Most of the clients that I train have an exercise bike in their home.

It’s such an enjoyable cardio workout in the convenience of your home.

They also love the pre programmed workouts and integrations like iFit to keep them motivated.

I’ve heard a lot of positive and negative things about certain exercise bikes on the market.

So I thought I’d put a buyer’s guide together about my recommended bikes for home.

I’ll also talk about all the important things to consider before choosing a bike.

Favorite Exercise Bike

Sunny Health & Fitness Chromed Flywheel Bike

The Sunny Health & Fitness Chromed Flywheel Bike is my favorite indoor bike.

It is perfect for people who need an affordable exercise bike that’s constructed with high-quality materials and includes the standard functions.

Sturdy and Adjustable

This chromed flywheel bike is extremely sturdy and firm.

One of our favorite features is its 4-way adjustable seat that allows for forward and back, up and down adjustments with a simple twist of a knob.

The bike is easy to assemble and incredibly stable, although it may rock a bit when placed on a carpet. If you want to protect your floor, we recommend using a floor pad instead.

What customers are saying

This model does not have any interactive features and does not include a screen or digital experience.

However, most customers are perfectly fine with that because it seamlessly does what it’s supposed to.

Some people have complained that the handlebars are too far from the seat and that people with short legs may need to stretch a bit in order to pedal.

Best Stationary Commercial Bike

NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle

We’ve listed this as the best stationary commercial bike because it offers a lot of fancy options that you’d love if you’re interested in an immersive digital experience.

One of the most noticeable features on this indoor bike is the 22-inch screen that is built-in to display NordicTrack’s iFit coaching program.

The iFit coaching program

iFit offers on-demand studio workouts and interactive visits to cycling routes around the world.

Moreover, while you’re in a coaching session, the bike actually makes changes in incline and resistance settings to give you an immersive experience.

You will get a one year trial of the iFit coaching program when you purchase this bike, thereafter you will need to subscribe to the program at a cost of $15 per month.

If you don’t have a membership, you can still access a limited list of pre-recorded videos on the console but you cannot stream your own.

What customers are saying

Most customers have had a very positive experience with the bike and say that the only thing that could have made it better is Bluetooth connectivity to the machine.

Best Recumbent Bike

Schwinn Recumbent Bike Series

The best thing about recumbent bikes is the back support they have for people with spinal problems or back pain.

We love the Shwinn recumbent bike series because it has several workout programs to choose from, and Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to sync the machine with your mobile.

Moreover, the ‘Explore the World App’ on this device enables you to have digital cycling experience on exciting cycling trails around the world.

Design

The weight limit of this machine is 300 pounds, and the assembly takes around one hour.

The console has two LCD monitors and placing your iPad at the top does not block the view of your workout stats.

What customers are saying

There are many good reviews on this bike and satisfied customers love it mainly because it is extremely smooth and lightweight compared to others.

However, some people have complained that the seat is not cushioned and if you’re suffering from severe back issues, the back support may need a pillow.

Foldable & Compact Bike

As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike

This is probably the most compact bike on the market and to our knowledge the only one that offers the upright and recumbent position in the same model.

You get different levels of resistance which is adjustable by turning a dial, and you get a digital display to track your calories, miles, speed, and heart rate.

While pedaling, you can also train your upper body with its built-in arm resistance bands.

Design

Although this bike has an unusual look, it is still very comfortable and easy to use.

Furthermore, despite being lightweight, it’s extremely sturdy and has a weight limit of 300 pounds.

It is also very easy to carry around, and the folding mechanism works great once you figure it out.

What customers are saying

Customers say that this is a great indoor bike, easy to assemble, and very well designed.

However, heavier or very tall people may have some difficulties getting on the bike, and the side handles may feel small for some people.

Recommended For Seniors

Jeekee Recumbent Exercise Bike For Seniors

This bike for seniors is extremely quiet, producing only 20 Db of sound. It has an ergonomic design with 9 seat positions and a large comfortable backrest.

The recommended user height for this bike is between 4’8’’ and 6’5’’ and the maximum user weight is 300 pounds.

Design

The LCD monitor on this bike is very simple and tracks your calories, time, distance, speed, pulse, and total distance.

The console has a device holder allowing you to stream videos on your phone or iPad.

This bike is best for seniors and people in rehab because it’s extremely comfortable, with an amazing padded seat and wide back support.

Assembling it can take a while but usually no longer than 2 hours, and it provides enough resistance levels to accommodate for different rehab purposes and goals.

What customers are saying

The majority of customer reviews on this bike are either excellent or very good.

However, there have been complaints that the bike can become slightly choppy when operating it on the highest tension level.

Still, it is sturdy, stable, and offers great value for money.

Best Bike For Desks

DeskCycle Under Desk Cycle

The DeskCycle is an innovative indoor bike that enables you to workout while you’re working.

It is a small cycling device that you can place under any desk, adjust the magnetic resistance with a simple twist, and start your workout.

Design

You can use this bike to complete your daily workouts almost anywhere as it is extremely quiet, easy to store, and almost unnoticeable under a desk.

It also includes a small LCD screen to track your time, speed, calories burned, and distance.

The assembly takes around 15 minutes and although you can feel some vibration while it’s in use, you hear almost no sound at all.

What customers are saying

Customers have given this machine superb ratings.

However, it is important to note that the resistance level you choose has no effect on the number of calories burned.

The number of calories is calculated based or RPMs, so it can be slightly inaccurate in very high or very low resistance settings.

Other Recommended Bikes

Marcy Club Revolution Indoor Cycle

This is a standard indoor cycle by Marcy.

It has an adjustable seat with a two-axis adjustment, a manual resistance mechanism with a weighted flywheel, and aero-style handlebars with different gripping options.

This model is built with steel, has a powder-coated finish, and a pair of transportation wheels that make it very easy to transport.

The resistance mechanism does not use magnetic resistance, but it’s still very smooth and quiet. The weighted flywheel provides extra support and stability to the machine.

Other key features include a water bottle holder, basket-caged pedals, and a maximum user weight of 300 pounds.

Schwinn Airdyne Bike Series

This bike series from Schwinn is an interesting option because it uses wind-resistance technology which allows you to choose between an infinite range of workout intensities.

It has self-balancing foot pedals with straps and works smoothly, without friction and without making noise.

If you are into interval training, you will love any model from this bike series due to its RevMeter RPM technology.

The maximum user weight limit, padding, and seat size all vary depending on the model you choose.

The AD6 and AD7 models are ‘telemetry enabled’ to obtain your heart rate, and all of them have an LCD display to track your workout.

ASUNA Minotaur Magnetic Belt Indoor Cycling Bike

This is another option from Sunny Health & Fitness, and similar to other models by this brand, it is very affordable.

The ASUNA bike is extremely comfortable and has ergonomic handlebars that allow for different gripping options.

It also has a weighted flywheel of 33 pounds to provide stability and has a maximum user weight of 330 pounds.

It is smooth and quiet even at the highest level of resistance because it has a system of multi-control magnetic resistance.

Other features include a bottle holder, a pair of transportation wheels, and caged pedals compatible with the SPD system.

YoSuDa Indoor Cycling Bike

This stationary bike is another great option if you’re looking for cardio equipment.

It is remarkably adjustable with its 2-way adjustable handlebars and 4-way adjustable seat.

It even has adjustable manual resistance, and even though it is not magnetic resistance, it is equally smooth and very silent.

You can track your exercise activities with an LCD monitor that displays calories burned, speed, time, and other measures.

The maximum user weight on this bike is 270 pounds, and it is very sturdy and stable.

Additional features include a pair of transportation wheels, a bottle holder, and caged pedals with adjustable straps to prevent any slipping.

XTERRA Fitness Folding Exercise Bike

This is another foldable option if you’re looking for a compact bike to store while not in use. It has 8 levels of magnetic resistance that you can select by switching the tension knob.

The seat is designed anatomically to be comfortable and the handlebars allow for multiple gripping options.

One of the most relevant features of this bike is the folded mode, which fits in closets and only takes 18.1×18.1 inches of floor space.

Additionally, you get a small LCD display to track your calories burned, speed, time, distance, and heart rate.

How To Choose A Bike

There are clearly a lot of models and options to consider, and there isn’t one that has the very best of every feature.

So the best choice for you depends on what you need for your training and what type of features you are you looking for.

If you want to spend your money wisely, consider these recommendations before choosing your indoor bike equipment.

How advanced are you?

Understanding your own goals is very important when it comes to picking your indoor bike.

You need to consider how hard you want to push yourself, how long your training will be, and how important it is for you to have a display with accurate readings.

Otherwise, you could end up buying a very expensive bike and never using its high-end features or a very affordable bike that does not measure up to your expectations.

So before you make your purchase, evaluate your needs and decide which features are most important to you.

Type of bike

It is also important to consider the type of bike that works best for you.

There are several types, each one featured in a separate section of this article.

We can summarize them into the following:

Upright bike

Upright bikes are the most common. They’re designed to make you sit in an upright position with the pedals below and slightly in front of you.

It’s the typical cycling position you’d get if you were actually riding a bicycle.

Some upright bikes will have an on-board computer, others can be rather simple, with only a cycling mechanism and resistance settings.

Indoor cycling

An indoor cycling bike or a spin bike is similar to the upright bike, but the main difference is found in the flywheel.

In this type of bike, you usually get a flywheel that makes you feel more momentum.

Another key difference is the handlebar.

The handlebar on this one is a bit horizontal compared to an upright bike because you’re supposed to adopt a forward and lower position, similar to that of an outdoor racing bike.

Recumbent bike

Recumbent bikes feel very different from the rest, especially because it has a backrest and sometimes considerably comfortable lower back support.

It reduces tension in your back and it is recommended for people with spinal problems and back pain.

The pedals on recumbent bikes can be found ahead of you, instead of being almost directly below like they are on upright bikes.

This allows you to complete your cycling while sitting comfortably.

Fan bike

This type of bike may adopt the configuration of an indoor cycle or an upright bike, but it works with another type of resistance, called wind resistance.

Basically, harder pedaling will make the resistance harder.

As the name implies, they have a fan instead of a conventional flywheel, and will usually make you feel more refreshed due to the constant airflow.

Features To Consider

We also mention features as an important aspect to consider before buying. These are the most important features to take in consideration:

Resistance type

Exercise bikes come with either friction-based or magnet-based resistance. Friction resistance is cheaper, but magnetic resistance is usually quieter and more durable.

Flywheel weight

A weighted flywheel provides more stability to the machine. Moreover, without a weighted flywheel, your bike will not feel as natural as if you were riding outdoors.

Weight capacity

This feature is also very important, especially if you’re heavy. Try to find a model that is not very close to your actual weight.

Handlebar & seat comfort

You can have stress in your joints by repeating the same cycling movement in a bad position. That’s why seat and handlebar comfort is very important.

It is essential to be able to adjust the height and positioning of each to accommodate to your body type.

Programs & integrations

Some bikes come with programmed workouts and an on-board computer. This gives an edge to your workout and can be a source of extra motivation.

It is not a necessity but it may come in handy and make your workouts more targeted to your needs.

Warranty

Warranty lets you know how confident manufacturers are about their product. Look for an exercise bike with a warranty of 2 years or more.