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The best exercise bikes for home workouts, from just £129
Looking to get a killer workout from your living room? You’ve come to the right place. If you don't fancy the treadmill, investing in one of our expert-tested exercise bikes is a great way to sustain and improve your cardio fitness, without the impact on your joints.
Modern models go well beyond the standard spin bikes you'd find at a class, with bright touchscreens giving users access to hundreds of interactive cycling, strength, HIIT and yoga classes.
We've already rounded up the best workouts for runners to try on a stationary bike, so let's help you add one to your home gym set-up. Below you'll find our top picks, from affordable bikes to use now and again to more advanced options that could revolutionise your training:
How to choose an exercise bike
To choose the best bike for you, consider these key factors.
Interactive training: If you need a little motivation to get you spinning, look for a bike with on-demand training options that allow you to tune in to live spin classes with your favourite instructors and even compete with fellow riders in real time. Often, you'll have to pay a membership fee, but some bikes come with a year free when you sign up.
Resistance: Exercise bikes have four types of resistance – brake-based systems resistance, direct-contact resistance, magnetic resistance and fan-based resistance. A lot of the spin bikes on this list work using magnetic resistance, which is often quieter and smoother.
Storing and moving the bike: If your home gym isn't big enough to leave your bike out all the time, you may find yourself having to move it from room to room. If so, look for bikes with wheels to make this easier, or for ones that can be folded away for simpler storage.
Do I need to subscribe to an app to use my exercise bike?
This list is made up of Runner's World Expert Tested products (which have been put through a rigorous testing process by our pedalling panel) and editors' picks that have been hand-selected by the RW team.
Most of our editors’ picks just need setting up before you can get started, but many of our Runner’s World Expert Tested bikes will require you to subscribe to an app before you jump in the saddle.
Memberships tend to cost between £24.99 and £39.99 per month, but for this price you gain access to a huge resource of live and pre-recorded workout classes. These tend to vary in difficulty and duration, while most apps also have non-cycling training sessions, such as HIIT, yoga, meditation and strength workouts. Some bikes even have virtual routes that let you cycle picturesque roads from around the world, all without leaving the house.
Is an exercise bike worth it?
Exercise bikes can be expensive, but we do think they're worth it. They have lots of pros, from fun, low-impact aerobic exercise that strengthens your quads and hamstrings to improved safety during the winter months.
How we test
Never the sort to do anything by halves, our testing team at the Runner's World Lab set about devising a trial by fire for some of the top exercise bikes on the market.
Our experts put the pedal to the metal and cranked the resistance to the max to see how the bikes performed during high-intensity sessions. Special attention was paid to whether they wobbled at all in use, and if the flywheel moved smoothly and (near) silently throughout. Ease of use and overall design, including how well the bikes would fit in testers’ homes, were also considered before we decided on our final rankings.
If your favourite exercise bike below features an Editor's Choice logo, this means it's been hand-picked by our editors who have years of experience using gym-based and home-gym equipment, so you can buy with confidence.
Ready for our full reviews?
1. NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle
Best for: a realistic riding experience
It can be hard to muster the motivation to don your running shoes or jump on your road bike and brave Britain’s changeable weather for a bout of outdoor exercise.
Fortunately, the S22i provides a realistic riding experience from the comfort of your living room or home gym. Instructors can automatically change the bike’s resistance for you during classes, saving you from faffing about with manual controls, and the bike can also mimic steep inclines. In other words, slacking isn’t an option.
Testers really enjoyed the option to (virtually) take on some of the world’s most noteworthy rides, saying the top tips and insights into the terrain from instructors really brought the routes to life. They were also grateful for the in-built fan, which was needed during certain gradients.
2. Echelon Smart Connect Bike EX-5S
Best for: range of exercise classes
This Echelon cycle ran our favourite mighty close in the rankings. Its standout feature is the incredible depth of the Echelon Fit app, which kept testers busy with its enviable selection of quality classes. The beginners classes were particularly impressive, with plenty of advice and encouragement from instructors.
Our testing team enjoyed how easy the bike was to set up and get started too, with several also commenting on how quiet it was in use — ideal if you’re worried about disturbing neighbours with an early morning session.
3. JTX Cyclo Studio V5
Best for: an affordable gym-quality experience
There are plenty of all-singing, all-dancing exercise bikes in this round-up but if you want a solid spinning machine to see you through your sessions, without having to shell out on a monthly subscription, this is the one for you.
The computer console tracks cadence, speed, pulse, time and distance, plus there’s a tablet holder for tuning into live and pre-recorded workouts – or catching up on Netflix while you work up a sweat. You can also connect to Zwift or Kinomap via Bluetooth for a more interactive experience.
The 16kg flywheel allows for smooth pedalling and greater efficiency, the adjustable features helped adapt the bike to our body, and the bike was super quiet, so you needn’t worry about it disturbing neighbours. It is a hefty bit of kit, but it comes with built-in wheels for easy transportation and storage.
The resistance dial was easy to reach when we wanted to up the intensity mid-pedal, but there was a slight delay before it changed on screen. On that note, it wasn’t that easy to read our stats on the display and the bike wasn’t the most stable on test, nor the most comfortable. When you consider the price, though, it’s hard to complain.
4. Peloton Bike+
Best for: a premium buy
Peloton is already a household name, thanks to the hugely successful Peloton Bike. But rather than rest on its laurels, the brand has now upped the stakes with its aptly named Bike+, adding nifty features including Apple GymKit integration, auto-resistance controls and a rotating screen ideal for HIIT, yoga and strength sessions.
Our testing team loved this last feature, saying it helped keep their at-home workout regime varied and enjoyable. Energetic instructors motivated them through an extensive range of classes, with differing durations, types and difficulty levels available, while the bike stayed smooth and stable throughout.
5. JTX Mission Air Bike
Best for: An effective full-body workout at home
If you’ve ever tried a CrossFit class, you’ll know that the air bike, aka the ‘misery machine’ or ‘death bike’, is a killer piece of kit.
Unlike a regular stationary exercise bike, which allows you to adjust the level of resistance, this self-powered machine only has one setting. But don’t be deceived – you're still in for a challenging workout. You have to use your arms and legs to move the flywheel – the harder you pedal and the more effort you put into pushing and pulling the handles, the tougher your workout will be.
As with all our favourite JTX machines, we found this a pleasure to use. It was extra sturdy thanks to the heavy-duty steel frame, with no mid-session wobbling, and the padded seat successfully prevented sore bums. The grippy handles were great when our hands got sweaty, and the adjustable features allowed us to get into the optimal position.
It won’t take up heaps of space in your home gym/living room either – the footprint is small, and it boasts transport wheels, so you can easily store it away when not in use. The fact that it’s self-powered is also a plus – there are railing wires, so you don’t have to set up near a plug socket and you can save some energy. Tick, tick, tick.
The LCD screen is basic, but it shows all your key stats, and there are eight training programs, plus the option to set your own workouts. The fan does generate significant noise, but this may or may not bother you.
If you’re looking to get in some serious full-body workouts at home, the JTX Mission Air Bike is an excellent choice. It also comes with a two-year warranty for peace of mind when investing.
6. Opti Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike
Best for: a budget buy
If you're not looking to spend a fortune, this will do the job nicely. It folds away for storage, has variable tension control and the console gives you all the information you need – including time, distance, speed, heart rate and calories burnt.
7. Decathlon Essential Exercise Bike
Best for: recovery rides
Another super-affordable option, this offering from Decathlon allows you to spin away, without breaking the bank. It's got eight levels of manual resistance and the small console tells you your calories burned, distance, duration and speed. It probably won't be high-tech enough for serious training, but if you're looking to do some gentle recovery rides, it's a good choice.
8. Decathlon Basic Exercise Bike
Best for: cross-training a couple of times weekly
Another Decathlon model, this one is more like the spinning bike you may be used to in the gym. It's designed to be used for an average of five hours per week, so won't suit serious cyclists, but if you want something for cross-training, it will do the trick. It's easy to move around, (thanks to the front wheels), it's stable and the saddle and handlebars can be easily adjusted – handy if there are two of you sharing the bike.
9. JTX Cyclo-3 Indoor Racer Bike
Best for: a spin class experience for less than £400
This JTX offering is designed to give you a spin-class experience from home. It has a 17kg flywheel and infinity resistance for a smooth, balanced ride. The resistance-control knob allows you to easily up the challenge to simulate riding uphill, or reduce it when things get too tough. There are also toe-clip pedals, meaning you can ride wearing your running shoes. Wheels also allow you to move the bike from room to room.
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