It's time to get on your bike. Not in the "get out of here" sense, but the "get fit" sense. With the wide range of exercise bikes available right now, there's no need to lug yourself to the gym every single day. You can put in some serious miles from your living room.
And while the humble exercise bike might seem like base level fitness gear — not especially exciting — some brands are racing ahead of the fitness game with advanced, tech-savvy models. Indeed, there's a great range of options for static cyclists.
The question is: Do you know your pedals from your Peloton? Choosing an exercise bike may be easier said than done, but we’ve hit the internet highway and done the research on your behalf. Here’s some information to put you in the right direction.
What are the benefits of using an exercise bike?
There are some basic plus points: Firstly, you don't need to risk your life by pedalling away on the roads, thereby avoiding cars, lorries, and potholes. The second is that you can exercise sitting down, which will appeal to anyone who likes to work up a sweat from the comfort of their own home.
There are more specific benefits. An exercise bike is excellent for cardio, which is great for heart health and losing weight. An exercise bike also helps toning, building muscle, and — unlike other cardio, such as running — protects your joints.
What are the most important exercise bike features?
This is where it gets tricky, because some bikes are geared for more than just straight pedalling. Bikes may come with a whole range of features or tech-powered add-ons. Here are some worth knowing about:
App Connectivity — Some hi-tech bikes connect with fitness apps, which then provide coaching classes and workouts. Sometimes these classes play out on a screen that’s fixed to the front of the bike.
Pulse Sensors — These are sensors built into the handlebars. They monitor your heart rate as you cycle. Other stats may include speed, distance, calories burned — all displayed in real-time on the bike’s built-in LCD monitor.
Resistance — This means the level of difficulty when doing the work of actual pedalling. Bikes may have multiple levels of resistance, usually controlled by magnets, which make the pedalling increasingly hard.
Keep these features in mind when shopping around for the best exercise bike.
Is Peloton the best exercise bike brand?
Peloton is certainly the most fashionable brand. These slick looking bikes have touchscreens that give you streaming access to thousands of live classes, but they’re not the only exercise bike brand in the interactive workout game. NordicTrack offers similar features through the iFit app. The downside is that these types of bikes are generally top-of-the-range and cost a lot of cash. They also involve ongoing subscription costs for access to workouts and online services.
What is the best exercise bike?
It’s not really about what's “best”. It’s about what suits you, your lifestyle, and your fitness needs. There are plenty of exercise bikes available for you to consider online, and we can help you find the perfect model for you. We’ve tracked down a selection of exercise bikes that should suit everyone, with models from top fitness brands such as Reebok and Peloton.
These are the best exercise bikes in 2025.
