GET ON YOUR BIKE!
Since lockdown, many of us have been getting back in the saddle. But if winter has put you off riding outside, try this indoor tech.
A step up from a traditional exercise bike, a spin bike lets you access thousands of on-demand spin classes and virtual rides. They’re pricey machines but, for serious cyclists or fitness fans, they can be worth the investment.
We put five spin class exercise bikes through their paces. The unanimous winner, scoring 84/100, was the Peloton Bike, from £1,750 (onepeloton.co.uk). Testers said it was intuitive to use, comfy, easy to adjust and quiet. It comes with cleats for clip-in cycling shoes and you’ll need a Peloton membership (£39 a month) to access classes.
Our highest scoring budget buy was the Echelon Smart Connect EX3 Max Bike, £1,199 (echelonfit. uk) 66/100. There is no built-in screen, so you’ll need to connect your smartphone or tablet to the bike via the Echelon Fit app to take part in classes (membership is £39.99 a month); some testers found this fiddly. But testers liked that it displays progress, including weekly stats, and that it eases you into classes with beginner rides.
If you’re a fair-weather cyclist who baulks at those prices, a turbo trainer, such as the Elite Novo Force (£191.21, Amazon), may be the answer. These easy-to-fit gadgets turn any bicycle into an exercise bike. Take out a subscription to a virtual cycling app, such as Zwift (£12.99 a month), to access workouts and take part in virtual rides. You’ll need a speed sensor and cadence sensor (around £30 each), so the app can record your speed and distance.