There are two main types of exercise bikes: upright and recumbent. An upright exercise bike looks like a regular road bike, with a vertical orientation. A recumbent bike lets the rider sit back against a backrest, with legs out in front. Once you have made this choice, there are still an astounding number of exercise bikes on the market, and choosing the right bike can be a challenge.

Experts agree that there are certain things to think about before buying a bike, as well as important features to look for regardless of the style, brand or price range:

  • Consider your home exercise goals and have realistic expectations about how often you will use the exercise bike. According to The New York Times, the optimism and motivation of starting a home exercise program can lead users to purchase a more elaborate and expensive piece of equipment than they actually need. And a survey from a leading consumer organization shows that 40 percent of people who buy home exercise machines end up using them less than expected.
  • Look for standard features. Even the most basic of exercise bikes should have some varying resistance levels, a console that monitors resistance level, distance, speed, time and calories burned. A quiet bike is also important, especially if you live in an apartment building. Additional features to look for include programming options, automatic resistance adjustment to keep you in your target heart range, an LCD backlit screen, book rest and bottle holder.
  • A heart rate monitor is a nice option, as it allows you to pace yourself for optimal fat burning or cardio levels. On more expensive machines, look for a cordless chest strap, which is more accurate than a hand-grip monitor. Some models offer a feature that automatically adjusts the resistance according to your target heart rate.
  • Upright and recumbent bikes should adjust to the height of any user easily and quickly. The seat should be comfortable, and on a recumbent model, the back should feel fully supported. Pedals should be wide, with a strap to keep your feet in place. Bikes may be designed for specific user height and weight ranges, so be sure to check the manufacturer's specifications.
  • The heavier the bike, the more stable the bike, but it should be light enough that you can move it easily. The amount of space you have available in your home is also a consideration.
  • If you have small children in the house, you should look for a shrouded wheel and chain so tiny fingers can't get pinched. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates, nearly 8,700 children under the age of five are injured with exercise equipment each year; and the figure climbs to 16,500 for children between the ages of 5 to 14. Injuries include fractures and amputations. Enclosed mechanics will cut down on dust and noise as well as protect curious children and pets.
  • Look for at least a one-year warranty that includes labor. Most offer longer warranties on parts and frame, but the labor warranty is important since a technician will generally need to come to your home for service. Fortunately, experts say that exercise bikes in general are less repair-prone than other types of home fitness equipment.

If you already own a road bike, you might want to purchase a stand that will let your bicycle double as indoor fitness equipment. This is especially useful for competitive bikers who want to train indoors on their own bikes. The CycleOps Fluid2 (*est. $300) is reviewed by Money magazine as "a cheap alternative" that provides progressive resistance, the harder you pedal. Testers found that the CycleOps was stable even with strenuous pedaling. Another stand, the Blackburn Trakstand Mag Trainer (*est. $120) didn't offer the same stability, and testers found the process of mounting and removing the bike to be more difficult than with the CycleOps.

A more challenging option for riding indoors is buying a set of rollers -- a set of three tubes on a track that lets you ride your bike in place. It's not easy to learn to do, but there are plenty of YouTube videos that can show you how it's done.

In recent years, treadmills have eclipsed sales of all other home fitness equipment. See our report on treadmills for more information. Elliptical trainers have also become popular. These are something of a cross between a stair stepper and a treadmill. Experts like them because they minimize joint stress. See the ConsumerSearch reports on elliptical trainers and stair steppers for details.

Sponsored Links

Back to top