If you want to exercise yet feel comfy at the same time, an upright bike will solve all your problems. That’s because upright exercise bikes have the vibe of a spin bicycle and a recumbent bike. What is also good is that upright bikes allow you to position yourself comfortably, unlike spin bikes.

An upright exercise bike allows you to be in a cozier position compared with a spin bike,  have a larger seat, which is made for the comfort of the rider, but they’re not as loungey and calm as recumbent bikes.

Hence, if you like the relaxed feeling of a recumbent bicycle but do not want it as intense as spin bikes, then an upright bicycle is a perfect match for you. There are plenty of options for you to choose from when it comes to these equipments, and to help you make your pick, here’s a list of the best upright exercise bikes for 2021:

Or, you can also check out our review of the best recumbent road bikes.

Our Favorite Exercise Bikes

Below is our review of the best exercise bike 2021 that is well worth every penny you are planning to spend. We reviewed the best bicycles from Schwinn, Nautilus, Assault, and Marcy. These brands offer you the best of the best, so you cannot go wrong if you decide to go with any of them.

Upright exercise bike: Pros and cons

If you are wondering why some people prefer upright exercise bikes or how upright exercise bicycles can measure up against other forms of exercises, then reading this section will give you the knowledge that you need. We will show you a fair assessment of both the good and bad sides of upright bikes. So, let’s get right on it, shall we?

Pros of an upright exercise bike

Like any other aerobic exercise, an upright bike is excellent for your heart. It lets your heart rate keep on thumping and lets your blood have a higher volume of oxygenation. Upright bicycles are also low impact to help you avoid knee injuries.

Easy training curve

Upright exercise bikes have the ability to conveniently give you a good training curve. An upright exercise bike’s resistance can easily be adjusted, meaning, it adapts to your body type and the level of your resistance. So, you can either chill or let yourself have a challenge. As such, this is a great option for those people who want to get back into shape.

Customizable difficulty levels

If you feel like you are not in the right kind of shape and want to get back on track, an upright exercise bike is the best match for you to get started with. This will allow you to easily stick to your workout program since you can easily figure out how difficult you can go with your routine.

Check out this list of the best exercises you can do on a stationary bike.

Unintrusive and noiseless

One of the best features of most upright exercise bikes is that they are noise-free. If you live in a house where the walls are thin, or you live in a condominium unit where the neighbors can easily hear your noise, then you might want to workout quietly, and an upright bike can give you just that.

Close resemblance to normal bikes

The thing with upright bikes is that they are also built just like a typical bicycle, which allows you to work your knees and legs out just like when using a real bicycle. Even better is that, unlike traditional bikes, you’re not cycling on the open road, so you’re not really exposed to any danger or accidents waiting to happen.

If you’d rather cycle on pavement and gravel, check out these best flat bar gravel bikes.

Cons of an upright exercise bike

After discussing a few good things about upright exercise bikes, we will now discuss a few of its downsides. For instance, as we all know, assembling is the most annoying yet inevitable part of purchasing furniture, and that’s something you’ll also have to deal with when it comes to exercise equipment.

Not the most stable design

The upright exercise bike does not have the most stable design if you compare it to other workout equipment. Since the person who is using this upright bike is positioned way too high up and typically is heavier than the upright bike itself, if they lean too much on one side, they might stumble or fall, and that may result in injury.

Not suitable for users neck, back, and knee issues

You might feel a little pain in your shoulder, neck, and back while you’re first working out on an upright exercise bicycle. If you don’t like that kind of pain and inconvenience, then an upright bike is probably not the right equipment for you.

Also read: our review of the best touring bikes

How To Find The Best Upright Exercise Bike

There are lots of different types of exercise bike available to us, but it may still be a little difficult to find the right bike that will satisfy your specific needs, so we have listed a few important factors that you need to keep in mind:

Level and Type of Resistance

As we all know, different upright exercise bikes have a wide variety of resistance levels and types. Resistance plays a big part in upright exercise bikes, so we will explain it to you comprehensively. First, resistance is built in an upright bicycle’s hardware by use of a system of a specified kind.

To give you an idea, the most basic resistance sources are the following:

• Disc brakes that are pressed in a flywheel just similar to that in a good old bike
• Fan-based resistance where air resistance is generated against the flywheel by pedaling
• Clamps that are in direct contact slows it through friction and releases heat
• Magnetic fields that cause magnetic resistance

With these features, magnetic resistance is the latest (and arguably best) method of creating resistance. Although it is the most expensive one, it is also the sturdiest and most durable, which partly explains the price.

To know more about the different types of resistance on exercise bikes, click here.

Cycle Resistance

The unit’s hardware and software are the ones responsible for an exercise bicycle’s resistance types. Some upright bikes have the feature that recreates the resistance just like when you are walking on a steep mountain or like when you are carrying heavy baggage.

If you want to spice up your workout session and are fed up with just pedaling without a thrill, then try simulating uphill pedaling to push yourself harder every workout session. In any case, the resistance differs per upright bike- some bikes have the resistance of walking on a hill, and some have the resistance of walking in mud. Every machine has unique quality settings to offer.

Also check out: the best mountain bike grips reviewed

Frame Size

Obviously, upright exercise bikes are not compact. Therefore, they would take a decent amount of space in your room, much like any furniture that you bought. Keep in mind your upright bike’s frame size and whether you have enough space in your room or house where you can put it. A bicycle can be a bit big, all the more so if it’s designed for large people.

That said, the best upright bikes are usually the bigger ones, so although they take up some space, a larger upright bike offers you a spacious seat and a bigger pedals which can be used by taller people. A spacious seat also means more comfort while exercising because you cannot hurt your back in those. 

Fitness Level

There are some upright bikes that offer more challenging and aggressive training, especially for athletes that have certain goals. If you are not ready for that kind of challenge, then you won’t be needing a machine that offers different levels of resistance and workout regimens.

Comfort Level

The comfort level of an upright bike also tells a lot about how great the upright bicycle is. Although, the most common issue of the comfortability in an upright bike is the saddle or the bike seat. The bike seats or the saddle can be the culprit of your discomfort aside from working yourself out per se.

You can always change your bike seat to a comfier one if you are not satisfied with what you have. But to save yourself some time, always test a unit to make sure it fits your needs before buying. And, if you change the saddle and you are still uncomfortable, then try looking at the pedal straps or handlebars that can also be a factor.

Ease of Usage

Most upright bikes that we have featured in this very article are digitized models. What this can do for you is to motivate you to push yourself harder while working out because the digital display feature allows you to see your progress in real time. Not to mention, it also lets you optimize the bike’s performance just the way you like.

That said, not all upright bikes are easy and simple to use. There are some that you might need some time figuring out in terms of how to maximize the bike’s features. Alternatively, you may want to consider a different type of exercise machine, such as elliptical bikes and recumbent road bikes.

Here’s an article detailing the differences between an exercise bike vs elliptical machine.

Added Features

Some upright bikes offer additional features that you can use while working out. Bottle holders that will make your life convenient, cooled seats for comfort, and a blood oximeter that might just catch your eye, are just a few examples.

Now, keep in mind that although these features may help you, at the end of the day, it is up to you if you want to have these kinds of features or not. We’re saying this because adding various features to your exercise machine ups its cost, and also makes the equipment bulkier than it already is. So, the trade-off is convenience vs price and size.

Warranty

Keep your eyes on those companies that offer decent warranties for their products. For example, if you buy an upright bike and the company gives you a two – three year warranty, then you are safe in the knowledge that the seller is confident in how sturdy their upright bike is.

They should also give you an after sales service, not just a warranty, to assure you that they are going to be available for support whenever you encounter a problem with your upright bike. Keep in mind that an upright bike is not cheap at all, so it’s always a good idea to look for these features before you settle on a brand and model.

Related read: the best bike brands in 2021

Cost

You also have to consider your budget when choosing an upright bike. If you can spend a little more than your budget, then it is much advisable to choose a high-end upright bike, but if you only have a limited budget and you don’t really fancy the prestige features of high-end bikes, then it is also fine to go for a more affordable option.

Final Thoughts

Exercise bikes are one of the most well-known types of equipment for health conscious people who prefer to workout in their own home since bike riding is a great form of cardio exercise. The best upright exercise bike boosts your heart, it helps you lose weight, and it will help you to boost your immune system which is great for both elderly and youth.

There are plenty of options for the best exercise bikes that can offer you special features, so all you have to do is take a look at the different types, price, and resistance levels. Feel free to use our exercise bike reviews as your guide when picking out the right cycling machine for your needs.

• Category: Buying Guide