Best add-on for your outdoor bike
Saris H3 Indoor Trainer
While you can always climb on one of a dozen exercise bikes neatly lined up at your local gym, it may surprise you to know there are a lot of way better options you can have at home without breaking the bank or taking up an entire room. Even before Peloton became a household name, exercise bikes have been getting smarter, sleeker and less expensive. For every exercise bike with a big screen mounted on the front showing you a spin-class-style workout and competitive ranking, there’s a great no-frills option you can tuck away when it’s not in use. All you need to do is pick the one that best fits your needs, so it doesn’t become an expensive place to hang up wet clothes after a few months. Don’t worry — we’re here to help identify the best exercise bike for you.
Like
- Sturdy design without being loud
- Great display and speakers
- Versatile software package
Don’t like
- Not enough training courses for full-body workouts
- Screen doesn’t turn left or right
Bowflex has worked hard to make its Velocore series something anyone can enjoy. The bike itself is surprisingly modular, and its magnetic resistance system allows you to get a whole body workout without making a ton of noise. The big front wheels make it easy to move around, and while you can use the big speakers on the front of the display, it also works great with headphones over Bluetooth. But the truly unique part of this design is the ability to lean into your rides thanks to a locked hinge, which offers a core workout while you ride.
Like
- Best-in-class build quality
- Immersive classes
- Killer display
Don’t like
- Very little to do if you don’t want to take a class
- Expensive monthly subscription
- Limited full-body options
If you’ve been looking to buy an exercise bike, you’ve heard of Peloton. It has a reputation for higher than average build quality, a large crisp display and slick branding. Peloton bikes are frequently compared to Apple products when it comes to look and feel, and it’s not hard to see why. The frame can be easily adjusted to suit a variety of body types, with a frame that’s easier for many kinds of cyclists to easily use.
Like
- Flexible display
- Huge collection of workout options
- Good third-party fitness tracker support
Don’t like
- Build quality could be better
- Expensive monthly subscription
Myx bikes have always been aimed at the hardcore fitness fans, but when it merged with the folks at BeachBody an already great experience expanded to way more people as it released the Myx II Plus. This is a great bike for a bit variety of different body types, and the ability to adjust your screen in just about every direction. And unlikely many of its competitors, Myx II Plus makes it very easy to share the bike with up to five other people without needing multiple subscriptions.
Where most exercise bikes offer the ability to do a variety of workouts while on the bike, Myx II Plus offers a ton of things to do off the bike as well. The included software offers everything from yoga to kettlebell classes with everything in between in addition to an array of spin class-style workouts and even live classes you can join throughout the week. It’s one of the few exercise bikes in this price range to truly deliver on a full-body workout solution.
- Type: Magnetic resistance
- Display: 21.5-inch HD Touchscreen
- Weight: 150 pounds, 350 pound max rider weight
- Dimensions: 21-in. x 54-in. x 47-in. (WDH)
- Subscription: Myx+OpenFit – $39/month
Like
- Simple, sturdy construction
- Works with almost every tablet and phone
Don’t like
- Bluetooth data could be more accurate
- Takes up more space than most
Don’t let the Peloton folks hear this, but not everyone wants or needs a big screen on your bike with a class instructor shouting at you. For some folks, an inexpensive tablet sitting on a simpler bike playing this week’s episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to help get you through an hour of exercise is enough. If that sounds good to you, the BowFlex C6 is exactly what you’re looking for. The frame adjusts for all sorts of body types and riding positions, so anyone from novice to century rider can climb on and get a decent workout with minimal effort.
