An average American walks somewhere between 1.5 to 2 miles daily. However, if you spend a lot of time at your desk, even covering such a small figure can be daunting. And well, the absence of physical activity has never produced good results. Thankfully, there are many ways to stay active from the work desk, and indoor exercise equipment like desk bikes is quite helpful.
These bikes look similar to the recumbent or upright bikes that you see in gyms or studios. The only difference is that the handles are replaced by a desktop tray to hold your laptop, tablet, and your other work documents. And you can engage in a cardio workout as you catch up with your work. The goal is simple — some activity while sitting is better than no activity.
So, if you are looking to trade motionless sitting for some light activity while working or reading, here are some of the best desk exercise bikes out there.
1. Exerpeutic ExerWorK 1000
Type: Semi-Recumbent
The Exerpeutic ExerWorK 1000 is a semi-recumbent bike that is ideal for people with a height between 5-feet 2-inches and 6-feet 3-inches. It comes with a tiny monitor to display stats like speed, calories burned, etc., and there’s a magnetic tension system to adjust between 8 different resistance settings. And the best part is that you can fold it and stash it aside while not using it.
Now, coming to the most important feature — the tray. The tray measures around 24-inches x 16-inches, giving you enough room to place your laptop or tablet.
The tray is adjustable. You can pull it towards yourself and prop it up at any of the three fixed angles. There are two cup holders to place your beverages. Furthermore, there’s a neat storage box under the tray that can hold stationery items.
When you are not working, you can engage the armrest near the seat which also packs a pulse sensor. So far, it has earned a fair amount of praise from its users and for its maneuverability and easy-assembly.
However, many users have complained that the seat is a little comfortable for the long haul. Compared to under-desk cycles, this bike is a little noisy. Some users were irked by the metallic noise over prolonged use.
2. FlexiSpot Home Office Desk Bike
Type: Upright Bike
If you are looking for a more compact option, the FlexiSpot Home Office Desk Bike makes for a good buy. It’s an upright bike with a footprint of around 37.6 x 22.8 x 48.4 inches. This cycle’s sharp and modern look will certainly catch your eye. Plus, the fact that it doesn’t take up much space is the cherry on top. Like any upright bike, you can adjust the height of the seat with a gentle push of a lever. And the same is true of the desktop tray as well.
Speaking of the tray, it measures around 22-inches x 16-inches, which is big enough to hold laptops and tablets. It is stable and doesn’t wobble.
All those items can be placed on the crank of the cycle, and there is a knob for adjusting the resistance between that and the seat.
At the same time, there are many examples of users praising it for improving their state of mind.
This bike desk is ideal for people with a height between 5-foot 1-inch to 6-foot 2-inch. Do note that it doesn’t come with a backrest.
3. Sunny Health & Fitness Desk Exercise Bike SF-RBD4703
Type: Recumbent Bike
The SF-RBD4703 makes for a good buy if you are looking for a full-fledged recumbent bike. With the backrest in place and a naturally inclined position, you will be more likely to feel comfortable as you pedal and work. In short, the SF-RBD4703 is similar to most exercise bikes except that the handles are replaced by a neat tray.
The seats are padded and the distance between the seat and the tray can be easily adjusted via a gentle push of the lever. At the same time, the height of the tray can also be tweaked according to your comfort levels.
This bike allows you to adjust between 8 different resistance levels. One of the main benefits of this cycle is the wide seat, though some users have complained that it’s a little hard. On the upside, you can always buy a gel seat to place it on top of this one.
Speaking of the tray, it’s large and can accommodate any standard size laptop. Plus, you can snap it off as per your preference. To add to it, it bundles a neat cup holder on the edge. A chunk of the users is happy with their purchase.
Like some of its counterparts, the SF-RBD4703 can turn out to be a little noisy.
4. Versa Desk Seated Desk Cycle
Type: Semi-recumbent Bike
How does the idea of a deconstructed desk cycle sound to you? If it excites you, then you should certainly check out the Versa Desk Seated Desk Cycle. It’s an upright bike without the tray in front. That gives you the independence of choosing your own height-adjustable desk. And once you do, you simply need to keep the bike in front of it.
It features a foldable design, which makes it easy to stow away when not in use. And guess what, even the seat is foldable.
The tension or the resistance can be controlled via a small knob. While there are no set levels, you can set one as per your preference of a difficulty level. The monitor at the bottom lets you see how many strides you have completed or the number of calories you have burned, apart from displaying the distance and time details.
Overall, the Versa Bike desk packs a sharp look and will fit in your home office as well as workplace.
You can also check out the FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro.
5. Exerpeutic 2500 Recumbent Exercise Bike
Type: Recumbent Bike
The Exerpeutic 2500 Recumbent Exercise Bike brings several exciting features to the table. For one, it’s Bluetooth-enabled. So you can track your riding stats via a companion app. And since it’s a recumbent bike, it lets you be comfortable with your work while you log in your strides. The best part is that the bike comes with a whopping 14-levels of magnetic tension for resistance difficulty.
The highlight of this bike is the connected app called Cloud Fitness app, which lets you set a couple of workout goals. Other than that, it shows you usual stats like time, distance, and calories burned. The app is compatible with iOS and Android.
Several users are amazed by the noiseless working of the bike. Other than that, the seat is comfortable and the bike is somewhat easy to assemble. And did you know that the tray bundles a tiny monitor and two cup holders? Well, now you do.
Let Go of That Excess Energy
It’s important to note that these desk cycles are usually meant to be used when you do passive work like attending Zoom meetings, catching up on your emails or when you are browsing the internet.
So if you were buying a desk cycle for your home office, where would you keep it? If you ask me, I would ideally place it near my desk so as to save time. That way, it would stay as a passive reminder to be a little active.
Last updated on 02 February, 2022
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