Losing weight can be hard, there’s no doubt about it. But one of the ways to make it easier is by using the right kind of exercise equipment, instead of trying a bunch of fad workouts or blindly hitting the gym without any goal in mind besides “burn calories.” For a classic, time-tested way to lose weight, look no further than an exercise bike.
Even if you’re a beginner to exercise or working out, an exercise bike can be the perfect way to get started. Most offer adjustable resistance levels, so you can begin to slowly and then build up as you progress on your fitness and weight-loss journey. And anything that makes it easier to start also makes it easier for you to end up succeeding.
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How to Choose a Good Exercise Bike?
Ready to look for the best exercise equipment to get if you are looking to bike to lose weight? We’ve got a few tips to keep in mind first:
1. If you have knee, elbow, hip, or other joint issues, biking can be a great, low-impact way to workout without causing more problems with your body. After all, you don’t injure yourself as you lose weight.
2. It’s a good idea to have a checkup with your doctor before you begin any weight loss or exercise program. Not only can they make sure you’re healthy enough to workout at the level you want to, but they can even help you devise the perfect weight loss plan for your knees.
3. If you’re too busy for the gym or prefer to work out on your schedule, many exercise bikes are compact, affordable, and are easy to use in the comfort of your own home. It can also save you money on gym memberships and spin classes in the long run.
4. Don’t try to rush your weight loss. It’s best to work on a slow, steady approach to overall health, instead of crash diets or unhealthy levels of exercise. An exercise bike can be a great way to lose weight in a healthy manner that is sustainable.
Eager to jump on the best bike exercise to lose weight and start feeling the calories burn off? We’ve gathered a list of the ten best to make your choice easy!
Best Exercise Bike to Lose Weight
1. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse
Curious about the best way to lose weight on an exercise bike? Well, it’s to use an exercise bike consistently, and you’re far more likely to use it if you can sit on it comfortably. While many upright exercise bikes feature small (even tiny) seats, the Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse has a large seat, and it’s also adjustable for differently-sized users.
The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse also features heart pulse monitoring, so you can be sure you’re hitting your cardio goals while you’re burning calories. After all, your weight loss journey should be about your overall health, not just your weight.
The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse also folds up, so it’s easy to store when you’re done working out (and doubly secure, thanks to its built-in transport wheels)
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Large seat
- Compact design
Cons
- Pedals are in awkward position for some
- The seat may be uncomfortable
2. DeskCycle Desk Exercise Bike Pedal Exerciser
Sometimes, it can be incredibly hard to find time throughout the day to work out. Or, if you are brand new to exercise, starting with a robust and intense routine may discourage and make you give up exercising before you see any results. One way to handle that is with a unique exercise bike that lets you work out gently any time.
Wondering which exercise bike is best to lose weight and yet still gives you these benefits? The DeskCycle Desk Exercise Bike Pedal Exerciser helps you lose weight without forcing you to break a sweat.
The DeskCycle Desk Exercise Bike Pedal Exerciser is designed to fit underneath your desk, so you can gently pedal while you work, game, or browse the web. You can even use it while you watch tv at night, which can turn your time relaxing into your time working out (while, you know, still relaxing).
Pros
- Fits under your desk
- Easy workout to do throughout the day
- Very low impact
Cons
- Doesn’t work out your upper body
- Can be challenging to set up
3. ElliptiGO Arc 8 – The World’s First Outdoor Elliptical Bike
Do you want to find the best exercise bike to lose weight, but don’t want to spend time stuck inside every day working out? If you love the idea of bike riding in the sun and feeling the fresh breeze on your skin, then the ElliptiGO Arc 8 – The World’s First Outdoor Elliptical Bike may be perfect for you.
The ElliptiGO Arc 8 – The World’s First Outdoor Elliptical Bike is the world’s first outdoor elliptical bike, which means you get your workout on without feeling stuck in a gym. Plus, it burns 33% more calories than a standard bike, so you get the weight loss benefits of standard gym equipment while biking outdoors.
The “stand up” positioning of the ElliptiGO Arc 8 – The World’s First Outdoor Elliptical Bike encourages you to have proper posturing, which lowers strain on your back, neck, and seat, and helps keep you feeling great while you work out!
Pros
- Can use outdoors
- Burns more calories
- Lightweight frame
Cons
- Pedals can rock if not adjusted properly
4. Marcy Foldable Recumbent Exercise Bike with High Backrest and Magnetic Resistance NS-653
If you’re wondering which is the best exercise to lose weight, treadmill or bike pedaling, the answer is bike pedal for many different people. If you have any joint issues (which can be common if you are working on your weight), back issues, or if you prefer a more comfortable low-impact workout, then a bike may be right for you. And the Marcy Foldable Recumbent Exercise Bike with High Backrest and Magnetic Resistance NS-653 may be even better.
Not only does the Marcy Foldable Recumbent Exercise Bike with High Backrest and Magnetic Resistance NS-653 offer all the usual advantages of an exercise bike, but the recumbent positioning makes it even more supportive and comfortable—as well as more comfortable on your joints.
It also includes built-in transport wheels, as well as a foldable frame design, so it’s to transport and store (unlike many treadmills).
Pros
- Tall backrest
- Foldable frame
- Built-in transport wheels
Cons
- Text on display is small
5. Efitment Indoor Cycle Bike Magnetic Cycling Trainer
If you’re eager to start losing weight, keep it off, and do it healthily, then the Efitment Indoor Cycle Bike Magnetic Cycling Trainer may be the right choice to help you on your way. It’s important to be aware of just what you are accomplishing while you work out, and just not cycling and hoping for the best.
The Efitment Indoor Cycle Bike Magnetic Cycling Trainer helps you workout smarter thanks to its advanced digital monitor. It makes it easy to keep track of your distanced pedaled, the speed of your exercise, your time, speed, and even your pulse and how many calories you’ve burned.
With the right knowledge, you’re much more likely to make the kind of progress that you’re aiming for and to know precisely how hard you have to push yourself to do it. (You may even find yourself working out less strenuous than you would otherwise if you see you’re burning more calories than you expected!)
Pros
- Digital monitoring
- Pulse monitors in handlebars
- Water bottle holder
Cons
- Low maximum weight limit
- Emergency brake lacks quick response time
6. Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
If you’re eager for the best at home exercise equipment to get if you are looking to bike to lose weight, something to consider is what kind of stuff you’ll be likely to use again and again. (Otherwise, you’ll never get the benefits of working out.)
The Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709 is a bike that you’re likely to love using. The recumbent positioning allows you to be supported and in the proper position, and the saddle itself features high-density foam and ergonomic design. Plus, the handles offer special supper and a foam-covering as well.
Even the pedals on the Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709 can help make your ride more comfortable. They’re weighted for foot support, and the straps on them allow you to adjust them to your feet so a custom, relaxed fit.
Pros
- Step-through design
- Counterbalanced pedals
- Padded seat
Cons
- Can be difficult to adjust
- Some find the seat small
7. BRF700 Fan Upright Exercise Bike
If you want to make sure to strengthen every muscle group while you work on burning calories and losing weight, the BRF700 Fan Upright Exercise Bike is an excellent choice for making sure you can get a total-body workout at home.
The BRF700 Fan Upright Exercise Bike gives you all the benefits of an upper body workout along with an elliptical, so you know that you’re working out all of your body while you pedal. The resistance levels are also easy to adjust and change, so you can make sure your bike is keeping up with your advancing fitness level.
Possibly best of all? The BRF700 Fan Upright Exercise Bike includes a fan that blows cool air on you while you pedal, so even when you work up a sweat, you can stay more cool and comfortable!
Pros
- Low price
- Easily adjustable resistance levels
- Dual-action handlebars
Cons
- Handlebars cannot lock
- The seat may be uncomfortable
8. Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike with Pulse
What’s the best way to lose weight with an exercise bike? How about while binge-watching your all-time favorite tv show? With the Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike with Pulse, this is possible to do, even if you don’t have the room to workout in your living room with your tv.
The Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike with Pulse comes equipped with a built-in laptop desk, so you can keep streaming Netflix while you pedal. You can also do your work, catch up on emails, or anything else productive while you workout (although I’d probably watch Friends for the fiftieth time).
The semi-recumbent seat also helps keep you more comfortable as you workout, so the Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike with Pulse makes it easier to keep pedaling (and watching).
Pros
- Includes laptop desk
- Semi-recumbent seat
- Foldable
Cons
- Shorter users may be uncomfortable
- Can be tricky to adjust
9. Exerpeutic 2000 High Capacity Programmable Magnetic Recumbent Bike
Many exercise bikes have unfortunately hard, uncomfortable seats, which can make it almost impossible to sit through your workout (or to get back on your bike the next day). But the Exerpeutic 2000 High Capacity Programmable Magnetic Recumbent Bike is designed to help keep you comfy while you pedal.
In fact, the Exerpeutic 2000 High Capacity Programmable Magnetic Recumbent Bike features an Air Soft seat that is wider than usual (because no one enjoys sitting on a seat that’s too narrow, speaking from experience). It’s 3 and ½ inches thick and is made up of individual chambers of air that disperse your weight and absorb shock.
Hand pulse monitors also allow you to keep an eye on your heart rate and stay on target while you pedal, so you’ll feel comfortable and be sure that you’re hitting your goals.
Pros
- Air Soft seat
- Preprogrammed with workouts
- Hand pulse monitor
Cons
- May vibrate while pedaling
10. Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Magnetic Exercise Bike
You may be thinking all these things are right for an exercise bike: best way to lose weight, low-impact workout, massive initial investment. Luckily, the third “fact” isn’t true at all, and the Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Magnetic Exercise Bike is proof of that.
It’s offered at an incredibly low price, so even if you’re on a budget, you can still have an excellent exercise bike and start the workout routine you’ve been craving. It also means it’s a great first option if you’re starting out, since you may not be comfortable investing a significant amount in a type of machine you’ve never used before.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Magnetic Exercise Bike also features a nearly silent ride—which is something you may be pleasantly surprised to find in a low-cost exercise bike!
Pros
- Very low price
- Nearly silent ride
- Cushioned seat
Cons
- Low maximum weight limit
- Can wobble
Final Thoughts
If you want to lose weight, get strong, and feel healthier, then an exercise bike is a great option to do that. Unlike dangerous diets or uncertain exercise fads that may have hit-or-miss results (and aren’t likely to give you the results you want long-term), this classic, low-impact workout is a perfect option for burning calories healthily.
And thanks to the research we’ve done, you don’t have to wonder what is the best exercise bike to lose weight. You can feel right about any of these ten choices, and start cycling to improve your heart health, fitness, and influence with total confidence.
