike, comfort shouldn’t be an issue.
Handlebars
The handlebar positions probably aren’t as crucial for an upright bike (as compared to an indoor cycle), but I still wanted to discuss ’em a little for the sake of thoroughness.
Some exercise bikes allow you to adjust the height (and or horizontal position) of the handlebars separately.
This isn’t necessarily crucial to your workout enjoyment, but having more options to customize is usually a good thing because you can fine tune your fit a little more.
The LCB doesn’t have adjustable handlebars, they’re stationary.
But it does offer a nice variety of hand grips.
If you look at the handlebars in the above image, you’ll notice that you have the option of using a narrow grip, a standard grip, or a wide grip at the top.
Regardless of how you like to ride, the LCB’s handlebars should be able to accommodate. They’re also padded and comfortable to use, which is a plus.
Frame
One of the most obvious signs of a sub-par exercise bike is a flimsy frame.
You know what I’m talking about here- the second you sit on it you start to worry whether or not you’re gonna end up sitting on the floor before your workout is done.
Having a bike wobble during use (or fall apart) is a sure fired way of ruining a workout.
Luckily, this isn’t something you’ll have to worry about with the Sole LCB. This bike comes with a robust frame that is designed to withstand the stress of multiple users.
The heavy-duty steel frame can handle folks weighing up to 350 lb, which is impressive for any exercise bike.
And the bike itself weighs about 112 lb fully assembled, which is heavy for an upright model.
For comparison’s sake, Schwinn’s popular 190 (which is also a great bike for the price by the way), only weighs about 80 lb.
The extra weight is noticeable when you get on. This bike feels sturdy and stable, like something you’d find in your local commercial gym.
Features
The Sole LCB comes with the following features:
10″ touchscreen console- Sole recently upgraded this bike’s console, giving it a 10″ touchscreen display. Not only does this make it easy to view all workouts and metrics, but it also makes it easier to make all selections.
Entertainment apps- the new console also comes loaded with popular entertainment apps like Netflix and Spotify, but you still need your own subscriptions.
Sole+ – this is Sole’s streaming app and through it you can access thousands of instructor-led workouts. And the best part? It’s free!
Workout programs- the new console comes with several new workouts. This bike comes with all the classic profiles, as well as a few extra fitness tests and heart rate guided workout options.
Screen mirroring- and with the ability to screen the mirror from your phone or tablet, you can view any workout app you like through the touchscreen console.
Bluetooth speakers- you can connect wirelessly to the built-in speakers through bluetooth, making it easy to listen to your favorite workout jams or hear a movie through the console.
Wireless charging pad- you can charge your device during your workout to ensure it’s fully charged and ready to go for the rest of the day.
Cooling fan- the built-in fan will help keep you cool and comfortable during your toughest workouts.
Water bottle holders- this bike comes with dual water bottle holders, giving you a convenient place to store your liquids during your workouts. They also work well for holding keys, remote controls, or any other small items that may need storing.
Integrated tablet holder- the tablet holder is conveniently located above the bike display, so you don’t have to block your workout data to watch Netflix.
Strap heart rate monitoring- the LCB has grip heart rate monitors built into the handlebars, but it’s also compatible with wireless monitoring (although one isn’t included with purchase).
Assembly
Sole does a great job with their assembly manuals.
They lay out their directions in a manner that makes them easy to follow and the illustrations are large enough to see what goes where.
There are also written instructions for each step to accompany the illustrations.
I like that they give you a to-scale image of all the hardware for each step at the beginning- very helpful.
The hardest part is usually figuring out which bolt or screw is supposed to be used for each step- Sole solves this problem before assembly even begins.
All of the necessary tools are included. Most fairly handy people should be able to assemble themselves and it shouldn’t take much longer than an hour or so.
Overall, assembly is straightforward and the instructions are easy to follow.
Warranty
The Sole LCB Upright Bike comes with the following warranties:
Residential:
- Lifetime frame
- 3 year parts and electronics
- 1 year labor
Light Commercial:
- Lifetime frame
- 2 year parts and electronics
- 1 year labor
This is a blog about working out from home, so I’m more concerned with the residential warranty than the light commercial one (although it’s a sign of quality that this bike is rated for light commercial use as well).
I think this is a fantastic warranty for this bike.
Lifetime on the frame is expected from a high-end bike in this price range, but you never know what you’re gonna get in terms of parts.
And 3 years is pretty generous considering many competitors are offering 2-3 years.
The 1 year labor warranty is pretty standard operating procedure.
Overall, a great warranty from a brand that is known for their long guarantees.
Sole’s LCB vs The Competition
That does it for everything the LCB has to offer, but the only real way to get an idea of where a cardio machine stands is to see how it stacks up against the other comps in its price range.
So, let’s do that right now.
The LCB usually goes for around $1500, so we’ll use that as our guide for selecting comps. And doing this, a few great bikes come to mind.
| Sole LCB | Spirit XBU55 | 3G Cardio Elite UB | NordicTrack Commercial VU 29 | |
| Flywheel | 27 lb | 30 lb | ? | 19 lb |
| Resistance levels | 40 | 20 | 16 | 24 |
| Weight limit | 350 lb | 355 lb | 350 lb | 325 lb |
| Console | 10″ touchscreen | 7.5″ LCD | Small LCD | 14″ HD touchscreen |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | Lifetime frame 10 year parts 1 year labor | Lifetime frame 7 year parts 1 year labor | 10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year labor |
| Price | ~$1500 | ~$1400 | ~$1300 | ~$999 |
The first is Spirit’s XBU55, which usually sells for around $1400 or so.
The XBU55 is a fantastic bike, coming with a 30 lb flywheel, 20 resistance levels, and a durable frame that can handle riders weighing up to 355 lb.
The XBU55 comes with a rather basic LCD console, but it’s backed by a ridiculous 10 part warranty guarantee.
So, if you aren’t looking for a touchscreen or higher-tech console features, the XBU55 might even be a better buy.
There’s also 3G Cardio’s Elite UB, which usually sells for around $1300.
The Elite UB is a compact bike that comes with 16 resistance levels, a durable frame, and a 350 lb weight limit, but it too comes with a simple console.
That said, the Elite UB is backed by a 7 year parts warranty, so it’s definitely designed to last.
Finally, I want to mention NordicTrack’s Commercial VU 29, which is only priced at around $1k as I’m writing this.
The VU 29 is another popular upright that comes with a 19 lb flywheel, 24 resistance levels, and a decent warranty.
But it’s the 14″ HD touchscreen console that really makes this bike special.
The large screen is designed for iFit streaming, so you need to make sure you’re cool with the ongoing streaming fee (unlike Sole+, it isn’t free), but otherwise it’s a nice streaming bike for the price.
Final Thoughts
Sole is one of the top home fitness equipment brands out there and with products like the LCB Upright Bike, it’s easy to see why.
This bike has a lot to offer, both in terms of performance specs and console tech.
And I’m immediately drawn to the 27 lb flywheel and 40 resistance levels.
This is heavy for a traditional upright bike where a lot of competitors are using 17-19 lb flywheels and the heavier flywheel is going to provide a smoother, more substantial ride.
I also like how heavy this bike is.
At over 2x the weight of some of the more affordable options, the LCB is going to provide more of the feel of a commercial grade exercise bike.
And now that the LCB comes with a touchscreen that offers free entertainment apps and workout streaming, there’s just not much to complain about here.
And as I think the above table shows, the LCB can hold its own and then some against any other upright bike in this price range.
In other words, I think the LCB is the best upright bike $1500 will get ya.
Highly recommended.
