Web Treasure Hunter is reader-supported. Some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase a product or take an action via these links.
Losing weight is an arduous task. Changing eating habits, starting exercise, and general torture are what most people think of when it’s time to lose weight. Fortunately, advances in exercise equipment have made the task more enjoyable as time has progressed. One of the most common and essential pieces of equipment that you will find in any gym is an exercise bike. You can see people of all age groups using them during their workout sessions. Exercise bikes are also known as stationary bikes, spinning bikes, or exercycles. The history of exercise bikes dates to the 18th century when an inventor named Francis Lowndes built the first exercise bike, a Gymnasticon.
Back then, Gymnasticon was considered to have emerged from the newly developed science of orthopedics. People were using Gymnasticon to exercise their joints. Gymnasticon is an example of the series of technologies which were being developed in the field of Gymnastics at the time. These developments in the field of gymnastics paved the path for development of the science of physical therapy in the nineteenth century. In the present, Vision Fitness, BH Fitness, SOLE, Matrix, Lifespan etc. are some of the common manufacturers of exercise bikes.
Eating habits, increased stress levels and irregular sleeping patterns are some of the practices that are leading us towards an unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity has become a major problem as it often leads to many heart related issues. With an exercise bike in the home, most are better able to manage their schedules and still get in enough exercise to promote a healthy lifestyle. On average, if cycling on an exercise bike for around 30 minutes with the intensity set to low, can burn up to 200 calories depending on your current Body Mass-Index (BMI). Additionally, fitness bikes help you with joint movements. Joint movement is very essential for your mobility. It keeps your muscles flexible and exercises your ligaments. This is extra important if you are training for athletic events, such as a marathon. If, on the other hand, you are trying to get in shape, read below to find our pick for the best exercise bike to lose weight.
Schwinn 270 | Exerpeutic Folding Upright | Marcy ME-709 | SF-B901 | |
Honors | Best in Class | Best Value | ||
The Good | Many pre-programmed workouts, high number of resistance levels, heart rate monitoring, Bluetooth, large padded seat, USB charging port | Foldable with minimal footprint, high capacity weight limit, large pedals, simple assembly | Lightweight, easily moved, very good assembly instructions, comfortable seating, affordable, great for tall riders | 40 lbs flywheel, quality construction, adjustable handlebars and saddle, 275 lbs capacity |
The Bad | No chest strap included, no hard copy of instruction manual - only available online | Not intended for intensive workouts, could have trouble seating very short or very tall riders comfortably | Poor grip on side handles, low range of resistance levels | Minimal features |
Overall | A wide range of features, compact design, high-quality engineering, and comfortable ride make this the best bike to lose weight. | A great entry level exercise bike. Geared toward light to moderate workouts, it is an great and affordable starting point. | A good bike for those on a budget. Not the most technically advanced, but it is solidly constructed and comfortable. | High quality materials lend to a more comfortable and quiet ride. Minimal features can be enhanced. Good choice for affordable spinning. |
Our Rating | 8.5 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.4 |
Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
The Schwinn 270 is one of the best exercise bikes you’ll find without stepping into a gym. Feature-rich and high quality construction help to create a smooth and comfortable exercising experience in your home. The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike has a high weight capacity, 29 workout programs, 25 resistance levels, Bluetooth connectivity, a high inertia driving system, heart rate monitoring, two best in class displays, USB charging port, a cooling fan, speakers with iPod and MP3 port, a media tray, and even more! The deluge of features and conveniences can be overwhelming at times, but once you ride something like this, you’ll never want to go back to another run of the mill bike again.
This bike offers few drawbacks as it is impressively made, but a few improvements could be made. First, an included chest strap would have made the heart monitor a smoother experience. Users are sometimes surprised that they need to purchase the strap separately. The manual isn’t readily accessible directly from the product packaging either. It is easy to download online, but it would be nice to have a hard copy. Finally, as the bike must be plugged in while in use, rechargeable batteries could be a nice touch to eliminate cords.
Overall, you can’t really ask for a better exercise bike to get in shape without going to a gym and riding one of those bikes that costs triple this one. The dizzying array of features gives users options galore to make their ride as enjoyable as possible. Furthermore, the Schwinn reputation shines here as the quality materials used during construction help to increase durability and ride comfort. This recumbent exercise bike fits most budgets, gives a splendid workout experience, and will most likely exceed any expectations you may have.
If you live in a small area or are maybe looking for an exercise bike for your office, you have probably looked into folding bikes. The Exerpeutic folding exercise bike is an affordable option that has a very small footprint by folding to approximately half its size for easy storage. It also includes transportation wheels to further improve its portability around the home/office. Furthermore, the Exerpeutic exercise bike can accommodate a wide range of boy types as it can support up to a maximum of 300 lbs and those who are between approximately 5 ‘ – 6′ 1″. While it lacks some common features found on more advanced exercise bikes, it is comfortable, performs well for the money, and has excellent usability.
The Exerpeutic is not designed to be a robust exercise bike for athletes or those engaging in intense training. It provides an ample workout for an average person, but it is not as durable or intense as one would expect from a bike in the gym. Also, if the rider is shorter than 5′, problems reaching the pedals could occur, although there are workarounds. The same goes with those over 6’ 1″. Pre-set workouts and a wide range of resistance levels are also missing. The eight resistance levels feel as if they don’t give enough variations in your workout.
The Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike is a good choice for an entry level bike for smaller homes or in the office. It will give you a solid workout as long as you aren’t expecting to train for a marathon or something similar. The high weight capacity and low pricing allow a wide range of new or existing exercise enthusiasts to try out a folding bike with minimal investment.
This recumbent exercise bike offers a number of benefits at an affordable price. The lightweight nature and transportation wheels allow for easy movement, depending on your floor plan. Assembly is a breeze, as the instructions are clear and concise. Like most recumbent bikes, the Marcy ME-709 provides comfortable seating, an LCD display to monitor your workout, and a high weight capacity to support almost any rider.
The Marcy exercise bike does have a few issues of which to be aware. First, the side handles have a poor grip for those that use them while exercising. The grip can be uncomfortable with prolonged use and do not measure up to a typical recumbent exercise bike’s handles. Also, the minimal number of resistance levels impacts the range of workouts you can attempt. Only eight resistance levels limits users to fairly broad jumps in resistance when compared to other models with ranges in the 20’s. Finally, the calorie counter seems to be inaccurate (a common complaint across models).
The ME-709 works well if you aren’t in the market for a mid-grade or top-tier recumbent exercise bike. Entry level bikes such as this are excellent for those seeking a comfortable ride and solid workout, but aren’t quite ready for the plethora of features (and higher cost!) of the more advanced models. As it is a budget model, the Marcy recumbent bike suffers from some design issues such as the uncomfortable handle grips and low levels of tension. Overall, the Marcy ME-709 is a good entry level recumbent bike for beginners to get a feel for what they want to do with their workouts.
The Sunny SF-B901 is a good entry point for those interested in entering the realm of spinning. This indoor cycling bike does a good job at allowing enthusiasts to train or exercise at any time of the year at an affordable price. The 40 lbs flywheel is integral in ensuring the ride is smooth and gives you the best workout. The steel frame has a high weight capacity for a spin bike at 275 lbs to better accommodate its users. As there are few features on this bike to mention, the cost of construction was thrown into the quality materials used throughout to eliminate those small movements and noises that are common in this kind of exercise bike. Furthermore, the small and lightweight nature of this bike allows it to inhabit a wide range of spaces. Assembly is fairly easy with the provided tools, but if you have them available, your tools will probably make the job go by faster.
The main complaint about the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B901 is the lack of features. There is no LCD display, heart rate monitor, calorie counter, iPod or other device support, or a host of features commonly seen on exercise bikes. As this is a spinning bike dedicated to the workout, it isn’t really that uncommon, but it would be nice to see a couple additional features.
The Sunny exercise bike is very good at providing an excellent workout for new and experienced riders. If you’re just starting spinning and want to see what it’s all about, the Sunny SF-B901 is a good starting point. If you’re a more experienced enthusiast, the 40 lbs flywheel and sturdy construction will appeal to you as hallmarks of a good workout