Do you need the best under-desk cycle if you are trying to stay awake at work? You can.
To help you make a wise choice, here are some comments on the top five office bikes that can satisfy almost any customer.
You can also consult the following guide to see if there are any adjustments or special features you might need compared to the others.
Table of Contents
1. DeskCycle Pedal Exerciser
DeskCycle is one of the most popular manufacturers of pedal exercisers. Their design features a smooth magnetic resistance system, multiple resistance settings, and rugged construction for long-term use.
This DeskCycle pedal exerciser has one of the lowest pedal heights at 10″. It can be used on 27″ desks. The pedal arm length is also reduced to 3.5 inches. The compact design allows this DeskCycle to be used in almost any workplace.
The bike has a magnetic brake system that allows an almost silent pedaling movement. This has multiple advantages: it prevents the user from disturbing his colleagues and distracting himself.
The range of resistance is also impressive. This DeskCycle offers 8 levels of resistance in a wider range than the average office bike. There are also five-speed, distance, time, calories, and scan displays.
Pros:
- Calorie burned readings are more accurate than typical office cycle readings. The computer can use an Internet connection to perform accurate calculations based on the cycle and user data collected.
- Smooth and quiet pedal movement.
- 8 resistance levels with a Compact design
Cons:
- It is impossible to adjust the pedals height, making the bike a little difficult for users under 1.80 m. This is the only thing that gives an advantage to its successor, the DeskCycle2.
2. Vive Under-desk Cycle
Although it is designed as a pedal-operated exercise machine, the bike under the Vive desk works just as well if you want to train your arms. It can be assembled easily and fits under most desks. Its easily one of Vives most popular exercise bikes.
With a pedal height of 12.5″, the Vive pedal exerciser is a good workout machine for small or large offices. It can be placed under any desk as long as there are no open shelves underneath.
Like all other cycles under the desk, this Vive model uses a magnetic brake system. The pedals rotate smoothly and quietly, ensuring you dont disturb anyone.
Although the model is a little larger than most others, the larger support bars and rubber feet ensure good stability on any surface. The pedals also have safety straps that should help reduce rocking and allow you to do full foot extensions for calf training.
Pros:
- The ergonomic pedals are the most interesting. In addition to having safety buckles and soft padding, they also have finger grips. This gives you a solid grip when you put it on the desk for upper body exercises.
- Suitable for upper and lower body exercises
- Solid construction
- Multifunctional LCD screen
Cons:
- The low resistance limits the usefulness of this pedal exerciser. Although it is still suitable for conditioning and improving circulation, it has little to offer regarding muscle strengthening and weight loss. It is also not very useful for upper body training if you are already in shape.
- It May be too big for some offices
- Low voltage range
Although tiny and perhaps difficult to read when working at the desk, the display panel presents the five essential functions that accompany most work cycles under the desk. The materials are pretty robust, and it is stable despite their compact size.
The pedal exerciser has a foldable frame that is not very common in this class of exercise bikes - they are already small. There is a continuously adjustable resistance range using the tension knob. However, pedaling at high or very high speeds is not advisable.
The accuracy of the calorie burn reading is also somewhat questionable since this pedal-operated exercise machine does not give you a very intense workout.
Pros:
- Portability is the key factor in this work cycle. The collapsible frame allows you to use the pedal exerciser daily at home and in the office.
- Light and Easy to transport
- Affordable
- Compact design
Cons:
- This ultra-thin design, while surprisingly space-saving, makes the cycle overheat quickly. Cycling too fast or too long will affect the life of the bike.
- Overheats easily
A fully assembled tabletop bike with a sturdy chrome steel frame is often a good choice. This Vaunn Medical pedal exerciser is designed for comfort and user-friendliness.
This pedal exerciser may have the most basic design, but its popularity is undeniable. Perhaps its the price or the fact that its fully assembled. Or maybe its because its more durable and less likely to require maintenance than most models.
Tension can be adjusted by a small black knob located between the pedals. Two support bars of equal length and four plastic supports with a rubber bottom guarantee stability. The readings are standard, and they are all displayed at the same time.
To further improve stability and reduce sway, the traditional multi-joint system has been discarded in favor of a one-piece frame.
To properly use the Vaunn Medical Pedal Exerciser, you must ensure a minimum of 11″ between your desk and your knees. Failure to do so will cause overuse of the joints and minimize muscle involvement during the workout.
Pros:
- The frame is the best feature of this pedal exerciser, not only because it is made of one piece but also because it is covered with several layers of rust protection. Even though larger models look more impressive, theres often nothing like a one-piece model in the long run.
- A solid and stable framework. Therefore, deficient maintenance required
Cons:
- Adjusting voltage levels can be easy, but the resistance levels are not impressive. This pedal exerciser may seem like an easy solution for people in good shape. It burns very few calories, and because its noisy, you cant pedal.
- A little noisy
Vive manufactures a wide range of cycles under the desk, so its not surprising that it includes a foldable pedal exerciser.
This design ends at the height of 9″, which leaves more space under the table than most pedals. The compact design makes the cycle barely visible under the table, which is good. On the other hand, the teal frame can attract attention, but you can easily choose black.
The frame is foldable, which is not the case for all other products on this list. Although this affects stability, it allows for easy transportation.
The display panel is simple, but it still has five basic readings. The pedals dont protrude too much on the sides but affect the design.
Pros:
- Although many people may consider this low-impact pedal trainer a dubious proposition, it is essential to realize how beneficial it can be for people undergoing physical rehabilitation or the elderly. The minimal effort required to complete rotations is always sufficient to promote good blood circulation and conditioning.
- Folding frame. Easy to use and transport
- Multifunctional LCD screen
Cons:
- As the pedals are not ergonomic and the safety loops are pretty rigid, the Vive Portable Pedal Exerciser is unsuitable for long sessions. There is also a risk of overheating during intense workouts.
- Overheats faster than other models
- Medium voltage range
BUYER’S GUIDE
Type
Since most under-desk cycles these days are based on a magnetic resistance system, there is not much variation between them. However, there are two types from a construction point of view.
Regular
Although pedal exercisers can look very different from one manufacturer to another, most are built the same way inside. The assembly process is relatively simple and intuitive for the user. A solid block contains the tension mechanism, electronics, two feet, and two pedals.
These cycles under the desk are pretty sturdy. However, they lack one foldable feature bikes take advantage of portability.
Foldable
Folding units may not be as durable or stable as regular models, but they have a significant advantage. Packing up the bike and taking it to work is very convenient. This turns the average crankset into a much more efficient training tool.
It will allow you to use it occasionally at work at low-intensity levels and home at high voltage levels for high-intensity workouts. This way, you can keep your feet busy at work, have good cardio conditioning, and burn fat at home.
Pedal Height
Height is a key factor. The taller the bike, the higher the pedals, and your desk needs to be higher. Always measure your desk and the position of your feet before making a purchase. Its also important to know how your chair can be adjusted. Buying a bike under your desk is not recommended if you have a regular chair without height adjustment.
But you dont have to worry only about the chairs height. Some cranksets need a reclining chair so you can comfortably sit while you pedal. Office bikes can have pedal heights as low as 7.6″ to over 14″.
Dimensions
Pedal exercisers vary in both size and pedal height. Thats why measurement is an essential prerequisite for purchasing an office bike. The quality of a pedal exerciser depends on the conditions it creates for you.
If it doesnt fit properly under the desk, you wont be able to pedal comfortably and keep your productivity at a high level. If it is too long, it may interfere with the cables under your desk. If its too wide, it can put a lot of pressure on your knees.
While desktop pedal exercisers are beneficial, they are much harder to buy than stationary bikes because of the many variables and features you need to consider.
Weight
The weight limit for bikes under the desk varies a lot. However, you will find that most models have a guaranteed weight limit of 220 pounds. Take this with a grain of salt. You may get away with a higher weight limit depending on why and how you use it.
Thats because, unlike a stationary bike, an office bike or pedal trainer doesnt support your full body weight. Most of your weight is supported by the chair. However, if you plan to use more leg strength and train with high tension settings, you will want sufficient weight capacity, preferably close to your body weight.
Resistance Level
Most of todays office bikes have at least 6 voltage settings, and some of these settings can be continuous. Those with more voltage settings generally seem to be more popular. But do you need 8 levels of tension on a pedal exerciser? Not really.
High-intensity workouts on pedal exercisers are generally counterproductive. Youll need to focus more on maintaining your posture for fear of putting more physical strain and fatigue on your body.
Sure, its a good workout, but what good if it interferes with your work? Most people use bikes under the desk at a tension level of 3 or 4. Thats enough:
- so that youre not distracted by what your legs are doing
- and enough blood is circulating through your body.
In terms of burning calories, these levels are not enough.
A higher tension setting will go a long way to help you lose weight, but only if you can sustain the effort for longer sessions.
Console display
All office bikes are equipped with a display console, just like all other exercise bikes. But I think there is no need to pay more for advanced consoles. The consoles on office bikes are not that important.
First, its not very easy to check readings; even if the screen is backlit, you may have to go under the desk to check the readings. The accuracy of the calories burned leaves a lot to be desired. There are no heart rate sensors. And since these exercise bikes are not designed for hard workouts, paying extra for fancy features on a console is not a good idea.
Price
Sometimes certain features drive up the price of cycles under the desk. Height and weight limits differ in some price ranges. The folding mechanism is also essential. Not all cranksets are equipped with a folding mechanism, and, all other things being equal, those that do tend to be more expensive.
The amount of information displayed on LCD screens also affects the price. The quality of construction is also essential. These pedal exercisers are relatively small and do not have the quality of construction to withstand the abuse accumulated on stationary bikes. It is essential not to choose the cheapest model unless your budget limits you.
How do you exercise at your desk at work?
The best way to exercise at your desk at work or home is to use a bike under the desk. Unlike office bikes that make exercise the top priority, and under-desk bike allows you to focus on your work.
Some adjustments may be necessary until you have put your chair in a comfortable position to work on your tasks and pedal efficiently. From time to time, try pedaling backward, which most office bikes allow. This helps reduce stress on your knees.
Get used to a slightly different knee position. And sit as upright as possible. Focusing more on using your legs also helps reduce rocking. Its also essential to keep your abdomen tight as you pedal to minimize rocking and get a decent workout.
Do under-desk cycles work?
You can get a decent workout depending on how much tension you put on the under-desk cycle. After pedaling for an hour, you can burn over 100 calories at medium voltage. However, there are other benefits to using an under-desk process.
Since many offices are heavily air-conditioned, you can use the bike to pump blood and raise your temperature. This effect should be felt all over your body, so you wont have to worry about typing with cold fingers for once.
How long do you pedal under your office bike?
Just because office bikes are designed to be used by office workers doesnt mean you have to pedal for hours at a time. 10 to 15 minutes at a time with good tension is more than enough. The goal is not to get tired and lose productivity.
Depending on why youre cycling, you can also adjust the length of your sessions. If you want to pedal to warm up, 4 to 5 minutes at medium voltage may be enough.
How efficient are office bikes?
Office bikes are not efficient enough to replace the gym or jogging twice a week. However, if your work is particularly stressful, these bikes may be much more beneficial than you think.
Just because you can replace your constant movement and foot-tapping with pedaling is very relaxing. The fact that it also gives you a workout is a secondary bonus. Although some of these bikes have 8 levels of tension, it is unlikely that you can do a high-intensity exercise without being distracted from your work.
Nevertheless, it is better to have one than not. Even with minimal calories burned, you still lose more calories than if you sat at your desk for a certain number of hours a day.
How many calories does an office bike burn?
The number of calories burned depends on your pedaling speed, blood pressure, eating habits, and exercise duration. People burn calories at different rates, so it is difficult to determine an average.
The only thing that can be said is that office bikes can help you burn calories if you work hard enough. But no matter how hard you work, you cant expect the same results as if you were jogging or working out on a proper stationary bike at the gym.
FINAL VERDICT
It would be difficult to give anything but the title of the best cycle under the desk to the DeskCycle Pedal Exerciser. It looks utilitarian, but what it lacks in terms of visuals, it makes up for performance.
The 8 resistance levels are set at a wider range than what is needed in an office. The overall durability and low pedal height are always exciting features. The price is also a bargain if youre looking for a long-term investment in-office training equipment.