How to Use a Smart Exercise Bike Without a Subscription (A 2025 Guide)

You found the perfect smart bike. You read the reviews, admired the “durable steel frame” and “smooth magnetic resistance.” You saw the “Free 30-Day Trial” for the all-access app and dove in.

For 30 days, it was amazing. You had live instructors, leaderboards, and scenic rides.

Then, the trial ended. Suddenly, you’re facing a recurring charge of $30, $40, or even $50 per month, forever. User reviews are full of this “subscription shock,” with some calling the cancellation process “sneaky” or “very difficult.”

You’re left wondering: “Did I just buy a $1,000+ clothes hanger?”

This is the biggest fear holding people back from buying a connected fitness bike, whether it’s an Echelon, Peloton, or NordicTrack. What happens if I can’t afford the subscription? What happens if I just… don’t want it?

I have fantastic news for you. Yes, your smart bike absolutely works without a subscription.

You are not “renting” the hardware. You own it. While manufacturers use the integrated app as the main selling point, the bike itself is a high-quality piece of machinery. This guide will teach you exactly how to “unlock” it and use it on your own terms.

Part 1: The “Walled Garden” vs. The “Freestyle Mode”

First, let’s understand the business model. Companies like Echelon don’t just sell bikes; they sell an experience. The subscription gives you access to their “walled garden”—a closed ecosystem of classes, instructors, music, and community.

When you cancel your subscription, you lose the key to that garden. The big, beautiful touchscreen (if your model has one, like the Echelon EX-5S-22) will no longer stream those classes.

But—and this is the crucial part—the bike itself still works.

Almost every major smart bike brand, including Echelon, has a “basic” or “manual” mode. On Echelon, this is called the “Freestyle Ride” feature.

This information is often buried, but user reviews confirm it. One user noted, “if the subscription thing is not in the budget for you, the freestyle mode works fine and provides you all of the realtime tracking and resistance control.”

Part 2: Solution 1 - Using the “Freestyle Ride”

So, what do you get in Freestyle Mode, and what do you lose?

What You LOSE: * All On-Demand & Live Classes: This is the obvious one. * Leaderboards: You won’t be competing against anyone. * Instructor-led scenic rides. * Saved stats and progress tracking (in most cases).

What You GET: * Full Resistance Control: The resistance knob/buttons still work perfectly. You can make the ride as hard or as easy as you want. * Real-time Metrics: The screen will still display your core data: Cadence (RPM), Resistance Level, Speed (Est.), Distance (Est.), and Calories (Est.). * A Fully Functional, High-Quality Bike: You get to use the smooth, silent magnetic resistance and solid frame that you paid for.

This “Freestyle” option is the simplest solution. It’s perfect for the person who just wants to hop on, pedal for 30 minutes, and control their own workout.

This brings us to the most popular use case of all…

Part 3: The “Just Watch Netflix” Method

This is the beauty of Freestyle Mode. You own the bike, and you own your time.

1. Start a “Freestyle Ride” on your bike’s console or in the Echelon app on your tablet. You will see all your metrics on the screen.
2. Now, open Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube on your tablet (using split-screen) or on a nearby TV.
3. Put on your favorite show.
4. You can now “binge-watch and burn” simultaneously. You get your workout in, you control the resistance, and you can see your speed and cadence right on the screen.

For many users, this is the perfect balance. You get the benefit of the high-quality hardware without the pressure (or cost) of a high-energy class.

Part 4: Solution 2 - The “BYOA” (Bring Your Own App) Strategy

But what if “Freestyle” feels too basic? What if you do want to race, or follow a structured program, just not the Echelon one?

Welcome to the “Bring Your Own App” (BYOA) strategy. This is a bit more technical, but it’s the key to true fitness freedom.

Understanding the “Magic”: Bluetooth FTMS

Most modern smart bikes (including most Echelon models like the EX3, EX5, and Sport) broadcast their data over a standard, open Bluetooth protocol called FTMS (Fitness Machine Service).

Think of this like your bike “shouting” its data into a room: “I’m at 80 RPM! I’m at resistance level 12!”

Any app that is programmed to “listen” for this FTMS signal can pick up that data and use it.

This means your Echelon bike can talk directly to apps that are not Echelon.

Connecting to Zwift, Wahoo, and more:

• Zwift: This is a massive virtual world for cyclists. You can ride with thousands of people, race, and explore digital landscapes. Zwift is designed to listen for FTMS signals. You simply open the Zwift app on your tablet or computer, go to “Pair Devices,” and your Echelon bike will appear as a “Power Source” and “Cadence” sensor. (Note: Zwift has its own subscription, but it’s different and preferred by many “serious” cyclists).
• Wahoo: This app is a favorite for data-driven athletes and is great for structured, no-nonsense workouts.
• Many Others: A huge ecosystem of apps supports this open standard.

This turns your “Echelon bike” into a “Universal Smart Bike” that can connect to almost anything.

Part 5: Solution 3 - The Ultimate Combo (Echelon Bike + Peloton App)

This is the golden ticket. This is the question everyone asks: “I like the Echelon price, but I like the Peloton classes. Can I combine them?”

YES, YOU CAN.

The Peloton app can be purchased as a “digital-only” subscription (around $12.99/month), which is far cheaper than the all-access Echelon membership. You get access to all of Peloton’s classes.

But the Peloton app cannot read your Echelon’s metrics directly. So how does it work?

You need two things: the Echelon app (in Freestyle) and the Peloton app.

The Two-Device Method (Easiest):
1. Device 1 (Your Phone): Open the Echelon App and start a “Freestyle Ride.” This screen will show your Cadence (RPM) and Resistance. Prop this on your bike’s handlebar.
2. Device 2 (Your Tablet or TV): Open the Peloton App and start any class you want.

When the Peloton instructor says “Okay, crank up the resistance!” you just turn the knob on your Echelon. When they say “Get your cadence to 90!” you just look at your phone and match it.

The Split-Screen Method (Advanced):
If you have a modern tablet (like an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab), you can run both apps at the same time in split-screen mode. You have the Peloton class on one side and your Echelon “Freestyle” metrics on the other.

You get the world’s best classes (Peloton) on high-quality, affordable hardware (Echelon) for the lowest possible price. This is the ultimate smart-consumer setup.

Conclusion: You Own the Hardware. Use It Your Way.

A smart bike is a major purchase. Don’t let “subscription anxiety” or “subscription fatigue” stop you from using the beautiful machine you paid for.

The subscription offers a fun, motivating, all-in-one experience. But it is, and always will be, optional.

Whether you want to “just ride” while watching TV (Freestyle Mode), enter a virtual race (Zwift), or hack together the perfect Echelon/Peloton combo, you have options.

You own the hardware. You are in control.