10 Best Upright Exercise Bikes of 2020: Stylish, Super Durable, Fully Adjustable, Highly Portale, Great Weight Capacity, Compact & Ergonomic Design, Digital Reading from Added Sensors, Smooth & Silent Operation— Tested & Reviewed
Are you looking for a safe and easy way to strengthen your muscles and burn calories? If yes, you might have already thought about an upright exercise bike for your home gym setup.
I used to run outdoors every day to lose weight. But eventually my knees got injured due to the impact and I realized I needed an exercise bike. Ever since I began using my upright stationary bike, I started getting more fit and lost a few pounds while keeping my knees safe and sound!
Needless to say an upright bike can help you achieve your goal within a shorter period of time at the comfort of your home. But there are a lot of models on the market with different features. How will you find the best upright exercise bike?
To help you with that, we compiled a list of the top 10 models along with a buying guide. Go through the reviews carefully to make the right choice.
What You Will Get Here
- Best Upright Exercise Bike Comparison Chart (Updated 2020)
- Our Top 10 Best Upright Bikes
- Best Magnetic Stationary Bike: Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
- Best for Home Use: Marcy Upright Exercise Bike ME-708
- Best for Commercial Use: Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Bike Series
- Best Value: XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike
- Super Quiet Choice: Schwinn 170 Upright Bike Series
- Best Upright Fan Bike: Body Rider BRF700
- Combo Choice: ATIVAFIT Indoor Cycling Bike
- A List of 3 Others Product We Reviewed
- Other Tested Product
- Upright Exercise Bike: A Comprehensive Buying Guide
- Benefits of Upright Exercise Bike
- Care & Maintenance Tips
- Stationary Bike Workout Tips
- FAQs
Best Upright Exercise Bike Comparison Chart (Updated 2020)
| Product | Name | Read Review | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike Read Full Review | |||
Marcy Upright Exercise Bike ME-708 Read Full Review | |||
Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Bike Series Read Full Review | |||
XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike Read Full Review | |||
Schwinn 170 Upright Bike Series Read Full Review | |||
Body Rider BRF700 Read Full Review | |||
ATIVAFIT Indoor Cycling Bike Read Full Review | |||
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Stationary Bike Read Full Review | |||
Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike Read Full Review | |||
ProGear 225 Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike Read Full Review |
Our Top 10 Best Upright Bikes
The Exerpeutic folding magnetic upright exercise bike is a compact fitness machine that offers you a great workout without taking up much space in your house. You can even fold it in half and store in any corner of your house, even underneath your bed. It’s also easy to transport since it has transport wheels and weighs only 39 pounds.
Its heavy-duty steel x-frame is sturdy enough to support any user weighing up to 300 pounds. You can hardly get such huge weight capacity in any other exercise bike at this price point.
Moreover, it’s belt-driven, meaning less maintenance cost for you. The pedals are oversized to fit the feet of all sizes. They also have safety straps like most other exercise bikes to ensure that your feet don’t slip off during pedaling.
This bike is one of those rare budget-friendly fitness bikes equipped with hand-pulse sensors to measure your heart rate. You can see the pulse, speed, amount of calories burned, distance, and time on the LCD display.
We were greatly satisfied with the ergonomically designed seat of this bike. It’s large and adequately cushioned to give you comfort. You can also adjust the seat according to your height. It’s recommended for users between 5’3” and 6’1” in height.
This Exerpeutic model is the most sold upright exercise bike on eStores and no other exercise bike has been able to break its selling record till now. It ticked all the boxes on our checklist for the best upright exercise bike. However, we think it would have been better if the water bottle holder was larger to hold bigger bottles.
Specifications
- Product weight: 39 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Dimensions: 31 x 19 x 46 inches
- Frame Material: Heavy-duty steel
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Display: LCD
- Recommended User Height: 5’3”- 6’1”
- Heart Rate: Hand-pulse sensors
Our Verdict
If you live in an apartment or don’t have enough space to accommodate fitness equipment in your house, the Exerpeutic 1200 folding magnetic upright exercise bike is the perfect choice for you. With 8 levels of magnetic resistance, it’s great for moderate exercise to stay fit or lose weight. All the amazing features it offers, especially the heart-rate monitoring feature, make it worth your every dollar.
Marcy ME-708 is a great choice for short people to workout comfortably at home. It comes with a seat that can be adjusted to accommodate users 4’10” to 6’ in height. Besides, the seat is oversized and made of high-density foam, so you’ll be comfortable riding on it.
You can also reach the handlebars easily whether you’re short or tall. They are also padded to enhance your comfort and provide a good grip.
This bike has a premium steel frame that makes it sturdy. No matter what your body type is, you can use this machine to tone your muscle or lose weight. It weighs only 41 pounds, yet it’s stable and strong enough to take weights up to 300 pounds.
It comes with a magnetic resistance system. There are 8 levels that you can easily change by turning the tension knob. You can choose the level according to your need and increase or decrease it at any time during your workout.
Moreover, its chain belt-drive system is quiet and requires low maintenance. It’s also covered to prevent the machine jamming from sweat and dirt.
We particularly loved the simple console of this bike. It clearly shows the distance, number of calories you burned, speed, and time. Though it doesn’t feature pulse sensors like the Exerpeutic model discussed above, it shows other important information on a larger display that you can read easily.
The instruction manual is clear to assemble this bike easily by yourself and it should take only 30-45 minutes. It includes all the tools you need, making the assembly even easier.
Specifications
- Product weight: 41 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Dimensions: 35 x 17.5 x 47.5 inches
- Frame Material: Steel
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Display: LCD window
- Inseam Height: 26″ – 34″
- Recommended User Height: 4’10”- 6’
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for an upright exercise bike for an effective cardiovascular exercise at home, Marcy ME-708 can be the best option for you. It’s one of the most comfortable exercise bikes that suits short as well as tall fitness enthusiasts. Plus, it comes at a reasonable price.
Schwinn AD6 Airdyne is a high-end fan bike that offers unlimited resistance for intense workouts. You don’t need to set any level of resistance unlike other upright exercise bikes, just pedal faster. This air resistance also prevents likely injuries for people who have arthritic knees.
The bike is compact and easy to store. Though a bit heavier weighing 112 pounds, the transport wheels make it easier to move to any part of your home.
The sturdy metal frame has four base levelers under each corner to enhance its stability during heavy workouts. This frame is backed by an exceptional 15-year warranty that you won’t get with most other bikes in the same category.
We found the thickly padded and anatomically designed seat quite comfortable to sit on for a long time. You can easily adjust the seat vertically according to your height. What’s more, the handles move back and forth as you pedal, which is great for toning your arms.
Another feature that we loved about the AD6 was its dual-stage torque drive belts. They lower the maintenance and make your ride smoother.
The Schwinn AD6 is able to read heart rate with compatible heart-rate strap, just like the Schwinn 170. The console of this model is basic and easy to read on the large LCD screen. It displays all you want to know- the RPM, distance, time, speed, calories burned, remaining watts, and pulse.
However, if you’ve poor light in your room, reading the metrics can be a bit difficult since the display isn’t backlit. Apart from it, we didn’t find any major drawback to mention about this excellent exercise bike.
Specifications
- Product weight: 112 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Dimensions: 49.7 x 25.7 x 50.9 inches
- Frame Material: Steel
- Resistance: Infinite air resistance
- Display: LCD
- Drive System: Super torque, dual-stage belt drives
- Heart Rate: Telemetry Enabled
Our Verdict
The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne is an ideal choice for serious trainers. Beginners will also find this bike comfortable to use. You can use it to shed off your unwanted pounds or tone your muscles. Pedaling helps your lower body workouts while the moving handlebars help with your upper body workouts.
This high-end model does come at a price, but it’s really worth your investment. If price is not a major concern for you, we highly recommend this bike to accomplish your fitness goal.
XTERRA FB150 comes with an ‘X’ shaped frame that is made of steel for ensuring extra durability. It weighs only 32 pounds, which is pretty lightweight compared to most other exercise bikes. So it’s quite easy to store and transport.
The bike is also pretty small in size measuring 31.89 x 18.1 x 43.3 inches. You can fold it up in an even smaller size to save up space.
It features a basic console like most other exercise bikes. This console has an LCD screen that shows you time, total distance, speed, pulse, and the amount of calories burned. You can see your heart rate at any time by pressing onto the pulse-sensors on the handlebars. You can rarely get pulse sensors in any other exercise bike at this price point.
The extra-large seat of this model is well-padded to provide you optimal comfort. It can also be adjusted both horizontally and vertically to accommodate users from 4'10" to 5'10" in height. However, it can support a user with a max weight of 225 pounds.
We found the multi-grip design of the handlebars pretty comfortable for hands. The rubber foam covers let you have a secure grip during heavy workouts.
This machine features 8 levels of magnetic resistance system which is pretty good for light to moderate exercise. You can easily change the levels by simply rotating the tension knob.
The XTERRA FB150 is one of the highest rated exercise bikes. One feature that adds to the user satisfaction is its noiseless operation. You can comfortably watch TV or enjoy any form of entertainment while pedaling.
Specifications
- Product weight: 32 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 225 pounds
- Dimensions: 31.89 x 18.1 x 43.3 inches
- Frame Material: Steel
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Display: 2″ x 1″ LCD window
- Flywheel Weight: 3.3 pounds
- Recommended User Height: 4’10” to 5’10”
Our Verdict
If you need a space-saving workout machine that you can use at any limited space in your apartment but don’t have much cash to spare, the XTERRA FB150 is the best you can find for your dollar. Whether your goal is to build strength, lose weight, or enhance endurance, the low-impact workouts on this bike will be a great advantage in your exercise routine.
Schwinn 170 is one of the most advanced exercise bikes from Schwinn bike series. It comes with a whopping 29 workout programs. In fact, multiple profiles can be stored for multiple users in this model which is a rare feature for stationary bikes at this price.
It’s a well-built and extremely durable bike, thanks to the high-quality metal construction. It weighs 58.4 pounds, which is lighter than the Schwinn AD6. It’s so sturdy that it can take up to max 300 pounds of user weight.
Although the flywheel is quite light in weight, it’s pretty smooth to pedal on and transit resistance levels. We found the bike extremely quiet even when pedaling with the highest resistance. You can enjoy music with the built-in speakers without any disturbance of cycling noise.
Another stand-out feature of this bike is its dual LCD screen that keeps track of all the information you need to know. The readouts include speed, time, distance, RPM, heart rate, amount of calories burned, and more.
Additionally, it features Bluetooth that helps you store the workout results in an app. So you can access them at any time to see your progress.
We were pretty impressed with the comfort of both the seat and the handlebars. They allow you to have a relaxed seating position. Besides, you can adjust the seat in 2 ways to fit users from 4’6” to 6’6”.
Some users may have some difficulty assembling the bike since the instruction manual isn’t so clear. We recommend that you watch the assembly video on Amazon or YouTube to simplify the assembly process.
Specifications
- Product weight: 58.4 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Dimensions: 41.3 x 21.4 x 55.6 inches
- Frame Material: Steel
- Resistance: Eddy current resistance, 25 levels
- Display: Backlit DualTrack LCD display
- Recommended User Height: 4’6” to 6’6”
- Heart Rate: Telemetry enabled
- No. of Programs: 29
Our Verdict
Schwinn 170 is a high-tech hot piece of fitness machine that sets the bar high with its impressive features. It’s stable and has all those essential qualities that any fitness enthusiast will look for in an exercise bike. With 25 different resistance levels, it can give you some real challenging workouts to achieve your fitness goal. The price is slightly on the higher end but you get what you pay for.
Body Rider BRF700 is a compact fan bike measuring 41.75 x 22 x 46.5 inches. With a weight of 47.3 pounds, it’s not heavy either. You can easily transport it and keep it in any limited space in your house.
The frame is made from stainless steel, which makes it sturdy enough to take up to a user of 250 pounds. Besides, this model comes with non-slip pedals with safety straps to prevent your feet from slipping during pedaling.
The seat of this bike can be adjusted to accommodate users from 4’10” to 6’. The adjustment is pretty easy, so multiple members of your family can use this bike. What’s more, this BRF700 model has a softer seat than the previous model and saves you from the extra cost of buying a gel seat-cover.
We were mostly impressed with its dual-action handlebars. The rubber grips are comfortable to hold. Moreover, they move forward and backward when you pedal, so your arms get toned up too.
There is a resistance knob below the LCD screen that allows you to make your workout more or less challenging. Since this bike features an air resistance system, there is a fan-wheel that is smooth and generates a cooling breeze when you pedal.
Furthermore, this stationary bike comes with a basic console which is easy to read. It tracks your speed, time, calories, and distance.
We found the assembly process quite easy. The frame and fan-wheel were already attached, so it took only about an hour for us to put all the remaining parts together.
Specifications
- Product weight: 47.3 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
- Dimensions: 41.75″ x 22″ x 46.5″
- Frame Material: Stainless steel
- Resistance: Air resistance
- Display: LCD screen
- Recommended User Height: 4’10” to 6’
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable upright exercise bike for cardiovascular workout, the Body Rider BRF700 is an excellent choice for you. It’s designed in such a way that it works on both your lower body and upper body muscles. So you get a full-body workout with one fitness machine.
With all the amazing features it offers, you definitely can’t go wrong with this budget exercise bike!
The ATIVAFIT is a great option for beginners. It features a magnetic resistance system with eight levels. You can adjust the resistance levels according to your workout expectation by easily turning the tension knob. You can also push this same knob for a quick stop.
The frame of this bike is made of steel which makes it quite sturdy. Besides, the flywheel weighs 35 pounds with pure wool brakes that help reduce the noise. It’s sturdy enough to support up to 275 pounds - pretty impressive because most other similar models in this price range usually offer less weight capacity.
Moreover, it’s compact in size with dimensions of 43.3 x 15.8 x 7.9 inches. If you live in a small apartment, you don’t need to worry about space at all. There are also transport wheels that make it easy for you to move from one place to another.
It comes with a decent LCD monitor that tracks the speed, time, distance, calories and heart rate. There are hand pulse sensors that measure your pulse when you press it. It’s a great feature for the price point.
The console also has a cell phone or iPad holder. Additionally, there is a water bottle holder on the bike to keep yourself hydrated during workout.
The feature that impressed us the most was its full adjustability. You can adjust the multi-grip handlebars vertically and the seat both vertically and horizontally. You get the most comfortable position for an effective workout as a result.
Specifications
- Product weight: 40 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 275 pounds
- Dimensions: 43.3 x 15.8 x 7.9 inches
- Frame Material: Steel
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Display: LCD monitor
- Recommended User Height: up to 6’5”
- Heart Rate: Hand-pulse sensors
Our Verdict
If you’re a beginner looking for a budget-friendly upright exercise bike, the ATIVAFIT is a great option for you. Even the tallest rider will find it pretty comfortable to use. However, we won’t recommend it for you if your height is under five feet. Otherwise, you get a lot more from this bike than you pay.
A List of 3 Others Product We Reviewed
The Sunny SF-B1203 is an entry-level exercise bike with an excellent price and quality ratio. The seat of this bike is adjustable, both horizontally and vertically. The minimum inseam height is 26 inches and the maximum is 32 inches.
Moreover, the saddle style seat is ergonomically designed to offer you the best comfort. Though the handlebars are fixed, the position is comfortable enough for the targeted user height.
The pedal design is the same as the other Sunny stationary bike models. They will fit your feet perfectly, thanks to the toe cages and adjustable straps.
Weighing 62.5 pounds, this model is on the heavier side but this makes the bike stable at the same time. It also includes base levelers under the corners of the frame to enhance the stability of the bike on uneven surfaces. Even if you pedal at a high speed, the bike won’t slide and you’ll feel secured.
The flywheel weighs 22 pounds, which is more than expected at this price range. You can adjust the resistance level anytime during your workout by rotating the knob placed above the flywheel. What we were most impressed with was the emergency brake pad that let you stop immediately by pressing the knob down.
The SF-B1203 has an LCD display that tracks your performance and shows the information on the monitor. It’s a basic console, so there isn’t any complication like creating a user profile.
For those of you who are worried about assembly, the good news for you is that most parts of this bike come pre-assembled. You just need to attach the seat post, base stabilizers, and handlebars. That’s it, you’re ready to ride!
Specifications
- Product weight: 62.5 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
- Dimensions: 44.5 x 19.7 x 44 inches
- Flywheel Weight: 22 pounds
- Resistance: Adjustable
- Display: Digital monitor
- Inseam Height: 26-32 inches
- Drive System: Chain drive
Our Verdict
The Sunny SF-B1203 offers you the ultimate comfort. If comfort is the most important issue for you, you should check this bike out. It’s great for intense workouts. This indoor exercise bike also has a lot of similarities with a traditional road bike that can give you the feel of an actual bike ride.
The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS is a recent addition to the Exerpeutic exercise bike series. It comes with a heavy-duty steel frame that is extremely durable. In fact, this model has 20% more steel than the Exerpeutic folding magnetic upright exercise bike.
This bike is compact in size with dimensions of 39 x 48.4 x 26.4 inches. Besides, it can be folded in half of its size and stored away easily. However, it weighs 51.6 pounds which is a bit heavier compared to other exercise bikes.
The recommended height is 5'1" to 6'5" to have a comfortable experience on this bike. You can easily adjust the seat height in seconds with the adjustment knob, so not only you but also your family members can use this bike. Moreover, the seat is oversized that makes your ride comfortable even for longer use.
The Gold 500 XLS offers you 8 levels of magnetic resistance. Simply turn the tension knob clockwise to increase and the opposite to reduce the resistance. We found the pedaling motion smooth at all resistance levels.
Additionally, the oversized pedals are made of durable hard plastic and there are safety straps that prevent your feet from slipping. You can use any ordinary gym shoe to pedal this bike. Moreover, you can enjoy watching TV at a normal volume while pedaling since it operates quietly without making any irritating sound.
As far as assembly is concerned, you can do it easily within an hour or maximum two. For us, it took around 50 minutes. The instruction manual is so clearly written that we don’t think you’ll require any professional help.
Specifications
- Product weight: 51.6 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
- Dimensions: 39 x 48.4 x 26.4 inches
- Folded Dimensions: 26.4 x 24.8 x 57.5 inches
- Frame Material: Heavy-duty steel
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Display: LCD window
- Recommended User Height: 5’1″ to 6’5″
Our Verdict
The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS is undoubtedly one of the sturdiest upright exercise bikes that will serve you for many years. It’s also reasonably priced. In fact, you get a lot more than you pay.
If you’re searching for an upright bike for muscle toning and cardio training, it’s an ideal option for you. You can also lose weight by choosing higher resistance levels and doing regular workouts with it.
ProGear 225 has a basic steel frame that is coated with corrosion-resistant paint. It’s compact in size with a 32″ x 17.5″ footprint which gets reduced to 19″ x 17.5″ when folded. Therefore, it’s an ideal choice for users who live in a small home or apartment.
Moreover, this bike is pretty lightweight, weighing only 34.8 pounds. There are adjustable leg-stabilizers that prevent you from tipping over. It’s built quite strong but it can support riders only up to 220 pounds.
The two-way adjustable seat is one of our most favorite features of the ProGear225. You can adjust it to accommodate any riders with a height between 5'1" and 6'. We also found the seat of this upright bike more comfortable than most other similar models, thanks to its wide size, contoured surface and rubber-foam material.
Additionally, the handlebars have a multi-grip design that makes it pretty comfortable. The layer of rubber foam also secures your grip. There are integrated EKG pulse sensors with both handles which keep track of your pulse and show it on the LCD display.
This exercise bike features 8 magnetic resistance levels which can be adjusted simply by turning the tension knob. You can change the level anytime during your workout.
Another amazing feature is the exercise meter that not only functions as an odometer, but reads your pulse as well. You won’t find this feature in most other exercise bikes at this price point. It monitors the distance, speed, calorie count, time, and pulse.
Furthermore, the assembly process is a piece of cake since most of its parts come assembled in the package. It took us only 30 minutes to get it done..
Specifications
- Product weight: 34.8 pounds
- Max Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
- Dimensions: 32 x 17.5 x 46 inches
- Frame Material: Steel
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Display: LCD window
- Recommended User Height: 5’1″ to 6′
- Heart Rate: Hand-pulse sensors
Our Verdict
Overall, the ProGear 225 is a great fitness bike for light and medium cardio exercise, stamina building, muscle toning. You can easily fold and store this bike in a small space. If your goal is to lose weight, we recommend you to use this bike regularly for 30 minutes or more with the highest resistance level. In all, it offers great value for your money.
Other Tested Product
- 01 Sunny Health & Fitness Comfort & Safety: Foam Coated Handles Support Stability. Completely fold and Transport Product with Wheels. Folded Dims: : 12.5L X 20W X 57H inches Max Weight 300 lbs.
- 02 Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike for Cardio Training and Workout AIR-1
- 03 Nautilus Upright Bike Series
- 04 Xspec Indoor Foldable Stationary Compact Upright Cardio Workout Exercise Cycling Bike w/Heart Rate 16-Level Magnetic Resistance LCD Monitor w/Phone Tablet Book Holder
- 05 VIGBODY Exercise Bike Indoor Cycling Bicycle Stationary Bikes Cardio Workout Machine Upright Bike Belt Drive Home Gym
- 06 Lanos Folding Exercise Bike with 10-Level Adjustable Magnetic Resistance | Upright and Recumbent Foldable Stationary Bike is The Perfect Workout Bike for Home Use for Men, Women, and Seniors
- 07 Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Exercise Bike with Electromagnetic Resistance, Device Holder, Programmable Monitor and Pulse Rate Monitoring - SF-B2883
- 08 ECHANFIT Indoor Cycling Bike Folding Magnetic Exercise Upright Bike Stationary with 16 Levels Resistance Arm Training Bands and Electronic Display
- 09 VIGBODY Exercise Bike Indoor Cycling Bike Adjustable Stationary Bicycle for Home Gym Workout Cardio Bikes Upright Bike
Upright Exercise Bike: A Comprehensive Buying Guide
1. Resistance System
Resistance is extremely important for an effective workout. Upright bikes come with different resistance systems, among which magnetic-resistance is the most useful and common one. This system is smooth and quiet. There are different resistance levels that you can use for different exercise routines.
Some upright bikes also feature the air resistance system that contains a fan-wheel instead of a flywheel. These bikes are a bit noisier and not suitable for longer sessions.
2. Design
Exercise bikes are of three types: spinning bikes, recumbent bikes, and upright bikes. Spinning bikes are most suitable for high-intensity sessions while the recumbent bikes are preferred by seniors and beginners. But upright bikes are the most popular because of their size, performance, and comfort. The seats of these bikes are placed in a lower position from the handlebars.
3. Control Module
The main function of an upright bike’s control module is to let you control your exercise and get feedback on its various aspects. That’s why most exercise bikes feature LCD screen panels taking the center stage. There are buttons around it, which are the digital controls to adjust the resistance levels. The more you pay for your bike, the better console or control module you’ll have.
4. Maximum Weight
You must check the max weight capacity before buying an exercise bike. The best bike will offer you a capacity of 300 pounds.
5. Height Range
If you have an average height, most exercise bikes will fit you. However, if you’re under 5ft or over 6ft, then you might have an uncomfortable experience. Make sure your bike has adjustable handles and pedals to be able to exercise comfortably.
6. Available Space
These bikes come in various sizes. If you live in a small apartment, go for a compact and foldable model. Otherwise, you should get a larger bike which will enhance your comfort. Keep in mind that the size of footprint is more important than the size of the frame.
7. Folding Feature
Folding features can be a great solution for users who have less space in their house. You can store a foldable exercise bike even under your bed when you’re done with your workout.
8. Difficulty
It’s useless to own an upright exercise bike that can’t make workout difficult for a user. Most popular models come with magnetic resistance, but some models still use a direct-contact flywheel. Though you’re going to workout indoors with an upright stationary bike, you must have the feel of cycling on an actual road.
9. Safety
Your upright bike should have a safety lock in order to prevent it from moving. The pedals should also have straps and anti-slip features for smooth pedaling experience.
10. Assembly
Make sure your exercise bike is easy to assemble. You should be able to assemble it in less than an hour.
11. Noise
Upright exercise bikes with magnetic resistance tend to be quieter than bikes with air resistance. However, the former is more expensive than the latter.
12. Tracking Feature
With some of the best exercise bikes, you can track the amount of calories burned and the distance you’ve covered. They can also frequently check on your heart-rate.
13. Secondary Features
One essential feature for a good workout is the seat of an exercise bike. The seat should be large, contoured, and padded. If your seat is not comfortable enough, you may buy a more comfortable one separately.
You can also expect features like heart-rate monitors, integrated speakers, cooling fans, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB charging point in a premium upright exercise bike.
14. Ease of maintenance
Most advanced models demand less maintenance compared to the cheaper models.
15. Warranty
Warranty is another important factor that you should consider. You should get a 2-3 years warranty on an upright exercise bike. Also, the manufacturers should offer you decent aftersales services.
16. Budget
You should get a good exercise bike within a price range from $150 to $1000. There are many affordable options in the market. However, models with the most advanced features come with an expensive price tag.
Benefits of Upright Exercise Bike
1. Improved Cardiovascular Function
Cycling is one of the best ways to strengthen your cardiac muscles and improve your heart rate. It also improves oxygen and blood flow throughout the body. It’s scientifically proven that cardiovascular workout reduces depression and increases brain activity.
2. Weight Loss
Depending on your workout intensity level and body weight, you can quickly burn calories with an exercise bike compared to other fitness machines. As you burn more calories, you start to lose weight.
3. Low-Impact Workouts
An upright exercise bike provides low impact workout that requires smooth movements of joints. You’re less likely to have ankle, knee, or hip injuries than you’re from running by feet on the road. It’s a great workout option for users with joint issues.
4. Strengthened Muscles
An exercise bike helps strengthen your lower body muscles, especially when a higher level of resistance is used during workouts. Pedaling strengthens your calves, quadriceps, and hamstrings, while bike handles work on your upper-body muscles.
Care & Maintenance Tips
To make sure your upright exercise bike lasts longer and to avoid any unwanted noise during pedaling, you must follow some rules and perform an exercise bike maintenance routine every year.
It’s important that you clean your exercise bike every time after using it. Clean the sweat from pulse sensors, handlebars, seat and console. You may use a clean, wet cloth or any other cleaning product that you can get in a stationary bike cleaning set. Wipe every part with a dry cloth thoroughly afterwards.
Here is a checklist for your yearly maintenance:
- Clean frame
- Clean covers
- Clean the friction belt
- Check cables
- Lubricate chains
- Grease the pivots
- Vacuum interior
- Diagnose errors
Stationary Bike Workout Tips
For beginners, here is a 20-minute workout session tip that can help you achieve your fitness goal:
- Warm up for five minutes at a slow pace keeping the resistance level low.
- Increase the level of resistance 1-4 increments. Continue for three minutes.
- Increase the resistance again and continue for 2 minutes.
- Now decrease your resistance back to the baseline level.
- After three minutes, increase the resistance again and keep this resistance for two minutes.
- Finally, decrease your resistance to the level you started off with and continue for five more minutes like this.
Continue your 20-minute sessions until you’re comfortable and then slowly increase your workout time. When you’ll workout regularly for 30 minutes or more, you’ll start seeing the result.
It’s Time to Wrap Up
There are a wide variety of models in the market today but the one which fits your needs is the best upright exercise bike for you. With our reviews, we hope we’re able to ensure that you feel confident in buying the model that fits you the best.
Check out our buying guide above to know about any detail that you’re not sure of. We also have particular picks to further simplify your search.
If you want an exercise bike only for simple cardio in a home environment, go for an affordable model like the ATIVAFIT or the XTERRA FB150. If you prefer some high-tech features, try out the Schwinn AD6 or Schwinn 170.
Good luck with your workouts!
FAQs
1. What is the best way to workout on an exercise bike?
Ans: There are a number of ways to workout on an upright exercise bike. If you want to lose weight, the workout will be different for you from the workout designed for building stamina or training for a biking event.
For your initial session, ride for 25 minutes and then keep adding one minute every session. After two weeks, you can have a 35-minute workout session! Also, keep switching the intensity up- pedal slowly for six minutes, then do it fast for 2 minutes, return to light pedaling and repeat.
2. Is 30 minutes on a stationary bike enough?
Ans: 30 minutes cycling on a stationary bike will be moderate exercise. If you ride 30 minutes every session for 5 days a week, it should be good enough to keep you fit.
3. Is an upright or recumbent bike better?
Ans: It depends on the user’s preference. Since a recumbent bike has a reclined seating position with the handlebars placed at the seat’s side and pedals in front of the body, it can be a better option for users with back and joint issues.
On the other hand, an upright exercise bike comes with a regular road bike design – pedals underneath the body and handlebars in the front. If you wish to have the feel of riding outdoors, an upright bike should be a better choice for you.
4. Is it okay to use an exercise bike every day?
Ans: You can certainly use your exercise bike every day. According to fitness experts, a 25-30 minutes workout session every day is beneficial for your health.
5. What muscles does an upright bike work?
Ans: An upright bike mainly works on your calves, quadriceps, and hamstrings. It also strengthens your muscles in the back, core, and glutes.
6. Is an upright bike a good way to lose weight?
Ans: An upright bike is extremely useful to burn calories, which results in weight loss. Depending on the intensity and your weight, you can burn 200-1000 calories with an hour’s exercise session. Remember to increase the resistance level to get better results.
7. Can you lose belly fat by riding a stationary bike?
Ans: Yes, riding a stationary bike can reduce your belly fat. However, it can’t solely burn the belly fat or you can’t target the belly fat only with any specific exercise. We recommend you to improve your diet along with exercise on a stationary bike.
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Michael Benedict
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Oana Milton
