To help you choose the best exercise bike for your fitness goals, we’ve analyzed the latest models available.
Avoid making the gym trip. You might be surprised to hear that there are even better, or at least equally fantastic, options for home exercise bikes. Exercise bikes had been getting smarter, sleeker, and less expensive even before Peloton became a household brand. There’s a wonderful no-frills version that you can tuck away when not in use for every exercise bike with a big screen mounted on the front displaying you a competitive rating and spin-class-style workout. Selecting the most appropriate option will prevent it from turning into an expensive spot to hang clothing to dry. We’re here to assist you in choosing the ideal workout bike.
Not because I moved to a place where it becomes too cold to ride my road cycle all year, but rather because I have more than five years of experience testing indoor exercise bikes. Whatever your cycling ability, exercise bikes offer a lot of advantages. The Bowflex Velocore series is now the greatest exercise bike overall. It’s undoubtedly one of the most adaptable exercise bikes that don’t take up a tonne of room; there’s a budget-friendly model with a smaller display, and the integrated display offers some training and entertainment choices.
1. Bowflex VeloCore
Your legs will feel like Jelly after riding any indoor cycling cycle worth its salt, but the Bowflex VeloCore offers a more comprehensive workout. You won’t find this Peloton rival’s feature—which allows you to sway from side to side while riding—in any other indoor exercise bike on the market today. But it’s more than simply a trick. You train not just your legs but also your arms, core, and back when you’re in Lean Mode.
The JRNY platform from VeloCore provides an expanding collection of trainer-led on-demand videos, Adaptive Workouts with AI that increase in difficulty as your fitness level does, and a pleasant selection of entertainment alternatives like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ to pass the time when you’re bored.
2. Echelon Connect EX5S Bike
While the Peloton Bike may be more prestigious, the Echelon Connect EX-5S Bike is still a great substitute that will save you money on membership costs.
With its 21.5-inch HD touch screen, 32 manually-controlled magnetic resistance levels, dual-sided pedals that can be used with SPD studs or standard sports sneakers, and sturdy build quality, the EX-5S is a formidable combination. We regret to inform you that the newer Echelon EX-8S bike was not included in our ranking due to problems with the audio and user interface during testing. However, we will review our assessment after the manufacturer releases the anticipated improvements later this year.
Like Peloton, Echelon provides a metrics-driven experience that includes regular live courses, competitive leaderboards, and a large library of on-demand exercises to help you reach your fitness objectives. In addition to cycling, Echelon’s membership offers a variety of floor-based fitness and wellness programs, including yoga, pilates, boxing, HIIT, meditation, and strength training.
3. Nordictrack Commercial Studio Cycle
While stationary bikes may give you the impression that you’re moving slowly, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle may deceive you into believing that you’re riding over the Colorado Rockies or past waterfalls in Hawaii. It’s the closest thing to road cycling or mountain biking, with a wide variety of trainer-led outdoor workouts shot in stunning places across the globe.
The S22i distinguishes itself in the competitive smart stationary bike market with an automated trainer control capability that surpasses the Auto Follow features of the more expensive Peloton Bike+. This feature automatically modifies your slope and descent in addition to your resistance. The majority of other intelligent stationary bikes aren’t even capable of automatically inclining and declining. Other special features of the S22i are a handlebar tray that holds your phone and an exercise fan.
The bike’s iFit platform provides a wide range of options, such as floor-based workouts to complement your cycling sessions, live studio courses with competitive leaderboards, and beginner-friendly programs. Additionally, its 22-inch HD touchscreen with tilt and rotation provides the ideal viewing angle for off-bike training.
4. Peloton Bike
Peloton has millions of clients and a plethora of clones for a reason. Peloton offers you an experience rather than just an exercise program. Its motivational teachers, competitive leaderboards, handpicked music, metrics-focused classes, engaging social features, and engaging workouts all work together to eliminate workout monotony, create a feeling of community, and inspire you to keep using its products. Additionally, the business is reaching out to a new market by offering the new Lanebreak feature on the Bike+ and the original Bike: gamers.
With a new digitalized Auto Follow resistance system that adapts to your instructor’s signals during on-demand sessions, the Bike+ improves on its predecessor and frees you up to concentrate on your performance and moving up the scoreboard rather than fiddling with knobs. This feature makes for an intense at-home cycling experience that will leave you drenched in perspiration and, sometimes, tears, together with an improved sound system. The Bike+ is one of the greatest pieces of smart home gym equipment available, and it’s a compelling upgrade over the original thanks to its 23.8-inch rotating touch screen, Apple GymKit integration, and simple Apple Watch pairing.
