Creeky exercise bikes, uncomfortable seats, non-resistive exercise bikes… Follow our buying advice to avoid bad surprises! Here are the 10 most important criteria to consider when choosing an exercise bike. Read the best exercise bikes tips below;
1) The weight of the flywheel: pedaling fluidity
The weight of the flywheel (or flywheel) determines the comfort and fluidity of pedaling the bike. The higher the weight, the smoother and more comfortable the pedaling on the exercise bike will be. When the flywheel is too light, you may feel jerky when pedaling. The weight of the flywheel you choose will depend on your goals, whether you want to climb Mont Ventoux or simply ride a leisurely bike around the lake, and secondly on your budget, rather €300-600 or towards €1,000 or more.
2) Resistance: mechanical or magnetic?
The mechanical resistance is activated by turning the adjustment wheel on the stationary bike, while the magnetic resistance can be changed directly from the bike’s console (by controlling a magnet that comes into contact with the bike’s wheel). Only magnetic resistance allows you to have predefined training programs with dynamic resistance change.
3) Watts
Watts are a unit of measurement for your pedaling power and are a good indication of the maximum power a bike can provide. High watts allow you to have a more precise and efficient training exercise. For example, the Kettler Ergo S exercise bike has a maximum of 600 watts. On the other hand, the DKN AM-3i home exercise bike has a maximum of 350 watts.
4) The console: with or without Bluetooth?
The stationary bike console hasn’t changed in a long time… although our phones and screens continue to evolve! The Bluetooth connection has solved this awkward (and unacceptable) situation by allowing a smartphone, iPhone, iPad or tablet to be connected to the bike wirelessly and used as a bike console, allowing you to control the resistance of the bike directly from your smartphone, create new training programs and customize them, follow training statistics and even play an interactive video game with the speed and resistance of the exercise bike. Bluetooth is therefore a must!
5) The seat: adjustable?
Make sure that the seat can be adjusted vertically to fit your hips, as this will prevent you from hurting your back and joints. Horizontal adjustment is a plus but not necessary.
6) The handlebar: adjustable too?
Make sure the handlebar height can be adjusted so you can find your optimal position on the bike.
7) Standard exercise bike or recumbent bike?
We all know the best magnetic spin bikes. The recumbent bike has back support and allows you to sit properly in what looks like a chair. The recumbent exercise bike is less demanding than the standard exercise bike. Also, the range of recumbent bikes is much more limited.
8) Maximum user weight
Before you buy your bike, take a look at the maximum user weight. Mid-range and high-end exercise bikes normally support up to 130-150 kg, while the cheapest models only allow up to 90-100 kg.
9) The design
Design means both the conception or “industrial” design and its appearance (which is also important!). Before you buy your exercise bike, look carefully at the material: Are the parts metal (more durable) or plastic? And choose a bike that you like since it will probably stay in your bedroom or living room!
10) The price of the exercise bike!
The price of an exercise bike can vary a lot, unfortunately as its quality! A €150 bike is obviously much less robust than a $650 bike, usually doesn’t have the same pedaling fluidity and comfort (see 1. flywheel weight) and can be loud or even squeak after some time (even some days for lower quality exercise bikes). Therefore, it is recommended to think twice before buying a cheap exercise bike that will not last more than a few weeks… and perhaps invest a little more in quality and durability. After all, good health and fitness are priceless 😉 almost! Based on these criteria, our current favorite is the DKN AM-3i.
Choose the Right Bike for your Home
To make sure you make the right decision when buying your exercise bike, it is very important to take into account several criteria and, above all, to know the importance of the usefulness of this device. In fact, to determine which exercise bike best suits your needs; you need to ask yourself the right questions. Let’s not forget that the purchase of a machine like this is an important long-term investment, so you should think carefully before making your purchase.
For Gentle Strengthening
If you want to buy a stationary bike for light rehab training, it’s essential to focus on the comfort of the bike’s seat rather than pedaling power or performance. For maximum comfort, priority should be given to a stationary bike that offers a straight back posture, but keep in mind that a semi-long stationary bike will allow excellent lumbar work by reducing different back pain.
For Regular Use in Cardio Mode
If you want to buy a stationary bike to work on cardio with sessions of more than 30 minutes, you should opt for a mixed position bike that allows you powerful and comfortable pedaling power.
Good back position. In fact, it is important to choose the right bike for cardio training so that the user who practices actively and changes position regularly can find a good balance between comfort and resistance.
For Efficient Use and Intensive Training
If you want to buy a bike for sports preparation with more intensive training, it is essential to know that pedaling power will be the key element. For this reason, the position of the user will be studied to allow greater pedaling freedom, in order to facilitate and above all improve the experience. For this type of use, the rear will be much more inclined forward.
