I weigh around about 60kg /130lbs at the moment, and even with my not so spritely form these days, the bike was more than happy to respond to my efforts. As I began to start speed modulation, slowing down the bike's pace for corners and junctions, I realised just how in control I was of the bike. Fitness Savvy has reviewed a lot of exercise bikes and our advice is to decide what you really want from your exercise bike. So far as we can tell, the only benefit of this bike over others is that it can adjust between upright and recumbent.

One of the big stand out features for me is that the Brand X Road Bike comes dressed inShimano Tourney 2x7 speed (14-28T), with Prowheel 34/50 chainrings and 170 cranks. It became almost instantly apparent the stem length was around 10mm too long for me and I felt a little stretched out. I also typically run a 40cm-wide bar and my arms felt splayed out on this.The X-Bike bike was a pleasure to ride and is very sturdy. Meant for weight loss, users will end every session tired and sore. With easy adjustments and a monitor, this is one of our favorite bikes at this low price range. With this knowledge going off like a Belisha beacon in my head, my first outing on the Brand X Road Bike saw me enter a near state of panic on the crest of the first big descent on the bike. It would have had me reaching for a paper bag to breath into, had it not have been raining quite so much. Calories: Not precise, but uses normal calculations based on speed and tension for a close assumption.

The spacer bell is a great innovation though I do get through a few due to catching it often but I'll live with that for the extra space on the handlebars and ease of "dinging" with either hand. The large 700x25c wheels offer great strength and are more than capable of withstanding the city roads with their potholes as well as gripping all year round with the added width of 25c. Built, Tested and Tuned Dressing the unnamed wheelset in Kenda tires is a pleasant surprise, although watch out for the claimed 25c versus the real tire measurements. My own digital calipers measured these at just over 23mm with around 80psi in the tubes.The fully adjustable cushioned seat gives you a comfy platform, whether you are utilising the recumbent or upright position, and the large 1 window LCD Display is easily viewable from either. After riding for more than an hour, the seat was still very comfortable and did not provide any soreness. The pedals are a little different than most, so you will want to place your foot so that pedal is perfectly aligned with the middle of your foot and not the ball or heel. Comparing the two size mediums side by side and the Brand X Road Bike has a shorter effective top tube - 545mm compared to 484mm of the Triban 100. The X-Bike DUO is not only effective, but functional also! With its easy “out-of-the-box” assembly and handy portability wheels, ProForm have created an exceptionally user-friendly machine. Not to mention its small footprint and ability to fold up and be stored away.

A working pump was made available at the end of the test ride, where I discovered the front tyre had been pumped to 50psi/3.4 BAR and the rear 60psi/4.1 BAR. Whether you choose a Shimano Tourney 2 x 7 speed drivetrain or the Microshift R8 2 x 8 speed drivetrain, you can expect reliable shifting performance and durable components, ensuring efficient shifting whatever the conditions. Pedalling you through these gears is a set of forged alloy double cranks, with their forged alloy arms they are not only strong but light. Modern 25c Tyre Width for Grip and Fast Rolling

Road bike sizes we stock

Pedaling is very easy at first if you have not turned up the tension level. There are 8 tension levels seen that allow for easy to moderate resistance. While the highest level is difficult, it is definitely much easier than many other bikes in this price range. Many people will see this as a fault, but this is meant to be an exercise bike for losing weight, which means speed and resistance must be kept around an adequate level.

You can then use the little scales icon to add the bikes you like to a comparison table where you can compare features and costs side by side to see which one is the best fit for you and your needs.

I love the fact that the Brand X Road Bike is transparently honest about what it is. There's no dressing up in shiny red lacquered wide tubing here pretending it's aero. SRAM Rival HRD Hydraulic Disc Brake Caliper & Shifter / Rear Brake - Left 1x / 1800mm / Flat Mount 20mm