ProForm TDF Pro Review

Quick Summary

We were already fairly impressed with the ProForm Studio Bike Pro, and to that degree we’ve always admired the the TDF Pro, which was designed to help the brand up their game in the indoor cycle category. High quality construction, clever interactive training sessions, and a host of other features help the TDF Pro (Tour De France Pro, in long form) stand out from its competition. Now discontinued as a model from the production, the TDF Pro can still be found at online retailers and as a used model. If found in good condition, it’s certainly worth a look.

Specifications

Model	ProForm TDF Pro
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	82%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$2,400
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.	$1,699
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.	Commercial Grade Steel Construction
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 and Clip In
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.	10" HD Touchscreen
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: 82.0/100. Starting off with our favorite feature of this bike, and one that you don’t see on a lot of other exercise bikes in the market, the TDF pro is built with a clever incline and decline setup similar to what we see on incline trainers in the treadmill space. Capable of a 20 degree incline down to a 20 degree decline, this bike can simulate real-world cycling conditions better than most other offerings out there. Pair this with some of the interactive training where you follow instructors on real-world roads and trails, and you’ve got something very unique on your hands.

On the other end of the spectrum, the cross-training programs in iFit incorporate free weights and other activities for strength training or a HITT workout. Its 10″ HD touchscreen easily swivels, allowing you to follow along with your workout both on and off the bike itself. This is more than just a bike – it’s essentially a full workout machine.

From a structural standpoint you’re looking at a very sturdy steel frame that can support a rider weight up to 350 lbs. This means that just about everyone should feel comfortable riding this bike, no matter what intensity level they want to reach. That said, the seat fitted is slender and true to a traditional road bike, so heavier riders might want to explore swapping out to a more comfortable seat. Not to worry, the seat is universal and interchangeable with conventional bike seats.

You’ll also get an inertia-enhanced flywheel, which makes for a smooth user experience, and a SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance feature, so you can cycle in complete quiet.

The bike offers one touch controls so adjusting the resistance or incline is going to be easy as a push of a button. You’ll never have to interrupt the flow of your workout to achieve the resistance setting you need.

One of our favorite features of this bike is the fact that it offers decline and incline capabilities. This really sets this bike apart from others on the market as this is a relatively rare find and something that will help take your workouts one step further. By adjusting the incline, you can mimic riding up a real hill, giving you the illusion of an actual course that you may be cycling on race day.

Cycling downhill is also a great option if you are doing HIIT and want to really reduce the intensity level without necessarily taking the resistance way down.

There isn’t really anywhere that this bike falls short, expect for potentially not having a reading rack where you could place an iPad, phone, or book. With the large screen that it comes with however, most people are not going to find they really need one.

The labor warranty on this could also be slightly longer, but then again one year is pretty standard in the industry.

Pros:

Comes with a 10” SMART HD Touchscreen
Compatible with the iFit app, this allows you to stream real life workouts from trainers all around the world as well as pre-programmed classes.
Comes with free weights, which you can use when you are off your bike to perform strength training exercises with.
The screen will swivel around so you can easily follow along with your other cross training workouts used from the iFit membership.
Use the Google Maps feature on this bike to ride anywhere around the world that you please. The large touchscreen makes this process extra enjoyable
Trainers of live sessions can automatically adjust your bike’s resistance and incline/decline as you ride
Has good incline and decline capabilities for a bike – which is a rare feature that you don’t often see
Provides 26 digital resistance levels to choose from, ensuring that no matter how fit you are, you can still be fully challenged by this exercise cycle
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
Console includes 24 built-in programs, should you decide to not continue iFit after first year of ownership
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:

While the bike does come with 3 lb. dumbbells to perform your strength training sessions with, this is not going to be nearly enough to challenge most individuals.
After your iFit membership is over, you will have to pay a fee to continue on ($39 per month). This is an ongoing cost that will have to be paid for as long as you continue to use the feature
Repeated reports of customer service being less than helpful

Introduction

Both seasoned and aspiring road cyclists will appreciate the feel of training on the ProForm TDF Pro. Between its ergonomics, pedal/saddle setup, and the aforementioned incline and decline functionality, this really is as close as you get to the “real world” experience while riding an indoor cycle.

The biggest difference (other than the elements) is obviously the 10″ HD touchscreen that lets you stream a wide array of workout sessions. Not only will these sessions keep challenging your endurance, but they also roll in other off-bike cross training to develop a more well-rounded workout.

With 26 digital resistance levels, this indoor cycle is just as well suited to beginners and intermediate trainees as it is to seasoned riding veterans. It doesn’t really matter where you are on your workout journey, you should have no trouble making good use of what this bike has to offer. Though the assortment of training options could seem overwhelming to a novice at first glance, trust us when we say it’s not as daunting as it seems, and you’ll be up and enjoying the assortment of rides in no time.

Workout Programs

Unlike other indoor cycles like the NordicTrack Commercial S15i, the ProForm TDF Pro has 24 built-in training programs available alongside the streaming iFit content, ensuring you’ll still have some options if you decide to discontinue the iFit membership after your first free year.

ProForm TDF Pro Indoor Cycle Features

Of they key takeaways of this bike, the biggest advantage is its incline and decline functionality that can be remotely controlled. Virtually following a trainer up and down hills of a random exotic destination and having both incline and resistance shift automatically along the way makes for a much more engaging experience, especially for those concerned about being able to commit to a training regiment. You pedal away, following the cadence of your trainer, all while being immersed in a new and exciting locale. What’s not to love? It may sound a bit gimmicky, but we found our training sessions would fly by much quicker in this mode than they would during a standard training session.

Beyond that, the thoughtful details like built-in fans, 5-point adjustable frame, swiveling display screen, and other details ensure the TDF Pro delivers significant bang for your buck in the features department.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ProForm TDF a spin bike?

Yes, this bike works well with spin classes.

Is the ProForm TDF a good bike?

Yes, the only real drawback is it’s been discontinued from production and replacement parts might be difficult to source.

Do you need cycling shoes for the ProForm TDF bike?

Not necessarily, but they do help.

Can I watch Netflix on ProForm bikes?

No, although some users have reported being able to circumvent the bike’s programming and accessing other apps.

Can you replace the seat of a ProForm bike?

Yes, both through the company and Amazon.com.

Warranty & Guarantee

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

Conclusion

At the end of the day, there are a ton more pros than cons with this indoor cycle. If searching online for a used bike, this is a great pick. It has more features than a lot of its competition, is fairly priced, and other than some reported gripes about the brand’s customer service there isn’t a lot to criticize here.

If you are a fan of having all the bells and whistles on your fitness equipment, the ProForm TDF Pro is right up your alley. It has the competition beat in several categories, but it really comes down to whether or not you’re looking for the latest in high tech, or something well built that’s more basic in terms of tech. If you’re one to side with the latter, you’re better off opting for something like the Schwinn IC3 (and saving a few bucks in the process).

Having the first year of iFit training included is a great selling feature, yet thanks to its additional onboard programs you won’t be left out in the cold should you choose to not carry on with the monthly membership after the first year. That membership fee is still more affordable than most studio classes out there, and if you’re anything like us there’s a good chance you’ll get hooked on the mapped rides at the very least.