Written by Mike Price, OT
Exercise bikes offer a highly effective and low-impact way to enhance cardiovascular health and muscle strength from the comfort of your home. Ideal for individuals aiming to reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and other health issues, these bikes provide an excellent aerobic workout that burns fat and calories without the joint stress commonly associated with other cardio equipment. When selecting an exercise bike, consider the adjustability of resistance levels, seat comfort, and the inclusion of fitness tracking features to meet your health and wellness goals best.
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Choosing the right exercise bike depends on your goals. Whether you're rehabilitating from an injury or surgery, looking to lose weight, or aiming to build endurance, each purpose might require a different type of bike. Additionally, consider what features will motivate you to use the bike regularly. This could be an in-app coach preset program that allows you to start pedaling without setup or tracking features to monitor your progress. The best stationary bike for you is one that aligns with your fitness goals and keeps you motivated.
To lose weight or tone up, choose an exercise bike with various programs to keep your workouts engaging. To encourage regular use, opt for a bike with a comfortable saddle that is easy to mount and dismount. Both recumbent and upright styles are suitable, depending on which you find more comfortable.
If you are returning to a sport, rehabilitating an injury, or simply aiming to maintain your fitness level, a basic stationary bike with manual adjustments and straightforward programs will suffice. It's easy to use and ideal for occasional workouts. A recumbent bike typically offers the most comfort, but an upright model is also a good choice.
For athletes looking to enhance performance, select a high-end exercise bike designed for intensive use. Features like various programs, a heart rate monitor, and integrated coaching solutions will support rigorous training. An upright seat mimicking a traditional bike ride is generally preferred for this type of exercise.
The weight of a stationary bike’s flywheel is a major factor in comfortable, smooth pedaling. For joint comfort, a flywheel weighing at least 6 ½ pounds will prevent the pedals from jerking. The heavier the flywheel, the more smooth the pedaling will be.
All exercise bikes will indicate speed, distance, time, and average calories burned. More robust monitoring can include heart rate and goal tracking for weight loss or performance development. Opt for a model with a heart rate strap to get the most accurate heart rate reading. Some models offer customized workouts and coaching through the bike’s console or a smartphone app to track progress and maintain motivation.
The more adjustable a stationary bike is, the more you can dial it in for your own comfort. Saddles, recumbent seats, and handlebars that can be adjusted to put you in a more comfortable position will increase your likelihood of using and benefiting from your exercise bike.
You can burn more calories by biking. For example, a fast walking speed of 4 mph burns 352 calories per hour, while a fast cycling speed of 19 mph burns 844 calories in an hour.
A good basic plan is to ride for 30-60 minutes, 3-5 days a week. Every ride should start with a warm-up of a slow, easy pace for 5-10 minutes before boosting your speed to hit your target heart rate.
Yes! Riding a stationary bike is an excellent way to burn calories quickly for weight loss. Depending on your weight and how intense your biking workout is, you can burn more than 600 calories an hour on a stationary bike.
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The SportsArt Upright Cycle C535U by Sports Art Fitness USA, our number 5 choice, stands out as a self-generating cardio exercise bike with no external power source, making it environmentally friendly and convenient for users. Its design includes a low profile for easy mounting and dismounting, making it accessible to many users. The cycle offers an optimal seating position that can be adjusted for maximum comfort and effectiveness during workouts. The oversized pedals with quick strap adjustments also provide a custom fit for any user. With features like multiple language options and a built-in wireless Polar HR receiver, this bike caters to a diverse user base, enhancing the workout experience with various feedback and customizable programs.
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With a 2-way adjustable seat for rider comfort, the Best Fitness Upright Bike by Body-Solid has been chosen as the number 4 exercise bike on our list.
This stationary bike has eight resistance settings and is not complicated to operate. It’s an excellent option for older people or anyone uncomfortable dealing with a lot of technology. Its compact and extremely stable design also makes it a good option for seniors who are at risk for falls.
Requiring no electricity, it can be positioned anywhere in your house, and it has transport wheels to make it a cinch to move. Its five-panel LCD monitors pulse and heart rate when the contacts are gripped on the grab bar. The speed, time, distance, and calories burned can be called up, but it’s unnecessary if you just want to get on and ride.
This bike is a simple piece of equipment that can help address hip, knee, and ankle discomfort or support recovery from orthopedic injuries at a rider’s pace.
From easy to intense, this exercise bike will deliver the workout that supports your fitness goals. It is one of our favorites because it is so user-friendly and simple to operate, and it has a very attractive price point for anyone seeking a solid, uncomplicated piece of equipment that can be relied on to deliver an effective, no-frills workout.
 | Stationary Recumbent Indoor Exercise Bike by Vive Health View Product |
Offering access to fitness-tracking software through its mobile app, our number 3 pick, the Stationary Recumbent Indoor Exercise Bike from Vive Health can provide unique support as you strive to meet your fitness goals. This feature-packed exercise bike also provides an element of coaching via the training videos in the mobile app.
This step-through recumbent bike's low-impact cardio workout is easy on your back and knees. It can also help you maintain your posture during your workout while minimizing fatigue and strain. The easy-to-read LED screen displays speed, distance, calories burned, time, and revolutions per minute, plus real-time feedback on your heart rate via handlebar sensors. When you reach your targets, the bike has a recovery mode to cool down properly.
From challenging to relaxing, the available workout options with this bike’s 8 magnetic resistance levels will meet any rider's needs. It has a steel frame, a composite seat with comfortable foam padding, and it has a weight capacity of 220 pounds. The seat is adjustable and can accommodate riders 5’ 2” and taller. The pedals have adjustable loops to keep your feet from slipping.
This exercise bike has landed in the top 3 of our list because of its effective low-impact workout and the added monitoring and coaching features of its mobile app. It also has an attractive price point, which adds to the value of this stable, comfortable stationary bike.
 | XBU55 Upright Stationary Exercise Bike by Spirit Fitness View Product |
Revitalize your cardiovascular health with our number 2 choice, the XBU55 Upright Stationary Exercise Bike by Spirit Fitness, designed to support various fitness goals from the comfort of your home. Featuring an easy-to-read backlit LCD screen that provides real-time feedback on your workout, adjustable resistance levels to tailor your exercise intensity, and a built-in cooling fan to keep you comfortable, this bike suits everyone from beginners to seasoned cyclists. Enhanced safety features like heart rate monitors ensure a secure workout environment, while integration with the Spirit Fit smartphone app allows you to track and achieve your fitness objectives effectively.
 | PhysioCycle XT Upright Bike & UBE Trainer View Product |
Our top choice is The PhysioCycle XT Upright Bike & UBE Trainer by Healthcare International. It’s a premium cross-trainer model designed to deliver cardiovascular workouts and physical rehabilitation. This versatile unit combines the functionalities of an upper-body ergometer and a recumbent cycle, enabling users to perform a variety of full-body workouts. It features eight electromagnetic resistance levels for varied intensity, an ergonomic seat with a built-in heart rate monitor, and seven different resistance programs, including manual, valley, mountain, ramp, hill, interval, and heart rate control. This equipment is ideal for anyone seeking comprehensive exercise routines, from beginners to advanced athletes, ensuring an effective and engaging fitness experience.
Whether you're looking to lose weight, boost or maintain your fitness level, train for competition, or enjoy a gentle, low-impact workout that's easier on your joints, a stationary bike is an excellent choice.
Our list of the top 5 best exercise bikes for home use offers options ranging from simple to high-tech, with recumbent or upright seats, various monitoring options, and fitness programming to suit every preference and price point.
Our top choice, The PhysioCycle XT Upright Bike & UBE Trainer, stands out for its unparalleled versatility and comprehensive fitness capabilities. Its unique combination of an upper-body ergometer and a recumbent cycle allows for a range of full-body
workouts tailored to all fitness levels. This model's design prioritizes comfort, adjustability, and performance, making it the definitive choice for those seeking a robust home exercise solution.
With the vast array of choices available in the market, you might find exploring our complete selection of exercise bikes further worthwhile. Additionally, consider visiting Caregiver University for more insightful articles.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
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