Pedal Your Heart Out While WFH

Here’s a sobering fact: Before the pandemic, a quarter of Americans spent 77% of their waking hours seated, according to research published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. Sedentary behavior has been linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and even an increased risk of death, according to a 2015 scientific review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. And these days, you know those numbers have only gotten worse, with so many people still staying in and working from home.

The sad reality is that it’s hard to prioritize movement when work and life boundaries are so blurred, and you feel like you’ve become one with your computer or smartphone. But staying healthy isn’t just about making time for 1 hour of working out — in fact, even 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise isn’t enough if you’re taking fewer than 5,000 steps per day, a February 2021 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found. Instead, it’s about consistent movement throughout the day. One of the easiest ways to do that? Multitasking via an under-desk bike.

Under-desk cycles are a low-impact exercise tool that can help you keep your legs moving without forcing you to get up from your desk. This can lead to benefits like increased energy and circulation, plus longer-term health benefits including preventing obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, a 2018 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise reported. Plus, the more engaged your body is at any moment (versus hunching over your desk), the more engaged your brain will be.

The Best Under-Desk Bikes

What to Consider

As with all fitness machines, not all under-desk bikes are created equal — but they do come with certain preset expectations. Namely, and as the name suggests, they have to be compact enough to fit underneath your workspace, while still offering a relatively productive workout. These are what to look for:

• Size and Portability: Many under-desk bikes come pre-assembled, while some require assembly. The former may be slightly larger, heavier, and less portable, so keep those in mind when maneuvering it about your home office.

• Resistance Levels: More resistance levels mean your under-desk bike can grow with you, giving you more bang for your buck. This feature can bump up the cost, however, but will prove to be worth it in the long run — you still want your workouts to be reasonably challenging for strength-building. Similarly, choosing between a cycler vs. an elliptical will also depend on preference, as well as your fitness level, goals, and budget.

• App Compatibility: From monitoring your progress to tracking biofeedback, having an under-desk cycler that syncs to a fitness app via your smartphone or tablet makes your workout more efficient and effective. Apps can also provide more variety, coaching, and a jolt of motivation when you need it!

• Noise Level: Any fitness machine that’s meant to be used during the day, particularly while you work or go about your business, shouldn’t be distracting or disruptive. For this reason, many under-bikes available on the market today boast of a near-silent mechanism — and this is something you should definitely consider if you’re in a shared space.

How We Chose

We set out to find the best under-the-desk cycles to keep your legs moving through long, at-home workdays. We combed through Amazon buyer reviews, scoped out other product roundups, and consulted with brands to find the latest, most innovative products. During our research and testing, we evaluated more than 15 products to narrow down our list and chose the best ones for anyone looking to upgrade their desk space.

From portable picks to app-compatible machines, our roundup has everything you need to know about the best under-desk cycles and ellipticals.