If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best mini exercise bike is for seated exercise, then I’d recommend the DeskCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike as the best one.
Let’s face it. Far from being the consummate hunter gatherers we used to be, most of humanity has been consigned to sitting for long periods in a sedentary work environment. It isn’t the healthiest option, but it pays the bills and working in a climate controlled office is a huge plus.
That said, there is at least one way to get your sweat on besides doing pushups outside your cubicle.
Say hello to the mini exercise bike.
Trust me, people being curious about the soft whirring noise is infinitely more desirable to your coworkers judgmentally assuming that you’re going through a midlife crisis.
Here are the Mini Exercise Bikes we’ll be reviewing:
- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B0418 Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike
- MagneTrainer-ER Mini Exercise Bike Arm and Leg Exerciser
- Vive Pedal Exerciser
- DeskCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike
- Vive Desk Cycle Foot Pedal Exerciser
So What is a Mini Exercise Bike?
Commonly nicknamed the exercise or desk peddler, they are basically just the pedaling section of a full-sized exercise bike. And to be honest, these piddly little doohickies don’t exactly inspire confidence in their intended purpose.
I mean, how are you supposed to get fit by stealth pedaling your cardio requirement while working at your desk?
As it turns out, we just need to take a second to think about the mechanics of how a bicycle gets you trimmed up in the first place.
The reason that you burn calories when riding a bike, be it on the road or in the gym, has almost entirely to do with the amount of resistance your legs are pushing through. So with that in mind, why wouldn’t this clever contraption work?
All a mini bike is, is an exercise machine that has been broken down until all that’s left is the portion you need to pedal. If you’re exerting force, you’re burning calories.
The Advantages of a Mini Exercise Bike
The most convenient part of this small package is how portable it is. And I don’t just mean how easy it is to carry this type of product around.
A mini bike is meant to be used anywhere and anytime you have leg space to spare. Whether you’re sitting on the couch and watching a movie, getting a workout in while going over documents, or even if you’re just relaxing on the porch, you can use a mini bike just about anywhere.
While I wouldn’t recommend it, you could probably even take this to the gym with you. You know, if you felt like becoming internet famous.
Beyond simple portability, it’s in the multitude of situations you can conceivably grind away at your cardio requirements. It’s easy for schedule conflicts to continually push back that run or ride around the neighborhood you’ve been meaning to do. But with a mini bike, you won’t have any excuses not to be burning calories.
You have work to do? That’s fine, just plop this bad boy under the desk, set it at a low resistance, and leisurely pedal away while getting the bills paid.
Are you watching tv and constantly telling yourself that you’ll make time for working out in the next ten minutes? And the ten minutes after that?
It’s difficult to lie to yourself if you place this machine in front of you as a footrest. Eventually, you’ll start pedaling the machine if only to give yourself something to do during commercials.
Okay, so all this means mini bike is a magical fitness device that’ll get you trimmed up, right?
Well, not really.
The Disadvantages of a Mini Exercise Bike
Not to say that a mini exercise bike is a terrible tool, but you have to keep in mind that this machine isn’t exactly designed for the type of workout you’d get from a spin class.
A mini bike is meant to be a tool to keep your body at least somewhat active during sedentary periods. It isn’t a replacement for a proper diet combined with a comprehensive exercise regimen. If anything, it’s just a stopgap measure that allows you to squeeze in a few, easy ‘rides’ throughout the day.
Instead of a full-on exercise machine, it’s better to look at this product as safety padding for your cheat meals. You won’t be burning an extreme number of calories at the office, but an hour or two will let you snack on a cupcake without feeling guilty about it later.
What are Key Attributes You Should Look for in a Mini Exercise Bike?
Here are a few important categories when it comes to choosing a mini bike that suits your personal needs.
Portability
Some bikes have a smaller profile than others. While the smaller machines usually don’t have all the features carried by some larger models, there’s no point in getting a bike that doesn’t fit under your desk.
Noise
This really depends on whether you’re going to be using a mini cycle at home or not. Some models require the use of a foam pad, or at least a thick carpet, to help regulate the amount of noise it generates.
It’s not a problem in your personal home theater, but coworkers packed in a tight office are going to have something to say about the constant noise.
Resistance Level
You’ll get more of a workout if you can exercise at a higher intensity. While it’s nice to be able to feel like you’re slowly chugging up a hill during a binge on Netflix, you probably don’t want someone at work to call the hospital if you start looking like you’re about to suffer from a heart attack.
If you’re thinking about bringing this machine to work, you probably won’t need a model that offers ultra high resistance levels.
My Top Five Mini Exercise Bikes
The following are among my personal favorite mini bikes. While the one I choose at the end will be the one that fits my own criteria, take a look and come to your own decision about which product would be the greatest fit for you.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B0418 Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike
This slightly larger design comes with an integrated carry handle for easy portability. Pricing at the mid range of the list, it’s quite affordable.
Its key features include safety straps for the pedals. Like most mini bikes, you’ll be able to place this item on your desk and pedal away with your hands as well as your feet. My favorite thing about this device though is that it is able to adjust its resistance level with eight separate settings.
Pros
- Instead of having to awkwardly fumble this bike in an underarm carry, the carrying handle makes moving this device just as easy as picking up a milk jug from the fridge.
- Being rated for up to 220 pounds of body weight, most people can stand on this durable item. (I do not recommend trying this)
- The large LCD display is easy to read and shows time, speed, distance, calories, and contains an odometer.
- The rubber grips at the corners dig very well into all sorts of floorings. It works especially well on carpet and will stop you from sliding around everywhere on higher resistances.
- Having the ability to change resistance levels is great. Another positive about this feature is that you won’t have to worry about trying to keep warm in the winter.
- You don’t even have to keep your shoes on to pedal. The grips on said devices have grooves that give a good feeling of traction on even the wooliest of socks.
Cons
- This mini bike has a higher profile than most. If you plan to use this machine under a desk, you might find yourself pulling a Peter Griffin unless you make some adjustments.
- I got too into it and ended up painfully banging my knee on the unpitying furniture that is my work desk.
- Ow.
MagneTrainer-ER Mini Exercise Bike Arm and Leg Exerciser
This compact and lightweight design uses a patented magnetic design to provide resistance. Going beyond the piddly eight levels of resistance provided by many mini bikes, this machine is able to provide twice that amount in resistance levels.
Whether you’re leisurely pacing around at the office, or watching a movie at home, this versatile machine gives you the option to feel like you’re going for a walk in your house clothes, or just getting finished with the Tour de France in your business casuals.
Personally, though, I’d reverse that order.
Pros
- While tying for the most expensive product on this list, this machine gives you the option to engage in a wide variety of resistance levels.
- This machine is quite quiet, notably more so than some other models.
- Beyond the standard six functions provided by the LCD display, this mini bike also comes with an online calorie calculator.
- If you get tired of going nowhere one way, you can gain an equal level of resistance by pedaling backward equally fast to your next destination.
- Comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30 day back guarantee.
- The 39 lb (felt) flywheel makes for an incredibly smooth ride.
Cons
- While there is an ‘under the desk’ style design, the standard version will make it difficult to use under a normal sized desk. (We’ll cover that model later in this very article)
- You’ll also have some difficulty pedaling upright unless your pop your seat up as high as it can go.
Vive Pedal Exerciser
The second least expensive option on this list, this super compact design also just so happens to be the second shortest mini bike on the round-up. At 12.5 ins in height, you won’t have any problems in fitting this machine under a desk.
Pros
- It feels nice not having to adjust the legs of my desk to be able to work and bike at the same time.
- This device comes with an additional security strap that uses the weight of your chair to keep it further stabilized.
- This mini bike has a large LCD display that makes it easy to quickly peek at your progress.
Cons
- Couches are supposed to be comfortable. I can’t find a comfortable position to bike while leaning back on the couch.
- It might not be much of a problem for people with longer legs, but I can’t seem to get a comfortable rotation going while lounging.
DeskCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike
Earlier I made a reference to a separate model of the MagneTrainer. This is would be that bike.
Pros
- The pedal height is measured at 10 ins. That is the lowest height on the market that I know of. This machine will fit under any normal sized desk without issue.
- It utilizes a standard 5 function LCD display to measure your progress.
- This mini bike looks futuristically slick. The only problem is that it’s so low to the ground most people won’t see it hidden below your desk.
- Among the other mini bikes in this list, I would recommend this one over the others if you’re going to be using one primarily in an office setting.
Cons
- There is one immediate issue with this design. The resistance adjustment knob basically touches the ground.
- You’ll only be able to make the excuse that you’ve dropped your stapler so many times before people start wondering what you’re doing under your desk.
Vive Desk Cycle Foot Pedal Exerciser
Besides being the lowest priced item on this list, this neat little design folds up into an easily stored package. This is doubly impressive because this no-frills design comes with very little besides the very basics of a mini bike.
While not perfect for use underneath a desk, this slim, utilitarian design nonetheless is incredible for those with little room at home.
If you happen to be part of the stealth camper trend, I can’t think of a better mini bike to keep in your van turned house.
Pros
- The foldable, minimalist design makes storing this device easy even in the most cluttered closet corner. Just don’t forget you have it lying around.
- Despite being a streamlined design, it still comes with an LCD display that shows you all the information you need to maintain your body.
- Being so inexpensive, you can easily purchase this as a backup to your primary mini bike, or use it as an entry level item.
Cons
- It looks flimsy and is pretty light. It won’t go anywhere if you go slow, but this product may start sliding without a foam pad on higher resistances and intensities.
- I find myself concerned at how long this product will last. So far I haven’t had any major problems with it regarding functionality, but I’ve also been careful about using it.
The Winner of the Roundup
My personal winner of this contest would have to be the DeskCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike. Given the majority of my work time is spent sitting at a desk, I find myself needing a way to bleed off excess energy at the office.
Keeping in mind that I’m fairly physically active, I also make good use of my gym membership for the majority of my aerobic and anaerobic fitness goals. I might have made a different choice if my schedule didn’t allow for working out, but this is the product that best fits my needs. In that light, this is my mini bike of choice.
