Indoor cycling is a low impact exercise that builds strength and tones the lower body, according to fitness expert Sarah Rector. She suggests this as an easy way to fit a workout in between Zoom meetings – perfect for early risers!
Some bicycles offer unique features like incline training. Other key specifications to look out for include a heavy flywheel, adjustable seat and handlebars and an easy assembly process.
The Best Exercise Bike
If you’re in search of an easy and low-cost way to ride at home, we recommend the Domyos Basic Exercise bike. With its sturdy construction and 48lb flywheel for smooth operation that helps prevent the jerkiness experienced with lighter models, this exercise bike provides a straightforward yet cost-effective solution.
If you want an immersive cycling experience, look no further than the Wahoo Kickr bike. It provides all-in-one instructor-led sessions like spin classes while offering off-bike strength and stretch workouts too.
An exercise bike with multiple technical attributes will enable you to ride more often and accelerate fitness progress more rapidly. Therefore, when purchasing one it should support all of the apps and streaming services that your workout plan demands.
The Best Budget Exercise Bike
No one expects everyone to shell out top dollar for an expensive bike, but that doesn’t mean that cycling at home won’t still bring joy and satisfaction.
A great budget exercise bike should provide enough functionality to motivate regular cycling while being compact enough for storage when not in use. Additionally, its large display is useful for tracking metrics like speed, calories and distance – something Sunny Health & Fitness’ model does very effectively with its belt-driven system that’s quieter and requires less maintenance than traditional chains; plus its 49-pound flywheel provides inertia to give more realistic ride feel.
Though most indoor bikes include pre-set workout modes, some require subscription to unlock additional content. Echelon’s bike comes equipped with a 30-day iFIT family app membership offering live and studio workouts as well as device holder storage space and 32 levels of silent magnetic resistance resistance for an unparalleled cycling experience.
The Best Smart Trainer
There are now more options than ever to transform your home bike into an effective training tool, and smart trainers offer enhanced interactivity. Smart trainers transmit power data directly to your computer or smartphone and connect with virtual riding apps like Zwift, RGT Cycling and TrainerRoad where they adjust resistance automatically to mimic hills and terrain changes.
Wahoo’s Kickr line of smart trainers have revolutionized indoor cycling and training, and their sixth-generation Kickr smart trainer puts user experience first with hassle-free WiFi connectivity and an ERG mode that automatically changes resistance based on cadence. Meanwhile, Tacx Flow Smart strikes an excellent balance between connectivity and budget; offering similar capabilities as higher-end models like Zwift Hub or TrainerRoad Drivo II but at an more reasonable cost.
The Elite Tuo wheel-on smart trainer stands out as an extremely high-grade wheel-on smart trainer, boasting impressive accuracy levels and being problem-free during our testing. Furthermore, this unit was considerably quieter than many of the options on this list.
The Best Cycle
As with treadmills and classic ellipticals, indoor cycling bikes may offer various pre-set workout modes. But keep in mind that some may require an ongoing subscription (such as SoulCycle’s at-home bike). Therefore it’s wise to do your research prior to making a purchase decision.
An indoor cycle’s key feature should be an adjustable bar height adjustment that can ensure you’re properly fitted to it. Spinning global brand ambassador Josh Taylor recommends selecting one with both reach and saddle height controls that mimic how bikes would position themselves when riding outdoors.
Indoor bikes may offer you the choice between friction-based or magnetic resistance systems for resistance. Friction systems use leather pads that contact a flywheel while magnetic models utilize magnets and an electric current to create resistance. Both types can provide an engaging workout, yet most successful cyclists often opt for magnetic options due to their superior adjustability.