The Best Exercise Bikes for Seniors to Help Improve Health and Maintain Mobility in 2024

From recumbent to upright, we break down the best exercise bikes for seniors to keep you active as you age.

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As we age, exercise is one of the best things we can do for our health. However, certain forms of cardio exercise, like running on a treadmill or doing a high intensity interval training (HIIT) on an elliptical, can be difficult for seniors. Exercise bikes are one of the best pieces of cardio fitness equipment for seniors because they allow for a safe, low-impact form of aerobic exercise. If you are a senior who has joint pain, arthritis or balance issues, an exercise bike workout can be more comfortable and sustainable as part of your fitness plan.

In this article, we will share our top picks and reviews for the best exercise bikes for seniors. We also share a comprehensive buying guide with factors to consider when choosing a new stationary bike, what types of exercise bikes are available, why stationary bikes are good for seniors and how to use them for home workouts.

Our Picks for the Best Exercise Bikes for Seniors in 2024:

• Best Overall Exercise Bike for Seniors: NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike
• Best Budget Exercise Bike for Seniors: Sole Fitness SB700 Bike
• Best Compact Exercise Bike for Seniors: ProForm Pro C10U
• Best Recumbent Exercise Bike for Seniors: Sole Fitness LCR Recumbent Bike
• Best Upright Exercise Bike for Seniors: NordicTrack Commercial VU 29
• Best Exercise Bike for Seniors with Built-in Bottle Holders: Echelon GT+ Connect Bike
• Best Cross Training Exercise Bike for Seniors: Sunny Health and Fitness Arm Exerciser Magnetic Recumbent Bike Cross Trainer

Best Overall Exercise Bike for Seniors: NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike

NordicTrack

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 61 inches long (front to back), 22 inches wide (side to side) and 58 inches high
• Machine weight: 205 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 350 pounds

Our top choice for the best exercise bike for seniors is the NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike. Although many people assume that seniors can only use recumbent bikes or easy foot pedal bikes, many seniors are still highly active and want a top-of-the-line exercise bike.

The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike is a premium smart exercise bike that features a large touchscreen display to stream on-demand iFit workout classes. The fitness bike features automatic controls so your iFit personal trainer adjusts the incline and resistance for you during your workout. With an impressive incline and decline range (20 percent incline and -10 percent decline), seniors can replicate the feel of cycling outside on real terrain, but in a safer environment that doesn’t require interacting with traffic. Plus, the iFit platform allows you to stream Explore the World cycling courses from real-life roads and trails around the world. Particularly for seniors who love biking outdoors, this exercise bike is a great way to enjoy many of the same sensations and fitness benefits of outdoor cycling from home.

The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike also comes with two three-pound dumbbells, so you can strengthen your upper body with a full-body workout. Plus, iFit has a huge library of workout classes that are designed to be used both on and off the bike.

Pros:

• Large touchscreen for immersive training
• Incline and decline features to replicate real outdoor cycling
• Great warranty
• Smooth and silent belt drive
• High-quality construction and range of magnetic resistance levels for beginners and stronger seniors alike

Cons:

• No back rest or back support
• More expensive and requires ongoing subscription fees and WiFi connectivity to use iFit

Best Budget Exercise Bike for Seniors: Sole Fitness SB700 Bike

Sole

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 40 inches long (front to back), 21 inches wide (side to side) and 42 inches high
• Machine weight: 141 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 300 pounds

The Sole SB700 exercise bike is one of the best budget-friendly exercise bikes. It is designed to provide a realistic feel of outdoor biking while offering the safety and convenience of exercising indoors.

User reviews rave about the comfort of the Sole SB700. The seat and handlebars are both adjustable in four ways so that you can customize the fit of the bike. The padded seat will help prevent your bottom from getting sore, which is one of the most common complaints seniors have when using exercise bikes. The bike is sturdy and solid with a heavy flywheel to help you have a smooth and safe workout experience. Lastly, there are nice little comfort and convenience features such as a wireless heart rate monitor to help you stay in the right heart rate intensity zone and an integrated tablet holder so that you can stream your favorite entertainment as you use the bike.

Related Post: A Complete Sole Fitness Exercise Bike Review

Pros:

• Lower price point makes this bike a great value
• Integrated tablet holder
• Doesn’t require subscription to use workout programs
• Toe cages provide good stability for your feet without the need for cycling shoes
• Compact footprint

Cons:

• Basic LCD screen instead of a touchscreen
• Friction resistance instead of magnetic resistance may wear out over time

Best Compact Exercise Bike for Seniors: ProForm Pro C10U

ProForm

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 34.5 inches long (front to back), 21.2 inches wide (side to side) and 58 inches high
• Machine weight: 77 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 275 pounds

The most compact exercise bikes either have a foldable design or are a simple pedal machine that goes on the floor under a desk. However, these types of portable exercise bikes are not particularly robust and are only suitable for beginners. There is usually minimal resistance adjustability, meaning that it is difficult to build muscle or strengthen your legs. That’s why our top pick for the best compact exercise bike for seniors is the ProForm Pro C10U. It is a full-featured indoor cycling bike that's relatively compact compared to other models. Like other NordicTrack and ProForm cardio exercise machines, the Pro C10U features automatic adjustment while you stream iFit workouts. This helps seniors get the best guided cycling workouts regardless of their fitness level and without having to worry about controlling the machine on their own.

Another nice perk is the oversized seat with thick cushioning. User reviews note that the bike seat is quite comfortable, and it has vertical and forward/backward adjustments to help you get an ergonomic fit. Seniors will also appreciate the ergonomic pedals with straps that allow you to use a number of different foot positions while still being secure and stable on the exercise bike. If you wear orthopedic shoes or have stiff ankles, you can adjust the straps and foot pedal position to help accommodate your shoe size and limited mobility. Lastly, the console display has large, easy-to-press buttons. This makes it simple to change your resistance level and manage your audio, fan and workout programs.

Pros:

• Lightweight and small footprint
• Transport wheels to help move the bike
• iFit compatible for hands-free guided workouts for all fitness levels

Cons:

• More expensive and requires ongoing subscription fees and WiFi connectivity to use iFit
• Step-over design instead of step-through design can be hard to get on and off
• Lower weight capacity

Best Recumbent Exercise Bike for Seniors: Sole Fitness LCR Recumbent Bike

Sole

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 57 inches long (front to back), 30 inches wide (side to side) and 50 inches high
• Machine weight: 145 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 350 pounds

Recumbent bikes are a great option for seniors because they offer a low impact, yet effective workout, from a comfortable reclined seating position. The Sole Light Commercial LCR recumbent bike is sturdy enough to not only withstand use in your home gym, but also to be used in physical therapy settings or in a commercial gym. It has 40 levels of magnetic resistance to challenge riders of all fitness levels. 

Another one of the benefits of this stationary bike is that the adjustable seat and back support can be controlled by the handlebars, so you don’t have to get on and off the bike if you need to change the fit. Plus, there’s a large LCD display that shows the most important workout metrics without providing an overwhelming amount of information. The simplicity and legibility make this ideal for seniors.

It also comes almost entirely assembled, with very little work to do on your own. This reduces the hassle of trying to get small pieces of hardware into tight areas, needing to lift heavy parts, interpreting confusing instructions and potentially losing small screws during assembly.

Pros:

• Heavy-duty construction
• 40 levels of resistance
• Step-through design is easier to get on and off
• Padded back rest and comfortable seat
• Large backlit LCD displays
• Excellent warranty

Cons:

• Large footprint
• Only has a few workout programs built in

Best Upright Exercise Bike for Seniors: NordicTrack Commercial VU 29

NordicTrack

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 41.5 inches long (front to back), 25 inches wide (side to side) and 55.5 inches high
• Machine weight: 115 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 325 pounds

For seniors who prefer a traditional upright stationary bike, the NordicTrack Commercial VU 29 exercise bike provides the familiar feel of gym exercise equipment for home workouts. It has all of the premium features of NordicTrack exercise bikes, such as an integrated touchscreen tablet for iFit on-demand workout classes, a heavy flywheel, 24 digital resistance levels and a four-way adjustable bike seat. 

User reviews note that the bike seat is oversized and helps prevent pain while cycling. We like that the oversized ergonomic pedals have adjustable straps to help you get your foot securely attached to the bike for a stable and safe ride. Even if you wear orthopedic shoes, you can use the straps on one of the longer settings without needing to change your footwear or ride strapless.

Pros:

• Adjustable seat is said to be comfortable
• Smooth belt drive operation
• iFit on-demand classes can be used for other types of exercise as well
• Easy-to-read and easy-to-use touchscreen display

Cons:

• More expensive and requires ongoing subscription fees and WI-FI connectivity to use iFit
• Larger footprint
• Harder to get on and off than a recumbent bike

Best Exercise Bike for Seniors with Built-in Bottle Holders: Echelon GT+ Connect Bike

Echelon Fitness

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 54 inches long (front to back), 27 inches wide (side to side) and 57 inches high
• Machine weight: 88 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 300 pounds

The Echelon GT+ Connect Bike is a smart indoor cycling bike that can connect to the Echelon Fit app via Bluetooth. Although this isn’t required, connecting to the fitness app will allow you to track your performance and workout metrics, and even compete in the leaderboard. One fun feature is that the indoor bike not only has an attractive blue frame, but you can also select from one of four different flywheel colors to customize the look of your home gym equipment.

There are 32 levels of silent digital magnetic resistance to help seniors of all fitness levels get a great workout. Plus, if the bike is shared by users of different ages and ability levels, the wide range of resistance levels will help ensure everyone can get a great low-impact workout.

Other nice features include the padded bike seat, which user reviews note to be quite comfortable, along with the integrated water bottle holders and dumbbell holders. You'll have to add your own dumbbells, but incorporating them into your exercise routine is a great way to get a full-body workout. We also like that the handlebars and bike seat both are adjustable in the up and down and forward and backward directions so you can find the most comfortable position.

Pros:

• Transport wheels and lightweight construction make it easier to move
• Holds dumbbells, to help you strengthen muscles in the upper body
• USB and Bluetooth connectivity to use with fitness apps
• Adjustable seat can go up/down and fore/aft
• Comes in fun colors

Cons:

• Connecting to a fitness app might be complicated for some seniors

Best Cross Training Exercise Bike for Seniors: Sunny Health and Fitness Arm Exerciser Magnetic Recumbent Bike Cross Trainer

Sunny Health & Fitness

Key specs and features

• Dimensions: 60 inches long (front to back), 25.5 inches wide (side to side) and 52 inches high
• Machine weight: 96 pounds
• Max user weight capacity: 350 pounds

One of the downsides of exercise bikes is that they primarily provide just a lower body workout, strengthening your quads, glutes, hamstrings and calves. However, the Sunny Health & Fitness Arm Exerciser Magnetic Recumbent Bike Cross Trainer transforms a basic lower-body cycling workout into a full-body, low-impact workout. The handlebars can move back and forth while pedaling, working the muscles in your shoulders, upper back, core and arms while strengthening your legs.

This bike uses a tension system with eight levels of magnetic resistance and a silent belt drive mechanism for smooth and quiet operation. The digital monitor displays basic workout metrics, including heart rate, if you use the integrated pulse sensors on the handlebars.

To help seniors feel more supported and comfortable on this recumbent exercise bike, there is a wide bike seat. The bike seat and back rest are padded and ergonomically designed to help prevent the "falling asleep feeling" when circulation is cut off. The recumbent bike feature is a step-through design rather than a step-over design, making it easier to get on and off the bike. Additionally, the self-leveling pedals make it so you can take your feet on and off the bike without needing to lift one leg up and extend the other. Finally, the oversized, textured foot pedals have adjustable straps. Between the straps and grip pattern on the pedals, seniors can feel more secure without worrying that their feet will slide around or slip off the pedals while exercising on the bike.

Pros:

• Easy to get on and off with the step-through design and self-leveling pedals
• Basic LCD display is easy to read
• Moveable handlebars works hour upper body and lower body simultaneously

Cons:

• Large footprint
• Shorter warranty

Benefits of Exercise Bikes for Seniors

Exercise is incredibly important as we age, and for seniors an exercise bike is a great way to get in a low-impact, yet effective cardio workout. Bike workouts can strengthen the muscles in your legs and can improve cardiovascular fitness. Additionally, studies suggest that recumbent bike workouts can increase our range of motion, mobility and flexibility, which can help seniors be more active and independent. Lastly, unlike riding an outdoor bike, an exercise bike is safe and stable. Seniors with mobility, balance or vision issues can enjoy cycling indoors without worrying about traffic or risking falling off their bike.

How to Choose the Best Exercise Bikes for Seniors

There are several important factors to consider when choosing the best exercise bikes for seniors.

Type of stationary bike

The term “exercise bikes” encompasses a fairly broad category that includes different types of stationary or indoor cycling bikes. That type of exercise bike you ride will affect how the bike feels and how difficult it is to use. There isn’t necessarily a “best“ type of exercise bike for seniors; rather, you should consider the differences between the various types of stationary bikes to find the one that best meets your needs.

The primary types of exercise bikes include upright stationary bikes, recumbent stationary bikes, indoor cycling bikes or spin bikes and under-the-desk ellipticals, which use the same pedaling motion.

An upright stationary bike is the traditional type of exercise bike found in most gyms. These exercise bikes provide a great workout, but require more balance and can be difficult to get on and off. The bike seat may also be less comfortable because there is no back support.

Recumbent exercise bikes are often preferred by seniors, particularly for those who have mobility challenges or balance issues. A recumbent bike has a more supportive seat with a backrest and is easier to get on. It has a reclined position so that your legs are pedaling out in front of you rather than below your body. Some seniors find that having support for the lower back also allows them to ride longer without discomfort. However, because you’re leaning up against a back rest, recumbent bikes require less core muscle activation, so you will really only work your lower body muscles.

Indoor cycling bikes, often called spin bikes, have the same general structure as an upright stationary bike, but they have a flywheel. High-end spin bikes, like Peloton, have grown in popularity as more people began working out at home during the pandemic.

Lastly, there are folding exercise bikes and portable exercise bike pedal machines. These units offer the advantage of being compact, lightweight and easy to store when not in use. They are also generally quite cheap and readily available on Amazon. However, they often do not allow for a complete cycling pedal stroke, so they are not as effective at strengthening your muscles or burning calories.

Resistance

The exercise bike that you choose should provide enough resistance to give you a challenging workout while still being doable. Choosing an exercise bike that offers at least eight to 10 levels of resistance is ideal because you’ll still get a challenging workout as your strength and fitness improves. Additionally, there will be more of a nuanced difference between each resistance level rather than a big jump in difficulty between levels.

Most of the best exercise bikes for seniors use magnetic resistance. This type of resistance is quiet and smooth and offers discrete digital levels of tension. Inexpensive exercise bikes and foot pedal machines may use friction resistance instead. The benefit of friction resistance is that the levels are continuous, so you use a tension knob to adjust how much resistance you get. However, friction resistance tends to be noisier and requires more maintenance than magnetic resistance.

Product weight and dimensions

When you are buying an exercise bike for your home gym, you should consider the space you have available. Although exercise bikes typically take up much less floor space than cardio machines like home treadmills and elliptical trainers, they still can have a fairly large footprint. Recumbent bikes usually have the largest footprint whereas indoor cycling bikes tend to be quite compact. There are also portable and foldable exercise bikes for those with limited space. However, these tend to be less heavy-duty and designed only for low intensity workouts.

Seniors who live alone might prefer a lightweight exercise bike so that they can move it around easily. While most exercise bikes do have transport wheels, they can still be heavy and unwieldy to move.

Workout programs

Many seniors like to have an exercise bike with pre-programmed workouts or on-demand biking classes for guided instruction.

Some of the best exercise bikes for seniors are equipped with an integrated touchscreen display that is compatible with fitness apps such as iFit. These exercise bikes offer a wide range of fitness classes and biking workouts led by expert personal trainers for seniors of all fitness levels. Furthermore, with the option to stream workouts off the bike, seniors can have guided support for a well-rounded fitness routine to keep the entire body strong, fit and flexible.

Maximum weight capacity

Seniors who are larger should look for an exercise bike that has a high weight capacity. Moreover, if you plan to do high intensity workouts and put your stationary bike through heavy duty use, it can be a good idea to choose a stationary bike with a high maximum user weight even if you are petite. These exercise machines tend to have a more rugged, durable and sturdy construction.

Adjustability

The best stationary bikes are adjustable, not just in terms of the amount of resistance offered, but also in terms of the seat height and handlebar placement. Being able to adjust both the seat and handlebars up and down and forwards and backwards will help you get a comfortable fit without causing stress or strain on your joints or back.

Comfort and ease of use

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing the best exercise bike for seniors is the comfort and ease of use. A console or display should be clear and bright with large numbers that can be easily read during the workout. Sometimes, less is more. Too many buttons, functions, program and workout metrics can be confusing and overwhelming for seniors who do not have a lot of familiarity or need for high-tech exercise equipment.

Additionally, the bike seat should be comfortable and supportive. Recumbent bikes offer the benefit of having a back rest and more of a traditional chair seat rather than a small bike seat that you have to balance on. This type of recumbent bike seat is often more comfortable and stable for seniors.

Older adults need to be able to get on and off their bike easily and safely, so bikes that require swinging your leg over or stepping up high to get onto the seat may not be a good option.

Finally, if you are choosing a foldable bike for seniors, the bike should fold and unfold easily and lock securely into place to prevent potential accidents.

How We Chose the Best Exercise Bikes for Seniors

To choose the best exercise bikes for seniors, we looked at the top-rated exercise bikes from trusted brands like NordicTrack, Schwinn, Nautilus, Marcy and Exerpeutic. We considered the aforementioned factors, paying particular attention to features and function of the bike that would make it particularly user-friendly and safe for seniors. We considered different types of exercise bikes, bikes in various price ranges and combed through all of the customer reviews for the top-rated exercise bikes. Because seniors are as diverse of a group as any other age range of exercises, we tried to choose exercise bikes that spanned the gamut in terms of adjustability of the resistance levels, the types of workouts and technological features offered. Just because you’re an older adult doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t plan to exercise vigorously and frequently on your exercise bike!

Exercise Bikes for Seniors FAQs

How long should a 65-year-old ride an exercise bike?According to the CDC, adults 65 and over need at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week. For example, that can be broken down to walking or cycling 30 minutes a day, five days a week. It’s important to consult your doctor before starting any new exercise routine. For a seniors new to riding an exercise bike, experts suggest starting slow with just five minutes at a time.

Are exercise bikes good for your knees?

Exercise bikes provide a low-impact form of physical activity so they are easier on your joints, including your knees, and may reduce the knee pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Is cycling or walking better for seniors?

Either cycling or walking (or both!) can be great for seniors. One type of exercise isn’t necessarily “better“ than the other for all seniors. For seniors who have balance issues or joint pain, using an exercise bike can be better than walking because it provides a safe, low-impact workout.

Final Thoughts

An exercise bike can be a great form of cardio exercise for seniors. There are numerous types of exercise bikes, each of which allows for a low impact workout that can strengthen the muscles of your lower body while improving your cardiovascular health and fitness. Choosing the best exercise bike for seniors involves considering your fitness level, mobility, ease of use and adjustability of the bike to ensure a comfortable and safe fit.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.