In today’s time we have a challenging work-life balance. People work for 50 hours a week and get a minimum of 20 days holiday. A good Exercise Bike allows one to exercise their thighs, calves, and glute muscles and also supports someone with lower back pain with their comfortable seating and structure. To help you find the best one for you, we have made a comprehensive list of upright exercise bikes
Best Upright Exercise Bike In UK [2021]
There are many variants available for you to choose from. But, after proper research, we have made it easier or you by mentioning the best ones out there! Check it out.
This bike gives you good cycling and workout experience. This compact bike can fit into a small apartment, too, without taking up too much space. With its adjustable, padded seat and an adjustable handlebar, this becomes more comfortable.
The bike has a heavy steel frame that can hold up to 149 kgs. This bike provides you a safe and secure ride and exercises with its friction braking system and emergency locks. You can control the tension and resistance level according to yourself.
Features:
- Noise-free and resistance control flywheel
- Comfortable and adjustable padded seat and handlebar
- Friction braking and emergency lock system
- Sturdy, strong, and durable bike
- LCD for recording and showing the- time, speed, distance, odometer, and calories.
- Compact and easy to use
Expert Reviews
The product comes with the best features and is quite popular among the people. It also provides you with maximum comfort and security. This product is a great choice for you if you live in a small apartment because of its compact structure.
Why did we put this #1 product?
A product guide should always include an overall best product. This product comes with all the required features, amazing quality, and maximum comfort and safety. This is a must-buy product.
This is an upright exercise bike that is adjustable for users of all fitness levels. You can be a beginner, intermediate, or an expert, and this bike will be a perfect fit for you. This is a highly adjustable bike with 6 handlebar adjustment levels and 10 seat levels.
You will almost have the feeling of riding an actual bike as it has a direct chain for pedaling in both directions comfortably. With its sturdy and strong frame, the bike can hold up to 130 kgs. The LCD monitor on the bike displays the time, sped, calories burnt. Whereas the heart sensor on the handlebar keeps checking on the pulse rate.
Features:
- 18 kg flywheel
- Highly adjustable seat and handlebar
- 3-piece crank system on the pedals
- Emergency stop button
- LCD for- time, speed, calorie, and distance
Expert Reviews
This is an amazing exercise bike with impressive features and structure. All these features and safety features come at a medium price.
Why did we choose this #2 product?
It is important to add a product with the highest ratings to a product guide. A product that comes with so many amazing features at a good price is worth considering.
This bike is the best fit for people who are beginners. If you are not looking for intensive gym bikes for your home, then this is your best option. This adjustable and foldable bike is made up of sturdy material and can hold up to 100kgs.
This not only saves your space with its amazing folding technique but also is budget-friendly. This product is CE-certified and is safe to use. With its large padded seat, you will get enough comfort where needed the most. Also, you can keep a check on your pulse and calories with its in-built sensors.
Features:
- CE-certified
- Deep cushioned and adjustable seats
- Advanced and impressive LCD for calorie, pulse, time, speed, and distance
- Adjustable resistance
- Strong and secure pedals with foot straps
- Foldable
Expert Reviews
This product provides comfort, sturdiness, safety, and a simple workout at an affordable price. If you are looking for a basic and simple bike that is foldable and compact, then this is your go. Quite a quality product at the best price.
Why did we choose this #3 product?
A product guide is incomplete without an affordable good quality product. This product serves the quality and required features that are needed and best for a beginner. This indoor foldable and affordable bike is amazing.
This bike is suitable for people who work a lot on their laptops and don’t get any time for exercise. This bike with a pulse is very adjustable according to your needs. This is a portable, foldable and smooth bike. Even though it takes time to set, it is worth it.
This bike comes with a sliding desktop that can be adjusted according to your needs. Along with that, it has a large padded seat with a cushioned backrest.
Features:
- Strong and durable
- 8 levels of magnetic resistance
- LCD for- time, speed, calories, and odometer
- Large padded seat with backrest
- Sliding adjustable desktop
Expert Reviews
This is one of the best upright exercise bikes for people who are on their laptops almost all day. With its backrest, tabletop, and affordable price, this product is a good deal.
Why did we choose this #4 product?
A product with the most customer reviews and ratings is a good product and is with adding in a product guide. This bike has multiple features and is very recommended for working people.
This bike has 10 levels of magnetic resistance and can be used as a recumbent, upright, or semi-stationary bike. It comes with a comfortable padded seat and backrest for back support.
Along with an LCD for distance, speed, calories, and time it also has a heart rate sensor on the handlebar. It even has a phone or tablet holder.
Features:
- 10 levels of magnetic resistance
- Tablet/phone holder
- Padded seat and backrest
- Compact and foldable
Expert Reviews
This is a must-buy exercise bike. With an affordable rate and a high number of customer reviews, this bike serves the best features for you.
Why did we choose this #5 product?
A high reviewed and rated product with many impressive features always makes its way to a product guide. This bike is very comfortable and serves the best at an affordable price.
Best Upright Exercise Bike Buying Guide
Getting any sort of fitness machine at home can be quite an investment. Apart from that, the space needed for the machine should also be taken into consideration. If you want to invest in a good exercise bike, you’ll have to keep your exercise goals in mind. The amount of time you will be spending on exercise and that machine, in particular, should also be kept in mind.
Sometimes upright exercise bikes might lead quite a lot for people to handle. Moreover, those who don’t work out often or don’t have a proper workout plan might not be able to make the best out of the machine. Hence, having a proper goal, especially in terms of working out, is essential before investing in an exercise bike.
Here are some of the few things that should be taken into consideration.
The amount of space you have
Similar to other large fitness equipment, upright exercise bikes also do take a lot of space. Before investing in one, you will need to check the size of the room. Along with that, the frame of the equipment should be considered, which is the actual size.
Most of the bikes are quite large, although those are the ones preferred by most. The reason why large upright exercise bikes are more in demand is that it is comparatively more comfortable to use. Although the large-sized bikes are designed for big or tall individuals, it does have a bigger handle and seat which might be preferred by people who don’t fall into the above-mentioned category.
Large-sized bikes are also comparatively more stable and will be very helpful in reaching your goals.
However, if the space available is a bit small, you can always opt for a foldable one. There are a variety of different brands in the market that offer foldable designs. These sorts of bikes can be folded very easily, and they can be stored in small spaces as well. Some of the brands also offer bikes that are easy to carry and light-weighted.
Those portable and foldable bikes are affordable and small. They are very convenient for people with a fixed budget and a small space. Finding the ideal exercise bike isn’t difficult if points are kept in mind while purchasing them.
It is a given that most products’ quality is a lot better when it is on the expensive side. However, its usage and the space available should be kept in mind before purchasing the same. Bikes that can be easily kept in your room without compromising the rest of the space is the ideal option.
Capacity and size
After figuring out the right size of the bike for the space available, it is essential to check the capacity of the same. Along with the weight and size of the bike, the amount of weight it can withstand is also an important feature to keep in mind.
A bike that provides enough stability is the best one. Heavier and larger bikes are comparatively more stable and sturdier than the smaller ones. However, those sort of bikes needs to have wheels that will make it easier to move it around.
The weight that the bike supports must be known before you purchase. Whether you want the bike for the gym or personal use, its weight capacity should be considered. If the user is more than 300 pounds, the capacity of the bike should also be similar. The capacity of the bike will let you know how durable and stable the bike is.
Upright bikes are mainly for average-sized individuals. However, if you are below a certain height and quite petite, you might find some problems finding the ideal upright exercise bikes.
Features
Every fitness equipment should have certain features. Finding the best seat with many paddings will be able to provide comfort to the individuals. Pedals should also be quite wide, and the ones with straps are a lot more comfortable.
Other features that should be included in the machine are time, speed, the number of calories burnt. Tracking the heart rate should be essential in upright exercise bikes. This is one of the main features that should be available on the monitor. Some bikes do have in-built fans, this feature helps in providing air.
Along with that, some bikes also have features like water bottle holders, magazine holders, and control cups as well. However, upright exercise bikes with these additional features are a bit on the expensive side.
The only important feature that should be present in all bikes is the tracking feature. Being able to check the heart rate is essential.
Safety
An important feature of the upright exercise bike is its safety. The mechanics of the bike, especially the chain, should also be covered. Especially if the bike is used in places where kids are often moving around, mechanics must be kept away from them.
There are many cases of children harming themselves while playing around with such fitness equipment. Hence it is integral to keep the machine in a safe space. Moreover, if the kids do have access to space, buying a bike that does not seem very harmful to the children is an ideal option. Some bikes have more complicated features and mechanics that are more harmful than others.
Other than the children getting injured, the safety of the user is also of topmost priority, the most integral feature that should be paid attention to while purchasing the bike is the pedal. The pedal of the bike should have a firm grip, and it should not be slippery. Knee injuries are very common if the pedal of the bike is not sturdy enough.
Due to that reason, while purchasing a bike, you must choose one that has a strap on its pedal. It will provide a rather smooth experience that won’t have any risks of injury.
Considering your workout plans, the space available, and the various features is a must before purchasing any upright bike. Knowing the capacity is also an integral part of purchasing fitness equipment.
FAQs About Upright Exercise Bikes
Can you lose weight on an upright exercise bike?
Ans. An upright exercise bike can help you with weight loss. It depends on the type of workout you do. Usually, you can burn out 600 calories in an hour using a stationary upright bike, which is an excellent way of losing weight indoors. You need to burn more calories than you consume for proper weight loss.
How many minutes a day should I ride an upright exercise bike?
Ans. You should ride an upright exercise bike for a minimum of 20 minutes daily. 20 minutes a day is enough for you to stay healthy. If you do it regularly, you can lose up to 1000 calories per week. If you want to lose more than you can ride it for an hour and a half.
Are upright exercise bikes a better choice than recumbent bikes?
Ans. The structure of the upright exercise bikes makes you lean down and have an intense cycling workout. They will demand more of your effort and strength than the recumbent bikes. Riding an upright exercise bike is a very good way to remain fit. It works and creates pressure on your abs, shoulders, arms, back, and glute.
Can we stand while riding an upright exercise bike?
Ans. The structure of the upright exercise bike promotes sitting while riding. So, no, you can’t stand while riding it. The spin exercise bikes work more like a regular road bike and allow you to stand while riding.
Is using an upright exercise bike good for the heart?
Ans. Upright exercise bikes work on maintaining and strengthening your cardiovascular system. If you are looking to strengthen your cardiovascular system, then you can go for this bike.
However, if you have heart-related problems, then you should use a light exercise bike like recumbent exercise bikes. Considering that upright bikes are for intense workouts.
What is the difference between a spin bike and an upright exercise bike?
The upright exercise bikes have a free-spinning magnetic flywheel- the pedals stop the moment you stop pedaling. The upright bikes have programs and consoles along with wide comfortable seats.
Whereas the spin bikes are more like regular road bikes. The pedals of a spin bike remain engaged – the pedal will rotate for a while even if you stop pedaling.
Does riding an upright exercise bike create muscle soreness?
Ans. Riding an upright exercise bike regularly can sometimes result in muscle soreness. The posture while sitting on an upright exercise bike is slightly hunched over and neck back because of which can result in muscle soreness.
Will riding on an upright tone my bum?
Ans. An upright exercise bike works on your glutes, and Riding this bike regularly will tone the muscles of your bum and even add some volume to it. Regularly cycling will also result in a toned backside and legs.
Will my thigh muscles bulge and increase if I use an upright exercise bike?
Ans. No, riding an upright exercise bike or any bike does not bulge up your thighs. In fact, cycling regularly will tone down your thigh muscles and strengthen them, not increase them.
How does an upright exercise bike tone down your body shape?
Ans. Riding an upright exercise bike has many benefits, and one of them is that it will tone down your whole body. Upright exercise bikes work on glute muscles, calves, thighs, abs, back, and even neck muscles. If you regularly ride it, you will reduce calories day by day, and your body will also get toned.
Upright exercise bike or treadmill. Which one is better?
Ans. Treadmills are more demanding, and upright exercise bikes are an easy way to a healthy lifestyle. An upright exercise bike is accessible to everyone, is comfortable, and offers thorough cardiovascular exercise. Riding on an upright exercise bike will promise you a healthy life, strength, and weight loss.
Is riding an upright bike better than walking?
Ans. Riding an upright exercise bike at moderate speed for an hour will burn about 560 calories. Whereas walking for an hour at a moderate speed will burn only 371 calories. Also, riding the bike works on your other body muscles too and keeps you fit and healthy. So, yes, riding an upright exercise bike is better than walking.