8 best exercise bikes to transform your fitness at home, tested

Score: 88/100

The pioneer of the indoor riding revolution, it’s no surprise that a Peleton bike scored so highly. This sleek machine offered a supremely smooth ride, with the flywheel staying almost silent, no matter how hard we pedalled.

But what really set it apart was its bright, responsive touchscreen and the huge range of workouts on offer via the Peloton app. From the library of pre-recorded sessions to the live classes where you can compete against fellow Peloton members, there are plenty of options to keep your rides feeling fresh.

During each class, enthusiastic instructors advise you on the best resistance level for your bike, which can be scaled to suit both beginner and advanced cyclists. The Bike+ also has a clever feature that will alter the resistance automatically mid-ride.

Testers said they found the touchscreen controls easy to use and said the live sessions kept them motivated, while we liked that you can also rotate the screen to take part in HIIT, weights or stretching sessions.

Some said they felt the 23.8-inch screen was a bit too large and they wouldn't want it in their living room, while a few found the unerring enthusiasm of the coaches could be a bit much.

But those were the only quibbles – most loved the bike’s polished performance, the competitive element of the app and the wide range of classes on offer, saying this winning combination would keep them coming back for more.

Read our wellness editor's full Peloton bike+ review.

Score: 87/100

The Echelon went toe-to-toe with the Peleton bike above — there was just a single point between the two when the final scores were calculated. The EX5-S ran smoothly and made next to no noise when we pushed our pedals to the max. Our feet slotted easily into the pedals and the handlebars are made of premium material that didn’t get too sweaty.

There are a huge variety of workouts available on the app, displayed on a flippable 21.5-inch screen, and our testers were easily able to find sessions suited to their fitness and experience levels. Coaches provide short introductions to each class so you always know what to expect and they're good at advising users on which speed and resistance are best to use, so you get a good workout without pushing yourself too hard.

Instructor-led stretches at the end of each session also helped keep aches and pains at bay the next day (something we definitely appreciated).

Some found it hard to find the right resistance using the controls (a knob on the frame of the bike) and it sometimes took a while for the bike to register the change. The bike also wobbled slightly when we hit higher speeds and the screen was hard to reach while sitting on the seat.

However, the smooth ride, extensive class offering and ease of use were more than enough to earn the Echelon a top score overall.

Score: 85/100

If you don’t want to spend over the odds on your new at-home fitness companion, consider this reliable JTX design, which comes in at under £800. It lacks a HD touchscreen or dedicated app like the Peloton, but it does have a tablet holder so you can connect to popular training apps such as Zwift or Kinomap for a more interactive experience. Alternatively, you could just stream Netflix as you peddle...

Our expert was impressed with the V5’s well-thought-out design – it proved extremely sturdy, with no wobbling at higher speeds, and the magnetic resistance was almost silent and easy to adjust during use. It was also a doddle to adjust the seat height and handlebars to ensure the correct positioning.

Other stand-out features? A computer console that clearly displays all your key data, including time, distance, watts, pulse and calories burned, a dual bottle holder, and transport wheels, so you can easily move it around the house or store it away when not in use. All in all, it packs a lot in for the price.

Score: 83/100

If you want an Echelon but the EX-5S above is a bit pricey, look to the Sport-s 2, which is £200 cheaper. It has a lighter flywheel (7kg vs 13kg) and there's no dumbbell holder, but you still get a rotating 10-inch screen, 32 resistance levels, a water bottle holder and access to on-demand classes via the accompanying app.

Adjusting the seat and handlebars was quick and easy, and the magnetic flywheel proved extremely quiet and relatively smooth. Changing the resistance was also a faff-free process thanks to the well-placed resistance knob. Our bums felt a smidge sore after lengthy sessions, but this wasn’t too distracting.

As with the EX-5s, you can access the abundance of workout options on the Echelon Fit app, with live daily classes and scenic routes to keep your sessions interesting. You can keep track of your progress (cadence, output and heart rate) while you peddle, or choose to hide your stats if you prefer.

The design is compact, and the wheeled base means you can easily store it away when not in use. Overall, this is an excellent all-rounder at a decent mid-range price.

Score: 83/100

Racer bikes, also known as studio bikes or spin bikes, are designed to provide a realistic road-like feel when pedalling. They’re a worthwhile purchase for keen road racers who struggle to get outside in the dark, chilly winter months.

This shiny new model from our pals at JTX, which is currently on safe for £449, impressed our expert from the start. The flywheel is whisper-quiet and there are a good range of resistance levels to suit both beginners and pro riders – you simply adjust it using a conveniently positioned lever, which doubles up as an emergency stop for added safety. Our tester found this more responsive than a traditional knob.

The padded seat and adjustable handlebars make for a comfy riding experience and there’s a neat computer console for tracking your key stats, including speed, distance, time and RPM. If you want to follow an interactive workout via a third-party app, there’s Bluetooth connectivity plus a handy ledge for your tablet or phone.

Unlike most exercise bikes, which need to be set up near a plug socket, this one is self-powered so you can use it anywhere – you won't be driving up your energy bills and there won’t be any trailing wires making a mess, either. There are also transport wheels so you can move it around your home easily.

Sore: 82/100

If you’ve ever tried a CrossFit class, you’ll know that even a few minutes on an air bike can leave you dripping in a pool of sweat. How does it work? A cross between a traditional exercise bike and a cross trainer, you have to use your arms and legs to move the flywheel – the harder you pedal and move the handles, the more resistance you generate, and the tougher the workout will be.

As with all the JTX equipment we’ve tried (there are four on our list for a reason), this scored highly for its robust design, making for an extremely smooth, balanced ride – our tester experienced zero shaking or wobbling, even when going hell for leather. They appreciated the multi-grip handlebars, which prevented their hands from slipping when sweaty, and found the cushioned seat comfortable throughout.

What's more, it's self-powered and has a small footprint, so it won’t take up heaps of space in the corner of your living room.

If you’re short on time and want a full body session from the comfort of your own home, we can’t recommend the Mission Air Bike enough. As a bonus, it comes with a two-year warranty for peace of mind.

Score: 80/100

If you want to keep fit, but aren't aiming for Tour De France levels, this Technogym bike will ease you in gently.

While it still features a bright touchscreen and has plenty of classes to choose from, instructors are more likely to suggest breaks during your session to stop you burning out, which our testers appreciated. There is also a detailed tutorial video to help you set the bike up.

This bike was top of the pile when it came to comfort, too. Testers said the seat and handlebars placed them in a strong position to cycle while still able to use the touchscreen, and they felt balanced throughout each ride.

When choosing a workout on the screen, there is a detailed section on the trainers and their individual styles. However, you can’t filter classes by difficulty level, so it can be a bit of a faff finding the appropriate one for you. And, though the bike comes with dumbbells, which are incorporated into some classes, the focus is always cycling and there are no options are that purely HIIT or yoga.

That said, this is a great option for beginners who are keen to start clocking up the miles.

Score: 75/100

This fuss-free bike from JTX is one of the more affordable models out there, coming in under £300. Still, it earned a thumbs up from our expert, who raved about its ultra-quiet mechanism – you could happily watch telly while cycling – and good range of resistance levels. They also rated the adjustable features, which means it’s suitable for whole family use.

Like the other JTX models above, it’s self-powered, so you can work out anywhere and don’t need an unsightly extension cable running across your living room. It’s also extremely light, so you should be able to wheel it around the house on your own.

The Cyclo-3M doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity, but there are heart rate sensors on the handlebars, so you can monitor your efforts via the simple console. This reveals your time, speed, distance, RPM and calories burned, however it’s not backlit, so our expert found it a tad tricky to read at times.

Given the low price point, there’s no built-in screen, but you can rest your phone on the small holder above the handlebars if you fancy following a workout app or a session on YouTube.

It may not have the bells and whistles of pricier models in this round-up, but it’s a worthy training tool for beginner and intermediate riders who don’t want to spend over the odds.