Cycling is a low-impact exercise while offering health and fitness benefits. Exercise bikes can conveniently provide you with the benefits of a cycling workout without the hassle of going outside, maintaining your road bike, or attending a studio.
How do you know which exercise bike to choose from? The market offers several exercise bikes from top-tier peloton bikes to the budget-friendly slim cycle. Just because one brand of exercise bike offers all the latest features does not guarantee that it would be the best bike for you.
Regardless of features, the best stationary bike for you will be the one that helps you achieve your fitness goals. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 exercise bikes available in the United States:
Peloton directly competes with cycling studios by providing you with an exercise bike with streaming live classes by your favorite Peloton spin instructors directly from the attached monitor. According to The Fast Company, by 2018 Peloton had 4% more active riders than those who attended SoulCycle nationwide.
The model appears chic and only allows riders to use clip-on shoes. If you do not mind spending money on a monthly subscription and wearing SPD clip-on shoes, then this will provide you with a fun workout.
Best for Riders Who:
- Want the cycling community without attending studio spin classes in person.
- Enjoy competing with fellow riders.
- Value brand identity and value being on-trend.
This exercise bike redefines fitness by providing the rider with the resources necessary to use heart rate zones as a means to customize the fitness journey for each rider. This exercise bike also comes with additional features that would provide you with a well-rounded addition to your home gym.
One of these features includes access to several recorded bike and body-weight fitness videos giving you multiple options for getting a full-body workout.
The attached touch screen monitor allows you to swivel the touch screen to a position that accommodates the various workout routines provided. The structure of the bike accommodates riders from petite to large riders.
Best for Riders who:
- Exceed 6 feet in height or might have a heavier weight.
- Share equipment with riders of various sizes.
- Want equipment that can provide more versatile workouts.
- Value Heart Rate Training.
Similar to the MYX Fitness Bike, the Sole SB 700 can accommodate larger riders. This exercise bike does not include an attached monitor. Consequently, this exercise bike does not include a subscription or included exercise workouts.
The Sole SB 700 provides you with hybrid pedal options where you can ride with tennis shoes or SPD clip-on shoes.
If you value monitoring your heart rate, you have the option to connect a heart rate monitor to the attached LCD display.
Best for Riders who:
- Do not want to purchase a monthly subscription.
- Appreciate durable, quiet, and comfortable equipment.
This exercise bike offers riders a unique option to unlock a portion of the frame that lets the rider experience a leaning or stationary mode. Keep in mind this exercise bike should only be ridden in the learning mode by riders that experience vertigo or balance issues. This interesting feature provides more advanced riders with more challenging workouts. The Boflex Velocore Exercise Bike has an attractive built-in HD monitor that exhibits a beautiful display. The function of this exercise bike does require the purchase and active subscription to their streaming videos. This model also had hybrid pedals to provide you with the option to ride with tennis shoes or SPD clip-on shoes.
Best for Riders who:
- Want more intense core engagement.
- Crave advanced workouts.
- Desire a comfortable saddle.
The Bowflex C6 is an exercise bike that will provide you an exceptional riding experience for just under $1000. The attached LCD screen provides you with accurate metrics of your workout. Because the price point for this model is under $1000, it has fewer attached features. This model does not include an attached monitor or subscription service. However, this exercise bike does provide you with the ability to attach a monitor connected to Bluetooth. Additionally, you have the option to ride with tennis shoes or SPC clip-on shoes.
Best for Riders who:
- Value a quiet ride.
- Do not want to commit to a subscription service.
This is a light and compact exercise bike that works well if you have limited space to store exercise equipment. Additionally, the Pro-Form Studio Bike Pro 22 has a 22-inch built-in monitor that can only stream an iFit subscription. This model is not recommended for people who do not wish to purchase a subscription.
Best for Riders who:
- Prefer using iFit content.
- Wants a compact and quiet exercise bike.
- Do not exceed 6 feet in height.
This bike is similar to the Pro-Form Studio Bike Pro 22 but has a 16-inch monitor rather than a 22-inch touch screen. Pro-Form will ship this bike to you for no cost if you pay for a 1-year iFit subscription at the purchase of the exercise bike.
Best for Riders who:
- Prefer using iFit content.
- Do not exceed 6 feet in height.
The Nordic Track S22i has an incline/decline motor that provides you with an experience that closely mimics a ride in nature. This model also includes a monitor that connects to an iFit subscription.
Best for Riders who:
- Prefer using iFit content.
- Want a ride to mimic nature.
The Rogue Echo Bike is classified as an air bike. Air bikes generally provides you with the best fitness results when used in short bursts such as interval training. Air bikes have minimal technology but this model does include an LCD monitor to keep track of your workout stats. The Rogue Echo Bike does not allow for SPD clip on shoes and should only be used with tennis shoes.
Best for Riders who:
- Prefer high intensity interval training.
- People who like simple equipment.
“As seen on TV,” the Slim Cycle is a light and compact exercise bike that can be stored under most beds or in small closets. Despite its compact frame, the Slim Cycle can support riders as heavy as 300 pounds. This exercise bike has multiple resistance levels and attached resistance bands for arm workouts.
Best for riders who:
- Have a beginner fitness level or identify as an elderly rider.
- Want an affordable option.
- Have limited available space for exercise equipment.