This at-home bike delivers the same cardio benefit of a 45-minute run in an 8-minute ride. Here’s what it’s like to use.

• The AI-powered CAROL exercise bike delivers the same benefits of a 45-minute jog in an 8 minute, 40-second workout.
• The bike monitors biometric data to customize each session to be the most effective workout possible.
• After riding it for a month, the format clearly works — but it did leave me feeling as if the workout was too short.

People, the excuse of “I don’t have time for exercise” is no longer valid. Because you can receive the same cardio benefits from a moderately paced 45-minute jog in less than 10 minutes with the new CAROL exercise cycle.

This novel concept is based on two main ideas: science and what can only be described as 40 seconds of hell. I decided to put both to the test to see if the bike could live up to its lofty fitness claims. Surprisingly, it generally delivered.

First, let’s talk about the science.

The science behind the CAROL AI Exercise bike

When you eat something carbohydrate-rich, your body breaks down some of the nutrients into sugar glucose and stores the majority of it as glycogen in your muscles. Glycogen is just muscular fuel; it’s what your muscles use when you lift weights, jog, or run (or do pretty much anything, really).

The more glycogen you have on hand, the more activity you can do (and the better shape you’ll be in). And the best method to increase glycogen stores is to burn as much as possible during repeated workout sessions.

Serious exercise causes your muscles to become physically larger by repairing the little breaks in their fibers and signaling your body to store additional muscular glycogen. This type of rigorous exercise can take one of two forms: a long, continuous duration of exercise or a brief, intense time of exercise.

After a few months of consistent use (three to four times per week), the CAROL bike expects that your body will have undergone a profound shift. Its purpose is for your body to adapt to quick glycogen depletion and become more efficient at switching to a different energy source once glycogen is depleted. What about the other energy source? Fat.

Setting up and using the CAROL

In slightly over an hour, my wife and I pulled the CAROL bike out of its package, down into the laundry room, and fully constructed it. The procedure was lengthy, but a step-by-step instruction booklet and video included made it difficult to go wrong. There’s also a fantastic customer support team that helped us get the bike out of whatever strange stand-by mode it was in. Despite the fact that I was based in the United Kingdom, someone from the team led me through the remedy minutes after I contacted them.

The ride on the CAROL bike will not be difficult the first time you use it, nor will it be difficult the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth time. Things start to heat up on ride number seven.By that time, the bike (more especially, the computer within) has gathered enough data to determine your ideal heart rate for warm-up, intensive training, recovery, and cool-down. It takes advantage of this to design a workout that is tailored to be as hard and productive as feasible.

The main eight-and-a-half-minute workout is split down as follows:

• Warm-up: 2 minutes
• All-out sprint: 20 seconds
• Recovery: 3 minutes
• All-out sprint: 20 seconds
• Cooldown: 3 minutes

That’s all there is to it. Eight minutes of very simple biking followed by two 20-second bursts of the most challenging time on a bike. It even informs you what to do via on-screen suggestions, such as when to ride harder and faster, when to slow down, and even when to take a deep breath.

If you do it three or four times a week for a few months, you might be in the best form of your life — at least, that’s the brand’s goal. There are also customized HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts, such as the 15-minute Fat Burn or a lengthier 30-minute program if you have the time.

A few nitpicks 

The CAROL does have one flaw: the training is almost too quick. That is the idea, I understand (and this is likely an unpopular opinion). The bike saves time and allows you to get in a fantastic workout even when you’re pressed for time, but I prefer a lengthy run or an hour-long gym class. As a result, being able to get on and off the bike in under 10 minutes makes it less desirable to me rather than more appealing.

On the other hand, if I want a lengthier exercise session to clear my thoughts and enjoy an extended time of activity, I can just go for a run or go for a long bike ride.

Another disadvantage is that the bike isn’t exactly inexpensive, costing close to $3000. This puts it in the same price range as other interactive stationary cycles like Peloton or NordicTrack, so it’s not unexpected if you’re looking for something like the CAROL.

Should you purchase it?

Yes, as long as you believe you’ll actually utilize it. Don’t bother if it’ll lay there undisturbed one week, ridden four times the next, and then untouched for a month. You know yourself, so be truthful – the entire strategy relies on your dedication. That said, if you can spare nine minutes three times a week, go for it.

What are your alternatives?

Given the incredible efficiency of the training, this is a one-of-a-kind system, but there are other HIIT bikes out there that will provide equal benefits if you’re ready to spend a little more time. A Peloton cycle is a great alternative, especially if you enjoy riding with others in a group setting.

If you want the same tough workout but don’t enjoy stationary bike, a smart rower like Hydrow or Ergatta can create custom routines depending on your fitness and goals, and row machines are a great way to get a full-body workout.

What does Carol bike workout stand for?

The bottom line

It’s a fantastic exercise that’s impressively beneficial for your legs and cardiovascular system, despite the fact that it doesn’t do much for your upper muscle groups or core.

If you’re seeking for an interactive stationary bike that’s unlike anything else on the market, CAROL is the bike for you.

Pros: Exceptionally efficient bike that requires less than 10 minutes per session and only three sessions per week for a good cardio workout; tailored programs change as you get fitter; easy to put up and move as needed.

Cons: Expensive; not a good fitness tool for those who aren’t in good shape.