Skip to main content

What Are the Benefits of Stationary Bike Workouts?

Riding an exercise bike can be a great workout with quite a few physical and mental health benefits. From upright stationary bikes and recumbent bikes to indoor cycles and spin bikes, exercise bikes are safe, low impact, and easy to use. Much like a treadmill, an exercise bike can also be used by people of varying fitness levels, as the intensity and resistance can be modulated. Moreover, because there are different types of exercise bikes, the range of potential stationary bike workouts is vast.

So, whether you’re a fan of vigorous high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on a Peloton or indoor cycle, crank the exercise bike pedals in challenging spin classes, or ride a stationary bike for an easy cardio warmup before a hard weightlifting workout at the gym, keep reading to learn about the benefits of riding an exercise bike.

Related Videos

What Is an Exercise Bike?

Myx staitionary bike on a workout mat next to a weight set.

It may seem like an obvious answer, but the term “exercise bike” actually can refer to a range of different pieces of exercise equipment that all share bike characteristics but have their own subtle differences. In general, an exercise bike refers to a stationary bike used for indoor cycling workouts. Like a traditional outdoor bicycle, exercise bikes have some form of pedals and seat, but usually only have one wheel, often which isn’t even visible.

The primary types of exercise bikes include upright stationary bikes, recumbent bikes, and indoor cycles (also called spin bikes). Some people also consider riding an outdoor bike on an indoor bike trainer to also be a form of an exercise bike.

Benefits of Riding a Stationary Bike

Though there are notable differences in each of these categories of stationary bikes, the benefits of riding exercise bikes are generally universal and across the board. That said, some types of stationary bikes are better for achieving certain goals than others

Stationary Bike Workouts Improve Cardiovascular Health and Fitness

Riding an exercise bike can increase your aerobic fitness and improve the health of your heart and lungs. A stationary bike is an easy way to improve your endurance by gradually increasing the duration of your rides.

Stationary Bike Workouts Increase Leg Strength

man on a bicycle showing off his muscular leg.
Unsplash

Stationary bikes can increase the strength of your quads and hamstrings. Your glutes, calves, and core can also be worked to some degree. To boost the muscular demand, be sure to crank up the resistance.

Stationary Bike Workouts Burn Calories and Can Promote Weight Loss

Studies have found that stationary bikes are an effective way to burn fat and lose weight, as well as reduce waist circumference, a measure of abdominal fat or “belly fat.” Though the benefits of exercise go far beyond weight loss, you can’t argue with the metabolic perks of a good workout. Exercise bike workouts can burn upwards of 400-600 calories per hour, depending on your weight and the intensity of your effort. Moreover, if you cycle at a vigorous effort or engage in intervals, your metabolic rate may stay stoked for several hours after you’re done exercising.

Stationary Bike Workouts Are Low Impact

One of the primary benefits of stationary bikes over other treadmills and lots of other exercise modalities is that exercise bikes are great for people with joint pain or musculoskeletal injuries. Cycling is a great form of low-impact exercise, so an exercise bike can be a pain-free workout option for those with acute and chronic joint pain. Moreover, if you are a runner or play high-impact sports, stationary bikes can serve as a perfect adjunct to training by reducing stress on the joints while still providing a workout.

Stationary Bike Workouts Can Improve Markers of Health

Studies have found that regularly engaging in stationary bike workouts can improve markers of health. For example, exercise bike workouts can reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol and blood lipids, and improve blood sugar regulation. As such, riding an exercise bike can reduce your risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

Stationary Bike Workouts Improve Your Mood

Have you ever stepped off your exercise bike after a tough workout and felt blissfully happy? If so, you’re familiar with the powerful effect of endorphins, the feel-good chemicals produced by the body in response to exercise. Riding a stationary bike can boost your mood, lower the risk of depression, decrease stress and anxiety, and improve feelings of overall well-being.

Stationary Bikes Are Approachable for All Levels of Fitness

One of the best things about stationary bikes is that they can be used by almost anyone, no matter where they are on their fitness journey. Old, young, fit, novice, overweight, or muscular, most people can adjust the intensity and settings on an exercise bike to dial in an appropriate workload on a stationary bike. For example, a beginner battling knee pain and looking to lose some weight may start by building up endurance on a recumbent bike. A fit triathlete may use an exercise bike for high-intensity training during the off-season to boost overall fitness.

Stationary Bikes Are Great for HIIT Training

Exercise bikes are perfect for HIIT training because you can easily ramp up and down the intensity of your effort by changing the resistance and pedal speed (rotations per minute). You can also use the same exercise bike for easy warmups and cooldowns, so it’s a very versatile piece of equipment.

Stationary Bike Workouts Are Safe

man biking in traffic.
Unsplash

Outdoor biking is inherently risky. Riding in traffic and the risk of falls introduces the chance of incurring a serious injury, or even death. Exercise bikes can provide the same fitness benefits of outdoor cycling in a much safer way. Particularly for seniors, people with poor balance, or those that live in cities or high-traffic areas, riding a stationary bike can be a smarter alternative than risking an outdoor bike ride.

Stationary Bike Workouts Are More Efficient Than Outdoor Biking

If you’re a cyclist or simply looking for the most efficient workout, rest assured that you can almost always get a more efficient, challenging workout on an exercise bike than cycling outdoors. Without the need to stop at stoplights or the welcomed coasting breaks on a downhill, indoor cycling workouts provide a more consistent, reliable hard effort.

FAQs About Stationary Bike Workouts

Is 30 Minutes On a Stationary Bike Enough?

Depending on your health goals and the intensity of your workout, 30 minutes on a stationary bike can be enough to improve your fitness and lose weight. Adults should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week to reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases like cardiovascular disease. Therefore, riding a stationary bike for 30 minutes five days per week at a moderate intensity can help lower your risk of certain health conditions.

How Long Should You Ride a Stationary Bike?

Stationary bike workouts can be anywhere from just a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on your fitness and health goals. If you’re just getting started, aim to ride a stationary bike for 10-20 minutes and slowly build up to 30 minutes or more.

Are Exercise Bikes Good for Belly Fat?

Exercise bikes can help reduce belly fat when combined with a nutritious, calorie-controlled diet. Harvard Health Publishing reports that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity stationary biking burns about 210 calories for a 125-pound person, 252 calories for a 155-pound person, and 292 calories for a 185-pound person. A 30-minute vigorous stationary bike workout burns approximately 315 calories for a 125-pound person, 378 calories for a 155-pound person, and 441 calories for a 185-pound person. If you weigh more than that, you’ll burn even more calories.

Editors' Recommendations

The best Peloton instructors to match your workout vibe
If you're new to Peloton, here's our guide to help you choose the best trainer to suit your needs and style
Peloton bike at home.

Peloton has become one of the most famous brands in the world of fitness since it was founded back in January 2012. The first Peloton bike was sold in February 2012, and since then, Peloton has become a multi-million dollar business. The main reason for this success is that it offers gym-style workouts without the need for customers to leave the comfort of their own homes.

It's not just the Peloton bikes that have become famous; even the Peloton instructors have become celebrities because of the large international customer base that Peloton has attracted.

Read more
Self-care tips for men: A complete guide to feeling your absolute best
Self-care tips: They're not just for the ladies. Here's how men can feel their best.

Quick, without thinking, what comes to your mind when you think of self-care? Do you automatically envision a woman pampering herself in a bubble bath? Or a room dimly lit by candles as she sips a glass of wine while reading Fifty Shades of Grey? Well, the truth is, at its core, self-care is a set of rituals, regimens, or practices (it can be as simple as you'd like) that help individuals recharge, re-center, and achieve balance in their own well-being and happiness. Self-care takes work and time and is more than just pampering yourself. And yes, it's something men should absolutely put to practice as well. Try these self-care tips.

What exactly is self-care and why do men need it?
Self-care is simply the act of taking time to focus on yourself. You allocate certain time during each day, or even just weekly, to put your stressors on the back burner, with the goal of improving your mental health. The past few years have been complete chaos, and as such, an increase and focus on mental health has taken center stage. Over one in three adults in the United States reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic, which means practicing self-care in any capacity should become a priority.

Read more
Are infrared saunas worthy of the hype? What you need to know
What's the deal with infrared saunas? We found out for you
infrared sauna

The wellness space is constantly evolving. There’s no shortage of trends and buzzwords. “Detoxify” is a big one, and proponents of traditional saunas have long purported that a sweat session in one could help you release toxins.

In the latter half of the 2010s, a new trend emerged in the spa space: Infrared saunas. Makers swore that the special infrared lamps that utilize electromagnetic radiation to heat your body directly lead to a better — more detoxifying, even — experience.

Read more