Best Indoor Cycling Bikes: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Cycling is an excellent low-impact exercise for weight loss and full-body workouts, but spinning can be difficult if you don’t live in a bicycle-friendly area or somewhere with extreme weather. Indoor cycling bikes provide the whole experience of an outdoor bike, except you’re at home. Plus, you save money that would otherwise go towards gym fees and memberships.

Our article reviews some of the best exercise bikes on the market. We also share how to find the right indoor spin bike.

Best Indoor Cycling Bikes

Best Indoor Cycling Bike Overall: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901 Bike

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901 is our favorite indoor cycling bike in the cycling industry. This performance-oriented bike has a solid frame and a durable crank to handle wear and tear. The front and back stabilizers ensure the indoor bike stays in place, so you don’t have to worry about the bike shifting.

The bike’s structure has a simple, no-frills design. Unlike other high-tech indoor bikes, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901 bike doesn’t have a display screen to keep track of your stats, but both the race-style seat and the handlebars are adjustable to accommodate your height. The handlebars, in particular, are ergonomic and accommodate different riding styles for different workouts. The caged foot pedals have adjustable straps to hold your feet in place and comfortably fit most foot sizes.

An adjustable resistance knob allows you to increase or decrease resistance. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901 bike is perfect for all exercise levels, offering low to high resistance with a convenient twist of a knob located just below the handlebars. There’s also an emergency stop lever next to the knob if you need to stop cycling immediately.

The high-quality parts are built to last and can support up to 275 pounds. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901 bike includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can return the bike if it’s unused and unopened within 30 days after the purchase date. Sunny Health & Fitness comes with a 3-year warranty. If there are any manufacturing defects, including broken parts not caused by misuse, Sunny Health will repair or replace the bike.

Best High-Tech Indoor Cycling Bike: Peloton® Bike

The Peloton® Bike is perfect if you’re looking for the full spin class experience at home. The exercise bike comes with a moisture-resistant 22-inch HD touchscreen mounted in front of the handlebars. The screen has a built-in camera, speakers, and a microphone so you can exercise with friends remotely. The screen has a WiFi connection and supports Bluetooth audio, enabling you to connect to a smart device and monitor your heart rate.

Peloton®’s online platform allows you to view both recorded and live classes for an enhanced workout experience. You can even view a schedule of live spin classes on Peloton®’s website and check out the instructor biographies and their classes. The technology also gives you the option to host your own spin classes with family and friends.

Unlike other indoor cycling bikes, the Peloton® uses a magnetic resistance system instead of friction resistance. The magnetic resistance ensures a smooth ride and quiet workout with little to no noise. The sturdy carbon steel and aluminum frame allows you to pedal without wobbling and includes a dumbbell holder and water bottle holder for convenience.

The Peloton® Bike may be the most expensive indoor cycling bike option on our list, but since the bike comes with access to live spin classes and a large, water-proof screen, you may find the price well worth it. On top of the advanced technology and stable structure, the Peloton® Bike comes with free installation. You don’t have to worry about positioning the heavy flywheel or figure out what attachment goes where—a team of professionals delivers and installs the Peloton® Bike for you.

Peloton® gives customers a 30-day home trial. You can try the Peloton® Bike for 30 days, risk-free, and if you’re not satisfied, you can send the bike back for a full refund.

The Peloton® Bike includes a 12-month warranty for the touchscreen and mechanical parts and a 5-year warranty for the bike frame. Peloton® covers the labor costs of any repairs or replacements needed due to manufacturing defects.

Best Indoor Cycling Bike with No Required Subscription: Bowflex C6 Bike

Something that we love about the Bowflex C6 Bike is that while they offer a Peloton® digital app subscription at a $156 annual cost, the subscription is optional and can be canceled at any time. The Peloton® app allows you to stream live classes from your tablet, but the subscription isn’t mandatory with the Bowflex C6 Bike, but it is with the Peloton® bike. Bowflex also offers a Zwift® subscription and World™ subscription to help you train against other riders and provide virtual courses and nature trails.

The Bowflex C6 Bike doesn’t have a built-in tablet. Instead, the bike has a mount to hold your own tablet in front of the handlebar with a backlit LCD metric console right below. The digital console tracks heart rate, cycling time, pulse, speed, distance traveled, resistance level, and calories burned. The Bowflex C6 Bike also comes with other accessories including two, 3-pound dumbbells, dual water bottle holders, and a Bluetooth enabled heart rate armband monitor.

You can control the resistance by turning a knob located below the handlebars as you cycle. The magnetic resistance ensures a near-silent home exercise bike, and because of the 40-pound chrome flywheel, the Bowflex C6 Bike has 100 resistance levels for all fitness types.

The Bowflex C6 Bike has a solid frame and remains stable even during intense exercise routines. The toe cage pedals ensure your feet don’t slip off while pedaling but are also compatible with clip-in cycling shoes.

The Bowflex C6 Bike is covered with a 10-year frame warranty, a 3-year mechanical parts and electronics warranty, and a 1-year labor warranty. Bowflex will repair or replace any parts of the Bowflex C6 Bike as long as it is within its respectful warranty period.

Best Budget Indoor Cycling Bike: Sole Fitness SB700 Bike

While the Sole Fitness SB700 Bike is not the least expensive option, we recommend this spin bike because the $699 price tag is an excellent budget cost for the great features, like adjustable handlebars and a backlit LCD screen. Some cycling companies charge over $1000 for the same features, but not with the SB700 Bike.

The Sole Fitness SB700 Bike uses a special Kevlar braking system, similarly found in automobiles to enable a safe workout. Adjustable straps keep your feet secure as you pedal, especially during intense cycling.

The electronic console helps you track your speed, distance traveled, calories burned, resistance level, and heart rate. You can easily adjust the resistance, thanks to the knob conveniently located below the handlebars.

Thanks to its steel frame and quality mechanical parts, the Sole Fitness SB700 Bike is built to last from regular use. The bike can support 300 pounds, making it available to a wider range of users. Plus, unlike other spinning bikes, the Sole Fitness SB700 is lightweight and easy to maneuver. Other models can weigh over 200 pounds, but the SB700 only weighs 141 pounds.

You can try the SB700 Bike for up to 30 days. If you don’t like the bike, Sole Fitness will pick it up and give you a refund. There are no restocking or shipping fees, so you can get a full refund.

The Sole Fitness SB700 Bike includes a lifetime frame warranty, 3-year electronics and parts warranty, and a 1-year labor warranty. The warranties ensure your investment lasts and protects you from paying for repairs due to manufacturing defects.

Best Adjustable Indoor Cycling Bike: MYX Fitness Bike

The MYX Fitness Bike is one of the best adjustable spin bikes if the bike is meant for more than one person. Other traditional stationary bikes have adjustable seats and handlebars that only move up and down, but with the MYX Fitness Bike, you can shift the comfortable seat cushion forward or backward. Even the pedals are reversible!

The LCD monitor is also adjustable, allowing you to twist the monitor away from the bike to use the screen and participate in other, non-biking exercises; this lets you easily mix up your workouts so you never get bored.

The MYX Fitness Bike does require a membership; however, the subscription is a relatively low $29 per month fee and includes personalized workouts from world-class coaches, total-body workouts, and the ability to track your progress. You’ll love being able to choose exercises based on your fitness level to create your own home gym.

A nice bonus to the MYX Fitness Bike is it arrives fully assembled—you don’t have to worry about setup. Plus, the bike only weighs 134 pounds, a lightweight model that’s easy to transport.

The MYX Fitness Bike includes a 30-day return policy and a 1-year warranty. The warranty covers full repair or replacement costs for mechanical and electronic parts and labor. The bicycle frame is covered with a 5-year warranty.

Benefits of Indoor Cycling

Using an indoor cycling bike comes with several health benefits, including weight loss and improved heart health. Like outdoor bikes, an indoor spin bike is a low-impact exercise and provides a full-body workout.

Burn Calories

A 45-minute cycling session can burn over 600 calories, depending on the workout intensity. Indoor cycling is a great way to lose weight and boost metabolism. Try to incorporate stretching and weight lifting to further increase weight loss.

Improve Heart Health

Indoor cycling offers the perfect home cardio workout. Raising your heart rate strengthens heart muscles and reduces the risk of heart disease and other health problems, including diabetes and obesity.

Low-Impact

Cycling is a low-impact exercise because most of your body weight is supported by the bicycle seat instead of your legs and feet. Instead of the harder impact of the feet hitting cement from running, the legs are pedaling in a continuous motion, making this exercise easier on the joints. You’re less likely to experience shin splints and knee pain.

Full-Body Workout

Unlike walking, indoor cycling gives you a full-body workout. Cycling tones calf and thigh muscles, but you also work your back, arms, shoulders, and abs from holding on to the handlebars (depending on the workout intensity).

How to Find the Best Indoor Cycle Bike

To find the right indoor bike to suit your needs, pay attention to the features a potential home exercise bike offers, like resistance, customization, weight capacity, and the price tag.

Resistance Adjustments

Resistance is one of the most important features of a spin bike. Resistance allows you to adjust the workout intensity from a high-performance race to a cool-down pace. Most indoor bike retailers offer models with easy resistance adjustments through the turn of a knob.

The resistance comes in two forms—brake pads and magnets. The brake pads create friction by pressing against the flywheel and are less expensive than magnets but aren’t as durable. You’ll need to replace the brake pads after a few years.

Magnetic resistance uses magnets to create friction. Resistance is stronger the closer the magnets are to the flywheel. Unlike brake pads, you don’t need to replace the magnets.

Customization

Not all indoor bike models are the same because people come in different shapes and sizes. Adjust your indoor bike based on your position while spinning—sitting, standing, or leaning forward. Check to see if the bicycle seat and handlebars are adjustable so you can cycle comfortably without risk of injury.

Weight Capacity

Weight capacity refers to how much body weight the bike can support. Most indoor bike models can handle 250 pounds to 400 pounds. Choose a model with a maximum weight capacity that works for everyone who will use the bike.

Price Tag

Indoor cycling bikes have a price range from $300 to over $2000, depending on the brand and features. For example, indoor exercise bikes with large screens and dumbbell attachments drive the price up. Also, take into account if the bike comes with a mandatory subscription since that will affect the overall cost.

Other Considerations

You want to consider other things before starting spin classes, including workout clothing and shoes, upkeep, warranty, and hydration.

Workout Clothing and Shoes

Make sure to have the proper workout clothing and shoes. Avoid loose material since the fabric can get caught in the wheel, and choose fast-drying, moisture-wicking materials, like nylon and polyester.

Choose athletic shoes which better absorb impact than basic sneakers, but if possible, choose bike shoes. Bike shoes have stiffer soles to handle wear and tear as you pedal.

Indoor Bike Upkeep

After a hard workout, make sure to wipe down your indoor bike. If sweat is left exposed to metal parts, it could damage the bike—most warranties don’t cover water damage. It may seem like an extra step, but wiping down the bike with a soft, dry towel could extend the bike’s lifespan.

Warranty

Always check for a warranty and read the fine print before purchasing any home gym equipment, including recumbent bikes. Warranties ensure you’re not stuck paying for replacement parts in case of a manufacturing defect. There could be a few warranties included that cover different aspects of the bike, like electronic and mechanical components, bicycle frames, and labor.

Stay Hydrated

Remember to stay hydrated during a cycling workout. Drinking plenty of water protects joints and improves muscle recovery. Drinking water also replaces the fluids lost from sweating and regulates body temperature so you don’t overheat.

FAQs

Is it healthier on your joints to use an indoor bike or an outdoor bike?

Indoor cycling is gentler on your joints than outdoor cycling. Biking outdoors heightens resistance because of the natural terrain, and you may not be able to control the intensity. You may put your joints through more wear and tear than you would on an indoor bike.

Indoor cycling gives you a flat, even surface inside a temperature-controlled environment. You control the resistance with the turn of a knob, adjusting the workout based on your abilities and needs.

How much should I cycle a day to lose weight?

Depending on the workout intensity, you can burn 600 calories in a 45-minute cycling session. Try to cycle at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. You can also burn more calories by participating in other workouts, like strength training and swimming.

However, remember to not over-do it. Make sure to always warm-up before biking—this can include walking or gentle calf stretches—and don’t push yourself beyond what feels comfortable and natural. Trying to do too much to lose weight quickly usually leads to injury or other problems.

Is a stationary bike better than walking?

Of course, walking is good for you, but whether cycling is better than walking depends on your workout goals and intensity level. When starting an exercise program, you want to begin at a comfortable level and gradually push yourself to work and tone different muscle groups. Both cycling and walking are low-impact exercises that reduce the risk of injury.

Can you lose weight by cycling indoors?

Yes, you can. Cycling indoors allows you to control the amount of resistance—more resistance enhances your workout, burning more calories, and working more muscles. In comparison, less resistance warms the body before an exercise and cools you down afterward. You can burn up to 600 calories within 1 hour from cycling indoors.

Should I cycle every day?

Cycling is a great way to lose weight and build muscle, but try to give your body time to recover. It’s more effective to work out a specific area of the body every other day. For example, one day, you work the upper body and exercise the lower body the next day. Studies show that this method effectively builds muscle and improves strength compared to daily workouts with the same routines.

Conclusion

Indoor cycling is a great way to tone muscles, lose weight, and improve cardiovascular health. This low-impact exercise is easy on the joints and has less risk of injury.

There are several excellent, high-quality indoor bicycles available based on your skillset. Following our helpful tips can help you find the best indoor cycling bike to suit your needs.