If dealing with poor weather, traffic, or crowded trails makes you want to cancel your outdoor cycling session, it might be time to check out the best exercise bikes for your home gym. In addition to providing a great low-impact cardio workout, stationary bikes make it easier to track your activity and fitness goals; give you a chance to take classes from top-tier trainers from the comfort of your own home; and even let you catch up on a favorite show while you pedal—without having to worry about where you’re going.
If it’s your first time shopping for a stationary bike, we’re here to help. We spoke to fitness experts and considered past SELF Home Fitness Award winners to find the best bikes on the market. Shop our top picks and learn more about how to choose the right one for you below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Peloton Bike+, $2,495
- Runner-Up: SoulCycle At-Home Bike, $2,500
- Best Budget Pick: Merach S09 Auto Resistance Bike, $600
- Best for Beginners: Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike, $799
- Best Air Bike: Assault Fitness AirBike Classic, $749
- Best Recumbent Bike: Merach S19 Recumbent Exercise Bike, $360
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Ready to clip in? Get the deets on our picks below.
Best Overall: Peloton Bike+
Multiple experts called out Peloton (a Home Fitness Award winner) for its features and team of incredible trainers. “Not only are the instructors amazing, but I love that they have clear bike setup directions, rides for all levels, and always stress the importance of warming up and cooling down,” Jenna Stern, an instructor at Fitler Club and City Fitness in Philadelphia, tells SELF. Emily Collins, a Los Angeles–based indoor cycling instructor at Verve Studios, calls the instructors “captivating” and noting that they can use licensed music in their rides, “so the playlists are upbeat and familiar.”
Onto the Bike+ itself: It comes with an adjustable seat, handlebars, and screen, and even offers 24-hour streaming access to live and on-demand classes. Molly Rockwell, an instructor formerly at Ride Society Pensacola, tells SELF that it perfectly recreates the feel of being in a class: “The energy doesn’t feel stale.” Another big part of Peloton’s appeal is its supportive community and leaderboard that can help boost a sense of camaraderie and goal-setting. But Mallory Fox, MS, DHSc, a NASM-certified master trainer, tells SELF that its biggest selling point for her is its comfy ride: “Hands down the most comfortable bike seat I’ve ever encountered on a spin bike!”
Weight: 140 pounds | Dimensions: 22 x 59 x 59 inches | Resistance settings: Self-controlled adjustable resistance with auto-resistance option | Weight capacity: 297 pounds | Display: 23.8-inch HD touchscreen | Membership and app options: An All-Access Membership to the Peloton App is needed to access classes, and it costs $44 per month.
Runner-Up: SoulCycle At-Home Bike
SoulCycle’s SELF Certified bike allows you to attend the brand’s high-energy classes right from your living room. The steel-frame bike is extra sturdy, thanks to its wider-than-usual base, and the high-res touchscreen is huge, clocking in at 21.5 inches across.
It’s certainly an investment—but SELF’s associate director of special projects, Hannah Pasternak, tested it when it was initially released and found that the perks may justify the cost. “You can take an on-demand class led by an excellent instructor, with beautiful visuals and sound, without leaving your apartment,” she says. What more can an at-home exerciser ask for?
Weight: 128 pounds (142 pound with the touchscreen) | Dimensions: 22.20 x 62.20 x 53.50 inches | Resistance settings: Self-controlled adjustable resistance | Weight capacity: 350 pounds | Display: 21.5-inch touchscreen | Membership and app options: A subscription to the Equinox+ app costs $40 per month. A 12-month membership is required to access SoulCycle classes. You can also stream other boutique fitness experiences like Rumble boxing, Headstrong guided meditation classes, Precision Run treadmill classes, and Pure Yoga through the app.
Best Budget Pick: Merach S09 Auto Resistance Bike
This straightforward, relatively budget-friendly bike from Merach won a Home Fitness Award in 2023 for its streamlined design and ease of use. It doesn’t come with a fancy display screen, but that means you can take your pick from your favorite apps, videos, or streaming services—just prop your iPad, laptop, or tablet in the bike’s device holder, and off you go.
Weight: 90 pounds | Dimensions: 22 x 43.70 x 48 inches | Resistance settings: 16 magnetic resistance settings with auto-resistance option | Weight capacity: 350 pounds | Display: Tablet holder for your own device | Membership and app options: The Merach Fitness App gives you access to classes, scenic and gamified rides, and map-based workouts. This bike is also compatible with third-party apps like Zwift and Kinomap.
Best for Beginners: Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
One SELF staffer picked up this Schwinn bike during the early days of the pandemic and found that it made her home workouts much easier—and more enjoyable. “It’s given me the freedom of being able to just hop on the bike whenever I feel like it!” she wrote. She also noted it was “surprisingly seamless” to build out of the box. Bonus: There are cradles for your dumbbells, along with a tablet holder.
It may not have many of the same bells and whistles as some of the more advanced models on our list, but it hits a sweet spot for relatively new cyclists who are still getting used to riding—but already know they love it.
Weight: 112 pounds | Dimensions: 30.70 x 54.60 x 51.80 inches | Resistance settings: 100 magnetic resistance levels | Weight capacity: 330 pounds | Display: LCD display screen | Membership and app options: This bike comes with a two-month free trial of JRNY’s Mobile-Only Membership, which gives you access to workout classes and trainer-led sessions. It also has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can link your bike with third-party apps like Peloton and Zwift through your phone or tablet.
Best Air Bike: Assault Fitness AirBike Classic
While the Assault AirBike Classic is not a traditional indoor cycling bike, it’s still a great option if you enjoy cycling but want to get your upper body more involved. It comes equipped with padded handlebars, a fan, and a crank to adjust your resistance. The console offers different preset workout programs and tracks your heart rate, time, and distance.
Crystal Nguyen, a Spin instructor at Rush Cycle Med Center in Houston, considers it a great pick for a full-body workout, since it also incorporates arm movement. “I was first introduced to it in a bootcamp, circuit-type class, and I didn’t realize how effective it was until I got off it and felt how tired it made me,” she says.
Weight: 110 pounds | Dimensions: 23.34 x 51 x 50 inches | Resistance settings: Unlimited air resistance | Weight capacity: 350 pounds | Display: LCD display screen | Membership and app options: N/A
Best Recumbent Bike: Merach S19 Recumbent Exercise Bike
Here’s another Home Fitness Award–winning bike from Merach, except this one has a recumbent design. Compared to traditional stationary bikes, recumbent models are thought to be easier on the joints, which makes them great for older people and those recovering from lower-body injuries. Plus, the reclined seat provides support for your lower back (and the fact that it’s made of mesh spares you from swamp butt).
“I thought it was such a great piece of equipment that I gave it to my mom after I was done testing to help her with hip-replacement rehab,” Katie Pierson, CPT, creator of MT Girl Fitness and one of our Home Fitness Award judges, said. “I still ride it when I go over to her house.”
Weight: 97 pounds | Dimensions: 23.62 x 48.03 x 46.46 inches | Resistance settings: 8 magnetic resistance levels | Weight capacity: 330 pounds | Display: LCD display screen | Membership and app options: This bike is also compatible with Merach’s Fitness App.
How to choose the right exercise bike for you
Start by thinking about the bikes you’ve liked at different studios and gyms, and jot down some pros and cons of each, Natalie Qayed, a NASM-certified personal trainer and master instructor at Cycle Haus Nashville, tells SELF. Then, consider which features suit your fitness level and goals, like a console that makes it easy to read your distance, time, and heart rate, or a larger display screen for following guided workouts. To that last point, a bike that comes with a workout app or class membership can be a great way to boost your energy and motivation, Collins says.
Some models have adjustable handlebars, seats, or both, which can help you find the right fit for your body—and they’re also great if you share your equipment with other people. If your bike of choice isn’t adjustable at all, make sure its measurements will be comfortable for you. There are other nice-to-have features to look out for too: Maybe you want one with a padded seat or ergonomic handles for added comfort, storage for dumbbells, or Wi-Fi connectivity to sync up to your playlists.
You can definitely find a less expensive, no-frills bike that’ll help you get your cycling workouts in, but a bike with a sturdy design or high-end add-ons (i.e., an HD touchscreen) will likely cost more. “You get what you pay for,” Qayed says, alluding to cheaper bikes that appear to come with tons of features without a hefty price tag, but don’t perform or ride as well as they promise. “As with most fitness machines, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
How we picked the best exercise bikes
We spoke to industry experts as well as SELF staffers who regularly cycle indoors to select our top picks. We also test exercise bikes as part of our annual Home Fitness Awards, where we recognize the best home gym equipment currently available, so you can trust we’re in the loop on the latest (and most important) features to consider. Finally, we have an in-depth exercise bike buying guide (which, by the way, is another great resource to consult while you shop).
Additional reporting by Emily Shiffer and Jenifer Calle
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