Best Under Desk Bike 2024

Last Update: December 13, 2023

There’s no one right answer for everyone with bad knees. Knee injuries and ailments have different causes and treatments. For the best results with any exercise routine consult your doctor or physical therapist to get the best guidance on what training modality is right for you. This list includes common solutions to a broad range of knee issues. I have identified the softest treadmill cushioning, the best low-impact solutions, and excellent machines to rehabilitate knee injuries caused by weakness and incorrect form.

Here’s Our List of the Best Exercise Equipment for Bad Knees

• Best Under Desk Bike: Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Exercise Bike
• Best Smart Under Desk Bike: LifeSpan Ampera Bike
• Best Under Desk Bike Alternative: Cubii Go
• Best Under Desk Bike with Bike Seat: LifeSpan C3-GlowUp
• Best Cheap Under Desk Bike: Vaunn Mini Exercise Bike
• Best Under Desk Bike with Seat: LifeSpan Solo Under Desk Bike
• Best Amazon Under Desk Bike: DeskCycle Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser
• Best Desk Bike: FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro V9
  

Best Under Desk Bike: Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Exercise Bike

The Sunny Under Desk Exercise Bike is a compact and affordable exercise bike. It can be easily transported, so you can train at home and at the office. We chose it as our Best Under Desk Bike, because Sunny is a trustworthy brand that makes affordable products. The Under Desk Exercise Bike will work for a large variety of users and uses magnetic resistance to challenge them all!

The Sunny Under Desk Exercise Bike is a great at home or office exercise solution. If you find yourself sitting more than you would prefer, Sunny Health and Fitness can help. This compact exercise bike has 8 levels of magnetic resistance. If you get a chance to train your upper body, too, this exercise bike can also be used as a hand bike. Just place it on top of your desk or table.

At only 19 lbs, most users should be able to carry this device. It has a convenient handle for transporting anywhere you would like to use it. This under-desk cycle’s pedal stroke peaks at 10 inches. The pedal height at the bottom is 3 inches. Thus, you will need adequate clearance at your desk. This device is particularly handy if you have an adjustable height desk that you can raise or lower depending on your activity. If you plan to use the Sunny Under-Desk Bike at home on the couch, you won’t have to worry about this factor.

Sunny only covers the under-desk bike with a 1-year warranty on the frame and 180 days on the other parts. This warranty is pretty short, but not unexpected for a product of this type. The bike does not have a maximum user weight capacity, because it does not bear your full weight. This makes it a great option for anyone struggling to find an affordable cardio machine with a high enough weight capacity. It is a simple but effective seated cardio machine.

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Best Smart Under-Desk Bike: LifeSpan Ampera Bike

The LifeSpan Ampera Bike is a smart bike and seat combination. It has some of the most unique under-desk bike features I have seen. Its eco-conscious features make it a standout among other under-desk bikes. The LifeSpan Ampera Bike is my top choice for a shopper who wants something a little pricier and high-tech.

The LifeSpan Ampera Bike brings exciting high-tech features to the under-desk bike space. Most designs are made to be as minimal as possible. The Ampera does things differently. This bike is eco-conscious and exciting. The Ampera Office Bike is a relatively new addition to the LifeSpan lineup, but I am way more excited about this bike than I am about most other under-desk cardio equipment.

If you have ever wished you could harness the energy you expend on exercise equipment and reuse it, you might be disappointed with the slim offerings that are currently available on the market. Fortunately, the LifeSpan Ampera is another option. You can charge up to two devices with the Ampera’s wireless charging. Your pedaling can charge your battery life by up to 15% in 30 minutes when pedaling at 60 rotations per minute! That’s crazy cool.

The Ampera has pedals and a seat. I like this design most for users who want the most out of their under-desk cycling experience. The upright style of this bike encourages you to engage your core and comfortably positions you over the pedals. Other under-desk exercise bikes feel a little awkward, because the pedals are not properly placed for upright or recumbent cycling.

This bike has cool features I never would have thought of for an under-desk exercise bike. It has a color-changing RGB ring light. It is made of 30% recycled materials. LifeSpan has committed to planting a tree and offsetting 5kg of CO2 with every purchase. I’m extremely impressed, but the Ampera Office Bike may be more expensive than some customers are looking to spend.

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Best Under Desk Bike Alternative: Cubii Go

Under-desk bikes require a higher desk clearance than under-desk ellipticals. These portable ellipticals provide most of the same benefits and a similar movement to under-desk bikes, Thus, we have listed our top under-desk elliptical choice as the best under-desk bike alternative. If you aren’t sure you have room for one of these bikes, the Cubii Go is an excellent option that is compact and well-designed.

It may be slightly cheating to put the Cubii Go on this list since it is not an exercise bike but an elliptical. Yet, under-desk ellipticals may be more feasible for many users than under-desk bikes, and you may not have even known they existed until now. We have a best under-desk elliptical page if you would like to check it out. The Cubii Go is at the top of that list. We chose it for its training capabilities and portability.

You can take the Cubii Go anywhere! It has two transport wheels and a retractable handle. While I was testing the Cubii Total Body+, I was happy with its performance, but I hated bending down to wheel it around. A retractable handle is the perfect solution for someone who may not be able to carry the Cubii Go. It only weighs 19.4 lbs, but I know this may not be light enough for all users. I really like the portability of the Go, because you can move it from your home office to your living room and anywhere else you want it.

The Go comes in just one color–gray and orange. It has a large flywheel, but the path is much more desk-friendly by not raising your knees as high. The Go has the largest path of the Cubii under-desk ellipticals, so you could check out the Move and Total Body+ for more options. The Go has 8 levels of magnetic resistance. It is not Bluetooth, but you can manually enter data into the Cubii app to track your training and follow along with workouts.

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Best Under Desk Bike with Bike Seat: LifeSpan C3-GlowUp

We love LifeSpan’s brilliant under-desk treadmills, but we are so happy they also have under-desk bikes. LifeSpan makes quality workplace exercise solutions. LifeSpan is passionate about combating a sedentary lifestyle by providing you with multiple ways to add physical activity to your busy day. The LifeSpan C3-GlowUp has a bike seat and pedals. It’s basically half of a normal exercise bike. LifeSpan has great quality for its price, but it is a pricey brand.

Most under-desk bikes are for casual, light exercise. If you are looking for something a little more intense, the LifeSpan C3 is a great option. LifeSpan makes quality equipment for the home and office. You can train for hours each day on the C3 if you wish. Because it has a bike seat as well as pedals, you get more back and abdominal engagement than you would on a pedaling machine alone. That said, it may not be the best choice for users who require lumbar support. I recommend having a regular office chair nearby to swap out with the LifeSpan when you become fatigued.

The LifeSpan C3 is more challenging than other under-desk bikes. It has sixteen levels of resistance. If you want to train for hours, choose a lighter resistance to build endurance. The harder levels are perfect for shorter bouts when you are watching videos or doing other less involved work tasks. The pedals have straps to keep your feet in place and allow you to make use of the full pedal stroke.

One thing I really like about LifeSpan is the monitors. You can set it on top of your desk to easily control the C3’s settings. This keeps you from having to bend down and adjust your resistance as you would on other under-desk bikes. There are two monitor options: the Omni Hub and the Retro. The Omni is a bit sleeker and more sophisticated than the Retro, but both are great and make training with the C3 convenient.

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Best Cheap Under Desk Bike: Vaunn Mini Exercise Bike

The Vaunn Mini Exercise Bike is one of the most simplistic under-desk exercise bikes available. It is very budget-friendly. If you need a short-term exercise option as you recover from an ailment or need something very portable, the Vaunn Mini Exercise Bike is a great option.

If your requirements for an under-desk bike are as little as two pedals that let your feet more in a circular path, the Vaunn Mini Exercise Bike is just that. It is a very simple machine, which makes it incredibly affordable. The Vaunn makes affordable at-home fitness and lifestyle products for uses with mobility and balance. The Vaunn Mini Under Desk Bike is for anyone, but it may be particularly useful for seniors, athletes recovering from injury, and sedentary individuals.

The Vaunn Exercise Bike is very portable. It weighs only 5.4 lbs. Other compact exercise bikes are typically between 15 to 25 lbs, which may still be too heavy for the populations they are designed to serve. The Vaunn ensures that you can train in the office and all around your home without difficulty. This bike can be stored in a closet, in the trunk of your car, or under your bed easily. It is foldable to save you even more space and fit neatly into a backpack! The only limitation is the amount of under-desk clearance that may be required to pedal.

There are multiple resistance options. The tension knob at the top of the device can be rotated to increase or decrease the resistance as desired. However, this exercise bike is not as challenging as some users may desire. It is better for light to moderate activity. I recommend this device for casual use while working or completing another task rather than as a concentrated workout effort.

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Best Under Desk Bike with Seat: LifeSpan Solo Under Desk Bike

The LifeSpan Solo Under Desk Bike has the best pedal and seat combo with a little additional lumbar support. I chose this bike as the best under-desk bike with a seat, because the added support makes it accessible to more users. LifeSpan’s passion for making workspaces more active and their quality constructions make the Solo Under Desk Bike worth considering.

The LifeSpan Solo Under Desk Bike is best for someone who wants a more comfortable cycling station while they are also working at a desk but doesn’t necessarily want a full-on workout. The Solo Under Desk Bike does not have adjustable resistance. It is designed for continuous training during the day, so it is very low intensity. I like this bike for an experienced user who knows they want to move most of the day or a less experienced user who wants to work up to that level of movement.

Because this bike is designed for prolonged activity, it does include lumbar support. This is a great option for users who want a more comfortable cycling position but feel a little unsure about the lack of support other options provide. The construction is sturdy and user-friendly with a maximum user weight capacity of 400 lbs.

The Solo Under Desk Bike has a few other user comfort features. It has four transport wheels to make relocation easy. It also has a height adjustable seat. The pedals turn forward and backward depending on your preference. I have been very happy with LifeSpan’s ergonomic designs.

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Best Amazon Under Desk Bike: DeskCycle Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

DeskCycle Under Desk Bike is an Amazon brand, but it has great features to make your multi-tasking smooth. It has multiple resistance levels, so you can train easy or harder. The console is really simplistic, but it tracks pretty much everything you need it to. The Desk Cycle is not the most affordable Amazon option. The DeskCycle Under Desk Bike comes in three different colors, which may be priced differently.

One of the biggest obstacles faced by under-desk bikes is the clearance needed for your knee movement. The DeskCycle is compatible with desks as low as 27 inches for users under 5’ 10”. Still, I recommend the under-desk bikes for use with adjustable height desks, because it ensures you are comfortable regardless of the activity you choose to perform. There are three DeskCycles that are adjustable in height, each a different color. The fourth option is not adjustable in height. The adjustable options only adjust by an inch, but that may be enough for users to find improved comfort.

The DeskCycle uses magnetic resistance. There are 8 resistance levels. These can be adjusted by turning the tension knob at the front of the machine. The highest levels of resistance should be fairly difficult for such a compact device. However, the DeskCycle is not a great alternative for a full-size exercise bike.

Such a small machine has its limitations. The DeskCycle may not be suitable for very tall users or those with larger feet due to its compact size. It states it has a 350 lb user weight capacity. Most under-desk bikes don’t list a weight capacity, because you aren’t putting your full weight on them, but I would be cautious about exceeding the DeskCycle’s listed weight maximum.

The LCD monitor is small and mounted to the DeskCycle. It scans through your metrics. These include your RPMs, distance, time, and calories. If you want to keep track of your progress throughout the day, the DeskCycle allows you to do so.

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Best Desk Bike: FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro V9

This list has covered pedal machines and pedal plus seat under-desk bikes. It wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of the top bike and desk combo, the FlexiSpot Pro V9. It doubles as a standing desk, so you are not locked into using the bike if you don’t want to. The Pro V9 is a portable and compact desk with a built-in exercise bike for a reasonable price.

The FlexiSpot is a unique work exercise solution. The Pro V9 is a rolling, bike and desk all-in-one. It doesn’t replace a full-sized desk, because it is rather small. Yet, the FlexiSpot is a great option for a student or someone working from home who has the space for a portable workstation. If you are tight on space, this could also be an option. It would also work well in flexible workspaces.

The Pro V9 has four transport wheels to roll wherever you need it. It weighs only 51 lbs. It can only support a user weight of 300 lbs and works best for users between the height of 5’1” and 6’2”. The seat height is adjustable to fit anyone within this range. It has a padded seat and armrest to ensure you are comfortable while training. Unfortunately, the Pro V9’s height and weight restrictions mean it will not work for everyone.

There are 8 magnetic resistance levels. These resistance levels are quiet and can be adjusted with the dial on the frame of the V9. The Deskcise Pro V9 has a simple display where you can scan through your time, speed, distance, calories, accumulated distance, and RPMs. While it may not be the best option for intense exercise, it is a great option for low to moderate exercise while completing tasks at the built-in desk.

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What to Look for in an Under-Desk Bike

Under-desk bikes are relatively simple devices. The simplest are small and let you pedal to your heart’s content with few other features. Yet, under-desk bikes have some limitations, like not fitting under your desk, forcing you to lift your knees too high, or being too heavy to move often. Desk and seat features may eliminate these issues, but they introduce new obstacles like taking up more space and not having lumbar support. That’s why I have highlighted a few considerations to make when purchasing the right under-desk bike for you.

Pedal Geometry

When we cycle, our knees move up and down. Unfortunately, this causes a big problem when cycling under your desk. If you already have a desk you plan to use or plan to buy a new one, make sure that its height is comfortable for use with your desired under-desk bike. The most compatible desks are height adjustable, because they can accommodate just about any activity you would like to partake in. Alternatively, consider an under-desk elliptical for a more desk-friendly range of motion.

Resistance

Under-desk bikes often use magnetic resistance to provide the user with varied training options. The resistance may be challenging enough to replicate a true cycling workout or light enough to encourage a prolonged period of physical activity. Before purchasing an under-desk bike, decide what kind of training experience you desire, so you can find a bike with appropriate resistance options. Most under-desk bikes should use magnetic resistance, but if you are considering one that does not, know that it may be a bit louder.

Features

Features are pretty basic on most under-desk exercise bikes. These machines are designed to be unobtrusive, so you can get your work done. However, many track your training metrics so you can compare your progress from day to day. Because portability is so important for an under-desk bike, look for features that may improve the machine’s transport. A lightweight, compact size, wheels, and a handle are all great features for an under-desk bike, especially if you do not plan to use it continuously.

Bottom Line – Best Under Desk Bike 2024

Under-desk exercise bikes allow you to cycle as you work. These devices are cardio solutions for users with limited mobility, strength, or time to dedicate to a more intense program. Under-desk exercise bikes come in a range of styles from simple pedal machines to bike-desk combos. This list has highlighted our favorites from affordable Amazon products to high-tech brands that specialize in workplace exercise. Whatever your goals, add a little movement to your day with an under-desk exercise bike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an under-desk bike really work?

Under-desk exercise bikes add movement to your day as intended. Whether they work to elicit muscle growth and cardiovascular adaptations may depend on how hard you are training and the resistance the under-desk bike offers. It also depends on your fitness level. Exercisers who have limited mobility, balance, and strength may greatly benefit from an under-desk bike in these regards. More advanced athletes may see fewer training adaptations but can still benefit from increasing blood flow, engaging their muscles, and avoiding tense, tight muscles.

Which is better an under-desk bike or elliptical?

Under-desk bikes are great. However, we have to admit that under-desk ellipticals are better at accommodating normal desk heights, because they do not raise your knees as high. However, an under-desk bike with a seat attachment may be even better, because it places your body in an ideal location for comfortable pedaling. Either machine may feel awkward when used with a regular office chair.

What is the best under-desk bike?

Our pick as the number one under-desk bike is the Sunny Health & Fitness Under-Desk Exercise Bike. We also like LifeSpan, FlexiSpot, and Cubii. We have also included a few Amazon under-desk exercise bikes as viable options. These under-desk bikes represent a range of prices and features that we hope satisfy shoppers of every want and need.

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