The Best Under Desk Bikes and Fitness Machines: Exercise At Work

Walking as an exercise is one of the banalest ways to stay in shape, lead a healthy lifestyle, lose weight, develop stamina, and improve your health, especially when you spend much time sitting in the office chair and do not plan to workout. But if you don’t have time to walk long distances, the most effective solution is to buy an elliptical trainer, in other words, a mini bike or a leg peddler for fitness. Pedal units or even a bike desk are a very wise choice if you want to be able to do a little workout while working from home at the same time. Read this article to find out what the best under desk bike or elliptical is and why you need it to stay fit, keep in shape and maintain health! The best under desk bikes and under desk cycles are simple but effective exercise equipment that perfectly complements any standing height desk!

It’s never been easier to exercise, keep your body in full shape, raise your stamina, and lose weight just pedaling the wheels of an exercise bike under the standing height desk. Gym memberships are generally quite affordable and offer a wide range of fitness programs and exercise, to help you to stay in shape and lose weight. Even some companies are already encouraging their employees to take care of their health, and to buy training or fitness devices to exercise in the office. Everyone and everything is now ready to stimulate you for a health-supporting lifestyle and fitness exercise instead of sitting. And that’s great – to be in perfect shape, not to have extra weight, but how to handle a task to combine work, where you usually sit, and an active health-maintaining lifestyle, making it easy for your budget? Naturally, you don’t always have enough time to cook health-boosting food or go to gyms after a long sitting, stand up on a treadmill or pedal on the bike, so you need to get fitness equipment to help you find a way out of these situations. In this respect, a great solution may be ergonomic elliptical trainers, also known as cross-trainers. This mini elliptical machine, or cycle, suits perfectly for exercise in the office or at home, because it is folding and fit under any desks, including standing height desks.

This article discusses the best under-desk ellipticals and all of their possible pros and cons, which will help you to see the differences between various exercise equipment and decide which elliptical trainer model is better to buy to stay in a good shape, maintain health and lose extra weight. Hereunder, we will make a brief research of the following topics:

What is an Under Desk Bike?

Many, not necessarily with extra weight but even quite athletic people, do not know this health and fitness trainer for exercise. An exercise bike (or elliptical) is an elliptical trainer that gives exercise on the lower part of the body because in fact it is a leg peddler. Mostly cross trainers are used to help lose weight and increase stamina. The first elliptical type simulators were invented at the end of the last century. Of course, that mini stepper was not as convenient and efficient as modern elliptical products, but it honestly performed its main functions serving for health, fitness, exercise stamina development and weight loss. Initially, the company Precor was engaged in the production of ellipticals, in other words, mini exercise bikes which can be placed under the standing height desk or a workstation.

Why Do We Need to Think About the Best Under Desk Bike?

Now there is no better time than to think about buying the best under desk elliptical for the following health lifestyle reasons. We all know how difficult it is to resist the temptation and follow a diet menu during the holidays, sitting at home without any fitness workout or exercise, especially without making calories count report. We are just people, and in the holidays season commitment to fitness and an active health-maintaining lifestyle can disappear. However, to cope with it, you can invest in the best ergonomic under desk mini cycles available on the market to support health and do not gain pounds. Cycling exercise and fitness at home office will let you keep physically active and increase your stamina without much workout effort. You can also find different kinds of aerobic workouts using an elliptical or a folding portable or stationary exercise bikes on the Internet to make legs work and stay in shape. One of the pros of using a stationary bike or folding pedal exerciser is that some models can be customized with the new pedal units or a laptop holder for a better experience. If you have health-concerned people in your surrounding, this device will be a great gift on any holiday: be it a Birthday gift or Anniversary gift — this in-motion machine will work well.

Summarizing, the problem of the sedentary (or sometimes recumbent) lifestyle, whether it is a forced sitting in the office chair, or staying recumbent on your favorite home coach, comes to be actual, and not safe for your health. The concerned humanity has already invented a variety of health and fitness equipment for exercise, weight loss, stamina development, and shape maintaining, for example, the standing height desks and treadmills, or the exercise treadmill desks. The elliptical machine, or the under desk mini exercise bike, offers many additional advantages for your fit, health, weight and stamina. You may put any of these exercise bikes under your standing height desk, or any other desks, thus saving the room space. It does not require a special surface to be placed on — you can simply buy a mat for it. Just try to make sure that the surface is not slippery.

How the Under Desk Elliptical Looks Like?

Let us first explain simply how this best under desk bike looks like, being a health and fitness exercise machine. This type of fitness equipment looks like an exercise cycle (or a stationary mini bike) without a saddle and the wheels on which a customer may exercise his leg or arm muscles by imitating the pedaling of the wheels. The pedaling motion can be carried out on this ergonomic stepper with any speed or intensity while your joints, ligaments, and blood vessels undergo a useful load. This fitness exercise protects your general health, improves stamina, and allows lose weight with such simple under desk exercise equipment as under desk pedal exerciser. You can put these full-of-benefits products on the appropriate surface: on the mat or directly on the floor.

What the Best Under Desk Elliptical Consists of?

The main difference between the elliptical and the under-desk elliptical is the small size of the latter and portability. Instead of bulky handrails and levers, the best under desk cycle mini models are equipped with arm expanders or are available without them. If you wish to keep this mini under desk elliptical peddler in a small space, the installation of this ergonomic equipment will require no more than one square meter. After the fitness exercise, the mini exercise equipment can be easily hidden. Thanks to this, the mini-elliptical is suitable for use in apartments as an under desk cycle, while the functionality of this mini peddler is no worse than that of large-sized exercise models installed in gyms. The under desk bike pedals are nothing worse than traditional treadmills to exercise, support health, increase stamina and reduce weight. Another advantage of mini under-desk ellipticals is an affordable price: the simulator’s home version costs much less than professional models of elliptical machines. Therefore, anyone who wants to exercise to put their body in shape and improve their health can afford to buy this elliptical machine.

How We Choose the Best Under-Desk Bikes and Other Elliptical Trainers?

We indicated these under-desk ellipticals as best for fitness exercise, relying upon different research criteria. We know that you want to get a perfect mini exercise bike of elliptical shape for a new health-boosting lifestyle. Read our short guides and take the best under desk bike pick suitable for your budget.

Price of the under desk mini bike

Naturally, the best under-desk exercise bike has a high price. These elliptical machines have magnetic resistance levels, whisper-quiet, and ergonomic design. But you can get an exercise bike with the same fitness features for purchasing which you don’t need to sell your house to start a new health-supporting lifestyle. So in our selection, we chose the mini ellipticals with an average price so that your recumbent lifestyle transformed into a health-promoting.

Customer Reviews of the elliptical mini trainers

Nowadays, we can’t buy anything on amazon, including an exercise bike or a mini exercise bike, without reading a bunch of reviews on a particular exercise elliptical trainer. Thanks to such people, we can read about the pros and cons of any exercise bike. But it’s also important to find honest reviews or read an independent research of the stepper in question. We already know that these ergonomic exercise machines which can be put under the standing height desk are helpful to move from recumbent to health-promoting style of life, reduce weight, increase stamina and be, in general, in shape. Thanks to reviews we can find out if the muscles-training under the standing desk stepper is worth budget waste or not. Cycling fans recommend or do not recommend these exercise machines as a replacement of the office chair — it always depends on tech, Bluetooth connection, app availability, fans, lcd display or led display and other digital and ergonomic features of the stepper. It may be hard to pick the best under desk exercise equipment, but reviews can help you to make a good choice. And again, since the reviews are subjective, we recommend you first learn more about the electronic characteristics and overall information of the under desk cycle being reviewed.

Safety and ergonomics of the stepper model

To avoid injuries or pain during fitness or exercise, the elliptical trainer for standing height desks must be safe in use and beneficial for health and weight loss, of course. It includes safe materials from which an elliptical exercise bike is made, the right construction of seating (if present), and anti-slip mat pedals not to hurt your arm or leg and help you stay fit. Desk cycles allow you stay in-motion, do fitness exercise even at the place of work, which usually requires sitting. Sometimes people use standing desk treadmills which serve the same purpose: work with muscles, increase stamina, keep one in shape and do exercise for weight loss. These standing desk treadmills are another option to consider besides the exercise bike.

Delivery of the elliptical stepper

A fitness shop (amazon or any other) from which you want to purchase a mini elliptical machine to forget about recumbent lifestyle must be highly ranked. You should get information about delivery dates, packing, and the delivery of the mini elliptical itself. Also, the shop must support its clients and answer all the questions they might have concerning the usage of an under desk exercise bike for fitness they plan to acquire.

Under desk cycle warranty

You can recognize a high-quality product by the warranty period the shop (like amazon) provides you with. The longer the warranty for your under desk exercise bike is valid, the better quality fitness product you have. The warranty guarantees that you get what you pay for and you certainly enjoy using your weight-reducing standing height stepper.

Best Under Desk Bike: How it Works

What you Should Know about Foot Rests or a Stepper

Ease of use is not the only advantage of a home elliptical stepper if you plan to put such mini exercise bike under the standing height desk. Thanks to the usual motion for a person the fitness under desk simulator strengthens both the lower part of the body making each leg function and each arm is involved too thanks to the expanders. Using a mini exercise stepper as a simulator for the home fitness (sitting or standing) will target different arm or leg muscles, lose weight, increase stamina, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and keep you in shape. This mini exercise bike, or an elliptical machine, will certainly change your from recumbent to a health-promoting lifestyle and make everyday movement easy and pleasant.

What Muscles Does Under-desk Elliptical Trainer?

Gluteal muscles are subjected to a serious load, so the leg fitness stepper becomes the best way to tighten and improve the shape of the buttocks for girls. Reaching these muscles is an easy task for an exercise bike, and you will attain the best shape. Leg and arm muscles might also receive not enough load while sitting on a chair at work, and this mini under desk exercise bike will help you forget about recumbent lifestyle leading you to weight loss and better shape.

Thigh and lower leg muscles. Performing steps allows you to tone these leg muscles, reduce their volume, and remove excess fat providing significant weight loss. Only use the under desk elliptical mini stepper from time to time, and each leg will look slim and strong. This under desk mini elliptical trainer works as effectively as a stationary bike or a treadmill in the gym.

Abdominal and back muscles. Spine stabilizer muscles receive static load, which improves posture and coordination, reducing back pain. Making your waist thin is quite possible for any under desk mini exercise bike, this fitness under desk cycle was specially designed for that purpose!

Shoulder girdle muscles. Thanks to the built-in expanders, you can handle them in your arm and use the elliptical simulator to exercise on the shoulder’s deltoid muscles, biceps, and triceps. Sometimes left arm and right arm do not receive equal load while working, and this mini under desk exercise bike will help you keep each arm in great shape. Try to apply the under desk exercise elliptical for your shoulder workouts, and the shape of your upper body part will delight you.

Under-desk Bikes: Pros and Cons

When choosing the best under desk bike for your taste, it’s very important to read the reviews related to each model you are considering. And not only reviews can help you, but you also want to know their pros and cons. To keep your leg and arm muscles toned properly, it’s essential for your electronic or non-electronic under desk elliptical workstation to have more pros than cons. Nevertheless, best under desk exerciser models have both, and here are the most common pros and cons every portable desk bike has:

Under-desk Cycles Types and Their Features: What Under-desk Cycle is Better

Classical Under-desk Exercise Bike

The under-desk elliptical machine of this type provides a full imitation of walking on the stairs. Professional exercise steppers are also classic and have an elliptical shape.

Rotary Under-desk Exercise Bike

This type of under desk elliptical machine allows you to perform additional turns of the body. Training on such an exercise elliptical machine is partially similar to skiing, involving leg and arm musclues simultaneously. This exercise bike is perfect for sunny health fitness as a way to forget about recumbent lifestyle and become more active. This mini exercise bike can be set under any desks.

Balancing Under-desk Exercise Bike

This kind of under desk mini elliptical peddler trains thigh and lower leg muscles and improves their shape. Performing steps allows you to tone these leg muscles, and remove excess fat allowing you to lose weight.

Under-desk Elliptical With Resistance Bands

The bands built into the structure of this exercise mini elliptical machine allow you also to load the shoulder girdle muscles simultaneously walking and training your arm. An opportunity to train arm muscles as well is a great feature which is provided by several under standing desk exercise machines.

According to the type of loading system, the under-desk mini ellipticals can be mechanical or electromagnetic.

Mechanical Under-desk Cycles

Hydraulic cylinders power the mechanical version of the under desk exercise elliptical machine. There is a force on the pedal, the cylinder is compressed, and when the weight is transferred to another pedal, it is unclenched. These models of the under desk exercise elliptical machine do not create unnecessary noise during classes.

Electro-magnetic Under-desk Cycles

The operation of electro-magnetic ellipticals is based on the magnetic resistance of the pedals. The magnetic load of this under desk exercise peddler is controlled using the management console. These modern magnetic exercise bike models allow you to train according to built-in or individual programs and converters, and monitor all kinds of training indicators (heart rate, number of steps, distance, speed, calories, etc.). Due to the high cost and size, the magnetic elliptical is more suitable for sports clubs and gyms, like a professional treadmill, than for home use.

Our Best Picks: 7 Best Under-Desk Elliptical Cycles Rating Guide

Choosing The Best Under Desk Bike

For the under-desk exercise ellipticals to be useful, you need to consider several important criteria about these products. The under-desk exercise elliptical should correspond to individual characteristics, and additional functions are welcome.

Stride Length of the Under Desk Bike

Every electronic and non-electronic portable desk bike has its own pros and cons, and the most important parameter of any under-desk exercise elliptical is the step length: the distance between the pedals in the fully raised and lowered position. If the step is too long, you can get your leg injured, and if the step is too short, tall people will not get the desired effect, feeling that training on the under desk exercise bike is helpless and losing weight, supporting posture or keeping in shape is impossible. That’s why you should choose the best under desk bike suitable for your needs, which would keep each leg safe for a better experience.

The Course of the Pedals of the Under Desk Exercise Bike

Under-desk fitness elliptical pedals can have a dependent or independent stroke. In the first case, the load on each leg when moving is distributed equally. In the second case, the pedal magnetic resistance can be adjusted separately.

Advice! An independent system will be useful if one leg is weakened by illness or recovering from a leg injury and requires sparing treatment.

Maximum Weight of the Under Desk Cycle (Fitness Bike)

Most under desk exercise ellipticals are designed for 260-280 lbs. The video about choosing a fitness stepper for home recommends users with a larger weight of body to choose special exercise stepper models that can withstand a weight of up to 440 lbs.

Availability of Automatic Programs of the Under Desk Exercise Stepper

Especially useful are under-desk exercise elliptical products with several built-in training modes. They are usually equipped with a desktop that displays important information such as class time, calorie consumption, heart rate, pace, and step rate. These characteristics demostrate how intensive the exercise is, how much load each arm and leg approximately get, how well you cope with the task to lead anti-recumbent lifestyle and stay in shape. The best under desk exerciser is quite related to traditional gym equipment and has a similar way of work.

Possibility of Autonomous Operation of an Under Desk Elliptical Stepper

Some of the under-desk exercise ellipticals available on the US market today are designed autonomous, which technically means that you can operate them remotely. We strongly advise you to check out a YouTube video or two on the functioning of an autonomous elliptical stepper for office or home, learn more about all the pros and cons of a particular model, and check out the customer reviews and user’s recommendations, you can also use Amazon platform for that; please, pay attention to a larger bodyweight capacity to choose the kind of special under desk stepper model that can withstand the necessary weight. Before you buy an under desk exercise stepper for fitness, please, read reviews on it carefully — the market is really full of models which might not satisfy all your needs concerning anti-recumbent lifestyle.

Additional Expanders Built in the Under Desk Mini Stepper

Another useful product is the Stamina InMotion Compact Strider. This compact, lightweight device can be easily transported to wherever you want to use it. It also works both stood up or sat down and in both forward and reverse strides. The flexibility and ergonomics of this deskcycle lets you work your arm or leg muscles more evenly and ensures you get the most from your exercise.

Common Mistakes When Choosing an Under Desk Elliptical Trainer

Before you buy an anti-recumbent exercise stepper, you need to consider not only the main selection criteria but also the most common mistakes:

• The under-desk exercise elliptical must not be placed close to walls or furniture. Ideally, there should be 1 m of space on each side of the unit. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to work on it. It does not relate to the chairs you will use to sit down.
• When buying an under-desk exercise stepper, you can not take models with sliding smooth foot pedals. They should be anti-slip. Otherwise, it will be more dangerous to pedal, the risk of leg injury and unexpected pain during training increases. Under desk ellipticals must be comfortable to pedal — this will protect you from undesirable pain with a follow-up surgery.
• Do not buy an under-desk elliptical trainer with an inappropriate step length. It will be effortless to earn a leg muscle sprain.
• Attention! Many people believe that the more programs and modes the exercise elliptical machine supports, the better. In fact, for initial training, there are enough opportunities for simple models. Such mini steppers which can be put under any standing height desks are usually well-provided with enough opportunitites to stay in shape and increase stamina. Dozens of load options are needed mainly for experienced athletes but will be quite excessive just for the healthy lifestyle.

Consider a Standing Desk

Under desk exercise stepper is a good option for you if you want to minimize the negative effects of too much sitting and don’t have enough space for a standing desk, or migrate from one office to another, or just freaked out by the standing desks’ price. Though, if you can get yourself a good standing up desk workstation, go for it. It will help you to easily go from sitting to standing, acquire new healthy habits, reduce fatigue, and, actually, they will also help you to organize your compartment in a more efficient and comfortable way. An under desk treadmill can also become usefull addition to the standing desk. You may choose a compact treadmill to use at home, or a noiseless model of a treadmill for your office, whatever you need and want. Best standing desks with adjustable equipment under them are a really smart solution available even on Amazon for those who are trapped in a no-moving environment. These standing desks with sturdy under desk ellipticals, which allow exercising even while sitting, are great if you are disturbed by the back pain, worry about your posture and generally want tp stay in shape.

The Best Under Desk Bike You Will Probably Choose: 4 Models Worth Looking At

In conclusion, if you are still not sure what under desk ellipticals are better to buy, you should certainly read this short quide about four under desk ellipticals, which look rather attractive too.

Vaunn Medical Pedal Exerciser: Low Resistance Under Desk Dual Function Cycle

The Vaunn Medical pedal under desk mini cycle is especially convenient as a part of physical therapy for the users recovering from an injury because it is easy to operate and has the option of adjusting the magnetic resistance of this standing height elliptical machine. The high-quality triple-layered chrome plating of the under desks elliptical looks attractive and modern, and the weight of 4.4 lbs is generally lower than an average under desk elliptical machine. Depending on its setup, this exercise bike can be used both as an arm active exerciser and an under desk leg peddler. Ability to train arm mucles is highly valuable for these under desk bikes, which allow you be in-motion if you lack exercises in the ordinary life.

Vive Health Ergonomic Under-Desk Pedal Exerciser with LCD Display to Track the Progress

The Vive mini pedal exerciser of an elliptical shape is lightweight and portable, and its ergonomic design makes it possible to be used under any standing height desk. It does not equip with an attached seat, so any other appropriate chair, even the offica chair, is suitable. This under desk mini bike requires minimal assembly and provides sufficient fraction and stability. A large LCD display on a built-in computer shows the current information about the course of training and the user’s health condition. It is recommended to use the Vive elliptical machine for both arm and leg workouts, it will keep your body in shape, and practice different loads: strength-based and stamina-based as well.

FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical: Physical Therapy and Extra Features

The FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical stands firmly on the floor and comes fully equipped. You’ll surely set FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical for a short period of time because it’s easy to do. Thanks to the desktop monitor and program converters, you can choose a favorite regime according to your lifestyle and track usage on the desktop screen. When working, this elliptical unit does not make unnecessary sounds. Also, it is rather budget-friendly. You will be surprised by top-quality electronics and general ergonomics of this anti-recumbent under desk mini bike. You might even want to use it as a gift for a runner who wants to stay in-motion even at work.

Stamina InStride Folding Cycle: Ergonomic and Easy to Set Up

The Stamina InStride mini bike was specially designed to be compact and portable and has a multi-purpose possibility of usage. You can place it under any standing height desks, and it will still be comfortable to use. It can be used for each arm as well, in the office, at home, or for physical therapy. But this elliptical is aimed at enhancing health only. As this under desk elliptical has no seat, you may also use the chairs to exercise while sitting, even the office chair will work great. It provides a good balance and variable tension and attracts the customer with its reasonable price and high ergonomics. Our market research demonstrated that this anti-recumbent mini bike is appreciated for ergonomics and having enough benefits to spend some budget money on it. At least, reviews on Amazon show a top-interest amoung users.

Under Desk Bike FAQs

In this section, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about an under-desk mini elliptical.