Indoor bikes are the perfect way to get your heart pumping and your body moving from the comfort of your own home – there is a huge range on the market that can offer personalised workouts, and instructor-led sessions that feature high-tech additions like touchscreens and speakers so you can immerse yourself in the full experience.
To choose the best product for your workout, you’re going to need an exercise bike comparison to help make your decision. Read on as we take a look at some of the benefits that come with indoor exercise bikes, as well as some of the top equipment on the market.
Why should I get one?
Many of us are choosing to work out from the comfort of our own homes so that we can exercise whenever suits us best, but this means that we need equipment to help us reach our goals. Upright, indoor exercise bikes are taking over home gyms globally, and for good reason.
There are so many benefits that come with using indoor exercise bikes such as burning more calories. If you are hoping to lose weight, an exercise bike can provide you with one of the most efficient ways of shedding pounds. Whilst working on losing weight, you can also tone up, as indoor cycling allows you to work on specific muscles and improve your overall body strength over time. If you are recovering from an injury, cycling is a low-impact sport, meaning there is less pressure on joints and bones.
It’s not just your physical fitness that can benefit from an upright, indoor exercise bike, it can have a positive impact on your mental health too. Any type of exercise can help you to clear your mind and release stress, and indoor bikes are no exception. If you use them to exercise regularly, you will find that your stress and anxiety levels will lower because of the endorphins released after a workout, resulting in a more positive outlook on life.
Features to look out for
If you’ve decided you’d like to reap the benefits that come with working out on an indoor exercise bike, your next task is to choose the best product for you – and this may not be an easy one. There are a variety of these bikes on the market so there’s bound to be a piece of equipment to suit you, however, there are a few features that you should look out for when making your final decision.
Storage
You’ll need to think about how you’re going to store your indoor bike so that it doesn’t get in the way of your home life. Thankfully, there are plenty of products that fold away – consider the size and the weight of the product. Wheels could also be advantageous.
Resistance
This is how you’ll get your workout on the bike, but there are four different types of resistance. Many spin bikes use magnetic resistance, which means they are much quieter than others, which is great if you have neighbours.
Tech and interactive training
Some of these bikes provide the most high-tech features, like touchscreens that offer built-in training plans and sessions so you can tailor your workout to suit you. You should think about what you need from a bike – is the interactive nature of a workout important? If not, you could save money by choosing a more basic option.
The top buys
Peloton Bike+
If you’re looking for a way to add a bit of excitement into your routine, or you get bored easily when cycling, the Peloton Bike+ could be the best option for you. By now, you’ve probably heard of Peloton as it is a household name – it features a rotating screen so you can train with fitness instructors both on the bike and off and have access (with a subscription) to a huge range of classes to suit all abilities. The bike offers a smooth ride and can withstand the most energetic workouts.
Technogym Bike
If your workouts are mainly focused on cardio, the Technogym bike could be worth considering. It is like a Peloton bike in the way that it comes with access to two fitness apps, that also feature instructors to help you throughout your workouts. Not only this but this indoor bike comes with dumbbells so that you can implement strength workouts into your training routine, to build muscle and burn fat. You’ll also find that the Technogym bike comes with a touchscreen that is simple to use, and the bike itself is sturdy and comfortable.
Echelon Smart Connect Bike EX-5S
This Echelon bike is perfect if you need a bit of motivation to get back to pedalling. This brand is very similar to Peloton and is without a doubt one of their main competitors. If you’re drawn to these modern indoor bikes for their workout sessions, the Echelon will not disappoint. The Echelon Fit app offers a huge range of classes, and if you need an extra boost, you can count on the instructors to offer advice, and help you through. This bike is great for beginners as it is straightforward and easy to use, as well as offering a quiet workout.
Decathlon Basic Exercise Bike
If you’re just getting started, a more basic exercise bike may be just what you need. This Decathlon Basic bike comes without all of the bells and whistles that you’ll get with the previous products but is a truly great option for beginners. Although it may not suit serious cyclists that train for hours a week, it could be perfect if you would like to use it to cross-train, or as a way of rehabilitation from an injury. It is easy to move around if you don’t want it cluttering your space, and both the handlebars and the saddle can be adjusted – great if more than one of you is using it.