Like so many other things at CNET, we test exercise bikes as thoroughly as possibly through rigorous examination and comparison. Each exercise bike in our list has been through at least 100 miles of riding, using as many of the built-in features as possible. Every exercise bike is judged against the following metrics: Exercise bike volume Toe cages: To avoid buying new shoes, some people prefer bikes with toe cages (or toe straps). Although clipless cycling shoes provide a more balanced and efficient pedal stroke, using your athletic shoes can make indoor cycling cheaper and more convenient. MYX bikes have become popular among fitness enthusiasts because of its massive streaming library of cycling and full-body workouts. There's no such thing as one bike for every kind of rider out there, and while Peloton makes a great bike there may be better options out there depending on your needs. With that in mind, we test all of our indoor bikes using the same criteria. Price For starters, because you don’t have to worry about the weather or time of day, a stationary bike can offer you a way to get consistent exercise conveniently.

Dual-sided pedals: Several home exercise bikes offer pedals with clipless pedals on one side and toe cages on the other, allowing you to choose whether you want to invest in cycling cleats.

A whole different way to get into spinning

Peloton’s All-Access subscription takes the Peloton Bike experience to the next level. The All-Access membership offers thousands of live or on-demand Peloton classes — even if you don’t own one of Peloton’s bikes, treads, or rowers. Classes include: Standard: This type of seat has a similar design to a basic road bike seat. Some brands offer standard seats that are slightly more padded than others. Instead of an integrated touch screen, the EX-5 has a rotating mount for your smart device, allowing you to stream classes using the Echelon Fit app. There are three additional EX-5s Connect models with higher prices that come with built-in screens. The included speakers sound good but aren’t going to give you the best sound quality when you’re blasting out some of your favorite tunes in the middle of a ride. If you’re not able to turn up the volume, you can connect Bluetooth headphones to the bike.

Second only to Beyonce’s Bee Hive, the Peloton community is a vibrant, robust one that covers many:

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The tablet-like screen works well, too. You’re easily able to find your workouts on the big screen, and while the resolution could be a touch crisper (it’s only HD) it’s unlikely you’ll notice when you’re concentrating on the workout. We’ve yet to try the Peloton Bike Plus so we can’t comment on how it works, but it’s essentially a higher-spec version of the original bike. It features a larger 23.8-inch HD screen with anti-reflective technology. The screen can also rotate more so you can bend it round for other workouts such as yoga. NOTE: Although cycling cleats link to what are called “clipless” pedals, they can be misleading. To clarify, the shoes are “clip-in” — the pedals are “clipless.” Unlike some rival gym equipment, there’s a clear premium look to this device and it’s likely something you’ll want to show off in your home rather than hide away in a closed room.

While some models have touch screens, others include Bluetooth capabilities and tablet holders, which allow you to stream classes using your own device. Our tester is a 6ft 2 adult, and it was a comfortable experience… or as comfortable as you can imagine for a spinning bike.Unlike bikes that include device holders, smart bikes integrate with at least one fitness app, such as Peloton App or iFit.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, several home exercise bikes offer streaming capabilities for access to live and on-demand workouts.Just keep in mind that you’ll need an Echelon Fit app membership. There are currently three membership options: In recent years, Peloton has had several lawsuits filed against it. In 2019, Peloton faced a lawsuit by the National Music Publishers Association over an alleged failure to license the music played during its classes. Most Bikes deliver within 1 to 2 weeks. Delivery times based on the last 7 days. Delivery times may vary based on your location, the weather and other related factors. The MYX II Bike arrives fully assembled and has a swiveling touch screen that makes it easy to take your workout from the bike to the mat.