Best Exercise Bike 2022: Top Indoor Bikes For Home Workouts
Finding the best exercise bike can be a little tricky at times, especially when you take your budget, the type of resistance you like, and the seating position into account.
Though spin bikes have become some of the most popular cardio machines on the market, there are several alternatives worth considering such as and , both of which come with their own distinct advantages.
As a result, we’ve put together a list of our top picks, based on features, price, and reviews, to help you find the perfect cardio machine for your home or garage gym.
Whether you’re after something foldable, like this Exerpeutic Upright Bike, or searching for one of the around, like this Peloton Bike+, we’ve got you covered right here.
We’ve also included some of the latest news as we enter April surrounding exercise bikes, and have answered some of the most commonly asked questions to help you make an informed purchase decision.
Best Exercise Bike
- NordicTrack S22i
- Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
- Exerpeutic Upright Bike
- Peloton Bike+
- Echelon Smart Connect EX-15
- Schwinn 270
- Rogue Echo
Best Home Exercise Bike – NordicTrack S22i
Brand: NordicTrack | Dimensions: 140cm x 55cm x 146cm | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 150kg | Drive System: Magnetic
The S22i puts in a strong case as one of the most well-rounded exercise bikes on the market as it comes packed with technology to help you complete a killer cardio workout.
The 22″ interactive HD touchscreen display seems to be one of its most useful features, allowing you to stream iFit spin classes to keep your motivation high as you push yourself to achieve your fitness goals.
With -10 to 20% live incline matching technology and 24 digital resistance levels, the S22i treadmill is similar to some of the on the market in many respects, with each level ideal for allowing continuous progression.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a gym-standard machine for your home setup, then this NordicTrack S22i might be for you.
Best Budget Exercise Bike – Sunny Health & Fitness Exercise Bike
Brand: Sunny Health & Fitness | Dimensions: 137 x 48.5 x 113cm | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 275 Pounds | Drive System: Belt
We’ve previously discussed this Sunny Health & Fitness stationary machine in our list of the , so you may not come as a surprise to see it featured again here.
Its 45lbs flywheel should provide the resistance you need for a killer cardio session when you’re trying to replicate uphill terrain.
Furthermore, the machine can be adjusted in four different ways, has a bottle holder, and features wheels that allow you to move it from one place to another with ease.
All in all, this Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike ticks more than a few boxes in our books, especially for the price tag.
Best Foldable Exercise Bike – Exerpeutic Exercise Bike
Brand: Exerpeutic | Dimensions: 31 x 19 x 46″ | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 300lbs | Resistance: Magnetic
We’ve previously featured this Exerpeutic Upright Bike in our list of the , so it may come as no surprise we’re including it again here.
Not only does the bike feature, as Exerpeutic state, a whisper-quiet ride, but it also boasts a strong build that can hold a significant amount of weight
It also comes with 8 resistance levels so you can up the difficulty when things get a little too easy, thus helping you progress towards your fitness goals.
Furthermore, it’s foldable, so should be a great option to consider if you’re looking to save space in your home gym or garage for less.
Best Spin Exercise Bike – Peloton Bike+
Brand: Peloton | Maximum Height: 6.5 ft user | Minimum Height 4.11 ft user | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 297 lbs | Drive System: Belt
The Peloton Bike+ offers you the opportunity to take a high-intensity session from the comfort of your own home on a well-constructed and effective machine.
This particular machine differs from the standard bike as it comes with an “Auto-Follow” system which scales the resistance based on your set target metrics, and adapts to what the Peloton instructor is telling you to do.
Moreover, the bike boasts a large rotating HD screen which is ideal for switching between bike and floor-based workouts, and more optimised audio compared to the regular bike.
Another appealing element to the Peloton Bike+ is its motivational aspect, as Live Rides along with monthly challenges and milestone badges should push you to achieve above and beyond your fitness targets.
This bike is certainly a premium choice, and even comes with the additional All-Access Membership, but if you’re serious about your fitness and want to invest in one of the best, then we believe it’s worth checking out.
Best Indoor Exercise Bike – Echelon Smart Connect EX-15
Brand: Echelon | Maximum Height: 27″ Inseam | Minimum Height: 35″ Inseam | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 380lbs | Drive System: Magnetic
For tackling tough spin classes or relaxing indoor rides, this Echelon Smart Connect EX-15 looks to be a great mid-range option to consider.
With 32 levels of adjustable resistance, you can tailor your workout exactly to your needs and, according to Echelon, each level is silent, which is ideal if you live in close proximity to neighbours.
If you opt for an Echelon membership as well, you gain access to live, on-demand classes led by world-class instructors and designed to take your training to the next level.
Ultimately, we feel this EX-15 bike is a great way of introducing cardio into your home setup without spending loads on a premium bit of kit.
Best Recumbent Exercise Bike – Schwinn 270
Brand: Schwinn | Dimensions: 64 x 27.7 x 49.9″ | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 136kg | Resistance: Friction
The Schwinn 270 appears to be a particularly well-rounded recumbent bike that offers you a great way of strengthening your legs without putting as much strain on your joints.
We particularly like that it comes with 50+ global routes. Not only that, but the bike will auto-adjust in real-time to your speed, allowing you to vary your workouts each time.
Furthermore, there are 25 levels of resistance, but if you’re not sure how to continue your progress, the LCD screen provides 29 workout programs for you to choose from.
All in all, we feel the Schwinn 270 is well worth considering if you’re looking to upgrade your home gym.
Best Air Exercise Bike – Rogue Echo
Brand: Rogue | Dimensions: 59″ x 30″ x 53″ | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 350lbs | Resistance: Air
Rogue is one of the leading manufacturers of gym equipment based in the US, and its Echo air bike looks to be a great example of its expertise.
Due to its heavy-duty steel construction, it weighs 127lbs, but this weight will likely provide a solid foundation for maximum power output. It does come with wheels at the front though to make it easy to move around.
Rogue goes on to boast that the machine’s quiet steel fan blade has been designed to deliver a smooth and consistent ride, and its LCD console allows you to track your intervals, distance, calories burned, and heart rate.
Overall, this Rogue Echo bike is a slightly more premium fan bike; however, it should definitely help you achieve your fitness goals at home.
Latest Exercise Bike News
With fitness technology constantly evolving, we thought we’d keep you up-to-date with any upcoming releases, plus discuss the latest news surrounding some of the top brands in the exercise bike space.
Wahoo Buys Virtual Cycling App RGT Cycling And Creates Wahoo X Subscription
Fitness equipment manufacturer Wahoo has acquired the virtual training app RGT cycling.
Wahoo has subsequently rebranded the app to Wahoo RGT and combined it with Wahoo’s SYSTM training app under one new subscription – Wahoo X.
This means Wahoo X subscribers gain access to a more comprehensive indoor cycling experience, with Wahoo RGT offering you the chance to ride on realistic-looking virtual roads, as well as the opportunity to upload your own routes to then be created via the Magic Roads feature.
The Wahoo SYSTM and Wahoo RGT apps are available on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, with Wahoo offering you a 14-day free trial to test the new X system which you can find via its website right here.
Blue Goji Acquires Expresso And CyberCycle Exercise Bikes
Health and fitness technology brand Blue Goji has recently acquired the assets and intellectual property of Interactive Fitness Holdings, and in doing so, will oversee the Expresso and CyberCycle exercise bikes going forward.
The company is seemingly looking to integrate its GojiPlay and GojiCare services into the Expresso and CyberCycle bikes to enhance user experience.
It’s unclear when these changes will be made though, so stay tuned for updates right here.
New Echelon EX-8S Bike Looks To Take Peloton’s Crown
Echelon announced the EX-8S bike at CES 2022, looking to become the leading brand in spin exercise.
The new smart bike features dual flywheels with colour-changing LEDs that display workout metrics, along with 32 resistance levels that help you progress while training.
Echelon also boasts its EX-8S comes with a 24″, curved, 5K touch screen display with front and rear speakers for surround sound audio
The EX-8S is available to order now from echelonfit.com if you’re based in the US; however, the UK release date is yet to be confirmed. Find out more information on the right here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stationary Bikes
People often have a tonne of questions about stationary bikes, but we’re here to clear up a few common queries to help you make your purchase.
What Should You Look For When Buying An Exercise Bike?
We believe there are three main things to keep your eye on when buying an exercise bike:
- Type – As mentioned above, exercise bikes can come in many forms including spin, recumbent, and air-driven. Therefore, it’s important to determine which is right for you and your needs before making a purchase.
- Resistance – Make sure you pick up an indoor bike with enough resistance levels to keep your workouts challenging whilst offering plenty of room for progress.
- Metrics – Some exercise bikes come with monitors which can track workout metrics like your heart rate, calories burned, and distance. If this is something you deem necessary, make sure you find a machine that comes with the right tech.
Are Exercise Bikes Worth It?
This really depends on the type of workout you’re looking for and ultimately if you enjoy cycling as a form of cardio.
With the more premium bikes on this list, you have access to a wide variety of workouts through memberships, but there is an additional charge to consider when you subscribe to the online content.
For the most part though, exercise bikes are a good place for beginners to begin their journey and for more advanced riders to perform more intense routines.
To find out if a stationary bike is right for you, check out our comparison of and to help you come to an informed decision.
Can You Use An Exercise Bike Every Day?
While you may be fine using an exercise bike every day, we’d recommend including some rest days and a few days focusing on your upper body to counteract any imbalance caused by just cycling.
Giving yourself adequate time to rest during the week will help your legs recover and rebuild which, in turn, will help maxmise your performance whilst also reducing the risk of injury.
This is supported by the American Council on Exercise which states that not allowing your body to rest can cause a depletion of glycogen in the muscles.
This depletion can then trigger your body to use proteins for energy, meaning there is less protein available to assist muscular repair and growth.
What Do The Different Types Of Resistance Mean?
Indoor bikes often use one of three resistance methods to create tension whilst you pedal. These include fan, mechanical, and magnetic resistance.
The fan creates resistance as it moves through the air, with the tension increasing as you pedal faster.
Mechanical resistance provides tension via a belt wrapped around a flywheel. With most flywheel bikes, you can adjust the tension via a knob that applies more pressure onto the strap, thus creating more resistance.
A magnetic resistance system also utilises a flywheel, however, instead of direct contact, the flywheel interferes with the magnetic field between the two magnets.
The resulting attraction of the flywheel brings about resistance, but the magnets do not come into contact with the flywheel.
The magnetic system is, arguably, the most popula mechanism on the market at the moment, with many bikes choosing this system over the aforementioned methods. Whether it’s the best for you though will come down to personal preference.
What Is A Flywheel On An Exercise Bike?
As touched on above, a flywheel is a weighted disc that sits either at the front or the back of your stationary machine.
Because the flywheel is connected to the pedals, once you start cycling, the flywheel begins to spin.
Although flywheels come in a range of weights, it’s important to keep in mind that a heavier flywheel doesn’t result in increased resistance.
Instead, it works in tandem with some sort of resistance system, whether that’s magnetic or mechanical, which we’ve gone into more detail about above.
A heavy flywheel is actually designed to build and maintain momentum to help you maintain your speed whilst cycling.
Are Exercise Bikes Good For Weight Loss?
When used regularly, exercise bikes can be a very effective tool for weight loss as they offer a low-impact alternative to other cardio-based workouts like running.
In fact, you’ll burn around twice as many calories on an exercise bike compared to a brisk walk, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
Havard Health Publishing goes on to state that a 155-pound person who cycles vigorously for 30 minutes on a stationary bike burns an estimated 391 calories.
Exercise is just one piece of the puzzle, as you need to team it up with the right diet, sleep, and stress management.
Having said that, what we like about exercise bikes, specifically, is that they’re extremely accessible and easy to use, meaning almost anyone can jump on and start cycling right away.
Recumbent bikes especially are a great way to introduce exercise into your life, without having to get used to the often uncomfortable feeling of a bike seat.
How Long Should You Ride An Exercise Bike For?
This ultimately comes down to how often you plan to exercise using an indoor bike, and will vary depending on your fitness level.
According to Livestrong, aiming for at least 30 minutes on an exercise bike between 3-5 days a week is a good rule of thumb to follow; however, you will need to make sure you keep progressing and challenging yourself to continue to make improvements.
With that being said, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a continuous ride.
For example, you may choose to complete a 30-minute spin class that will incorporate periods of extremely fast-paced riding with rest intervals which, in turn, should burn calories and improve your aerobic fitness in an extremely time-efficient way.
How Do You Adjust The Saddle On An Exercise Bike?
When it comes to adjusting your exercise bike, it’s important to get the setup correct in order for you to perform to the best of your ability and avoid injury.
Firstly, adjust the saddle height roughly to wear your hip bone is when standing next to your machine.
To double-check this is right for you, place your heels on the pedals and extend one foot to the bottom of your stroke. If you have a very slight bend in your knee with the heel on the pedal, you’re in the correct position.
You should then move the saddle either forward or backward to ensure your knees are slightly above the centre of your foot, but make sure they don’t extend past the middle of your shoelaces.
How Accurate Is An Exercise Bike Calorie Counter?
No cardio machine is 100% accurate at counting your calories.
VeryWellFit estimates that cardio machines overestimate your calories burnt by 15-20% as they can’t account for all the influencing factors.
Having said that, it’s important to keep in mind an exercise bike tracks only the calories burned during the workout, not those you would burn otherwise, so you may be using more calories than you may realise.
Should You Clean An Exercise Bike?
Cleaning your exercise bike should be a habitual routine as riding one can cause sweat, fingerprints, and bacteria to build up, whilst not riding your bike can leave it to collect dust.
We’d recommend wiping down your bike after every use to remove the sweat. You can either do this with neutral wipes or a non-abrasive spray and a cloth.
We’d also advise cleaning the screen (if your bike has one) with a dry microfibre cloth to get rid of any fingerprints and marks which can hinder your viewing and workout experience.
For longer-term maintenance, we’d suggest lubricating some of the moving parts occasionally to ensure they continue to move smoothly, without resistance.
Can You Replace An Exercise Bike Seat If You Find It Uncomfortable?
It’s not uncommon for a seat to feel uncomfortable after riding an exercise bike for an extended period of time, especially if the seat in question is a racing saddle.
Racing saddles are often thinner and come with less padding, thus making them harder to sit on during longer sessions.
Fortunately, you’re able to replace the seat of an exercise bike with a more comfortable alternative in many cases, or you can simply place a gel seat cover, like this Zacro Cushion, over the top for additional support.
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