We'll help you compare exercise bikes and get fit in the comfort of your own home.
Cycling is an effective form of low-impact cardiovascular exercise, but it isn't always convenient. Not only can rain disrupt your outdoor riding plans, but using an exercise bike at the gym is expensive and isn't everyone's cup of tea.
A home exercise bike can give you a more convenient and cost effective way to get active. There are several types of bikes to choose from, with prices ranging from $200 up towards $2,000.
Compare some of the best exercise bikes
Data obtained December 2018. Prices are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Why buy an exercise bike?
There are several reasons why an exercise bike can make a useful addition to your home gym:
Cycling is a great way to get into shape and lose weight, offering a low-impact workout for general fitness and for anyone recovering from a lower-limb injury. Even better, with an exercise bike, you can work out while watching TV.
One of the main pitfalls of riding outdoors, whether road or mountain biking, is inclement weather. Exercise bikes make it possible to work up a sweat no matter what the weather is doing, and without having to worry about traffic.
If you're self-conscious about your weight or simply don't feel comfortable in a gym environment, buying an exercise bike lets you work out in complete privacy.
Gym memberships aren't cheap, so investing in an exercise bike can provide good value for money – provided you stay committed to using it.
In home gym terms, an upright exercise bike is one of the smaller pieces of equipment, making them a useful choice if space is at a premium.
Buying an exercise bike (or any other piece of home gym equipment) often seems like a good idea at the time. But the number of under-used exercise bikes, treadmills and ab rollers dumped on the side of the road at kerbside clean-up time would suggest it's an idea many people later regret. Exercise bikes aren't cheap, so you need to be sure that you'll get sufficient use out of a bike to justify your investment.
Before you hand over any money, consider whether you wouldn't prefer to do the following:
Ride outside. Cycling outside can be more fun than sweating away in a room at home – the scenery changes, you can breathe in some fresh air, and you get the satisfaction and enjoyment of actually going somewhere.
Join a gym. When you join a gym, you can work out on all manner of exercise equipment, sign up for fun and motivational classes, and get personalised advice from fitness experts. If this sounds ideal for you, check out our guide to choosing a gym membership.
Get an indoor trainer. Bike trainers are raised stands that allow you to use your normal road bike indoors. If you already have a quality bike and just want to be able to use it when the weather is bad, a trainer can give you what you need for just a few hundred dollars.
What types are available?
You have a few options to consider when choosing an exercise bike for your home:
Description
Pros
Cons
Upright exercise bike
Upright exercise bikes stand up just like a normal bike and usually come with a comfortable, padded seat.
Cheaper and more compact than recumbent bikes
Offers a more effective cardio workout and engages core muscles more than a recumbent bike
Not suitable for those who need back support
Requires some previous bike riding experience
Recumbent exercise bike
Allows you to cycle while seated in a reclining position.
Ideal for seniors, those who want additional back support and people who want to stay comfortable while working out
More expensive and take up more room than upright bikes
Don't work as wide a range of muscles as upright or indoor cycling bikes
Indoor cycling bike
Sometimes referred to as spin bikes, indoor cycling bikes attempt to simulate the experience of riding a road bike.
Offers a wider range of resistance levels to simulate gear changes and different terrain
Designed for avid cyclists and fitness enthusiasts
Provides a tougher workout than upright or recumbent bikes
Aggressive seating position can be uncomfortable
Not suitable for those who need back support
Requires a moderate level of bike riding experience
How to compare exercise bikes
Before you start shopping for an exercise bike, take some time to consider your fitness goals, how often you plan to work out and your spending budget.
Exercise bike prices vary from around $100 for a no-frills model up to $2,000 for advanced models you could expect to find in a gym. Upright bikes are usually cheaper than recumbent bikes, and many entry-level buyers will find a happy balance between features and price somewhere around the $400-$600 mark.
Don't forget to factor in delivery costs when comparing exercise bike prices. Bikes can weigh 50kg or more, and some retailers charge up to $200 for delivery.
Here are the important factors you need to take into account:
Many modern exercise bikes rely on magnetic resistance to increase pedalling difficulty. This system uses electromagnetic induction to place resistance on the flywheel, which is a heavy metal disc used instead of a regular wheel. This allows for quiet and smooth performance with minimal wear and tear. Bikes that use fan-based or direct-contact resistance tend to be noisier, so keep this in mind if you want to exercise early in the morning without running the risk of waking up the entire house.
Also, consider how many levels of resistance are available to allow you to tailor a workout to your needs.
How simple and straightforward is the exercise bike straight out of the box? Is there any assembly required? Does the instruction manual offer clear guidance and are all the buttons, dials and displays easy to understand?
The displays and control panels on some advanced home gym equipment can look like the cockpit of a fighter jet, so be wary of anything that looks overly complicated or confusing.
Programs offer variations and challenges to your exercise session, such as simulating riding up hills. Check how many pre-programmed workouts come with the machine and whether you can set up your own custom programs.
Computer. Find out what statistics the bike's built-in computer shows while you're working out, such as speed, time, distance, power output and the number of calories burned. A heart rate monitor is also important but you can easily purchase one separately if one isn't part of your machine. If more than one person will be using the bike, can you set up multiple user profiles to remember each person's workout preferences and track their progress?
Seat. Check that the seat is comfortable and well-padded so that you'll be happy to sit on it for long periods. However, make sure it isn't so bulky that there's a risk of chafing.
Pedals. Inspect the width of the pedals to make sure they're easy and comfortable to use. Is there some sort of strap to prevent your feet slipping while you pedal, or are there cleats for hardcore cyclists?
Adjustability. Can you adjust the height and angle of the seat and handlebars to find a comfortable and effective riding position?
Check the dimensions of an exercise bike to find out whether you have sufficient room for it in your home. If you're short on space, you may want to consider a folding exercise bike. Though not as sturdy as fixed-frame bikes, they offer a flexible way to get the workout you need.
Weight is also important – the more a bike weighs, the more stable it will be. However, you'll need to check whether there are transport wheels included so you can easily move the bike around.
Before buying, check the maximum user weight limit for your exercise bike. Not only is this important for safe use, but a high upper limit will give a good indication as to the build quality of the machine.
Many exercise bikes come with one or more of the following additional features:
Audio input and speakers so you can listen to music while you ride
Drink holder
Heart rate chest strap to track your effort
Workout fan to help you stay cool and also provide air resistance
Tablet holder so you can browse the web, work or watch streaming video
USB charger
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth compatibility with a fitness app
Check the length of the manufacturer's warranty and exactly what it covers – most offer at least 12 months of protection, but you can expect longer from a high-end model.
Which exercise bike is best for me?
The best exercise bike for you depends on a range of factors, including the type of bike you want, how often you plan on using it and how much money you want to spend. To ensure that you choose a bike that meets all your requirements, it's essential to shop around and compare a range of products.
To help make this easier, we've compared the pros and cons of five exercise bikes in the table below:
Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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