ProForm TDF Bike Review

Quick Summary

Having already examined the ProForm’s entry-level Studio Bike Pro and top-tier TDF Pro indoor cycles, we’re left with the brand’s middle offering—the TDF Bike. Priced $500 higher than the former and only $200 below the latter, the TDF Bike is geared towards those riders interesting in incline and decline adjustment but not

Specifications

Model	ProForm TDF Bike
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	80%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,499
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.	$1,499
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	26
Resistance Type The type of resistance shows what kind of flywheel is being used (if any), and its weight if the manufacturer provides it.	SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance
Type Type refers to the style of the ride: Recumbent bikes allow you to lay back, while Upright bikes are more like road bikes (lean forward).	Indoor
Drive System The bike's drive system is how your pedaling interacts with the rest of the bike (flywheel) to give you a good workout.	Flywheel
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.	Padded and adjustable
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	Toe Cage w/ Adjustable Straps
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	24
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	Compatible with Bluetooth Chest Straps
Display Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	Multifunction Console
Max. Weight Max. User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that the bike can safely support, which can represent durability.	350 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	25" x 64.75" x 59"
Accessory Tray Some bikes include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers
Cooling Fans
Portable? Some exercise bikes can fold up and/or have wheels that make it easy to roll them around for convenience and to save space.
Warranty The warranty is a very important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs by the manufacturer.	Frame: Lifetime Parts: 3 years Labor: 1 year

Our Rating

Rating: 80.0/100. Much like its more expensive sibling, the TDF Bike also offers incline and decline functionality that is power-operated. Participating in iFit training courses, your incline and decline will be adjusted automatically as you ride, as it will in the 24 built-in training programs that simulate various stages of the Tour de France.

Though this model is also iFit enabled, there’s a bit of a catch. If you want this interactive training your monthly membership is not included in the purchase price, and should you decide to sign up for it you may as well buy the TDF Pro; the annual membership cost is more than the price difference between the two bikes, and on top of that you would have to run the app/programs from your own tablet mounted in the bike’s integrated tablet holder. That in mind, this bike is much better suited for those who care less about interactive training and more about the combination of good build quality and incline/decline capability.

From a structural standpoint you’re looking at the same sturdy steel frame as the Pro, capable of supporting a rider weight up to 350 lbs. Though the same in construction there is a slight difference between the two TDF frames overall. While the TDF Pro can deliver an incline or decline of 20 degrees in either direction, the more affordable TDF Bike limits that to 15 in either direction. Realistically speaking this isn’t a huge difference, and though you would notice it if you rode the Pro and non-Pro versions of the bike back-to-back, just having that +-15 degree adjustment will be noticeable when training.

Rather than a slick touchscreen, a simple and intuitive console is fitted to the ProForm TDF Bike below its tablet holder. controls for incline, gearing, intervals, recovery, and other settings are all close at hand. There are also incline and resistance controls on the handlebars, allowing you to adjust things on the fly if you’re training in manual mode.

You’re also forgoing the onboard fans with this bike version, however you do still get decent on-board speakers to help amplify the output of your tablet while training. Depending on your preference, you can either connect via Bluetooth or direct cable input. Should you be following a cross training session on your tablet, the console does swivel just like its big brother, however this isn’t quite as essential as it would be if you were following along with iFit training programs regularly.

Pros:

15 degree incline and 15 degree decline capability—an uncommon yet useful/fun feature for an indoor cycle
26 digital resistance levels to choose from, ensuring that no matter how fit you are, you can still be fully challenged
24 built-in programs that replicate various stages of the Tour de France (once again, not common)
A tilting display so that you can adjust the screen to your own comfort level. This will help prevent any unwanted neck strain that could potentially leave you with a neck ache
Pair of 3 lb dumbells included to assist in cross training
Wight capacity of 350 lbs
Ample adjustment available with seat and bars to accommodate a wide range of rider heights and sizes
Comes with frame mounted transport wheels
Has a silent magnetic resistance feature, so you can ride in complete silence as you go about your sessions
The inertia enhanced flywheel provides a smooth and steady ride, giving you maximum user comfort

Cons:

iFit training not included (though capable)
Warranty is average at best
less incline capability than TDF Pro
Reduced features compared to TDF Pro, though pricing only $200 apart
Repeated reports of customer service being less than helpful

Introduction

Examining the ProForm TDF Bike takes some careful consideration, as depending on your priorities it could be either the perfect fit or a complete dud. Both seasoned and aspiring road cyclists will appreciate the feel of training on the ProForm TDF Bike; its ergonomics can be fine tuned, and its incline/decline capability gives it a serious “real world” feel when training.

For some, the combination of this incline/decline function and its 24 built-in training regiments will do the trick just fine, making it illogical to spend the extra $200 on the TDF Pro. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to just hop on and train without visual distraction, and alternatively those with big screen TVs in their home gyms will see no use in focusing in on a small onboard touchscreen display.

For others though, this bike will simply seem like a half measure. The coolest thing about incline/decline functionality is running the interactive training sessions and real-world road course simulations that are included in iFit where trainers will automatically adjust your bikes resistance and incline on the fly. If you were to buy this bike and then sign up for iFit you could get that capability, but then you would actually end up paying more for it than the TDF pro by the end of your first year of ownership.

Workout Programs

Simple and effective, the TDF Bike will (among other things) run you through a variety of stages from the Tour de France, replicating the incline and resistance faced by the world’s most elite cyclists.

ProForm TDF Bike Indoor Cycle Features

Of they key takeaways of this bike, the biggest advantage is its incline and decline functionality. Frankly it sounded like a gimmick at first, but regardless of how little it will alter the overall results of each of your workouts, it does make things at least a bit more interesting.

With the addition of this feature alone, the TDF Bike is kind of a one trick pony, but that’s not all bad. You don’t have to worry about carrying a monthly membership cost throughout ownership, and a more basic console means less to fail/go wrong in the long run.

Warranty & Guarantee

This bike comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, a 3-year parts warranty, and a one-year labor warranty.

Conclusion

Though the bike is otherwise light on bells and whistles, the TDF Bike is still a respectable option. Unlike other ProForm bikes we seldom see this model discounted, likely on account of not wanting to cannibalize sales of the Studio Bike Pro, which trades off incline functionality for a touchscreen display and a year’s iFit membership included.

If you are a fan of having all the bells and whistles on your fitness equipment, you’re going to want to level up to the higher spec model, but if you don’t care about interactive training sessions and are totally hooked on the idea of an indoor cycle with incline and decline adjustment, this bike is basically the only game in town.