Getting out and about on a bike is fantastic in theory; feeling the wind rushing through your hair as you free wheel through the picturesque countryside. But, with the UK’s unpredictable weather, a static exercise bike might be a better bet for those who want to get in shape without having to cycle through storms and downpours.
Don’t just expect a pair of pedals and a seat from the latest state-of-the-art models though. Modern exercise bikes have features including adjustable resistance, HD screens and virtual cycling trips in locations around the globe.
They also give you the ability to stream live, follow-along classes led by expert instructors — providing a challenge for beginners and expert riders alike. These classes aren’t limited to cycling either, with the likes of HIIT, yoga and strength sessions available via the bike’s rotating or flippable screens.
This interactive approach to at-home exercise is sure to help keep your fitness routine fresh and maintain your motivation levels. As an added bonus, it also means you don’t have to brave Britain’s bitter winters to get your fitness fix.
Now, the only question that remains is: which exercise bike should you buy?
What is the best exercise bike?
What are exercise bikes good for?
Regular training on an exercise bike has a whole host of health benefits. It can help you to manage your weight (more on this below) as well as strengthening your heart, lungs and leg muscles.
Progression in these areas will help you carry out everyday tasks more easily – traipsing up a steep hill will feel much easier if your body is already used to tackling challenging cycling classes several times each week.
Exercise bikes also put less pressure on your joints than many other forms of activity, like running on a treadmill, as they provide a low-impact workout. This means a cycling session carries a lower risk of injury than many of its cardio counterparts, and can be good for those with existing ankle, knee or hip pain as it will help strengthen the muscles in the lower body without putting them under too much stress.
Finally, a session on an exercise bike is safer than cycling on busy roads, removing hazards such as driver errors or slippery surfaces so you can focus on getting a good workout.
Is an exercise bike good for weight loss?
While there are many variables to consider when discussing weight loss, a calorie deficit is key to the process. Put simply, this means you’re burning more calories than you’re consuming each day.
Now, though an exercise bike can’t be your personal chef, it can help increase your daily calorie output. Peloton claims a 45 minute class on one of its bikes can burn anywhere from 400 to 700 calories.
As a general figure, the NHS says the recommended daily calorie intake for women is around 2,000 calories a day (though this will vary greatly depending on each individual’s age, weight, height and activity levels). So, by burning an extra few hundred calories each day you hop into the saddle, it can be easier to balance your input and output and achieve a deficit to lose weight.
Do I need a subscription to an app to use my exercise bike?
All of the exercise bikes we tested had touch screens that could be paired with an app. Becoming a member of these apps grants you access to a world of workout options, with a huge variety of live and pre-recorded classes covering cycling, strength training, HIIT, yoga and more available on each one. This does, however, mean an extra monthly investment is needed from owners as the bikes will not work without it.
Subscriptions vary in price from £129/year (the NordicTrack’s iFIT app) to £39.99/month (Echelon Fit). However, the Nordictrack bike does come with a year of free access to its app to get you started.
How we test
We put some of the top exercise bikes on the market to the test, with each one trialled by three testers of varying abilities and cycling experience.
Close attention was paid to how stable, smooth and noisy the bikes were in use. We also checked how responsive they were when the resistance was changed, and if they were able to maintain their performance at different speeds and levels of resistance.
Ease of use and design, including how easy it was to adjust each bike to suit our panellists and how comfortable they were during their rides, were further factors we considered during testing. Testers also looked at the instructions for each product, with points awarded for simple, easy to understand guidance.
Each member of our panel filled out a detailed feedback form on their experiences. These were then used to calculate scores for each bike and decide which models made our list.
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