The best exercise bike for your home

Everything you need to know about exercise bikes including which to buy and the benefits.

the best exercise bike - mature woman on exercise bike

by Lily Anderson |
Updated on

One of the easiest ways to exercise more is by treating yourself to the best exercise bike for your home.

Exercise bikes are a fantastic way to ensure that you keep up with your regular fitness routine without even having to leave your home. Because nobody likes to leave the comfort of their living room to take a jog in the rain or sizzle under the hot sun, right?

The best exercise bike for your home at a glance:

• Best overall exercise bike: Nero Sports Upright Exercise Bike - View now on Amazon
• Best mini exercise bike: Himaly Mini Exercise Bike - View now on Amazon
• Best foldable exercise bike: Ultrasport F-Bike and F-Rider - View now on Amazon
• Best exercise bike with back support: YYFITT 2-in-1 Foldable Fitness Exercise Bike - View now on Amazon

With an exercise bike, you can also exercise while watching TV, go for a quick spin while the washing machine is on, or get the pedals going during your lunch hour.

We've rounded up the best exercise bikes on the market in terms of price, quality, and reviews to help you complete your home gym.

The best exercise bike for your home

Best overall exercise bike

Description

Whatever the weather, you have no excuse not to crank it up a gear and ride this exercise bike. Whether your aim is to tone up, lose weight, or simply improve your cardiovascular health, this bike will help you track your fitness, log your progress and meet those ambitious goals.

Review: "Great bike, was very easy to assemble and is comfortable. The bike also arrived very fast and is great for an indoor work out being very sturdy and silent."

Best mini exercise bike

Description

Do you want to exercise more from home but don't have much space? This mini exercise bike has your name written all over it. With multi-level resistance, this machine combines arm and leg exercises to target different muscle groups at once. You can sit on a dining room chair or the sofa and pedal away, or rest on your table and pedal with your arms. It's compact, lightweight and portable, meaning you can train anywhere and everywhere you go.

Review: "This is great, I bought it for myself to be able to exercise in a home environment, but I also haven't got much space, so this one is perfect. The size, the quality, drives smoothly, everything was supplied including the Allen key, so very easy to put together. I am enjoying using it so much, and it makes me feel so much better already for exercising for a little while every day!"

Best foldable exercise bike

 Ultrasport F-Bike and F-Rider
Price: £111.19

Description

Want to step up your exercise regime? This bike will help you reach your fitness goals. Building stamina is the number one function, with gentle endurance training at the bike's core. It works fab, however beginner or advanced you are; just adjust the seat to your height, hop on and get pedalling. This is a fantastic option if you're limited on space, too, as you can simply fold it away and store when not in use.

Review: "Bought this to use when weather wasn't nice enough for a bike ride. Very easy to assemble and light enough to carry upstairs to our spare room. LCD display shows time, speed, distance, pulse and total accumulated distance. It also shows calories burned. Although I haven't had it for long, have completed 140 miles and find the pulse reading tallies perfectly with my iWatch. I have now bought the iPad/Kindle holder so I can exercise and read my book or emails at the same time. I would highly recommend the F bike to anyone who wants to keep fit whatever the weather."

Best exercise bike with back support

Description

If you're dealing with a bad back, you'll be glad to hear that this bike provides full back support owing to its large backrest. It comes with arm resistance bands for a two-in-one exercise and provides a smooth and quiet cycle.

Review: "This is a brilliant piece of exercise equipment for the beginner and great value for money. Does exactly what it says in the description and easily supports the weight range as specified. Fast delivery."

Best premium exercise bike

Description

Your ticket to indoor cycling heaven, this JLL pro machine is equipped with advanced features, including magnetic resistance, handlebar sensors, and a monitor that tracks time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse. As a belt-driven bike, you can get a quiet workout without disturbing other family members and enjoy a smooth cycling experience, and we love that it's easy to maintain.

Review: "Worth your money. I assembled it on my own and it was pretty easy. The video showed every step. It's quite sturdy as well. Does the job perfectly."

Best exercise bike on a budget

Description

If you're still working from home, you can get an hour of exercise in on your lunch break with this folding bike. The magnetic resistance and control system allows for smooth cycling and tension control, meaning you're in for a great ride every single time. Pack it away when it's not in use and track everything from your heart rate to speed and calories burned.

Review: "Bought this bike to keep in shape during the lockdown. It was easy to set up and everything is included in the package, no need for an additional screwdriver (although some batteries are needed). The maximum resistance is not super strong but enough to get a decent heartbeat increase. If you want to do some high-intensity cardio that might not be the bike for you. I would recommend this bike for anybody wanting to burn some fat watching TV. I have been using it almost every day for 10 days."

Best exercise bike for your home: Q&A

Finally, decided to invest your cash in an exercise bike? You've probably got lots of questions about how to use them and what they're good for. Luckily for you, we've pulled together an exercise bike Q&A to help answer any queries you might have.

Why is an exercise bike good for you?

A fitness bike is amazing if you're looking to build strength in your legs and lower body, burn body fat, and achieve a cardio workout that will put less stress on your joints.

Can the best exercise bike for your home improve my overall fitness?

First off, taking steps to improve your fitness is fantastic - go you! Secondly, using an exercise bike will improve your fitness levels as long as you use it right and regularly. Thirty minutes a day on your bike, five days a week, is a great recommendation to get those results, but any movement is good movement!

Woman on home exercise bike
©Getty Images

Are exercise bike calorie counters accurate?

If you're trying to lose weight, the most important thing is that you live a more healthy lifestyle. It shouldn't matter about how many calories are burnt. Plus, no cardio machines are 100 per cent accurate, so take your readings with a pinch of salt.

Can an exercise bike tone legs?

The simple answer is yes! But exercise bikes do a whole lot more than just tone your legs. They'll help strengthen major muscles, including your heart and lungs, help to build up strength and develop the joints. Using a mini exercise bike will help you to tone your arms, too, if you use it for upper body movement.

Will an exercise bike tone my bum?

As long as you do it right, then you'll be able to tone your bum while using an exercise bike. Things to consider are your sitting position, resistance setting, and how you're pedalling. Nail all these three things, and you'll start to see a difference.

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