5 Best Under-Desk Cycles to Use While Working From Home

It’s no secret that a sedentary lifestyle does little good for our bodies. And with most of us stuck to our office or home desks for more than 7 hours a day, it doesn’t help the matter at all. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to make the best of time while we work. Under-desk cycles and bikes are one of the many options. As suggestive of their name, these fit into the underside of the desk, thus letting you crank up the steps while you work.

Best Under-Desk Cycles to Use While Working From Home

The best part of these indoor exercise equipment is that they are affordable as well as portable. What makes the deal sweeter is that you do not have to squeeze out extra hours from your day to stay fit, thus leaving you with free time on your hands.

So, if you are looking for ways to do some exercises while you work, here are our recommendations for the best under-desk cycles or bikes that you can consider buying. These are affordable and fall within the $200 price bracket.

Things to Check Before Buying an Under-Desk Cycle

There are a couple of things that you need to check before buying an under-desk cycle.

  • Product portability
  • Footprint
  • Anti-slip pads
  • Toe cages or covers
  • Resistance change support
  • Noise levels
  • Monitor, to show stats like RPM, speed, calories burned, and so on.

More importantly, you should also check the maximum height of the product and whether your desk has enough space to accommodate it. After all, you wouldn’t want to bump your knees against the underside of your table every time you take a stride.

1. DeskCycle 2 Under-Desk Cycle

The DeskCycle 2 has earned its fair share of praises for being a well-engineered pedal exerciser. It’s much smaller than other under-desk cycles and the makers claim that it works on desks as low as 27-inches (2.25 feet). The primary highlight of this cycle is the adjustable leg. The maximum pedal height can be adjusted between 9 inches or 10 inches so that there is ample clearance between the table and the knee. Also, the resistance can be set as per your comfort levels. For now, the bike gives you the option to switch between 8 different settings.

Apart from that, it can store around 160 hours of your activity. At the same time, the magnetic flywheel ensures that the bike stays silent, thus making it perfect both for home and office. The screen at the front shows all the important stats.

The DeskCycle 2 is easy to put together, and this claim has been backed by several reviews on Amazon. Since the bike is heavy, it won’t slide your desk across the room during intensive workouts. Also, many users have appreciated its minimal noise levels and sturdiness.

However, some complained about their kneecaps hitting the roof of the desk. While that depends on your height and the clearance under the table, it’s also worth mentioning that pedaling with the toes pointing down prevents the same from happening.

This bike is designed for people with a height of about 5-feet 10-inches or less.

2. DeskCycle Under-Desk Cycle

If the height of the desk is not much of a concern for you, you can check out the first generation DeskCycle. This under-desk also works well on tables with height as low as 27-inches. The only difference is that the pedal height of the DeskCycle is fixed at 10 inches. It also packs a screen that displays speed, time, distance traveled, and the calories burned during a ride.

The first generation DeskCycle has more than two thousand reviews on Amazon. Users have praised this under-desk cycle for its easy assembly and the varied range of motions. At the same time, it falls on the affordable segment.

Like its counterpart above, this too has a silent flywheel and you can switch between 8 different resistance settings.

This cycle is suitable for people with a height of about 5-feet 8-inches or less.

3. Yosuda Under-Desk Pedal Exerciser

The Yosuda Under-Desk Bike is a great buy if you are looking for a bike that not only works well but also looks great. Painted in black with red trimming, this under-desk bike bears a sharp look. It bundles a physical knob that lets you pick between 8 resistance settings. The magnetic flywheel is smooth and noiseless, something which has been praised by many reviewers.

This cycle has managed to rake in around 81% positive reviews on Amazon so far.

When it comes to assembly, it’s a quick and simple process. Some users claim to have assembled the product within 15-20 minutes. What makes this deal even sweeter is the integrated handle at the top which makes it easy to move the product around.

The overall height of the machine is about 12.4-inches. So, if you have a standard desk, you might want to take its height into account, especially if you are tall.

The panel at the front lets you monitor your stats. However, it doesn’t light up. And if you are solely using it as an under-desk cycle, you may want to consider this point.

4. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B0891

Another desk cycle that you can consider buying is the Pedal Exerciser SF-B0891 by Sunny Health & Fitness. This bike has earned its fair share of praises for being sturdy, quiet, and smooth. It has 8 levels of resistance that you can adjust as per your comfort levels. The SF-B0891 also has a small footprint, thus making it easy to store when not in use. The digital monitor at the front displays the key stats like speed, time, distance, and the calories burned.

Again, like its counterparts above, it is noiseless and provides a smooth action. Plus, the pedal covers ensures that your feet remain in the pedal even during intensive workouts.

The portability of the machine means you can also use it as an arm cycle. All you need to do is prop it on a high-surface like a sturdy table to engage your hands and arms.

This unit doesn’t need any power to run apart from the battery to power the monitor.

The SF-B0891’s pedals have a maximum height of 10-inches and a minimum height of 3 inches.

5. Vive Desk Bike Cycle

The Vive Desk Bike Cycle is the perfect option for you if you are looking for a frills-free and compact cycle. It measures just 9-inches in height and comes with non-slip pads. The adjustable toe loops make sure that your feet don’t slip out. Like the other machines in this list, it also bundles a mini screen that displays the RPM, calories burned, and the speed.

One of the benefits of using this desk cycle is that it can easily be folded and kept away when you don’t need it. If you have the resources, you can also switch it between your home and office.

The Vive Desk Bike Cycle has earned its share of positive reviews with users speaking highly about its sturdiness and portability.

It costs much less compared to its peers, and if you want to experiment with pedal exercisers while working, this is a good product to place your bets.

Time Is Money

Our body is a temple. So, we must take the utmost care of it. So, even if some of us can’t squeeze out time for the gym or for a casual evening walk, these cycles will help you stay fit.

Of course, under-desk cycling won’t fetch you the same results as a full workout session or a workout session in the gym. But then, some activity is better than no activity.

Last updated on 16 March, 2022

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