Bike Fitness

Pick a spin bike for road-like intensity and an upright bike for comfort, easy access, and steady cardio.

Between upright and recumbent exercise bikes, the better choice depends on your goal—speed and burn vs comfort and joint relief.

Recumbent suits comfort and joint care; upright suits higher intensity and calorie burn—the better pick depends on your body, goals, and space.

For most home riders, an exercise bike suits steady cardio and comfort, while a spin bike suits high-intensity, class-style training.

Cross trainer vs exercise bike: choose the bike for top leg power and intervals; choose the cross trainer for low-impact, full-body cardio.

For calorie burn and bone load, treadmill wins; for low-impact cardio and knee comfort, a stationary bike is better.

Pick a folding exercise bike by space, body size, and training goals; favor magnetic resistance, a 250–400 lb limit, and an adjustable seat.

The lean-enabled options are Bowflex VeloCore for homes and RealRyder for studios; most other exercise bikes stay fixed upright.