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The Best Exercise Bikes for a Heart-Pumping Workout at Home
Get stronger, faster, and fitter without ever setting foot outside your home.
If you’re looking to begin cycling or want to continue on your cycling journey, an exercise bike may be a worthy investment whether you're building a home gym or adding to an established one. Interactive, low-impact, quiet, and relatively compact, a good exercise bike can be a great addition to any fitness routine.
Once you get into a groove—whether you prefer solo workouts or instructor-led classes—you'll quickly find yourself hooked. There are options for everyone, from beginners to avid road cyclists who are looking to cycle on a budget or splurge for a premium bike. Since most exercise bikes look the same, it can be difficult to figure out which ones have the features you're looking for.
To help you choose, we've rounded up the best exercise bikes to get your heart pumping.
Looking for more ways to grow your home gym? Check out our top picks for rowers, treadmills, and ellipticals.
The Best Exercise Bikes
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What to Consider
Workout Preferences
If you like high-intensity spin classes or you're a serious cyclist, you need a stationary bike that can sustain the pace, resistance, and training your workouts require. Likewise, if you have back pain or want to prioritize low-intensity, low-impact movement, you might want to opt for a recumbent bike, a.k.a. a seated pedaling machine. Some high-end exercise bikes offer classes including bodyweight, HIIT, yoga, and other low-equipment workouts in addition to bike workouts. This is great if you want to expand your home gym without investing in a bunch of large workout machines.
Space
Though exercise bikes are not the largest workout equipment you can load into your home gym, there are some that are decidedly larger and heavier than others. If you have ample space and plan to leave your bike out between uses, this isn't too much of a concern for you. However, if you're hoping to stow it away somewhere, you may have to concede on some features to prioritize a more portable and storable design.
Features
If watching a movie on your phone or tablet while you work out keeps you motivated, select a bike with a large media holder or a built-in screen. If you’re somebody who constantly needs water during a workout, ensure your bike is equipped with a water bottle holder. Also consider smart features and health app compatibility if you like to sync your workout data with your phone.
How We Selected
To find the best exercise bikes among the many options on the market, we researched the most popular models available and used our own experience with products like SoulCycle's at-home option. We considered price, features, design, size, and versatility, as well as expert reviews and thousands of customer ratings written by people who’ve bought these models themselves, to settle on the exercise bikes you'll find below.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle
Pros
- Huge touch screen
- Can have up to five workout profiles
Cons
- Some find it difficult to assemble
NordicTrack's quality exercise equipment has earned it a legion of dedicated fans. While this bike is pricey at $1,500, you get a lot for that money, making this model well worth the cost.
To start, this bike has an absolutely massive 22-inch touch-screen display, which is great for following along with live and on-demand iFit workouts—and you get a 30-day free trial of these with your purchase.
You can add up to five different profiles, and it has a 10-year frame warranty. It also has an intuitive frame with racks for included dumbbells, two water bottle holders, and an easy-to-reach auto-stop in case of emergency.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 350 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 24 |
| Pedals | Click in or strap in; two-sided pedals |
Yosuda Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike
Pros
- Comfortable and sturdy
- Media holder large enough for tablet
Cons
- Some customers complained about durability
This affordable model has thousands of positive customer reviews, and at this price and quality, we understand why.
While it lacks a screen, it does have a spacious tablet holder, so you can still follow along with online classes if you so choose. It also has an LCD monitor to track your stats, and both its seat and handlebars are adjustable.
For a no-frills exercise bike, this is a great pick.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 270 pounds |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | Offers gradual resistance; levels unspecified |
| Pedals | Adjustable cage pedals |
Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike
Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike
Pros
- 90-day free trial of membership classes
- Sturdy, comfortable build
Cons
- May be too small for very tall people
While many consider Peloton's some of the best at-home cycling classes, the bikes and workouts are undeniably expensive. This Echelon bike is a great option if you want a similar experience for a more affordable price. It has a touch screen for following along with live and on-demand workouts from five to 45 minutes long with the Echelon Membership—and you get a 30-day trial with purchase.
Though some of these classes are cycling-focused, they also have kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, and more, giving you a boutique studio experience right in your own home. The bike itself is sturdy and adjustable, and it has caged pedals so you don't need to wear cycling shoes.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 300 pounds |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 32 |
| Pedals | Dual link pedals with toe cages or shimano SPD clips |
Schwinn Fitness Schwinn Fitness IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Schwinn Fitness Schwinn Fitness IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Pros
- Compatible with third-party apps
- Durable construction
- Comes with one-year membership trial
Cons
- No longer has infinite resistance, like last model did
This indoor bicycle is a great option for beginner cyclists. It comes with a water bottle holder big enough to fit an oversized bottle, which is great for ensuring you can stay hydrated throughout your entire ride without getting up.
The LCD screen monitors resistance, which is magnetic and infinitely variable, as well as heart rate, calories, distance, and more. You can also use it to play JRNY Membership classes—the bike comes with one year—and play third-party classes like Peloton. Just sign up for a JRNY account to send workout data to your phone for third-party classes.
Additionally, the bicycle is equipped with a ventilated race-style seat and adjustable handlebars for comfort. Although this option is good for beginners, advanced cyclists shouldn't turn their noses up at this excellent value.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 330 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 100 |
| Features | Dual SPD pedals come standard with toe cages and clips; Peloton app compatibility |
XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike
XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike
Pros
- Great for small spaces
- Comfortable seat
- Very lightweight
Cons
- Low weight limit
While you can't get a Peloton-level workout on a bike like this, this model is great for getting in some movement in a small space. When not in use, this bike folds in half, making it easy to store under a bed or in a closet.
It has a comfortable padded seat and an easy-to-use display that shows you stats like time, speed, distance, calories, and even heart rate. It also has eight different resistance settings and wide base pieces that keep it sturdy and secure.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 225 pounds |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 8 |
| Pedals | Adjustable strap |
Bowflex VeloCore 22 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
Bowflex VeloCore 22 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
Pros
- Tilts for authentic riding experience
- Lots of streaming and workout options
Cons
- Customers complain the saddle is uncomfortable
This Bowflex bike has one feature that sets it apart from comparable models: It tilts. Much like the feeling you get when taking a tight turn out on the road, this bike can lean slightly from side to side (or you can lock it into stationary position if you prefer).
This exercise bike has a large screen for streaming classes, entertainment media, and even popular cycling apps like Zwift and Peloton. It is adjustable, has dual link pedals, and even comes with dumbbells and a Bluetooth heart rate band to better track your fitness. It comes with a one-year JRNY Membership trial, just like the Schwinn option above.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 325 pounds |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 98 |
| Pedals | Dual link with toe cages |
Exerpeutic ExerWorK 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Bike
Exerpeutic ExerWorK 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Bike
Pros
- Comfortable seat with back support
- Foot straps for secure riding
Cons
- Not fit for intense workout
If you're still working from home and want an alternative to your desk treadmill, this stationary exercise bike with a built-in desk could work great for you. It has a comfortable seat with a high back and a three-way adjustable desktop, so you can ensure it's at just the right angle as well as the correct height.
It has eight levels of resistance, so you can adjust based on your fitness level and personal preferences. The desktop is also 24 inches wide, which is large enough to comfortably rest a laptop on.
Key Specs
| Weight Limit | 300 pounds |
|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 8 |
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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