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11 best exercise bikes that are worth adding to your home gym

Get spin-fit in the spare room with the best exercise bikes that really go the distance

Jon Axworthy
Monday 29 January 2024 15:03 GMT
We looked for stability, space-saving capabilities, comfort and a realistic cycling experience when testing these exercise bikes
We looked for stability, space-saving capabilities, comfort and a realistic cycling experience when testing these exercise bikes (iStock/The Independent)
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The running joke about an exercise bike used to be that after a couple of weeks of pedalling, it would slowly turn into a very expensive clothes horse because they were always fairly basic machines. Then, along came a new wave of connected bikes, which offered up a more sophisticated, connected, in-saddle experience, complete with impossibly upbeat instructors.

And since the arrival of these two-wheeled wonders, many more bikes have joined the race - while there are still plenty of traditional machines out there for those of you who don’t want to be shouted at by Cody Rigsby on a regular basis.

We tested bikes across this range, judging everything we rode with the same criteria, looking for good adjustability, (so that all heights can achieve a good riding position), frame stability, a smooth ride and, of course, manoeuvrability as indoor cycles are heavy and unwieldy machines that can all too easily take over a room.

In testing, we paid particular attention to each bike’s resistance performance, because no matter how they provide it to the fly-wheel (manual, electronic, magnetic or fan) you want to be able to step things up and back down again gradually and smoothly to replicate that on-road feel. To this end, it was important that the resistance control on the bike was responsive and easy to use.

When it came to the connected bikes, we also made sure we scheduled plenty of live classes with the bike’s online instructors, as well as sampling a selection of any other available on-demand content, so we could assess the quality for beginners, intermediates and advanced cyclists.

How we tested the best exercise bikes

We staggered taking delivery of the bikes so that we could dedicate time in the saddle with each one. We resisted the luxury of any offers from manufacturers to have technicians set the bikes up and instead assembled each bike ourselves to see how easy they were to put together in a modest spare bedroom so that we could physically see how easily they would fit into a busy home.

We then pedalled our way through every feature of every bike, testing in trainers rather than cycling cleats.

The best exercise bikes for 2024 are:

Schwinn 800IC exercise bike

Schwinn 800IC indybest-png
  • Best: Overall
  • Streaming subscription: No
  • Dimensions: 123cm x 54cm
  • Weight limit: 150kg
  • Power supply: Self-powered
  • Digital monitor: No
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 18kg
  • Pedals: SPD Clips, Toe cage
  • Why we love it
    • Great build quality
    • Excellent third-party app compatibility
    • Smooth resistance changes
  • Take note
    • No tablet included
    • Not particularly mobile
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Opti magnetic exercise bike

Opti-excercise-bike-indybest.png
  • Best: Budget buy
  • Streaming subscription: No
  • Dimensions: 107cm x 44cm
  • Weight limit: 100kg
  • Power supply: Self-powered, display is battery-powered
  • Digital monitor: No
  • Wheels: No
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 15kg
  • Pedals: Toe straps
  • Why we love it
    • Good value for money
    • Comfortable seat
    • Responsive monitor feedback
  • Take note
    • Confusing self-assembly
    • Some movement when pedalling hard
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Marcy Azure BK1016 exercise bike

Marcy-azure-excercise-bike-indybest.png
  • Best: For transporting
  • Streaming subscription: No
  • Dimensions: 130cm x 45cm
  • Weight limit: 110kg
  • Power supply: Self-powered, display is battery-powered
  • Digital monitor: No
  • Wheels: No
  • Resistance: Belt
  • Weight: 25kg
  • Pedals: Toe straps
  • Why we love it
    • Value for money
    • Good adjustability
    • Small footprint
  • Take note
    • TAssembly takes time
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Bowflex velocore cycle

Bowflex-exercise-bike-indybest.jpeg
  • Best: For road racers
  • Streaming services: Yes, JRNY subscription included in price
  • Dimensions: 127cm x 35cm x 89cm
  • Weight limit: 147.4kg
  • Power supply: Mains
  • Digital monitor: Yes
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 71.8kg
  • Pedals: SPD Clips
  • Why we love it
    • Efficient assembly
    • Excellent adjustability
    • Realistic resistance
    • Build quality
  • Take note
    • Lean mode takes getting used to
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Echelon Sport exercise bike

Echelon-sport-exercise-bike-indybest.png
  • Best: Mid-range smart bike
  • Streaming subscriptions: Several options, starting at £19.99
  • Dimensions: 106.68cm x 50.8cm x 111.76cm
  • Weight limit: 136kg
  • Power supply: Mains
  • Digital monitor: No
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance : Magnetic
  • Weight: 35kg
  • Pedals: Toe cage
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent online content
    • Quiet in operation
    • Good ergonomics
  • Take note
    • Self-assembly
    • No tablet included
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Peloton plus exercise bike

Peloton plus indybest.jpeg
  • Best: For content
  • Streaming subscription: Yes, £39 per month
  • Dimensions: 120cm x 60cm
  • Weight limit: 135kg
  • Power supply: Mains
  • Digital monitor: Yes
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 63kg
  • Pedals: SPD Clips
  • Why we love it
    • Motivational live classes
    • Excellent variety of content
    • Top quality touchscreen
  • Take note
    • Bit of a wobble when riding out of the saddle
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TechnoGym bike

TechnoGym bike indybest.jpeg
  • Best: Premium bike
  • Streaming subscription: Yes, £29 per month (included in price)
  • Dimensions: 121cm x 59cm
  • Weight limit: 160kg
  • Power supply: Mains
  • Digital monitor: Yes
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 65kg
  • Pedals: SPD pedals
  • Why we love it
    • High quality display
    • Build quality
    • Great riding experience
    • Superb app connectivity
  • Take note
    • Eye-wateringly expensive
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Apex Rides apex bike

Apex-Rides-apex-bike-indybest
  • Best: Overall design
  • Streaming subscription: Yes, £29.99 per month
  • Dimensions: 120cm x 60cm
  • Weight limit: 140kg
  • Power supply: Mains
  • Digital monitor: No
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 45kg
  • Pedals: Toe cage
  • Why we love it
    • Looks great
    • Comfortable
    • Small footprint
  • Take note
    • No built-in display
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Echelon EX-5s exercise bike

Echelon EX-5s indybest.jpeg
  • Best: Rideability
  • Streaming subscription: Yes, £29.99 per month
  • Dimensions: 133cm x 54cm
  • Weight limit: 136kg
  • Power supply: Mains
  • Digital monitor: Yes
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 56kg
  • Pedals: Toe cage
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent online content
    • Clear HD display
    • Silent cycling
  • Take note
    • Not particularly portable
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Water Rower NOHrD indoor bike

Water Rower NOHrD indoor bike indybest.jpeg
  • Best: For showing off
  • Streaming subscription: No
  • Dimensions: 125cm x 60cm
  • Weight limit: 200kg
  • Power supply: Rechargeable battery pack
  • Digital monitor: No
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Resistance: Magnetic
  • Weight: 60kg
  • Pedals: Flat pedals
  • Why we love it
    • It looks amazing
    • Comfortable
  • Take note
    • A little unstable when riding hard
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The verdict: Exercise bikes

Our yellow jersey definitely goes to the Schwinn IC8 because even though it’s not officially a connected bike, its excellent connectivity and compatibility makes it very easy to train with a third-party app, while the bike itself is an absolute dream ride in terms of smooth resistance and excellent bike geometry to suit all shapes and sizes of riders.

In terms, of the connected rides, the Peloton Bike+ is just a very well-made bike and Peloton still have their rims just in front of the chasing pack when it comes to instructor engagement and content.

Exercise bike FAQs

What is the best exercise bike for racing?

Many hardcore cyclists prefer an electromagnetic drivetrain for resistance, as it mirrors the feeling of being out on the road, as opposed to being inside a gym. That’s why, for racing, we recommend the Wattbike atom (next gen). Its seating position also mimics that of a racing bike, rather than the upright ones you’d usually encounter in a gym.

What is the best exercise bike for workouts?

For workouts in general, we’d have to recommend the Peloton bike. Besides the bike itself being top-notch, Peloton also offers a £39 per month subscription service that gives you access to all sorts of workouts. From cycling to strength, yoga, pilates, and more. So, if you’re looking to get more out of your purchase than just cycling, that might be the best option for you.

What is the best exercise bike for a small home?

If you’re limited on space, the best option will be a foldable exercise bike that can easily be stashed away when not in use. A minor downside, however, is that foldable machines tend to be a little less sturdy, which is not necessarily a deal breaker but something to keep in mind. We recommend the collapsible Pro Fitness FEB1000 bike, which is comfortable in the saddle with supportive handlebars, and stashes away nicely too.

Complete your home workout setup with our pick of the best rowing machines

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