Exercise Bikes Buying Guide

Exercise bikes have always been a popular way to get fit – whatever your goal may be…

The advantages of Exercise Bikes include;

•    Low impact exercise, which is gentle on backs, knees, hips and joints.
•    Suitable for a large range of training needs.
•    Low maintenance, keeping costs down.
•    Relatively small in size.


We have outlined a few essential tips to bear in mind when purchasing an Exercise bike.


What is your budget?

Exercise bikes vary in price enormously depending on the features and design. A high end exercise bike can cost upwards of £1500, although not everyone can or wants to spend £1500 on a exercise bike! As with most exercise equipment you get what you pay for, basic exercise bikes start from £119. Many of the exercise bikes we stock have features found on commercial models and will last you years.

As you spend more on an exercise bike, you will find features such as more in depth programmes, better stability, materials, adjustability and design. The Nautilus NB3000 exercise bike does not even need to be plugged into the mains. Your workout powers the console and resistance!

How much space do you have?

Although exercise bikes are fairly small pieces of exercise equipment it’s best when purchasing an exercise bike to always to measure the space in which you intend the exercise bike to live, you do not want to find that it does not fit in your desired space once it has been delivered. We display all the dimensions of the exercise bikes we sell on the product details page in the specification field. Most exercise bikes will need to be plugged into the mains and so require a power socket nearby.

Always check what warranty comes with the exercise bike?

All the exercise bikes sold on exercise equipment come with a minimum 1 year parts and labour warranty, 90% have a 2 years parts and labour warranty. All of the brands that we represent provide comprehensive warranties. You do not want to have an exercise bike which you are liable to send back to the supplier if it has a fault. The exercise bikes we sell all have on site warranties meaning that if necessary a technician will visit you and carry out the required repairs. Manufacturers such as Tunturi provide a 15 year frame warranty and two year warranties on the other components. Warranty details for each product are displayed in the specification fields at the bottom of the page.

What are programmes and how do they benefit me?

Do you often find it difficult to motivate yourself when you’re using the same routine? Purchasing an exercise bike with programmes maybe the answer. Having pre-set or even customisable workout programmes are a great way to provide some extra variety and motivation. Some of the more expensive exercise bikes now offer heart rate controlled programmes which using your heart rate, increase or decrease the resistance of the exercise bike keeping your heart rate as close as possible to the pre-set rate. This is a safe way to exercise and can help with weight loss.

Many exercise bikes now also offer Watt (energy) Control programmes. Similar to heart rate programmes, the bike will adjust the resistance to a pre-set Watt output.

How is the resistance level adjustable?

The resistance on cheaper exercise bikes is adjusted manually. The majority of the exercise bikes on exercise equipment are electromagnet, meaning you can change the resistance of your workout with the push of a button. The advantage of electromagnetic resistance exercise bikes is that generally they’re smoother in operation and have fewer moving parts and so are less likely to break down. 

What difference does the flywheel make?

Generally speaking the more you spend generally the heavier the flywheel and the heavier the flywheel the smoother the motion. Where applicable the flywheel weight is detailed in the specification field on the individual exercise bike product pages.

What difference does the stance of the bike make?

As you spend more on an exercise bike, you are likely to find more adjustability of the stance, as well as a generally more aggressive, or racing stance.

Whilst all the exercise bikes we sell will be adjustable to some degree, it may be worth taking into account if you are very tall or short…

If you also cycle a race bike, it may help you to look for a machine which can more closely replicate the stance.

If you think you may want to use your exercise bike for extended periods, it may be worth considering a recumbent exercise bike. Not only do many people find the stance more comfortable, they are better in use for people who suffer back pain.

Can I use my SPD shoes?

You are able to change the pedals on the majority of exercise bikes.  This is useful if you use SPDs on your race bike and wish to replicate the feeling on your exercise bike.

We hope this exercise bike buyers guide has been helpful if you have a question please contact one of our friendly team.

To see our range of bikes please click the appropriate link below

Upright exercise bikes
Recumbent exercise bike
Commercial exercise bike