You don’t have enough money to buy top-notch fitness equipment for home use, and there’s no place to store it. You’re too old to start exercising, and you’re not even the heaviest of your friends.
Sounds familiar?
According to the British Heart Foundation, those are the most common excuses people make up to avoid exercising. They come up with lots of useful advice to help you get moving, though.
Here are our five cents:
Choose the best exercise bike under £500 to pulverise those excuses. Whether you’re elderly, post-surgery, with limited mobility, limited motivation, heavy, petite, or freakishly tall, this article contains the right bikes for your needs.
Read along because we’ll analyse five excellent home exercise bikes through the lens of your needs.
Table of Contents
5 Best exercise bikes under £500
Without any further ado, we start reviewing them in no particular order:
NordicTrack VR19: best recumbent bike under £500
- Bring Home Interactive Personal Training powered by iFIT;...
- 5” High-Contrast Display for easy-to-read stats tracking;...
- 22 Resistance Levels; Manually choose your resistance or let...
NordicTrack VR19 is the best recumbent bike for a small budget because it has quality features you usually see in more expensive models.
For instance, Step Thru™ Design allows you to get on and off the bike quickly. This feature benefits people with a limited range of motion who want to improve their flexibility. Besides, the cushiony seat boasts lumbar support for prolonged comfort. You can also adjust the seat horizontally to fit your larger frame. Even the pedals are extra-large and feature adjustable straps.
Here’s what that means:
The VR19 is an excellent recumbent bike for beginners, the elderly, and people with mobility issues.
The best part is that VR19 gives you plenty of room for improvement.
Use the EKG handgrips to measure your pulse accurately and to work out according to your fitness level. That way, you can lose weight faster and tone your lower body efficiently. If you want a more comfortable option, the VR19 is compatible with an HR chest belt.
Besides, the AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan provides enough cooling during challenging workouts, while the 7 kg flywheel adjusts on 22 resistance levels to scale up your intensity.
Don’t worry about falling off the bike once you start pedalling harder.
NordicTrack VR19 is stable because it’s quality-made from sturdy materials and therefore weighs 48 kg. That’s why this recumbent bike has a 5-year warranty for the frame and 2-year guarantee for parts and labour.
If you get tired during a lengthy workout, you don’t have to climb off for a sip of water. Just place your bottle in the easy-to-reach bottle holder and rehydrate when you feel the need.
Then there’s the tech part.
The backlit display is easy to read, with Onetouch™ Controls that you can push effortlessly. You also get plenty of entertainment options thanks to the two 2-inch speakers and tablet shelf.
Moreover, the VR19 features 24 fitness apps and free 1-year membership for iFit.
Therefore, the VR19 exercises your lower body muscles; it improves your cardiovascular health through lengthier, comfortable workouts, and improves your flexibility.
On the downside, the VR19 is heavy and difficult to move if you’re mobility-challenged, even on the two front wheels. Besides, the screen could be broader than 5”, and the speakers could be louder.
Check price and reviews on Amazon UK
Dripex Magnetic Resistance Indoor Exercise Bike Review: best spin bike under £500
- 【HEAVY-DUTY STEEL MAINFRAME】 Higher safety level. Built...
- 【ADJUSTABLE MAGNETIC RESISTANCE & SUPER SLIENT】...
- 【SOFT SEAT & ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBAR】Reduce exercising...
This Dripex Indoor exercise bike is the best spin bike at a user-friendly price because it’s heavy-duty and features a heavy 9-kg flywheel that will give you more resistance for lower body toning. But although spin bikes resemble real bikes very closely, the Dripex is stable and resistant, accommodating people up to 135 kg and between 4’9” and 6’1” in height.
The adjustable magnetic resistance with infinite resistance adjustments is another plus. Just like an actual bike, the Dripex makes you push harder for more significant resistance. And that means you can use your body weight to gain more leg muscles depending on your current fitness level. Plus, the combination of bidirectional resistance and the emergency brake will help you simulate real-life situations.
This feature is useful if you’re an outdoor biker or if you’re training for a marathon.
Therefore, the Dripex will still be a reliable ally even after you improve your strength dramatically.
And here’s another thing about spin bikes:
Their seats are usually narrow, just like real bikes’ seats. Luckily, Dripex comes with a soft seat that you can adjust vertically on 11 levels so that you can work out for longer.
Spin bikes and real bikes have another thing in common:
You have to lean over the handlebars. While that position tones your lower back muscles and improves your balance, it can get a bit uncomfortable over time.
Dripex solved this issue with a 5-level adjustable handlebar that reduces exercise fatigue. Adjust the seat and handles according to your height, and you can pedal for hours.
Track your stats on the LCD monitor, which shows you the calories, distance, heart rate, speed, and time. If you get bored during your workout, place your phone on the convenient mobile device holder and enjoy some music or a show. And, if dehydration strikes, grab your water bottle from the easy-to-reach support.
The downside is that Dripex has no built-in programs. Don’t throw rocks at it yet because spin bikes usually don’t feature auto-programmed workouts. Some customers also noticed the pedals are pretty squeaky, although Dripex rates this model as very quiet, under 40dB.
Check price and reviews on Amazon UK
JLL JF600 PRO Review: best tech-packed exercise bike under £500
- Resistance Electronic Magnetic Resistance provides many more...
- 9 Readout Monitor allows you to track a variety of data...
- PLEASE NOTE This upright bike has not been designed to be...
JLL JF600 Pro is one of the best models on the market if you need a comfortable hi-tech spin bike that improves your performance.
Compared to the Dripex model above, JLL JF600 packs all the techy bells and whistles you need, but it only supports people below 120 kg. The Dripex has more adjustability options for seat and handlebars height, and its flywheel is 2kg heavier for increased resistance.
We started with JF600’s cons compared to the Dripex, but now let’s analyse the advantages.
For instance, JF600 boasts an electronic-magnetic resistance that’s easy to adjust on the spot. Although it doesn’t have bidirectional resistance for a real-life feel, this model is easier to use.
Besides, the user-friendly monitor tracks two essential stats for gym rats and health freaks: recovery heart-rate and body fat, which assess your fitness level accurately. Here’s why:
A low body fat percentage entails more lean muscles that help burn more calories even while you’re resting. Conversely, more body fat equals a higher risk of clogged arteries, bad cholesterol, and damaged internal organs.
A quick recovery heart-rate indicates that your heart is very healthy. If you’re a beginner, aim for 20-30 beats/ minute. As your heart gets stronger and healthier, look forward to 50-60 beats/ minute recovery rate.
And here’s another advantage:
Although usual spin bikes don’t include preprogrammed workouts, JLL JF600 does. Its twelve routines will help you select the right ones for your needs, plus you can build up to four profiles with the exercises you like most. Plus you can use the iConsole + app for better stat tracking and worldwide virtual rides.
On the downside, JLL JF600’s minimum seat height is 89 cm, which might not be low enough for a 5-foot tall person.
Check price and reviews on Amazon UK
EXERPEUTIC Gold: best foldable bike under £500 for heavy people
- Heavy Duty and High Durability steel frame construction with...
- An 8 level Magnetic Tension control system for an easier or...
- Folds to 1/2 the size, so it is uniquely compact; FOLDED...
If you’re in the plus-size category, consider the Exerpeutic Gold Foldable Exercise Bike. This machine is heavy-duty and very durable because it’s made of steel. This construction ensures you can pedal to the max even if you’re hefty, which is excellent news for many people in the UK and abroad.
And that’s because the Exerpeutic Gold Upright Bike supports people up to 181 kg. It even has an extra-wide, plush seat to cushion your bum during lengthy workouts.
Besides, this bike’s design also fits a broader range of user heights because you can adjust it easily. So, if you’re between 5’1” and 6’5”, you can enjoy a comfy ride without straining your limbs or lower back.
Moreover, you can adjust the magnetic tension on eight levels to challenge yourself and build more lean muscles. Increasing resistance also improves your cardiovascular health because your heart will have to work harder.
The three-piece cranking system ensures smooth and consistent motions so that you’ll enjoy a comfortable ride.
And you’ll know exactly how hard you’re working because the wide LCD screen shows you all the standard stats, such as:
- Calories
- Distance
- Heart rate
- Time
- Speed
- Scan
- Odometer
Here’s another thing.
Earlier in this article, we mentioned common excuses for not exercising. One of the most common is that you don’t have enough space for exercise equipment in your home.
Well, Exerpeutic Gold will fit right in because it’s foldable, so you can stow it away quickly after you’ve finished exercising.
But this bike isn’t perfect. Some customers complain about squeaky pedals, while others dislike the imperial measurement system in miles. Some people would have also preferred more resistance levels and a narrower seat. Still, remember this bike is best for heavy people who are just starting their fitness journeys.
Check price and reviews on Amazon UK
Sportstech ESX500 Exercise Bike: best upright bike under £500
- Unlike other home ergometers, OUR ESX500 ergometer with its...
- MANY FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR HOME USE are too noisy. The...
- MOST OTHER ERGOMETERS are outdated. OUR ESX500 ergometer, on...
Sportstech ESX500 is a comfortable, powerful upright exercise bike you should consider if you’re below 120 kg and need an upright bike. One reason is that its seat is narrower than Exerpeutic Gold. As such, the Exerpeutic Gold’s seat can keep your legs open at an extensive angle, keeping you in an anatomically-incorrect position.
Besides, the three-part bottom bracket features a top-notch closed ball bearing to make sure your bike lasts for longer.
Secondly, ESX500 is sturdy with a 12-kg flywheel that poses increased resistance and helps you improve lower body strength and cardiovascular fitness quickly. And you can change between the 16 resistance levels effortlessly to work out according to your strength. If you want to stop, use the magnetic brake, and you’ll come to a smooth stop.
Then there are the training options, which you don’t have with Exerpeutic Gold.
Apart from changing the resistance on 16 levels, eight more than what Exerpeutic Gold offers, you also get 12 preprogrammed workouts, some of which are pretty high-tech for a low-cost bike. For instance, you can try watt or heart-rate-based exercises to lose more body fat effectively. These combinations increase your stamina, but also your balance and coordination.
Plus, you can build up to four user profiles to memorise your favourite workouts.
The tech part is also an advantage. You can use your tablet and smartphone while pedalling thanks to the USB connection and easy-to-reach support. Besides, you can connect the ESX500 to Kinomap so that you can enjoy virtual bike tracks around the world.
However, according to some customers, this app doesn’t have great functionality or connectivity, while others shrug it off. Some customers also have issues with the timer going backwards or not managing to change the resistance levels. All these problems are sporadic, though, and Sportstech customer service can assist.
The biggest problem for UK-based people is that the ESX500 features an EU socket, for which you need to purchase an additional adapter.
Check price and reviews on Amazon UK
In Conclusion
Still not sure what to choose? Let’s take up those excuses again.
- I’m too old/ post-surgery/ have chronic pain: NordicTrack VR19 (comfortable and ergonomic)
- Cheap exercise bikes aren’t comfortable anyway/ I’m petite: Dripex Magnetic Resistance Indoor Exercise Bike (highly adjustable)
- I’m easily bored/ Cheap home exercise bikes aren’t proficient anyway: JLL JF600 Pro (tech-packed)
- I’m too heavy/ I’m too tall/ I don’t have the room: Exerpeutic Gold Foldable Exercise Bike (foldable, large frame)
- I’m easily bored/ I want lots of programmes: Sportstech ESX500 (lots of exercise options)
These excuses all come from fear of change. But hey, you have five excellent options that will help you get healthier now.
She had to trade the gym for home fitness equipment when her two little angels were born. But she successfully managed to make the transition, and sharing her vast fitness experience online is the engine that keeps this website going.
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