Skoda, mostly known for its cars, has developed the DuoBell, a mechanical bicycle bell designed specifically to be heard by those using noise cancelling headphones. The bell hits a frequency "gap" between 750Hz and 780Hz where active noise cancelling algorithms are the least effective.

For bicyclists in urban areas, it can be dangerous to avoid headphone wearing pedestrians, as most of the best headphones feature some kind of ANC. This leads to collisions and injuries.

The DuoBell is designed to bypass ANC so that walkers can hear bicyclists coming up to "22 meters" away.

DuoBell is fully mechanical bike bell featuring two bells. The first half can hit the narrow band between 750Hz and 780Hz where ANC appears to be least effective. The "ANC blind spot" was discovered by Skoda and scientists at the University of Salford.

The other half features an additional resonator that is tuned to a frequency. It also has a specially designed hammer that strikes the bell in a rapid, irregular manner. Combined, the two halves generate sound waves that break through ANC algorithms.

This project is an excellent example of how a simple, yet clever idea can help make exploration safer for everyone,” said Meredith Kelly, Global Head of Marketing at Škoda Auto in a post.

Skoda tested the bell in London with bike couriers in the city. Impressively, the company documented the process and the research and posted it for everyone to see. If you're interested you can download the research from Skoda's website.

For now, it appears the DuoBell is only a Skoda prototype in London, but I'm personally hoping it actually makes it out of the company's labs. It'll be interesting to see if headphone makers try to improve ANC to the point that the gap is filled or if it'll be left open as a safety precaution

As someone who lives and irregularly bikes in a large city, this is the kind of device that would make me more comfortable dealing with pedestrians, especially those wearing headphones.

More from Tom's Guide

• 6 essential checks to prepare your bike for a summer of cycling
• Best GPS bike computers: tested and reviewed
• This exercise is believed to be four times more efficient than walking and can improve your cardiovascular health

An exercise bike is an investment. There’s no denying that fact. But the same can be said for any piece of gym equipment that you decide to get for your own home workout setup.

But if you’re willing to invest in your health at home, then you want to make sure you’re getting all of the benefits of in person classes. That means having a way to stay motivated, and the Echelon EX-5s, which I think is one of the best exercise bikes around, is the perfect way to do that.

It offers live classes and a community to keep you motivated, and can even save you money if you’re someone who regularly attends a fitness class that can cost up to $30 a session.

A worthwhile investment

The Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike is available for $999 at Amazon U.S., which is a pretty big investment, and then you need to pay an annual membership fee. But if you’re someone who spends a lot of money on gas heading back and forth to the gym, and then pays extra to sign on to spin classes, this is going to be a worthwhile investment

The annual membership fee is $399, and with this, you have access to pre-recorded workout sessions, live sessions, and guided tours. The best part though is the sense of community you get from the competitive nature of the program. The instructors will encourage you, and you can even see how other people in the live sessions are doing.

Included in the membership is access to an even wider catalog of other workouts. It can be used in conjunction with other workout machines and even offers video HIIT sessions to get your sweat on off the bike too.

From the comfort of your own home

Heading to the gym can be totally overwhelming at times, and that’s often part of the reason people miss their gym sessions. So having your workout right there in the comfort of your home is totally ideal.

It’s nice to interact with real-life humans in workout classes, but after a long day of work and commuting, I want nothing more than to lock myself away from the world, so that’s where the Echelon comes in.

It means I get to spend more time at home with my loved ones rather than driving to and from the gym, and I can even have my dinner cooking while I work out — it’s such a time saver.

To find out more about the bike, you can read this full Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review.

More from Tom's Guide

• Move over Peloton — I’ve been testing this exercise bike, and it’s over $1,000 cheaper than the Peloton Bike+
• 6 Apple Watch settings you should change now for more accurate sleep tracking
• People are sticking bubble wrap to their windows to keep their heating costs down — here's why it works

The Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike could be one of the best exercise bikes out there and offers an excellent option for at-home cardio. The touch screen display elevates the experience with great coaching software to motivate your workouts.

It’s highly adjustable for a variety of heights and looks good. But with a hefty $400 annual membership fee, this commitment won’t be for everyone. And the tedious assembly process could put you off too.

If you want to find out more about the exercise bike, keep on reading this Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review.

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? An exercise bike with an integrated coaching system
• Who is it for? Anyone who needs motivational at-home gym equipment
• What does it cost? The Echelon EX-5s is available for $1,299/£1,349
• What do we like? It’s cheaper than rivals; easy-to-use display screen and coaching software; attractive design with lots of adjustability
• What don’t we like? Membership is pretty pricey, and assembly can be tedious

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Specs

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Price & availability

The Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike is available in the U.S. from Walmart for $1,299 and directly from Echelon Fit for $1,299. It can be purchased in the U.K. at Amazon for £1,349.

The EX-5s is a decent, cheaper option if you’re not inclined to pay the premium price of a Peloton Bike+, which costs $2,695. The Peloton offers a good range of workouts and can help you reach goals, but the EX-5s does that too.

Having the display screen enhances the workout experience over something a little more basic, like the Wattbike Air, which costs $2,395 but requires you to use your own phone or tablet if you want to follow workouts.

To get access to the workout plans and classes (which the Echelon bike is pretty worthless without), you’ll need to purchase a membership, as is the case with the likes of Peloton. The Echelon membership costs $39 per month and will give you access to live classes as well as pre-recorded ones. You can also purchase an annual plan that costs $399.

While this may seem a lot for an exercise bike, a membership will allow you to access classes on all Echelon machines, as well as HIIT workouts. This is totally worth it for someone who doesn’t have the time to get to the gym and would be more comfortable working out from the comfort of their own home.

You can also buy additional equipment to track progress, including the heart rate monitor for $129 from Echelon that can be paired with the bike so you can see your biometrics in real time on the screen in front of you as you work out. This is great for tracking your metrics in real time, and can help you decide whether to go a little harder or take it slow.

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Design

Firstly, you obviously have to get to the point where the bike is set up… which took two hours. There are a lot of moving parts here, so it’s no surprise it takes a while, but it was still a long and tedious process.

It’s hard to innovate the exercise bike — I mean, it’s a bike. But it seems that Echelon has done everything they can to make the EX-5s bike look as sleek as possible, from red trim to a sleek display screen. It’s far easier on the eye than the Echelon EX-3 ($949), which is a lot taller and looks a bit more like a strange abstract sculpture. It’s also a lot less chunky than the Wattbike Air, so I have more room when it's set up.

The bike is pretty big but not at all chunky like the Wattbike Air. It measures 52 x 50 x 20 inches and is suitable for users ranging in height from 4’5” to 6’8”. I’m 5’3”, so I fit on that scale nicely and was able to adjust the bike to get to my most comfortable position with ease.

The seat of the bike can be adjusted by 10 inches up or down, and four inches forward or backward. I kept the seat at height four and forward on three. The handlebars can also be adjusted six inches up or down and three inches forward or backward. I used these pulled all the way toward me on number one, as I found this to be best for my posture. All of this adjustment is super simple and can be achieved by simply twisting a few handles to slacken and tighten.

More adjustment can be found at the pedals, where you can strap your feet to the bike and make the fit as tight as you need, so you feel secure while cycling. On the other side of the pedals, you’ll find SPD-cleat holsters, so if you have cycling shoes already, you can clip in securely.

The bike offers 32 levels of manual magnetic resistance, and these can be cycled through using the red knob just in front of the saddle, or can be increased in increments of five on the display screen. This 21.5-inch touch screen display is a great addition to have on the bike. With the Wattbike Air, you have to rely on your mobile phone or tablet as the screen to follow workouts, which can become a little tiring. It’s nice having a dedicated device for the job, even if it is running some pretty janky Android software (updating the thing during setup was a bit of a nightmare, but after that it worked fine).

There are two wheels on the base of the bike at the front, and it’s a good thing too, because otherwise this thing would be pretty much impossible to move. It weighs a whopping 124 pounds, so if that’s a deal breaker, it would be worth something more basic like the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike ($300).

The bike has two spacious water bottle holders under the display screen, so you can hold plenty of fluids for rehydration. The holders can be a little awkward to get to, though, since they’re directly behind the handlebars. Behind the seat, there are also dumbbell holders for easy access to some weights (which are not included) if your workout session calls for them.

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Software & classes

Once I had the EX-5s up and running, I logged into my Echelon account on the display and was instantly met with a huge variety of classes from a bunch of different instructors. I was able to pick an instructor or type of class I liked, or even a course that spans over a couple of days or weeks.

There’s something for everyone, from low-impact and beginner options to advanced classes that increase your heart rate and give you an effective burn. And the way the courses are presented makes them look anything but daunting. It lets you know the level of the class you're taking and takes you through a quick description of the aims of the class. I found this super helpful in selecting what I wanted to take on.

The classes are labeled with their soundtrack types, including electronic, pop, indie hits, and many more. My music-geek heart hates to admit that I didn’t know any of the songs played, but since the instructors were talking over the tracks the whole time to motivate me, I didn’t mind.

The metrics on the screen change instantly in accordance with your pedal speed and resistance settings, and you even get averages to keep you on track. The instructors tell you what cadence you should be aiming for and how to adjust resistance for better results. It feels very similar to an in-person spin class. You can also choose from guided scenic routes if you’re in the mood for something more calming.

There is an element of community with the bike too, much like Peloton, where you can find encouragement and some light rivalry with other users through the interactive leaderboard during live workouts. You can also connect with friends and family. I like that you can link to fitness apps, including Strava, Apple Health, and Fitbit, for tracking too.

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Performance

The Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike is pretty much everything you could need from home gym equipment. It’s like your own personal motivator, but it helps that it’s super simple to use.

I tried out a 20-minute beginner class to get used to the bike, and I would recommend that even seasoned cyclists try this, as it guided me through the controls of the bike during my workout. This was great because I could learn on-the-go. This class combined elements of mindfulness and took me through a mind-to-muscle connection with breathing exercises. The bike was super comfortable for the entirety of this session.

Once I was familiar with the controls, I headed over to a 20-minute advanced session. Again, the coaching was great, and the bike was mostly comfortable, but at higher speeds and when standing up to ride, it felt a little unstable. Nothing scary, mind you, and I didn’t feel like I would go flying off, but it wasn’t as secure as the station bikes at the gym.

I especially enjoyed the feedback received on screen. I knew how well I was doing during my workout as the instructors would dictate expected metrics, and I would ensure my numbers lined up. Also, it’s pretty quiet to use — you can just hear the whirring of the pedals, which is to be expected.

Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike review: Verdict

The Echelon EX-5s Smart Connect Bike is a great home-gym solution for anyone, beginner or seasoned cyclist, who wants to implement some cardio into their routine. It’s cheaper than a Peloton, but still offers excellent workout performance and elite coaching to motivate you towards your goals. The touch screen display is convenient and simple to use, and the high levels of adjustability on the bike mean it can be customized to suit you.

Unfortunately, that membership comes with a hefty price tag of $399 a year (yikes), but you do get access to a huge selection of workouts, not just the bike sessions. So if you’re willing to shuck off the gym membership, then this is surely the way to go.

Are you a keen (or even a casual) cyclist? Then we want to hear from you. The world of cycling is changing, and we want to know about your experiences to make sure we're keeping up with the latest developments. Do you prefer riding on streets or trails? Pedal power or electric? Real-world or virtual?

Cycling is great — it keeps you fit and gets you where you need to be — but it can also be an expensive hobby. Especially if you've got more than one bike at home and suddenly find you need lights, a bike computer, headphones, the right bike jacket and all the other gear that comes with it. So, how about the chance to win $300/£250 to help out a little bit?

You can be in with a chance of winning by taking the BikeTrack 2026 Survey. All you need to do is click the link below and spend about 10-20 minutes answering a few questions. Once you're done, you can add your name into the mix for the chance to win a $300/£250 Amazon voucher.

Click here to take the BikeTrack 2026 survey

The survey is open from February 3 until Sunday, March 16, 2026. You must be a resident of the U.S., U.K. or Ireland and aged 18 or over to enter. The prize draw is entered by submitting your email address once you've completed the survey.

Your information will only be used for prize draw purposes. It is possible to submit your answers without providing those details. We may use direct quotes from your open-ended answers, with your permission, but only anonymously, to inform and promote our content offerings.

Even if you're not eligible to win the voucher, you can still fill out the survey. More T&Cs here.

Good luck, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Terms and Conditions

*The prize draw opens at 12:00 (BST) on 03/02/26 and closes at 12:00 (BST) on 15/03/26. 18+, UK/US/Ireland residents only (excluding Rhode Island, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. military installations in foreign countries, or any other U.S. territory where prohibited or restricted by law). Use of automated devices or methods of submission are not valid forms of entry. One winner in total randomly selected from all valid entries. Prize is £250/$300 (or location equivalent) Amazon voucher (T&Cs). The winner will be randomly drawn from all valid entries received and shall be notified by Future by email within 28 days of the closing date and will be required to supply details of a UK/US/Ireland delivery address. No purchase required. Void where prohibited. Any person winning $600 or more worth of prizes in a calendar year will receive an IRS form 1099 after the end of the calendar year in which the prizes were awarded and form will be filed with the IRS. The value of the prize may be taxable as income and each prize winner is solely responsible for any taxes, including, but not limited to all applicable federal, state, and local taxes that become due with respect to the value of the prize. By taking part in this prize draw you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, the competition rules at: www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/ and collection of personal data in accordance with Future’s privacy policy at: https://www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy/. This prize draw is run by Future and is not affiliated with Amazon. Any questions related to the prize draw should be directed to Future

In the world of the best electric bikes (e-bikes), Rad Power Bikes was one of the most dominant brands in the U.S. market. Times have changed, and now the company has been forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

Rad Power Bikes is looking to sell, but it could have a tough road finding a buyer with the debt it's carrying and the recent struggles it has faced. As of this writing, Bicycle Retailer says the company has assets of around $32.1 million and estimated liabilities at $72.8 million, a substantially negative net worth for another firm to purchase. Its inventory of e-bikes, spare parts, and accessories is listed at $14.2 million.

The firm has seen large investment rounds totalling $329 million, with large sums coming from Fidelity, Morgan Stanley and T. Rowe Price. Obviously, that money is gone based on the data in the bankruptcy filing.

So what happened to Rad Power Bikes to take it from one of the top e-bike makers to where it is now? A myriad of factors worked against the company, some of its own doing, some from outside. Much of the popularity happened during the COVID bike boom period, which has long since ended.

Supply chain disruptions and safety recalls (including a recent recall the company couldn't afford for its older e-bike batteries, which had been designated a fire risk by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and caused 31 fires, including 12 reports of property damage totaling $734,500) on e-bike models didn't help matters.

Finally, several rounds of layoffs and executive turnover certainly put a stick in the spokes.

Another factor that we dug up while reading through the limited amount of public information is that the company's largest creditor is U.S. Customs & Border Protection for unpaid tariffs.

Could the U.S. tariff push have backfired, potentially killing off a U.S. company that was importing goods to make its products? Or is that what the tariffs were meant to do: force companies to source their parts domestically?

The company isn't out of business yet. It could find a buyer, and it will continue to restructure its debt under government supervision. It has also said that it will keep selling bikes and work with customers and vendors as it moves forward with the process.

In a statement to The Verge, a Rad Power Bikes Spokesperson said, "We are not giving up,” spokesperson Kelsey Wolf said in a statement. “We remain deeply committed to our customers and community, and we are focused on doing everything we can to strengthen the future of the Rad brand. We are grateful for the continued support of our riders, vendors, and retail partners as we work through this moment and toward what comes next.”

More from Tom's Guide

• Best electric bikes tested and rated
• I just spent a week with Brompton's latest folding bike
• These are the best electric scooters

The best form of exercise for you is the one you enjoy most; however, when it comes to adding movement to your daily routine, one simple way to make a change is to cut down on car trips by walking or cycling.

Cycling is believed to be four to five times more efficient than walking, as the energy used by the body to move the pedals is directly turned into forward motion, whereas when you walk, energy is lost as your body moves up and down with each step. You can also cover a much greater distance on a bike with the same amount of energy.

But what are the physical benefits of adding cycling to your daily routine? Here’s what the science says:

Increased calorie burn

If you’re looking to lose weight, cycling is a great form of exercise, and it’s fantastic for seniors and complete beginners, as it’s non-weight-bearing, meaning your bodyweight is supported by the bike.

The fact that you’re not bearing as much weight means you’ll be able to push yourself harder for a longer period of time when cycling compared to walking.

During a 30-minute walk, a 155lb person would, on average, burn 150-190 calories walking, or 240-290 calories during a moderate cycle of 12-14 miles per hour. Of course, one of the best ways to keep track of how many calories you burn is to wear one of the best fitness trackers, which’ll give you an accurate estimate. To lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit, burning more calories than you consume.

Lowered risk of cardiovascular disease

This 2019 study found that regular cycling improved heart and lung function, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes. The findings also suggested that a stronger cardiovascular system is associated with lower mortality rates.

Cancer prevention

Research by the University of Glasgow, published in the medical journal BMJ, found that cycling to work is associated with a 45% lower risk of developing cancer, compared to a non-active commute.

The study analysed data from 264,337 participants from the U.K. Biobank who were asked questions about their usual mode of commuting to work and then followed up for five years.

Musculoskeletal strength

Cycling is also a great way to build musculoskeletal strength, as although you’re not weight-bearing, your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves are all getting a workout. You’ll also be engaging your core, back, and upper body muscles too.

Stronger muscles can help support your joints and protect you from falls and injuries, keeping you independent for longer.

Stress reduction

Finally, cycling, whether it’s on one of the best electric bikes or a traditional pedal bike, can reduce stress and boost your mood.

As you pedal, your body will release endorphins that lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Combined with the benefit of being outdoors, and you’re bound to feel less tense when you return from your bike ride.

More from Tom's Guide

• New study reveals cycling can reduce dementia risk by 88%
• Forget swimming or cycling — a new study shows this surprising exercise could protect your brain health for 5 years
• I used indoor cycling to help me run a faster marathon — here’s 6 ways it helped

There’s no shame in being a fair-weather cyclist. Cycling is infinitely more enjoyable when the weather is good, and if you’re riding more now than you did in the winter, that just seems smart to me.

Another smart thing to do is to make sure your bike is ready for the summer riding season with some basic maintenance.

Whether you’ve left the bike in a garage all winter or braved the elements and carried on cycling, it’s worth doing these six checks recommended by Jake Fieldsend, co-founder of bikebook, an online directory of bike mechanics and workshops.

1. Brake pads and cables

“Check your brake pads for wear or hardening,” says Fieldsend. “They can degrade over winter months even if the bike hasn’t been used. Give the levers a squeeze; if the braking feels weak or you spot frayed cables, it’s time to replace them.”

2. Chain condition

“Chains can rust or stiffen if the bike’s been sitting unused,” says Fieldsend. “Have a look for any corrosion or seized links, and check for chain stretch if you’ve got a wear tool. Replacing it early saves wear on more expensive parts.”

3. Tyres and inner tubes

“Tyres often crack or flatten slightly when left in storage,” says Fieldsend. “Inflate them to the recommended pressure, and check the sidewalls and tread. If they feel brittle or keep going soft, it’s worth fitting new ones to avoid punctures on those early summer rides back on the bike.”

4. Gears and shifting

“Run through the gears either on a quick ride or a workstand,” says Fieldsend. “If shifting feels sticky or the chain skips, the derailleur may need a tweak, or the gear cables could be due for a change.”

5. Full re-lube

“After months off the road, most bikes need a proper clean and fresh lube,” says Fieldsend. “Focus on the chain and moving parts and make sure to wipe off any excess so you don’t attract dust.”

6. General safety check

“Go over the bike for loose bolts, rattling components, or anything that feels off,” says Fieldsend. “Spin the wheels, check the brakes are aligned, and listen for any creaks that could point to something needing attention.”

More from Tom's Guide:

• Best bike locks in 2025: Tested and rated
• Recumbent vs. upright exercise bikes: which indoor bike is right for you?
• I tried Trek's CarBack Bike Radar — it's like having eyes in the back of my head

If you’re riding a bike outdoors and leaving it unattended for any length of time, you need one of the best bike locks to try and prevent thieves from making off with it.

The right lock for you will depend on a few factors, including budget and how vulnerable your bike is going to be. There are many different types of locks available, so if you’re new to cycling, it can be tricky to pick the perfect one for your situation.

To help you choose the right lock for your bike, I spoke to Ben Smith, co-founder of bike lock company Hiplok. Here’s what you need to consider when buying your lock.

1. Your situation

The first thing to think about is when and where you’ll be using your lock, and how long for.

“A lot of it comes down to your risk level,” says Smith. “Somebody going on a training ride on their bike versus locking their bike up in London all day. They are two different scenarios.

“One maybe involves a quick coffee stop, and you're trying to stop the opportunist snatching your bike, versus somebody who might have a good few hours to attack it.”

If you need to leave your bike locked up in urban environments for long spells, you will need a serious lock to deter thieves.

2. Cost

“There's a huge range,” says Smith, “Anything from $30 up to $350 for one of our anti-angle-grinder locks.”

“There was a rule of thumb back in the day where people would say spend 10% of the value of your bike on a lock, which in some ways is a bit daft and in other ways makes a lot of sense.

“It does come down to where you live, what your risk is. As a security company, we would always recommend buying the best you can afford, and that's really from a protection point of view, not a commercial point of view.”

3. Type of lock

There are four main types of locks, which all come in a range of prices and security levels, but some types will be better-suited to your regular locking scenario.

“You've got cable locks, which are steel braided cables that come in different weights and sizes,” says Smith.

“Then you have chain locks, which are one of the most traditional types of locks — they’re a chain with a padlock.

“You've got D-locks or U-locks, which are fixed shackle locks, and then you have folding locks, which expand but fold up quite small.

“They all have different benefits and different drawbacks. Chain locks are flexible in terms of what you can lock to and how many elements of the bike you can get around.

“D-locks generally are a little bit more secure for the price because there's less material, but they are less flexible in terms of what you can actually lock to. There's a huge difference between a cheap D-lock and a super secure D-lock, though.

“Folding locks are usually for low to medium [security] situations. You do need some sort of tool to get through them, but they're not as strong in general as chain and D-locks.

“Cable locks, generally, are a low price point, preventative type lock. They’re easier to cut through or pull apart. They come in different lengths. Longer ones help you to do things like lock multiple bikes together.”

“We also have something called a Z-Lok, which is very lightweight.”

4. Certification

Unless you have a trained eye, it’s hard to know how secure a bike lock is at first sight, so it’s wise to look out for independent verification that they meet certain standards.

“In the UK, we use Sold Secure,” says Smith. “If the product is of a sufficient standard, it will have a rating of bronze, silver, gold, or a new diamond award. These basically rate the lock based on attack time and attack methods.

“Looking out for those independent security logos on the locks and packaging is always a good idea. While the US actually doesn't have its own standard, many countries do. The UK is Sold Secure. In the Netherlands, they have a thing called ART.

“Because most people sell their lots in all countries, you will see those certifications on the packaging.”

Do you need two bike locks?

When I cycled in London regularly, the common advice was to use two locks to give yourself the best chance of deterring thieves, and even with the arrival of highly secure anti-angle-grinder locks, you might want two locks to cover more areas of your bike.

“If you look at places like London or New York, where previously people would potentially use two of the best D-locks, one ultimate security anti-angle-grinder lock now does that job and more, so you maybe don’t need to use two for that purpose,” says Smith.

“That said, you also want to protect wheels and accessories. So, one very good lock for the main locking — we always recommend locking the frame to an inanimate object because the frame is the most expensive part of the bike and the bit that's really holding things together.

“Then you may also want to lock your front wheel to your frame or lock the front wheel to the bike rack itself. At that point, you're just looking to make it awkward for people to steal the accessories off the bicycle.

“So, best case scenario, you've got a really good lock and something that's locking potentially loose accessories as well.”

6. Weight and portability

Heavier locks may well offer more security, but can be a pain to travel with. Check the weight of your lock and what options there are for bringing it with you in terms of mounting it on your bike using a bracket, or wearing it around your waist or shoulders.

“Our best D-lock, for example, is about 5.5lb,” says Smith. “Chain locks can be a little bit heavier than that. Anywhere between one and 6.5lb is the general range.

“There are different ways to carry the locks as well. What I call on-bike products. We've just designed a new bracket for our top-end locks that gives the consumer a lot of places that they can put it on the bike.”

7. Home security

The above mostly relates to locks you use on the go, but you can also get locks to use at home if you're not going to bring your bike inside.

“A huge number of bikes are stolen from private property as well,” says Smith. “When you're not taking a lock with you, then obviously weight is really less of an issue. We do a product called the mega chain, for example, which is 26lb."

More from Tom's Guide:

• Best bike locks in 2025: Tested and rated
• Recumbent vs. upright exercise bikes: which indoor bike is right for you?
• I tried Trek's CarBack Bike Radar — it's like having eyes in the back of my head

Cycling at night can be slightly daunting, but getting a set of the best bike lights will go a long way to making you feel more confident on two wheels in the dark.

Bike lights serve two main purposes — to help you see and to help you be seen. In urban environments, they’re mostly there to make you more visible, while those cycling in areas without street lamps will need a light to illuminate the path ahead.

To help you pick out the right lights for you, I spoke to Juan Garcia Mansilla, co-founder of UNIT 1, a company that makes smart bike lights and other cycling accessories. Here are the key things to consider.

1. Cost

Start by considering your budget, because that may immediately rule some lights out entirely. Remember you need both a front and a back light, and you can buy them both in a set or separately.

“Prices vary a lot, depending on what you’re getting,” says Mansilla. “Basic lights start under $20, while premium systems with advanced visibility and smart features can go over $150.”

2. To see or be seen?

Are you looking for lights that are bright enough to show the path in front of you, or lights that make you more visible to others? In the city, it’s all about visibility to keep you safe, whereas in areas without other lights, you’ll need bright front lights in particular.

“There are lights to illuminate the path in front of you,” says Mansilla. “These have a focused beam and tend to be quite bright. Then there are lights to make the wearer visible to others, these are omnidirectional — so not focused on a single direction but emitting light in all directions — and overall less powerful.”

3. Brightness

Light is measured in lumens, and you want your lights to be bright enough to serve their purpose. Omnidirectional lights make you more visible, and don’t have to be as bright, but you want them to have a high visibility angle so people can see you from the sides as well as from behind.

“UNIT 1 lights fall into this category,” says Mansilla. “Our lights offer 50 lumens (red) and 100 lumens (white), optimized for wearer-visibility.”

If you need a light to illuminate the path ahead, you probably want it to offer at least 1000 lumens if there are no other light sources; some lights offer more than double that. Front lights used in urban environments, when you’re not relying completely on them to see, can be less bright, around 500-800 lumens.

4. Battery life

Most bike lights are rechargeable, and the amount of battery life they offer will vary considerably depending on how bright the light is and the variety of modes available. Make sure your light will last long enough for your regular journeys.

You can boost battery life by using less bright or flashing modes on the lights, but at their brightest, front lights will often only last 1-2 hours, whereas back lights usually last longer, around three to five hours, at least.

5. Mounting

Bike lights must be attached to your bike in some way, and this can be the most painful part of interacting with them. Budget lights might require a tool to get them in place, while more expensive options usually have a tool-free system, using magnets or an adjustable mount.

Smart features

If you spend more on your lights, you can get some useful extra features, like a built-in camera and turn signals.

“Our UNIT 1 Smart Lights include turn signals, brake lights and app-based customization,” says Mansilla.

You can also get lights with a radar in them that make you aware of cars coming up behind you, as an extra safety benefit.

More from Tom's Guide:

• Best bike lights in 2025: Tested and reviewed
• Recumbent vs. upright exercise bikes: which indoor bike is right for you?
• I tried Trek's CarBack Bike Radar — it's like having eyes in the back of my head

If you’re planning to start cycling more, you need one of the best bike helmets, it’s as simple as that. The extra protection you get from a helmet can make all the difference in a crash, and some helmets can now even help to prevent collisions.

To get the inside track on everything you need to know about bike helmets, we spoke to Juan Garcia Mansilla, co-founder of UNIT 1, a company that makes smart bike helmets and other cycling accessories.

Here’s what you need to consider when buying your bike helmet.

Cost

Price is an obvious place to start, because you might well have a budget available to spend on your bike helmet.

“Prices vary a lot,” says Mansilla. “You’ll find basic helmets starting around $30. More advanced options — those with better materials, more features, or higher safety certifications — can go up to $300 or more.

“In our case, smart helmets with integrated lighting, MIPS [Multi-directional Impact Protection System], crash alerts and other features usually fall in the $150–$230 range.”

Safety standards

Bike helmets have to hit certain safety standards depending on where you live, and this is the first thing you should check with any helmet you’re considering, especially if you’re looking at cheaper helmets.

“In the U.S., the standard is CPSC,” says Mansilla. “In Europe, it's EN-1078. Both were developed for traditional cycling speeds up to around 15.5 mph/25 km/h.

“For higher-impact protection, there’s NTA-8776, a newer and more demanding certification created in the Netherlands, specifically with e-bikes and faster urban riding in mind.

“It tests for impacts up to 28 mph/ 45 km/h. No matter how fast you actually ride, a helmet that’s NTA-certified offers a higher safety margin, full stop.

“For additional assurance, some riders also look to independent testing like the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings, which assess real-world impact scenarios.”

Comfort and fit

Once you’ve found a helmet that fits your budget and the required safety standard, you need to make sure it’s comfortable and fits well — if the helmet is loose, it will reduce how effective it is during impacts.

If you ride in hot countries, it’s also worth making sure that the helmet has good airflow so it doesn’t get uncomfortably sweaty during longer rides.

The type of cycling you do

Helmets will work for all kinds of cycling, but there are different features you should prioritize depending on whether you’re likely to be riding on the road or trails.

“Road cyclists typically look for something lightweight with maximum ventilation,” says Mansilla. “Mountain bikers need more head coverage and durability. Urban helmets tend to be cleaner in design, with moderate airflow and visibility-focused features.

Technically, any helmet can work across contexts, but one that’s built for your type of riding will always perform better.”

Smart features

Bike helmets are getting smarter all the time, and if you have a bigger budget, you can get features that enhance your safety and ride experience.

“Our [UNIT 1’s] helmets, for example, include integrated front and rear lights, turn signals, brake lights, a magnetic buckle for ease of use and crash alerts that send your location to an emergency contact if you fall,” says Mansilla.

“These tools are designed to help you avoid collisions and get help faster if one happens.”

How often do you need to replace bike helmets?

This is something to consider after you’ve bought your helmet — when should you think about buying another one?

“After any crash, the helmet should be replaced, even if it looks fine,” says Mansilla. “Impact can compromise the inner structure in ways you can’t see.

“Without a crash, most helmets need to be replaced every three to four years, depending on use. UV exposure, rain, sweat and general wear all break down the materials over time.”

More from Tom's Guide:

• The best bike helmets in 2025: expert tested and rated
• Recumbent vs. upright exercise bikes: which indoor bike is right for you?
• I tried Trek's CarBack Bike Radar — it's like having eyes in the back of my head

Brompton bikes are a common sight on the streets of London. If anything, they're a source of national pride. I've been cycling around the U.K. capital for well over a decade and these distinctive folding bicycles are everywhere.

The bikes are manufactured in west London and ridden here because space is at a premium. Anyone who's had a chance to ride the London Underground will know what I'm talking about. Bromptons offer a patented folding mechanism whereby the back wheel swings down and underneath the frame as opposed to alongside like conventional bikes.

It turns the entire thing into a package about the size of a suitcase, letting you stow it on a train, in the trunk/boot of your car or even under your desk once you get to the office.

This design has remained largely unchanged since the 1970s, relying on tweaks and refinements to the formula over time. For example, the brand has leaned into the electric bike age with an electric P Line model my colleague Jane McGuire used a couple of years ago as well as the Brompton Electric C Line Explore.

Despite never having owned a Brompton before, I was lucky enough to secure a loan sample of the company's latest creation: the Brompton G Line. It makes some pretty sweeping changes to the established design as the company's first attempt at a gravel bike.

The model I was using was the manual model but there's an electric version too. And if you're shopping for an e-bike then check out the best electric bikes here, as well as the best budget electric bikes and the best bike helmets.

Turns out my first experience with a Brompton felt ideally suited to the way cycling fits into my life. But at the same time, I'll acknowledge up front it's a divisive bike that won't be the best option for everyone.

And, because it's a Brompton, it's expensive. You're looking at $3,300 from Brompton USA and £2,399 here in Jolly Old England. So with that caveat stated up front, let's get on with what I liked and what I didn't.

Brompton G Line: what I liked 

Resilient and sturdy

Brompton has put its design on steroids for the G Line to make sure it can handle those gravel tracks that are its raison d'être. As the company's first proper gravel bike, the standard 16-inch wheels have been boosted to 20-inch and equipped with tubeless gravel tires.

The handlebars, pedals and steel frame are all bigger and the result is a ride that's stable and accomplished when you're cruising through the city streets. You don't feel like you're going to topple when you hit potholes or cobbles (yes, a section of my commute has cobbles) and the all-too-common sight of broken glass on the side of the street isn't going to shred your tires.

I always imagined that cycling a Brompton would leave me feeling rather vulnerable — as if a particularly strong gust of wind would have me sprawled in the gutter. It's not the case with the G Line at all. I'm also not generally a fan of an upright riding position but I do appreciate the ergonomic grips on the ends of the handlebars.

The bike is agile while staying firm underneath you. You can accelerate away from the lights and navigate through traffic with a certain degree of confidence. Gear transmission is smooth and seamless and, in my case, I rarely needed all eight as I only have one particularly nasty hill to deal with.

Space-saving practicality

Look, I know the whole thing about Bromptons is that they're folding bikes and therefore very practical when it comes to storage. But I've had other folding bikes in my time and none have been able to shrink down as compact as this one.

The classic example is the train carriage, but I was able to stick this bike under my desk at the office and in a corner of my overstuffed garage and not worry about it taking up yet more space.

When folded, the dimension are just 28.3" / 72cm in depth, 26.2" / 67cm in height and 16" / 41cm in width. Anyone living in smaller accommodation — like a one bedroom city apartment — will undoubtedly appreciate it.

But here's the rub — and I'll expand on this at the close of this article — by bulking the G Line up for rugged rural adventures, Brompton has made it less of a commuter staple because it's larger and heavier than the company's other models.

In my particular case, it works okay because I'm only using it to commute a few times a week for city cycling. I also have more storage space than a one bedroom apartment.

So the shortcomings here don't affect me as greatly and I can just marvel at how much more portable it is than my regular bike.

The brakes are on point

I got my first bike with disc brakes over a decade ago and, after years of cycling with V-brakes, it was a total game-changer. So much so that any bike I consider buying these days had better be using disc brakes or have a damn good reason why not. Not only are they easier to maintain with better durability, but the stopping power is unquestionably better.

The G Line is Brompton's first bicycle to arrive with a disc brake system that's present on both the manual and the electric version. It means you can stop on a dime with this bike and that's something that comes in super handy whether you have to deal with a stray pedestrian stepping out in front of you, a car braking hard or a rough patch of ground on an off-road trial.

It's understandable why Brompton hasn't used disc brakes up to this point — they do make the bike heavier and wider and create a trade-off with the practicality of a fold-up bike. Perhaps because I'm not a seasoned Brompton cyclist I'm willing to make this trade though as the precision you get from a good disc brake system is a big plus in my book.

Brompton G Line: what I didn't like

Large and heavy for a commuter bike

With the caveats I expressed in the last couple of points, this probably won't come as a surprise to you. I think the changes Brompton has implemented to make the G Line a more capable off-road bike than any of its other models have made it by necessity a less capable commuter vehicle. The model I tested weighs in at 14.8kg (32.6lbs) with the roller rack and mudguards fitted and that's still pretty heavy. If you opt for the vanilla G Line, it's a slightly less 13.9kg (30.6lbs).

Anyone familiar with Brompton bikes will know the regular C Line (also with a steel body) tips the scales at 12kg (26.4lbs) and is a smaller overall package when folded. At £1,599 in the U.K. and $2,000 in the U.S., it's a darn sight cheaper, too.

That weight may not seem like much, but if you're routinely carrying your bike up and down stairs (to swap train platforms or get up to your office floor) you'll definitely be aware of each extra kilogram. Likewise, even when folded it's still a large item to try and squeeze into an elevator cab or under a desk. I know, I tried.

And just as there are better commuter bikes made by Brompton, there are better dedicated gravel bikes made by other companies that, for seasoned cyclists, will offer a far better performance.

So the Brompton G Line's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. By trying to be both a commuter vehicle and a gravel bike, you have to overlook the fact it's not be the very best choice in either category. To bring it back to what I mentioned at the beginning of this article; that works for me but it might not work for everyone.

Bottom line

I am not a died-in-the-wool cyclist in the sense I enter competitions and hang out on cycling subreddits in my spare time. But I am someone that uses a bike for commuting a couple times a week and loves heading out for a weekend ride in the tracks surrounding my town every once in a while.

Seasoned cyclists will probably have a dedicated bike for commuting, a dedicated bike for off-roading and maybe a dedicated bike for road cycling. I just want one bike that does a little bit of everything. That, for me, is the Brompton G Line.

If I was forcing my way through a train-based commute five days a week, I wouldn't buy this bike. If I was heading out every weekend in all kinds of weather to rip up the country trails, I wouldn't buy this bike. But since my cycling needs are a hybrid of the two, I find the Brompton G Line fits the niche almost perfectly. And it helps the "Adventure Orange" finish just looks incredible, too.

More from Tom's Guide

• I commuted with this folding e-bike for a month — here’s the pros and cons
• Best budget electric bikes in 2025
• I spent a month cycling with the Canyon Grand Canyon ON: 9 e-bike — here’s my verdict

I just bought a van. Yep, I’m a van-lifer now, which is why bikes like Velotric’s Fold 1 Plus suddenly appeal to me a whole lot more.

They fold up to fit in the back of the van, and when unfolded, they offer an easy method to get around town or camp without moving the van.

There are many folding bikes like this out there, so Velotric is entering a crowded market with the Fold 1 Plus. But they already have lots of experience, built on the Fold 1 model that precedes the Fold 1 Plus.

And largely, Velotric has done an exemplary job building a super-useful, fun, fast and convenient bike equally at home among the van-life community and daily city commuters. Here's why I rate it as potentially one of the best electric bikes on the market right now.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: Price and availability

The Fold 1 Plus costs $1,499 and is available for purchase from April 10, 2025. More details will be available after that date.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: Design and features

Velotric touts several differences between the Fold 1 Plus and its competition. High on that list is commitment to safety, with UL certifications and waterproofing that ensure the highest standards of safety and durability for riders.

As such, the battery is IPX7 waterproof-rated, and the entire bike is IPX6 rated. That means the Fold 1 Plus can handle nasty weather and exposure to moisture without risking damage to the battery and electrical components. Whip out the pressure sprayer to wash off the Fold 1 Plus; it’s designed to withstand it.

The Fold 1 Plus is also UL2271 and UL2849 certified. That means the bike meets safety standards outlined by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), a global science safety company that develops standards for a wide range of products.

UL2271 certifies that the Fold 1 Plus meets battery standards, and UL2849 meets the standards for electrical systems, including fire safety certification. Not all ebikes have these certifications, and Velotric is wise to tout them.

All that is packed into a deep step-thru frame that makes it easy to mount and dismount, regardless of rider height. The handlebars are also adjustable, as is the seatpost. Up front, Velotric includes a 60mm suspension fork for bump absorption, which complements the compliance of the 20x3-inch tires.

Other integrations include front and rear lights, a rear rack that can carry up to 120 pounds, and a USB-C phone charger port. Notably, the rear light includes turn signals that you can operate from the control buttons mounted on the handlebars. The rear light also indicates when you’re braking.

Another cool feature I haven’t yet seen on competitor bikes is the integration of Apple’s Find My. That means you can pair the Fold 1 Plus to your iPhone’s Find My app, and it will track where your bike is at any given time.

Adding to the nifty features I haven’t seen with competitors, Velotric has included what it calls SensorSwap Technology, which allows you to switch between torque and cadence modes.

In other words, the motor assist will respond to the amount of power you’re pushing into the pedals when you’re in torque mode, whereas in cadence mode, the motor will change the amount of assist based on your pedaling cadence.

It’s the best of both worlds, allowing you to truly tailor how you ride this bike.

Out of the box, the Fold 1 Plus is set up to max out its assist at 20mph. You can change this setting to a max of 28mph. There’s also a walk mode, which gives you a low-speed assist when walking the bike. If you don’t want to pedal while riding, there’s a trigger-style throttle mounted on the handlebar.

With all that speed, Velotric wisely specs hydraulic disc brakes to slow you down when needed. The company also says the Fold 1 Plus is built for rugged terrain — presumably that means riding off-road — so strong, modulated stopping power matters here.

The Fold 1 Plus lives up to its name by folding down for storage. There are a few release levers located throughout the bike, notably at the bottom of the frame and handlebars. Releasing these levers allows you to fold down the handlebars and fold the bike in half for storage in the back of the van, RV, or closet.

The rear hub motor mates with a 48V battery to provide the assist power, and you’ll get all the current settings displayed clearly on the full-color screen mounted to your handlebars.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: Battery life

The battery mounts on the seat tube, just inboard from the rear wheel. It’s a 48V, 13Ah battery with an IPX7 waterproof rating. It’s also UL2271-certified. It’s removable, making it easier to charge, though you can also just leave it on the bike while charging.

Velotric says you can expect a 68-mile maximum range while using the pedal-assist settings, and a 45-mile maximum range if you’re using just the throttle. Of course, you can always pedal the bike with the motor completely off, too.

I rode the Fold 1 Plus for about eight miles on my first ride. I mostly used the highest assist setting, with the max assist speed set at 20mph. I was heavy on the throttle, too.

By the end of that ride, I had used one bar out of five of battery life. Presumably, that would put me at an average range of about 40 miles. That’s certainly less than the maximum advertised range of 68 miles, but that’s a maximum, not an average. I can envision getting the full 68 miles or close to it using lower assist levels and less throttle.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: performance

The bike rides more confidently than I had expected from a small-wheeled folding bike. The 3-inch-wide tires help with that, of course. Run those at a lower tire pressure and you’ll get heaps of grip, not to mention comfort, as the rubber will end up eating up a lot of road vibration and bump impact.

In my mind, the front suspension is largely superfluous. It offers 60mm of additional suspension, which is nice on bigger hits like potholes, but because the tires are so wide, the front suspension probably isn’t necessary. It would be easy enough to get rid of it without sacrificing the ride quality, and you’d ditch some weight (and cost).

The bike rides wonderfully, even with the assist turned completely off. I scraped the pedals going around corners a few times because they’re set fairly low, which is, in turn, because the step-thru design dips low to help shorter riders mount and dismount easily. It’s a fair trade-off.

The motor is very powerful. In the highest assist setting, I could start from a dead stop on a steep hill with no problem, either pedaling in an easy gear or simply using the throttle exclusively. Riding up sustained hills was a breeze, too.

The highest assist setting often felt like overkill. In most situations, the level-2 assist (out of five levels) was more than enough for comfortably riding around town on rolling terrain. If you’re doing long stretches of riding, you may want to bump up to the 28mph max, in which case the top assist level will get you up to speed more quickly.

The Fold 1 Plus has a slightly pedal-forward design, which means you’re pedaling in front of your hips rather than over them. That’s common on cruiser bikes, and less common on more performance-oriented bikes.

Is that good or bad? It comes down to preference, but generally, you’ll get less pedaling power from your pedal stroke this way. Of course, with all that assist power, you probably won’t need it anyway.

I mostly kept the bike set to the torque sensor setting. This is best for folks who want to push the pedals and feel they’re doing some of the work. If you prefer to exercise, this is the setting you should stick with.

The cadence setting works wonderfully too, and this is the best setting for riders who want the assist to kick in when they need it most, rather than when they’re pushing the pedals the hardest. If you’re new to riding ebikes, I’d go with the cadence sensor position.

In keeping with that style choice, the big, wide seat is also quite comfortable and ideal for an upright riding position. While this bike may be able to handle “rugged” use as Velotric contends, it’s really at home on the pavement, in the hands of riders who want a comfortable, upright riding position while commuting. I wouldn’t mountain bike on this thing, but it would be fine on tame dirt roads.

Folding the bike is pretty simple, and Velotric includes a hook-and-loop strap to help keep it closed when folded. That makes things a lot easier when hoisting it up into the back of the van.

But, at 63 pounds, it’s not exactly light, and pretty cumbersome lifting it even in the folded position. That tends to be the case with just about any of these folding, fat-tired ebikes, so Velotric isn’t better or worse than the competition here.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: Accessories

Velotric’s website offers a ton of accessories across its range of bicycles. As of writing this, the Fold 1 Plus has not yet been added to the website, so we’ll have to wait and see what accessories are specific to this bike. In the meantime, there are plenty of non-specific accessories to choose from, like phone mounts, baskets, pumps, bags, bells and more.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: Competition

One of my favorite folding ebikes that ticks most of the boxes that the Fold 1 Plus does is the Ride1Up Portola. It’s $500 less expensive than the Fold 1 Plus and offers a similar ride quality, form factor and powerful assist.

The Portola doesn’t offer the ability to change between the torque and cadence sensor. Nor does it offer nifty features like the Apple Find My integration. While both are excellent bikes, the Fold 1 Plus justifies the extra money with those features.

But if those features don’t matter to you, the Portola offers much of the same benefits at a lower price.

Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike review: Verdict

The Fold 1 Plus integrates features I haven’t seen in other bikes in this category, like Apple’s Find My and the ability to change between torque and cadence sensors. As such, it’s a versatile bike beyond just its ability to fold up and toss in the back of the van.

More importantly, it’s fun to ride and quite comfortable. It feels stoutly built, and Velotric has done the hard and unglamorous work of getting it UL-certified. That’s a huge benefit, even if it’s not something you’ll feel while riding.

So, among folding ebikes, the Fold 1 Plus ranks among the best. If you’re after a versatile folding bike you can store in the back of the van or RV, or if you just want to get across town quickly, you’ll do very well with the Fold 1 Plus.

Stationary cycling is a great way to get a low-impact cardio workout, but not all stationary bikes are built the same. If you’ve just begun a fitness routine, you may compare recumbent vs. upright exercise bikes and wonder if one is ‘better’ to use than the other.

As is the case with most pieces of workout equipment, recumbent bikes and upright bikes both have their benefits and drawbacks. The best exercise bike for you will depend on factors like your health and wellness goals, current injuries or considerations, and personal preferences.

Below you’ll learn the differences between recumbent bikes and exercise bikes, and how to determine which you should choose. No matter what you decide, it’s important to remember that either type of bike can provide an effective and efficient workout.

What is an upright exercise bike?

Upright exercise bikes closely resemble actual bicycles with the rider seated upright on a saddle and the pedals located underneath the hips. Force is applied onto the pedals in a downward circular motion which works the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glute muscles.

Resistance can be added to the pedals in different ways depending on the model of upright exercise bike. Most standard upright bikes allow the rider to adjust the resistance levels through controls on the display panel. Resistance on spin bikes can be altered by turning a knob located on the bike’s frame.

Upright exercise bike riders should keep their core muscles engaged and spine in a neutral position while pedaling. Hands should be placed on the front handle bars for light support and balance.

Some upright bikes are designed so that the rider can lift themselves off of the saddle while they pedal, but the same attention should be paid to form — the core should remain engaged and the spine neutral.

The most famous example of an upright exercise bike is the Peloton Bike+ which has the classic pedals-under-hips design but with a large display in front of the handlebar so you can access the brand's live and on-demand streamed classes.

For a more traditional option, there's the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycle Bike available at a fraction of the cost of Peloton, but without the smart features.

What is a recumbent exercise bike?

Unlike upright bikes, recumbent bikes are designed so that the rider is seated in a reclined position. The pedals are located directly across from the hips, and force is applied in a forward circular motion working the quadriceps, hamstrings and glues.

Most recumbent bikes — including our favorite, the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike — feature a full seat with a backrest as opposed to a saddle. Resistance can be added to the recumbent bike’s pedals by adjusting controls on the display.

Even though the majority of recumbent bikes have a seat back to provide support, riders should still be mindful of keeping their spine in a neutral position throughout the workout.

Who should use a recumbent bike?

Recumbent bikes are an excellent choice for beginners, for those with chronic joint or back pain, for those rehabilitating from injury, and for seniors.

Their design is generally more comfortable than upright bikes, requiring less core and upper body strength to operate safely. Since recumbent bike seats are usually wider with a full seat back, there’s less pressure placed on the rider’s tailbone and greater structural support for the lower back.

They’re much easier to mount and dismount than an upright exercise bike, making them more accessible for wheelchair users or those with mobility limitations. And if you want to develop strength in your lower body, recumbent bikes are a great option.

According to a study in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, pedaling on a recumbent bike resulted in greater activity of the semitendinosus (a muscle in the hamstring) and the tibialis anterior (a muscle in the shin).

Additionally, recumbent bikes are great for those who are shorter than average in height. If you have to lean forward excessively in order to reach an upright exercise bike’s handle bars, you might want to try a recumbent bike instead.

Is an upright bike better than a recumbent?

Both upright and recumbent exercise bikes are capable of providing the kind of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise that would help you meet the U.S. CDC's recommendations.

However, upright bikes do have an advantage when it comes to total muscle recruitment. Riding an upright exercise bike not only requires lower body work, but also core and upper body work as well. Generally, recumbent bikes only activate lower body muscle groups.

Upright bikes also offer a bit more workout versatility as riders can choose to stand and pedal out of the saddle. This position often increases the demands on your cardiovascular system, and can require even greater effort from your lower body, upper body, and core.

Since upright exercise bikes require work from more muscle groups, you might assume they burn more calories too. This isn’t necessarily the case, though. Calorie burn is largely dependent on the intensity of your workout, so a leisurely ride on an upright bike could burn fewer calories than a vigorous ride on a recumbent bike.

Recumbent vs upright exercise bikes: which is right for you?

When trying to determine whether an upright or recumbent exercise bike is the right choice for you, you’ll want to keep a few factors in mind.

First, think about your overall fitness goals and any current injuries or considerations. If you’re training for a cycling race or an endurance event like a marathon, an upright bike would be the best decision. If you have an acute lower back injury or you’re limited in mobility, a recumbent bike would be the safest choice.

If you’re just looking to improve your cardiovascular health or lose a few pounds, either bike would be appropriate. In fact, there’s no reason you can’t incorporate both upright cycling and recumbent cycling into your routine.

More from Tom's Guide

• Exercise bike vs walking: Which is best?
• Best Peloton alternatives for at-home cardio workouts
• Peloton vs. NordicTrack: which exercise bike should you buy?

Wattbike makes some of the best exercise bikes available, but up until now it has focused on keen cyclists with models like the Wattbike Atom. The Wattbike Proton is designed to be a more accessible bike for anyone looking to get fit at home whether they’re a cyclist or not, with a step-through design and a lower price than the Atom.

It’s still an expensive bike, but you don’t have any ongoing costs with the Wattbike Proton, because the Wattbike Hub app can be used subscription free. It does also connect with any other app easily, opening up a world of workouts and virtual cycling apps like Zwift. It’s one of the best options for indoor cycling whatever your health and fitness aims are as a result.

In my Wattbike Proton review I’ll compare the bike to other smart bikes I’ve tested like the Peloton Bike, Zwift Ride and Wattbike Atom, to see if it’s a useful option for your home use.

Wattbike Proton review: Price and availability

The Wattbike Proton launched in the UK in September 2024 and costs £1,795. It is due to launch in the USA and Australia in early 2025, and will cost $2,499 in the US. Wattbike also launched a new air resistance bike called the Wattbike Air at the same time, which costs £1,855 and designed for high-intensity interval training in particular.

The Proton is £400/$500 cheaper than the Wattbike Atom, and cheaper than most smart bikes in general. The Zwift Ride and Peloton Bike are both more affordable, but are tied to use with certain apps that require an ongoing subscription, especially the Peloton.

Wattbike Proton review: design and setup

The Wattbike Proton comes almost fully assembled, you just need to put on the pedals, handlebars and stabilizer legs and adjust the fit to your preferences. It’s easy to adjust the handlebars and saddle using the dials quickly without a tool — I tinkered with the setup several times in my first ride to make it comfortable — and the range of positions available accommodates a wide range of users.

Unlike the Wattbike Atom, the Proton has a step-through design without a top bar on the frame which makes it easier to mount the bike without having to swing your leg over the top. The design makes it look more like a bike you’d jump on in the gym for classes and general cardio, rather than the more cycling-specific look of the Atom.

The Proton still delivers the realistic ride feel of all Wattbikes and the power range still goes up to 1800W, which is not as high as the 2500W you can get on the Atom, but more than high enough for most people. It uses electromagnetic resistance which you can control using the buttons on the drop handlebars to shift gears or change the power target when in ergo mode.

There is no built-in screen on the Proton, which instead has a tablet/phone holder built into the handlebars so you can use a variety of apps with it. There are two bottle holders at the base of the handlebar stem. The pedals that come with the bike have toe cages on them, but you can swap them out for other pedals.

Wattbike Proton review: Wattbike Hub app

One of the main selling points with Wattbikes in general is that you get access to the workouts and training plans in the Wattbike Hub app without a subscription. There is a subscription version of the app, which unlocks a workout builder as the main extra, but it’s not needed to enjoy the bike, unlike with other smart bikes that are tied to a subscription with an app. 

Lots of the workouts and training plans are targeted at cyclists preparing for events like 100-mile sportives, but there are also plans aimed at improving your fitness in general, and workouts and plans targeted at helping you perform in other sports. I’m a keen runner and used the indoor cycling workouts for runners in the app during my testing, which involve more out of the saddle work to be more applicable to running.

The app also shows you the advanced insights into your pedaling technique during rides that are a signature Wattbike feature and can be invaluable to keen cyclists trying to improve. Even as someone not focused on improving my outdoor riding I did try to pedal in a more efficient manner using this feature. The main dashboard you see during rides also shows details on the intervals during workouts, plus your power and cadence stats.

Even as a more accessible bike, you still need to get your head around some cycling terminology with the Wattbike, and the workouts in the app are based on your FTP – functional threshold power. 

This is a measure of your cycling fitness and intervals are calculated as a percentage of your FTP, which you can measure using tests in the app, similar to how you can measure your FTP with a Peloton, or add to your profile directly. Or you can dive into workouts just using a rough estimate of FTP, which I found didn’t diminish my enjoyment of them.

One thing you don’t get with Wattbike is instructor-led classes like Peloton’s, and the workouts in the app, while effective, aren’t quite as engaging if you’re looking for motivation to push through. The app is more targeted at keen athletes who aren’t looking for a boost to train, but guidance on how to do so effectively. You can pair the Proton with other apps easily though, if you did want a different kind of guided workout.

Wattbike Proton review: performance

I used the Wattbike Proton for a series of 30-60 minute rides during my testing, trying out a couple of the cycling workouts for runners in the app as well as doing another workout and some quick rides with no set targets.

The bike runs quietly and the changes in gear and resistance are smooth. I linked it up to the Zwift app for one ride and the changes in gradient in the virtual cycling app adjusted the resistance on the Proton seamlessly. 

On one occasion I had to move the bike to another spot in my house to ride it and it is a heavy bit of kit. Even with the wheels on the base it’s hard to maneuver it solo, and while that’s the case with most exercise bikes, the Zwift Ride is one that I found easier to move around because the bike frame and turbo trainer it attaches to can be moved separately.

The weight does give a solid feel to the Wattbike Proton though and it didn’t move around for me even when I was up out of the saddle and riding hard. Adjusting the saddle and handlebars for other users is also quick and easy and you can use the measurements on the bike to remember the settings for each person.

While the lack of a built-in screen doesn’t really limit the functionality of the Proton because most people have a tablet they can use on the holder, or even a phone, using these small screens instead of the vast HD displays I’ve enjoyed on bikes like the Peloton Bike and Technogym Bike is not quite as immersive during workouts.

Wattbike Proton review: integrations

A key feature of the Proton is that you can link it up with any app you want using the Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity. Most of those apps will require some kind of subscription, which the Wattbike Hub doesn’t, but you can get a different experience by cycling in the virtual worlds of Zwift or Rouvy, or following workouts in TrainerRoad. You can even use it with the Peloton app, though I’d say the best Peloton experience is had using the Peloton Bike+ and its huge built-in screen.

Should you buy the Wattbike Proton?

The Wattbike Proton is an excellent exercise bike and if you want flexibility in your indoor cycling, it’s the an incredible value smart bike. The Zwift Ride is cheaper and I loved using it, but ties you into using Zwift (for now, at least), so if you don’t plan to stick to that app then the Proton is a better option. 

You will get a more immersive experience using a Peloton with its big screen, but you are tied to the Peloton app and the $44 a month subscription you need for it. If you’re all in on instructor-led spinning workouts, then the Peloton Bike+ remains the better option, but you can still follow workouts like that through a tablet with the Wattbike Proton.

If you live in a house where a few different people might use the bike with different apps, the Proton stands out from the competition because of its wide array of integrations, and the hardware is also top-notch, delivering a smooth and solid ride and easy saddle and handlebar adjustments.

Only very keen cyclists, and those who race online in apps like Zwift, will feel the need to upgrade to the Wattbike Atom, in my opinion. The Proton offers a realistic ride feel and will help you train for outdoor cycling if that is your preferred sport, but also feels more approachable to non-cyclists.

If you have a bike at home then a cheaper option would be to buy one of the best indoor cycling trainers like the Wahoo KICKR CORE and use that to pair to apps, but the convenience and extra adjustability of having a smart bike is a notable benefit and I prefer using the Wattbike Proton to the bike and turbo trainer setup I have.

There are lots of ways you can improve as a runner and one of the most common is to increase the amount of training you do. It’s not always easy to do this purely through running more, however, because running is a high-impact sport and you can risk injury by doing more of it.

Many runners, including myself, increase the amount of training they do by cycling, and doing indoor cycling in particular. Using one of the best exercise bikes is a convenient and low-impact way to do more cardiovascular training, and the fitness benefits apply to running directly.

That’s especially true if you set up your bike in a certain way, and adjust your riding position and style to better mimic running. To get more advice on how to best use indoor cycling to improve your running I spoke to Dr Barney Wainwright, applied sport scientist and senior research fellow at Leeds Beckett University.

Wainwright has worked with endurance athletes for 30 years and has created some specific cycling for runners workouts for Wattbike, one of which you can find below.

How does indoor cycling benefit runners?

“There's a lot of shared benefits between both sports,” says Wainwright. “Like central cardiovascular benefits, also some of the more localized benefits around capillarization, increase of mitochondria. And we can manipulate the cycling side of the movement to have a better crossover to running.”

Cycling is also a lower-impact sport than running, which makes it a good way to increase your training volume with a lower risk of injury, perhaps as a step towards increasing the amount of running you do. 

You can sometimes also use the bike to replace running when rehabbing an injury you can’t run with, and it’s easy to control how hard you work on the bike. Just like any indoor form of training, cycling inside also means you can train more easily when it’s dark outside or the weather is horrendous.

How do runners make indoor cycling more like running?

“If we look at the two normal positions of cycling and running, they're quite different,” says Wainwright. Running is very upright, and when biking, we're more bent over.

“Out of saddle cycling is a much closer replacement, so do as much riding out of the saddle as possible. Then it's using very similar muscles for loading and driving backwards through the pedal stroke like you are when you're running.

“We've got a similar body orientation. A lot of the joints, particularly around the hip, are moving through a very similar range of motion, so we're able to use the glutes as well. Whereas in cycling the glutes can often be switched off like. 

"And we also get a bit more loading because you are actually loading each leg at a time as we are when we're running.” You can adjust the setup of your indoor bike to make it more suitable for supporting this style of riding, and more like running in general.

“Set the handlebars a bit higher, to be more upright, move the saddle a bit further forwards, and raise it up a little bit as well,” says Wainwright. “Often when we're cycling, particularly runners not used to being on a bike, we end up with quite a low saddle. That means you end up cycling with a very bent knee all the way around, which is very different to running, where we extend our knees completely.”

“We'd normally look for a knee angle of about 150 degrees at its maximum at the bottom of the pedal stroke. We're never looking for 180 — there’s still a bend — but it's not a 90-degree bend.”

Is there a difference between indoor and outdoor cycling for runners?

You can get all the benefits from cycling for running through outdoor rides as well training indoors, but there are some advantages to indoor cycling. One is being able to adjust the saddle and handlebars extensively, because indoor exercise bikes usually allow for a wider range of positions. It’s also usually easier, and safer, to get a workout done indoors than outdoors.

“For example, if you wanted to do some high intensity work on a bike, you need hills, really, and they need to be quite long hills, and there needs to be little traffic and traffic lights and all those kinds of things,” says Wainwright. “If you're on the flat, you've got to go quite fast, particularly if you're a fit person or fit runner, and then the speed can get a little bit dangerous unless you're a really good cyclist. 

“But saying that if you're in a great place and you just want to use cycling to help your running and get two or three hours of biking in, then absolutely no problem at all. There's no reason why you can't do it outdoors, it’s just far more difficult to control the intensity. Even with elite road cyclists, we're still doing quite a lot of indoor work just because we can control the intensity.”

What kind of cycling workouts should runners do?

You can use indoor rides to replicate any kind of running workout, or to add to your running. I mostly do 30-45 minute low intensity easy rides to increase my training volume, and on Wainwright’s advice will now change my approach to these to include more riding out of the saddle.

“Set a repeat timer for one minute on, one minute off,” says Wainwright. “One minute in the saddle, one minute out of it. What you will find is when you're out of the saddle, you often need to increase the resistance slightly, because you're supporting your bodyweight as well.”

Wainwright has also contributed several cycling workouts for runners to the Wattbike Hub app, which include instructions on how to set up your bike and ride out of the saddle. One such workout you can try is below.

30-minute indoor cycling workout for runners

This 30-minute workout is perfect for adding on at the end of a run to extend your training session, or doing at another point to make it a double-workout day. The whole workout takes 30 minutes including a warm up and cool down.

“Start with an eight minute progressive warm up,” says Wainwright. “I'm talking FTP [functional threshold power] language because that's what we've got on the app.”

To find out your FTP you can take quite a vicious test where you ride as hard as you can for a set period. Many indoor exercise bikes, sports watches and apps will also give you an estimate after a few rides. 

Having a rough idea of your FTP is important for getting the most out of cycling workouts as the effort levels suggested will usually be tailored to your score. If you have one of their bikes, you can also use Peloton to do an FTP test. 

“Start at 60% FTP, which is pretty steady, and every every couple of minutes you increase the intensity to end up at 100% FTP.  Ideally, you do some of that work in the saddle and some out of the saddle to get used to that.

“The main interval work block is six lots of 60 seconds out of the saddle at 100% FTP and then two minutes back in the saddle at 75% FTP. It’s a light interval session, keeping a controlled low cadence [pedal revolutions per minute], between 70 and 80.

“Then you have a six minute progressive cool down. We tend to refer to the cool down as not necessarily a cool down, but just a low intensity period to get the body a bit more relaxed before we get off the bike.”

More from Tom's Guide

• Treadmill vs exercise bike — which is a better workout?
• We've tested the best exercise bikes to help you boost your fitness at home
• Wattbike Atom Next Generation review

The Zwift Ride is one of the best exercise bikes available, and offers much better value than rival smart bikes, which will generally set you back more than twice as much. It’s the easiest and most enjoyable way to ride on Zwift, and the bike I’d buy if I was starting afresh with my indoor cycling setup.

There are downsides, however, one of which is the lack of full compatibility with other training apps, and if you have a bike you can use at home then buying the one of the best indoor cycling trainers to use with it will be a cheaper way to use Zwift and other apps. 

The accessibility of the Zwift Ride does make it especially attractive to more casual cyclists, however, and it also offers enough to experienced riders to make it a top option for indoor training for them as well. It is purpose-built to get people riding on Zwift though, so if you’re looking for a bike to use with instructor-led classes, something like the Peloton Bike would be a better option.

Zwift Ride review: Price and availability

The Zwift Ride launched on June 26th and currently is only available in a package where you get the Zwift bike frame with a Wahoo KICKR CORE turbo trainer. This package costs $1,299.99 / £1,199.99 plus $75 / £65 shipping.

Later this year the Zwift bike frame will be available to buy by itself to attach to other compatible indoor cycling trainers like the Zwift Hub and Wahoo KICKR. To work with the frame a trainer needs to be compatible with the Zwift Cog attachment, which connects the bike frame to the trainer. Zwift says it is working with turbo trainer companies to make compatible products.

Although you can use the bike without an app, to get the most from Zwift Ride, you need to link it up to Zwift, which costs $19.99 / £17.99 a month or $199.99 / £179.99 a year. Other apps can connect to the Wahoo KICKR CORE, but you can’t shift gears in them using the Zwift bike frame.

Zwift Ride review: Design and setup

The Zwift Ride comes in three boxes, which makes it easier and cheaper to ship, and also to move around the house before unpacking it. Accessibility is a big feature of the bike, and a major part of this is how easy it is to set up, especially compared to attaching a bike to a turbo trainer.

I managed to get the bike assembled by myself in around 20 minutes, and I expect most people are more competent than me and would get it done in 15, or under 10 if you are experienced with bikes and have set up an indoor trainer before. 

The Zwift Cog is key to this easy setup, because it allows you to just drop the bike onto the KICKR CORE trainer, whereas when setting up my road bike with a turbo trainer in the past I had to enlist a friend to help me work out what the right cassette was.

There are detailed instructions in the boxes, and the only tool required to set up and adjust the bike is a hex wrench attached to the underside of the top bar on the frame. You can move the seat and handlebars up and down and forward and back, with a size chart included that gives you the rough positions that are likely to work best for your height – the bike can accommodate riders from 5’-6’.6’’.

The Zwift Ride differs from other smart bikes in that it is a frame attached to a trainer, much like attaching a bike to a trainer, whereas rivals like the Wattbike Atom or Wahoo KICKR Bike come as one complete unit. Once riding the bike, however, it feels like a complete unit in the same way as other smart bikes.

On the handlebars is a tray that you can put your phone and other in-ride essentials on, like energy gels or other nutrition. There are two bottle holders on the bike frame, which are more open than ones you’d use on an outdoor bike, so you can get bottles in and out more easily.

The Zwift Ride doesn’t have a built-in screen like the Peloton Bike, and doesn’t have a tablet holder as standard either. You can buy a tablet holder ($49.99 / £39.99) that hooks onto the end of this tray, which would be a useful addition if you run Zwift on a tablet rather than a laptop or other device. 

On the handlebars are buttons that you can use to control Zwift, and also to shift gears when riding in the Zwift app (as of now, you can’t shift gears when using other apps). The handlebars are battery powered and last 20 hours on a charge. 

While I used the Zwift Ride in my garage, it’s a good-looking bit of kit and easy to keep clean compared to using your outdoor bike on a trainer, so it’s a machine that you can use inside your apartment or house.

Zwift Ride review: Zwift app

The Zwift Ride is the easiest way to get into cycling with Zwift, and removes a barrier to entry for the app, which was the relative difficulty of having to setup a turbo trainer with a bike or the very high cost of a smart bike like the Wattbike Atom.

I have been using Zwift for many years and I consider it the most enjoyable way to ride indoors, with the colorful and interesting virtual worlds you can cycle around in the app being very engaging. While in your garage you can cycle up mountains, through deserts and under skyscrapers, and take on real world routes in places like London, France or a futuristic version of New York. Brave riders can also take on epic climbs like the Alpe du Zwift and Zwift Ventoux, which are modeled on the iconic Alp d'Huez climb and Mont Ventoux climbs in France.

You can also ride with others in group rides or races, and link up easily with friends. There are a lot of preset workouts you can tackle in the app, along with full training plans, and you can build your own workouts too. There aren’t live classes with an instructor to follow as with a Peloton or Echelon bike, though you could watch and follow these on a different app, as long as you’re also logged into Zwift so you can change gears to adjust the resistance.

Whether you’re a casual cyclist or someone who lives to ride, Zwift has a lot to offer. I mainly use indoor cycling as a way to cross train and support my primary sport of running, and Zwift makes it a lot more fun.

Zwift Ride review: Performance

I’ve been using the Zwift Ride regularly over the past few weeks, mainly for fairly short rides of 30-45 minutes in the evenings, plus one longer ride including more climbing. The bike is very quick to link up with the Zwift app on an iPad or Apple TV, and I’ve not experienced any connectivity dropouts during rides.

The ride is smooth and very quiet — if you use a fan to keep you cool during workouts, which I highly recommend doing, you barely hear the bike itself. Shifting gears using the handlebar controls and Zwift Cog is seamless and quiet as well, and the KICKR CORE responds quickly to changes in the gradient when riding routes on Zwift to automatically adjust for climbs and descents.

It creates an enjoyably realistic ride experience indoors, which is then made more enjoyable by watching your avatar ride around Zwift’s virtual worlds and the volcanoes, dinosaurs and other such things they contain.

You can also steer in Zwift using the handlebars, by pulling the paddles on each handlebar. This allows you to veer around the road in Zwift, which can be used to take a more advantageous line in races, or play a mini game called Repack Rush where you veer around the road to pick up boosts and avoid obstacles.

I’ve used Zwift with various other indoor cycling options, including the Wattbike Atom and Wahoo KICKR smart bikes and my old turbo trainer, and the experience on the Zwift Ride isn’t that different aside from the upgrade of the controls on the handlebars and the easy setup you get with the Zwift frame. It’s smoother and quieter than using my turbo trainer though, and considerably cheaper than the other smart bikes I’ve used.

Zwift Ride review: Connectivity with other apps

One big drawback to the Zwift Ride for now is that while the KICKR CORE turbo trainer will link up easily with any app, the Zwift handlebars won’t. This means you can’t virtually shift gear in an app like TrainerRoad or Rouvy.

You can still use these apps and with ERG mode they will control the resistance on the turbo trainer, so you can do structured workouts — I tried one in Rouvy with no problems. However, if you want to ride in simulation mode in an app like Rouvy then you are stuck in one gear. Hopefully this is something that will be changed in the future.

The only other minor connectivity problem I had was with Apple TV, which only supports two Bluetooth connections. The KICKR CORE and Zwift handlebars use these up, so I couldn’t also connect my heart rate monitor to the Apple TV (you can try and do this via the Zwift Companion app, but dropouts are common). I mostly use an iPad for Zwift and could connect all three devices without problems, but it’s something to bear in mind if you want to use an Apple TV with the Zwift Ride.

Should you buy the Zwift Ride?

If I was starting from scratch with indoor cycling, I’d buy the Zwift Ride. It’s much cheaper than other smart bikes, very easy to set up and use, and offers a quiet and smooth ride. It’s also more convenient to have a bike frame attached to a turbo trainer like this, rather than using your own bike with a turbo trainer, and it’s easier to maintain the Zwift Ride as well.

More expensive smart bikes like the Wattbike Atom and Wahoo KICKR offer more customization and bigger power ranges with (slightly) more precise power measurements, but they cost a lot more and would only be worth the upgrade for very serious cyclists.

If you already have a bike at home then buying a turbo trainer to use with it will be a cheaper option than investing in a purpose-built training bike frame like Zwift Ride, but after years of riding on such a setup myself I certainly prefer using Zwift Ride.

I love to ride my bike on city streets. I'm also intimately aware of the risks that come with it, particularly regarding distracted drivers. I've had numerous near misses with folks too sucked into their smart devices to notice others around them. I've also had one harrowing full-blown crash, again, the result of a distracted driver with his nose in his phone.

So, it's no surprise I take bike safety seriously. This includes wearing one of the best bike helmets, particularly one with MIPS technology. At night I opt for the Lumos Ultra which has built-in LEDs for visibility, during the day I wear an Abus GameChanger 2.0 helmet in white to be seen. 

I'm also sure to switch on a set of the best bike lights before taking off on a ride, regardless of the time of day. But, up until this week, I've never used a bike light that doubles as a car-detecting radar device.

The Trek CarBack Radar Rear Bike Light is a $199.99 accessory that mounts to your seat post and pairs with your smartphone, smartwatch or bike GPS computer. Similar to the Garmin Varia, which is also $199.99, these two devices represent a new category of smart safety accessories for cyclists.

I tested the Trek CarBack on one of my favorite urban rides around Seattle, Washington. Here are five reasons why it's already won me over.

1. You get audio and visual alerts

I paired the Trek CarBack with my iPhone 12 Mini — more on the setup process below — which I keep mounted on my handlebars (using Peak Design's Out Front Bike Mount) while I ride. With my phone positioned for easy viewing, I was fully able to test out the device's visual warning system. I also wore Bluetooth earbuds to try the audio warnings.

When a car first approaches from behind, you'll hear an 8-bit-sounding set of tones that sounds a little like the one-up noise from the Super Mario Bros for NES. These tones play each time a new car is picked up by the radar.

Cars can be detected as far away as 787 feet. In addition to the Mario sound, detected cars appear on your smartphone or bike's GPS screen and move in real-time. The app displays not only the vehicle's distance from you but whether or not it has clearance to pass. 

If a vehicle is approaching directly behind you from less than 250 feet away, the symbol in the app turns red.

Once the coast is clear and all cars have passed, you'll be met with a friendly doorbell-sounding set of tones. 

2. Setup and installation is simple

I was seriously impressed by how easy the Trek CarBack is to set up and install. The companion app, TrekAcessories, is pretty barebones, but then again, everything works as it should, so that's not necessarily a criticism. 

With the Trek CarBack switched on, the discovery and pairing process takes less than ten seconds. In terms of preferences, you can toggle between feet and meters as your measurement of choice, and whether or not you want the sound on or off. That's it. 

By the way, in addition to smartphones and watches, the Trek CarBack Radar also plays nice with many of the best GPS sports watches available. 

Installing the device on your seatpost is also a breeze. A built-in rubber strap and buckle system accommodate a wide range of seatpost diameters. There's also a second plastic hook and band to ensure it's extra secure. 

3. No false positives

While testing the Trek CarBack I rode along both city streets — mostly unprotected bike lanes — and on designated bike trails. I also rode along several residential streets with cars parked on either side. At no point did the device alert to any false positives in any of these scenarios.

The cyclists, joggers and scooters I encountered along the bike trail didn't register, nor did parked or stationary cars pausing at stop signs. That said, there were several occasions when a steady stream of cars crept up behind me and I can't say for certain whether the CarBack registered them all. 

I occasionally got the sense that the last car in line was going undetected. However, more testing is necessary to confirm this. 

4. Audio alerts auto-silence in traffic

Speaking of heavy traffic. In the situation I described above, the Trek CarBack is programmed to pause audio notifications when more than three cars are detected. This saves you the annoyance of non-stop and unnecessary dinging in your ears.

However, once a caravan has passed, audio signals return in the form of the upbeat all-clear ding-dong. 

5. It's also a high-power tail light

In addition to car detection, the TrekCarBack is also a super-powerful rear tail light with four flashing modes and 7+ hours of battery life, even when using car detection. Trek says it's visible up to 1.2 miles away, even in daylight, which puts it up there with some of the best bike taillights we've tested. 

Though my initial impression of Trek's car radar by cyclists is positive, I'm still curious to see how it performs at night as well as in inclement weather where visibility can be a factor. I'd also like to test the Trek CarBack Radar Rear Bike Light head-to-head against the Garmin Varia. 

Until then, wear your helmet and stay alert!  

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried one of the toughest bike locks on the market — and now my U-lock looks downright puny
• watchOS 11 — Apple Watch is finally getting the fitness feature I’ve been waiting for
• I hiked 5 miles along the California coast to test AllTrail’s ‘biggest update yet’ — 5 features that stood out the most

If you've ever cycled indoors, you don't need me to tell you it can be a little boring without external motivation like a spinning class or a TV show to watch. Since its launch in 2015, Zwift has revolutionized indoor cycling by gamifying the experience so you control an avatar cycling through beautiful virtual worlds.

The Zwift Ride smart bike aims to make the Zwift app more accessible than ever, with an easy setup process that will get you riding with minimal fuss. It’s also more affordable than most smart exercise bikes, and the quiet, aesthetically-pleasing design means it can be used inside, not just the garage.

I gave the Zwift Ride a try ahead of its full launch; here’s what you need to know.

Zwift Ride: price and availability

The Zwift Ride will be available from June 26th and costs $1,299.99 / £1,199.99 plus $75 / £65 shipping. This is for a package that contains the Zwift bike frame with a Wahoo KICKR CORE turbo trainer, which is the only way to buy the Zwift Ride at the moment. 

Later this autumn you will be able to just buy the Zwift Frame itself, which you can then connect to other indoor cycling trainers including the Zwift Hub and Wahoo KICKR. To be compatible with the Zwift Frame a turbo will need to work with the Zwift Cog attachment, which joins the frame to the trainer, and Zwift are working with other turbo trainer companies to make compatible products.

To use Zwift Ride with Zwift you need a subscription for the app, which is $19.99 / £17.99 a month or $199.99 / £179.99 a year. You can use the bike without connecting it to any app, and the Wahoo KICKR CORE will connect to other virtual training apps too, though at this point you can’t shift gears in other apps using the Zwift Frame controls.

What is Zwift Ride?

Zwift Ride is a package containing the Zwift Frame and the Wahoo KICKR CORE turbo trainer. It comes in three boxes to make it cheaper to ship than one large box (and easier to carry up stairs when it arrives), and the setup process is designed to be as simple as possible even if you’re not someone who does a lot of bike riding and maintenance. 

Accessibility is at the core of everything with the Zwift Ride. It’s cheaper than other smart bikes — you’ll pay $2,500-$5,000 for the top smart bikes from Wattbike or Wahoo — and because of the Zwift Cog you don’t even need to know what a ‘cassette’ is to connect the frame to the KICKR CORE turbo. 

This speaks to me as a keen indoor cyclist who doesn’t ride much outdoors, who needed to enlist a bike-mad friend to connect my road bike to a turbo trainer when I got the latter years ago, because working out how to connect the specific gears of my bike to the turbo was beyond me.

The Zwift Ride setup is cleaner and more elegant than rigging your outdoor bike up to a turbo, so it’s better to use indoors, and it requires minimal maintenance beyond dusting it like any other bit of furniture. In short, it’s built to be the easiest way to ride indoors and link up with Zwift, making the app more accessible to people who aren’t already keen cyclists.

It’s also easy to adjust the Zwift Frame to fit different people, so everyone in the household can jump on quickly. One tool is all you need to adjust the saddle height and handlebars, and this tool is conveniently located on the underside of the top bar of the frame. Zwift also includes a sizing guide card which gives you the letter to adjust each part of the bike to in line with your height, to create a more comfortable riding position.

On the handlebars of the Zwift bike are controls you can use to navigate the Zwift app mid-ride, as well as virtual gear shifters. Once you’re linked to Zwift the app will control the Wahoo KICKR CORE turbo trainer to simulate the inclines on the virtual route you’re riding, with the app containing 10 worlds to explore including the stunning fictional island of Watopia as well as real places, with routes through France and Scotland, for example.

There is a tray on the handlebars that you can put your phone and a towel on, along with any nutrition you need for your ride like gels or bars, and there are two bottle holders on the frame itself. Zwift also sells a tablet holder attachment ($49.99 / £39.99) which will be invaluable if you use the Zwift app on a tablet rather than a TV.

What’s it like to cycle on the Zwift Ride?

I have used Zwift regularly for many years and probably prefer it to outdoor cycling at this point. I ride indoors as a way of cross-training and supporting my running, which is my main sport, rather than for any particular love of cycling, and using a turbo trainer for an indoor ride to do this is safer and easier for me.

Compared to my setup of an old, dirty road bike on a turbo trainer in the garage, the pristine white Zwift Ride feels very glamorous, though it might still be a stretch to convince the family to let me bring it inside the house.

Adjusting the seat and handlebars to suit my height took seconds, and the bike runs very quietly and changes gear smoothly and almost silently using the virtual shifters. The bike is less noisy than a fan — and I do certainly recommend having a fan blasting you whenever you cycle indoors; it’s a sweaty endeavor.

Cycling through the virtual worlds in Zwift is always an enjoyable experience and the KICKR CORE adjusts the resistance rapidly to recreate the climbs and descents you ride in the app. Using the controls on the Zwift Frame, I was able to try steering in Zwift for the first time, tackling a short game-like ride where you veer from side to side to collect power ups while cycling.

It’s certainly a more enjoyable and quieter experience to use the Zwift Ride than my bike connected to a turbo, and if I was starting afresh with indoor cycling it would be a more appealing option than buying a standalone turbo trainer, even assuming you do have a bike you can attach to it. The spotless Zwift Ride also looks better in an apartment or house than a bike you also use outdoors on a turbo, if you don’t do your indoor training in a garage.

I’ll do a lot more testing of the bike for a full review in time, but for now it seems like the Zwift Ride will hold more appeal to relative newcomers to indoor cycling, and casual cyclists in general, as opposed to committed outdoor riders who will probably get better value in buying and using a turbo. If you’re in the market specifically for a smart bike, however, the Zwift Ride certainly represents the best value I’ve come across.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best exercise bikes
• Best treadmills
• Best Peloton alternatives

Abus is a German company with roots in lock manufacturing that go back to the early 1920s. These days, the brand makes a wide range of bike accessories, including some of the best bike locks money can buy and my favorite bike helmet, the Abus Gamechanger 2.0. 

The latest product, the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500, is a burly, tough-built U-lock packed with technology to protect your precious ride from potential theft. And while no bike lock on Earth is completely impenetrable, this Abus U-lock is designed to survive run-ins with electric angle grinders, a sworn enemy of bike locks everywhere. 

I used the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 to secure an ebike while running errands around town. Over the course of several short trips, I got a sense of how easy this lock is to use and carry. I also compared it to my tried and true Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2, which has served me well for 15-plus years. 

Here are my initial impressions of the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 after a few weeks of use. 

1. It's a lot tougher than my current bike lock

It's not even close, the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 is way beefier than my current bike lock, though the Abus lock also costs roughly five times as much. Still, my Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 has ably protected a small arsenal of beloved single-speed and geared bikes over the years I've been using it.

However, now that I've laid paws on the Super Extreme 2500, my old go-to is looking extra wimpy. The two locks are roughly the same size and shape, with an inner shackle space of around 4 x 9 inches, but the Abus shackle and crossbar are easily double the thickness of the Kryptolok.

The Super Extreme 2500 also has dual locking cylinders in the crossbar body, while my Kryptonite only has a single one, presumably making it easier to pick. Finally, the Abus weighs twice as much as my Kryptolok: 5.2 pounds compared to 2.6 pounds. 

2. Tungsten carbide repels angle grinders

Before the Super Extreme 2500, my only worldly interaction with the word "wolfram" was courtesy of an episode of Seinfeld where George makes a lifestyle change, resulting in super-intelligence; but, I digress.  

Wolfram (or tungsten) is a rare earth metal that becomes extra tough when formed in a compound with carbon, i.e. wolfram carbide. Why the chemistry lesson? The entire outer of the U-lock, including the shackle and crossbar/body, is coasted in a wolfram carbide for top-notch protection against battery-powered angle grinders. 

This outer coating essentially dulls out the grinder blade before it can come close to cutting through the shackle or crossbar. Take that, bike thief jerks! 

3. It's easy to use but the schakle could be longer

The lock mechanism on the Super Extreme 2500 is extremely smooth and easy to operate. The keys slide in either direction, and a 180-degree turn unlocks the shackle.  A gentle pull removes the crossbar. 

As mentioned, you get around 9 inches of clearance inside the U, which was easily enough to lock up the frame of a Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT to just about anything.

However, I was unable to get the lock through both my front wheel, the frame and a bike rack or a balcony railing. This method of locking up has been my standard practice for two decades in two different cities, New York and Seattle. So, leaving the Trek secured through only its frame left me quite uneasy during my testing. Fortunately, the bike was left untouched. 

That said, I'd love to see Abus offer a second, longer version of the Super Extreme 2500 with an additional 3 or 4 inches of clearance. 

4. Lost keys? No problem

The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 comes with two sets of keys, which is pretty standard for U-locks. However, you also get a personal code that can be used in the event you misplace both sets. Or, if you lose one, you can request a replacement from Abus with ease. 

As you might expect from such a high-end lock, the Super Extreme 2500 boasts the brand's most pick-proof cylinder technology. The structure and housing of the cylinder and shackle locking mechanisms are additionally made of hardened steel for added theft resistance. 

5. It's probably a better choice for ebikes

Weighing just over 5 pounds, the Super Extreme 2500 is a lot of lock to lug around, particularly if you're riding a standard mechanical bike. But for ebike owners, it makes a lot of sense. The best electric bikes are often pricier than their old-school counterparts, so maximum protection is paramount. It's also a lot easier to schlep a heavy lock around town when you've got an onboard motor. 

The Super Extreme 2500 starts at $329 for the lock only. For $396 you can pick up the lock and a bike frame mounting bracket. Sure, $400 sounds like a lot of coin for a bike accessory but if it protects your $2,000 ebike from theft just once, the cost becomes much easier to justify. 

Ultimately, I don't own an ebike, but if I did, I'd be strongly considering this U-lock along with the Hiplock D1000, which offers similar angle-grinder resistance tech and overall beefiness for about the same price. 

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried to ride Trek’s new ebike up the steepest hill in Seattle — and it didn’t go as planned
• Garmin Forerunner 165 review: my favorite GPS smartwatch for outdoor adventures
• I hiked 5 miles along the California coast to test AllTrail’s ‘biggest update yet

The Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT is the brand's entry-level, upright-style electric bike for beginners, commuters and joy riders. Featuring a step-through frame, a large comfortable seat, grippy handlebars and a riding position that makes it easy to keep an eye on traffic, the Verve+ 1 LT is one of the best beginner-friendly ebikes available.

It's a bit pricier than the competition, but Trek makes up for it with high-quality components, including hydraulic disc brakes, integrated lights and fenders, oversized tires and a reasonably lightweight (44 pounds) design, with an all-aluminum frame construction. 

Powered by a modest yet capable enough 250W motor integrated into the rear wheel hub, users can select from three e-assist levels and eight gear speeds. At $2,300, it may not be a contender for our best budget electric bikes guide, but it's a strong contender as one of the best ebikes for newbies.

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review: Price and availability

The Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT is available for $2,300 from Trek directly, including Trek retail stores. You can also find it in a lot of local independent bike shops. The cost of the bike includes professional assembly, which is a huge plus. I recently tried to build an ebike at home and ran into several issues, despite working confidently on traditional bikes. 

For U.S. customers, all Trek bikes, electric or not, come with Trek Care, which covers the frame and main mechanical components for life. The battery, on the other hand, has a two-year warranty. While it's not meant to be removed by customers, Trek shops can easily switch it out if/when it does need replacing. 

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review: Design

The Trek Verve+ 1 LT comes in three sizes, small, medium and large — I tested the latter —  and three colors: Galatic Grey, Viper Red, and Baja Yellow. All variations feature the same low-step-style frame with no upper crossbar to contend with. Built out of Trek's Alpha Gold Aluminum, the bike weighs in at a manageable 44 pounds. 

With handlebars that are positioned high and wide, riders are seated upright rather than hunched over, like on a performance bike. The rubber grips on the handlebars are also super comfortable with lots of real estate to accommodate even the largest hands. The brake levers are also long and easy to grip. 

You'll find the e-bike controls on the inside of the left handlebar. A long press on the on/off switch gets things going, while the plus and minus buttons allow you to jump between no e-assist and the three powered settings.

The green LEDs indicate how much charge the battery has left while the red LEDs represent the e-assist setting. It's a lot more basic than the displays on the Ride1Up Turris or the RadPower RadCity 5 Plus, but it gets the job done. 

In addition to three e-assist settings, the bike has eight geared speeds which are adjusted using two levers located on the inside of the right handlebar. A small window facing riders indicates the current gear via an orange strip.

The bike seat features a quick-release lever making it easy to adjust the height for different riders on the fly. Trek equipped the Verve+ 1 LT with the wide and comfy Bontrager Boulevard Bike Saddle, which is a nice upgrade over the saddles that come on most entry-level models. 

Power comes from the 250W, 40Nm motor tucked in the rear wheel hub. The eight-speed drivetrain uses all high-quality Shimano components, including the shifter and derailleurs. The disc brakes, meanwhile are made by Tektro. 

The tires are a hybrid affair, making them suitable for pavement and trail riding. I was easily able to cruise over loose gravel and dirt on the bike without issue. And while they offer basic puncture protection, they are far from the Kevlar-reinforced tires I default to on my own bikes.

Last but not least, the Trek Verve+ 1 LT comes with wide, grippy Bontrager City pedals which provide decent traction even in wet weather (I mostly rode around wearing sneakers or hiking boots). 

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review: Riding experience

In addition to riding the Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT across the world's longest floating bridge and up the steepest hill in Seattle, Washington, I also used it to get around town while running errands and taking midday breaks. Here's how it faired.

The bike is extremely easy to get on and off of, and feels stable while riding, even at fast speeds. First-time riders should start with e-assist in the lowest setting before cranking it up, as the bike accelerates quickly at maximum power.

However, there is a slight delay between when you start to pedal and when the motor kicks in, about two pedal strokes, which is worth keeping in mind when taking on big hills. 

The max e-assisted speed is 20 mph, which you can easily surpass with some help from gravity. Going up hills is fairly painless, especially in the bike's easiest gear and with maximum e-assist. However, unlike some of its competitors, the bike lacks a throttle, so you can't get a free ride.

Both the seat and handlebars are plenty comfortable. I rode on numerous occasions in inclement weather and had no issues gripping the bike or keeping my feet on the pedals. The tires also provide ample traction on wet pavement.

It's worth noting that there's no suspension, so, expect to feel some bumps and knocks as you cruise around. That said, I wouldn't call it a stiff ride. Also, lowering your tire pressure a bit below the recommended PSI will give you a little more cushion, if needed.

The brakes are very responsive, so resist gripping them too tightly your first several times stopping or you may send yourself into orbit. That said, the stopping power is fantastic, even under wet conditions. 

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review: Battery life and performance

The bike's battery is integrated into the downtube on the frame, making it pretty damn difficult for someone to steal. The downside is that you can't carry an extra. However, Trek sells a battery range extender for $499, which more than doubles the total advertised distance to 75 miles — the advertised range without it is 35 miles. The extender does add an extra 3.5 pounds of weight, though. 

Without the extender and in everyday riding conditions, versus the ideal conditions these batteries are tested in, I got closer to 16 miles of range while using maximum e-assist (and climbing 1,400 ft). While riding more conservatively, switching between the three power settings as needed, I was able to squeeze out closer to 25 miles, again with ~1000 ft climbed. 

I do reckon that on flat terrain using only the lowest e-assist setting, I could make it to 35 miles on a single charge, but where's the fun in that? Fortunately, as long as your destination has a power outlet and you're sticking around for a bit, I found the battery can be charged up fully in just over two hours.

The bike charges via a covered port at the base of the downtube and the included charger has plenty of length for hard-to-reach outlets. 

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review: Accessories

While accessories like front and rear rain/mudguards, lights and even a MIK-system compatible rear cargo rack come standard on the Trek Verve+ 1 LT, you'll need to shell out extra coin for goodies like the detachable bike bag shown above, the mountable battery extender (obviously) or a water bottle holder. Fortunately, the Verve+ 1 LT is covered in mounting points to accommodate all sorts of accessories, allowing you to customize it to your heart's content. 

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review: The competition

The Rad Power RadCity 5 Plus is the best ebike for most people and a solid low-step-style alternative to the Trek Verve+ 1 LT. It features a more powerful motor, greater range and a lower price in a similar package. However, it is 20 pounds heavier with one less gear.

The Ride1Up Turris is about $1,000 less than the Trek and also offers a comparable range with a more powerful motor. However, it too is about 10 pounds heavier. 

If you want a low-step bike with maximum range, consider the incredibly named NIU BQi-C3 Pro. It's good for an advertised 90-mile distance but also weighs a hefty 70.5 pounds and doesn't have any gears, which might be a deal-breaker if you live somewhere with lots of hills. 

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT: Verdict

The Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT is the most approachable and well-equipped beginner-friendly ebike I've encountered. Professional assembly is included in the price of the bike, as is a lifetime warranty on the major parts, except the battery, which has a two-year warranty. 

Easy to ride and appropriate for folks of all statures, the built-in motor has three speeds; the lowest setting is great for getting used to the electric-assisted lifestyle. However, the motor is nothing short of zippy with maximum power. 

Battery life could be better, but for trips under 20 miles, the Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT is a great option. The eight-speed drivetrain makes it appropriate for even the hilliest terrain. Plus, the battery recharges in about two hours and an accessory range extender can be picked up, doubling your distance.

Ultimately, if I were a man of many dollars, this is the ebike I'd buy for my parents to enjoy because it's safe, built from quality components and a lot of fun to ride. I also dig Trek's incredibly helpful customer service. However, it's hard to ignore its price, which is much higher than some of our other favorite bikes, including those with specs and features that meet or exceed what Trek offers.

Road bikes are pretty awesome — designed with lightweight frames, narrow tires, and aerodynamic features, they allow you to achieve higher speeds with less effort compared to other types of bikes. If you love indoor cycling on one of the best exercise bikes but you also like to adventure then it's highly likely you'll enjoy the freedom of riding a road bike.

From the nuances of bike sizing to the intricacies of maintenance, there are a few things I wish I had known before buying my first road bike. Thankfully, it’s been two years now since I switched over from a mountain bike to a road bike and although I'm still learning new things about road bikes and road cycling I’ve picked up some valuable tips along the way. 

Here are five things I wish someone had briefed me on before buying my first road bike.

1) Bike size and fit

Getting a bike with the right frame size is paramount when buying a road bike, or any bike for that matter. While various components of a bike can be adjusted for a better fit you can still end up sitting uncomfortably on a bike if you begin with the wrong frame size. Road bikes aren’t overly cheap so you want to make sure you are investing in something that fits you right and that you can comfortably ride for many years to come.

I took a gamble when buying my first road bike second-hand and trusted it would feel right when I went to collect it from the seller. Luckily, the person I bought it off of was an avid cyclist and very friendly so they let me ride around on it a bit before buying and offered to adjust the seat for me. My bike feels fine but I wish I had gone into a bike shop and had them measure my height and inside leg so I knew for sure what is the perfect fit. 

If you do decide to buy online instead of in person, most bike manufacturers will have a sizing chart available with recommendations on bike sizes for varying heights.

2) Bike components

As I mentioned before, my biking experience up until buying a road bike was all on a mountain bike. I grew up in the Scottish countryside riding a mountain bike on a mixture of bumpy roads and trails. So it was safe to say when I bought my first road bike in London and cycled home on it, I didn’t really know what I was doing.

First of all, I wasn’t used the narrower frame and slim tyres. so I had to be more cautious of my balance on the bike. Then, I realized that road bikes have totally different gears and brakes from mountain bikes and this affects your riding experience if you don’t take the time to figure them out. 

If you decide to buy second-hand, you will want to check when the bike was last serviced and if there are any issues you should be aware of such as stiff brakes or a rusted chain.

You will also want to consider whether you prefer platform pedals, toe clips, or clipless pedal systems. Clipless pedals offer a more efficient pedalling stroke and better power transfer but require compatible cycling shoes and you will need to take the time to practice clipping in and out of the pedals to become comfortable with the system.

3) Road safety

If you are looking to buy a road bike then it’s a given that you are going to be cycling on roads. Making sure you understand road rules and know what hand signals you should be giving as a cyclist on the road is crucial for your safety on the roads. 

Cyclists must follow the same traffic laws as cars, including stopping at red lights and stop signs, yielding to pedestrians, and signalling turns with your hands. You should wear brightly colored or reflective clothing, especially during low-light conditions, and use lights and reflectors on your bike to increase visibility to other vehicles.

Riding on busy roads for the first time can be daunting but there is lots of advice online. I went along to a local group ride session where the organizers taught basic road cycling etiquette and I would highly recommend all newbie riders to do this too.

4) Quality Gear

I used to look at road cyclists and think ‘You wouldn’t catch me dead wearing lycra on a bike’ but it turns out you would, and I’m not mad about it. I recently had a very cool experience of cycling the Al Wathba desert and felt such a difference wearing padded shorts for a more painless ride and a skintight top that didn’t flap around as I cycled thorugh the desert.

The lycra cycling uniform you see most road cyclists wearing isn’t essential for owning a road bike and I certainly don’t wear it when commuting or cycling to meet my friends for coffee. But there are basic items that can make a road bike ride 10 times more comfortable.

A good helmet is absolutely necessary. We cannot stress enough how important it is to own a helmet to protect your head in case of accidents. You should certainly check out our list of the best bike helmets if you're considering a purchase.

Additionally, cycling shorts with proper padding offer comfort and prevent chafing during long rides, while gloves provide cushioning, improve grip and protect hands from impacts. Those are some of the basics, but you will figure from your own riding experience what you personally require to make cycling more safe and comfortable.

5) Bike maintenance

Sadly, your bike won’t take care of itself and like a car you will come across the occasional issue. Knowing how to perform basic maintenance tasks like cleaning, lubricating the chain, and fixing a flat tire can save you time and money in the long run. 

Despite buying my bike second-hand, it was in a good condition and had been serviced in the last six months of me buying it from the original owner. I then paid to have it serviced about a year in and didn't realize just how expensive this can be. This was a good kick up the bum for me to learn how to sort common bike issues out myself. 

However, this has meant blood (oil-covered hands), sweat and tears (while on FaceTime to my Dad) as I have tried to work out how to do various tasks like replace an inner tube and put a back wheel on. It can be risky fixing things on your own bike if you aren’t familiar with the bike’s mechanics, so make sure to consult a bike specialist first or create a little savings pot for bike repairs and instead pay your local bike shop to do the job.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best GPS Bicycle Computers in 2024
• I review ebikes for a living — here's the 3 things I look for
• I swapped my real bike for Peloton classes for two weeks — here’s what happened

Cycling through the breathtaking Al Wathba desert track in Abu Dhabi was a welcome change from pedaling through the concrete jungle of London. Invited by MyWhoosh, a free virtual cycling platform, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the growing cycling scene of Abu Dhabi.

Nestled away in the vast expanse of the desert, the Al Wathba cycle track beckons cyclists of all skill levels, with its diverse range of routes catering to both beginners and seasoned riders.

From the gentle slopes of the 8km and 16km routes to the more challenging terrains of the 20km, 22km, and full 30km routes, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Even the best exercise bikes with scenic virtual workouts can't live up to that. 

Much of my previous road bike experience was navigating through the chaotic and noisy roads of London. As much as my bike in London is a welcome escape from playing sardines on the subway, I can find it hard to relax or switch off while riding.

But after taking the 30km route through the Al Wathba desert, I discovered that cycling doesn’t have to be chaotic and it can even be close to therapeutic. The whole experience may even have changed my in attitude toward cycling. 

I cycled through the Al Wathba desert in Abu Dhabi — here’s 5 ways it changed my mind about cycling

Was I just awestruck by the sunset and warm weather while cycling on the Al Wathba desert track or did I genuinely see a different side of cycling? After reflecting for a week, I think there's more to it than that. 

The bike makes all the difference

Riding a bike that costs more than some cars on the market is a rare treat indeed. For a week, I had the privilege of riding a Colnago road bike, including through the Al Wathba desert, and it was nothing short of exhilarating.

While I have very few complaints about my trusty second-hand entry-level road bike back home, there was something undeniably captivating about the seamless glide of the Colnago through the desert sands.

Professional road bikes like the Colnago are crafted from top-of-the-line materials such as carbon fiber or lightweight alloys, offering unparalleled stiffness, responsiveness, and aerodynamics.

The result? Enhanced power transfer, efficiency, and speed, making for a faster and more comfortable ride, particularly over long distances or challenging terrain. Prior to this experience, I never quite understood why people were willing to invest thousands of dollars in a bike. Now, it all makes sense.

Cycling is much easier with a view

Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed with some impressive London landmarks when I commute on my bike. However, it’s very much the epitome of an urban landscape where red buses are charging at you left right and centre, car fumes engulf you and it’s the same route every day.

Cycling through the Al Wathba desert at 5pm, with the sun setting and the only other forms of transport in close proximity being a few horses galloping nearby or the distant camel race track, was undeniably a unique and welcome experience.

A group of 25 of us went out together and just the sight of everyone’s bright cycling jerseys against the desert scenery was a sight in itself. I felt very peaceful soaking in the surroundings.

As the sun began to set, my legs tired at parts where there were hills or strong headwinds but, pedaling into a sky full of warm orange and pink tones kept me powering through. 

Although I can’t cycle through the Al Wathba desert every day, it was a good reminder that I enjoy exercise for fun as much as I use it to keep fit. If I want it to feel less manic back in the UK, I know that I can take my bike outside of the city.

Hydration is important

It’s rare to find any member of the Tom’s Guide fitness team without one of the best water bottles by our side, you just need to read about the time our editor drank one gallon of water a day for a month to see how serious we are about hydration. 

As an avid runner, I've always been very on it with carrying water with me on my long runs. But I'll admit I don't practice the same caution when heading out on my bike. I simply had never really appreciated the level of exertion that comes with cycling and that of course, I'd get thirsty riding through the desert.

During my 30km ride on the Al Wathba track, my appreciation for a large bottle of ice cold water certainly grew. The air felt very dry, and between having my breath taken away just by my surroundings, I was also regularly inhaling the dry air as I exerted more energy on the bike. 

And while a London summer isn't quite like the desert, it could fool some in one of its heatwaves. I now plan on carrying water with me no matter the conditions of a bike ride to ensure I stay properly hydrated while riding.

Cycling in a group is fun

No matter what your level of experience is on a bike, riding in a group can enhance the experience. I could have happily cycled the Al Wathba track on my own and allowed myself to get lost in the tranquillity of the smooth tracks and open desert.

However, I’m not sure I would have done the full 30km route myself had it not been for the fact I had company. The track feels like it is in the middle of nowhere and I did think while riding it that I would feel quite vulnerable out there on my own if I did have a fall or lose my way at all.

Aside from the safety side of things, cycling in a group is a great way to exercise and be social. I’ve found with cycling, you don’t need to have things in common to enjoy a ride with others in a group. Being outside in nature and experiencing the same track is a great way to bond with others. 

Cadence matters

I have vivid memories of cycling with my dad as a child and taking my anger out on my bike and my poor old man as I couldn’t work out what to do with my gears. Then as an adult, when I started riding a road bike, I felt more confident working with a speedier vessel and playing around with the higher high gears they have to offer.

But cadence isn’t something I’d ever paid much thought to in my cycling adventures. I just pedaled and did what felt right. This was until one of the co-hosts behind the Roadman Podcast cycled by me on the Al Wathba track and gave me a very simple yet invaluable piece of advice.

Sarah pointed out that I didn’t need to maintain such a low cadence as this was putting more strain on my muscles than was necessary. Despite keeping up with the group, some of whom were ex-cycling pros (I must mention this for the sake of my ego), I was giving myself more work than was necessary.

Once I shifted my cadence so that I was pedaling more but putting in less muscular effort, I was able to relax and enjoy the ride more.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best exercise bikes 2024
• 10 best Apple Watch biking features to try on your next ride
• I spent a month cycling with the Canyon Grand Canyon ON: 9 e-bike — here’s my verdict

The best GPS bike computers allow you to easily tackle unfamiliar routes and monitor essential ride stats from your handlebars. As their name implies, these mountable computers have GPS onboard for pinpoint accurate location tracking too.

But it's hard to know how they'll perform until they're actually out on a ride, which is why we rounded up and tested all the most popular models by mounting them to our bikes and pumping the pedals. Ultimately, the best GPS bike computers for the money were those that let us focus on the ride, rather than the tech.

Our top choice is the Wahoo Elemnt Ace, which is incredibly easy to use, accurately monitors your location, and provides loads of data points. Or if it's longevity you're after, we recommend the Coros Dura, which lasts an incredible 120 hours.

But these aren't your only choices, as we've rounded up the best bike computers you can get right now across a range of budgets, uses, and activities. Find details on the Wahoo, Coros, and our other top picks below.

The quick list

Best GPS bike computers to buy right now 

Best GPS bike computer overall

Wahoo’s flagship GPS cycling computer, the Elemnt Ace, features a fast setup and a large, easy-to-read screen. Wahoo added a wind sensor that gives riders data on headwinds and tailwinds, and where those winds occurred on the ride.

Wahoo calls the data Air Drag and Air Boost, which define where you benefited from the wind and where it held you back. The large screen makes navigation much easier, and voice turn-by-turn gives you directions without having to look at the screen while you’re riding.

Navigating menus is super easy on the Elemnt Ace, and changing screen layouts is equally simple — as was the case on previous Elemnt computers. The claimed 30-hour battery life seems unattainable unless you’re using the unit only for its most basic functions.

All of the new features add lots of capability and data analytics possibilities, but not all of the features are streamlined. And the unit itself is larger and heavier than just about any other unit on the market.

Best GPS bike computer for e-bikes

If you're after a GPS bike computer for one of the best electric bikes, the Garmin Edge Explore 2 is specifically designed with e-bikes in mind. Even if your e-bike has a display, the Edge Explore 2 allows you to see much of the data you’d see on a typical e-bike screen.

Plus, you get vastly more powerful capabilities and excellent navigation. The computer integrates easily with Shimano Steps motors and uses ANT+ to connect with other systems. The 3-inch touchscreen screen is crystal clear, too.

It looks narrower than the Hammerhead Karoo 2 screen, though. The setup was quick and easy; I was able to get on my bike with minimal faffing about ahead of time. And since you can plug the device into your e-bike, it can stay topped up.

Best GPS bike computer for touring

One of the most interesting aspects of the Garmin Edge 840 Solar is the use of Power Glass, which allows the unit to charge when in sunlight, even when powered off. Garmin says you should get 60 hours from the unit in power-saving mode, or 32 hours of regular use.

I set my unit out to charge in the sunlight for ten minutes. The screen told me I was charging at a 47% intensity of sunlight, and after 10 minutes I had gained 5% of my battery life. It’s an excellent feature if you’ll be out in the sun all day.

If you live in a place where sunlight isn’t always shining bright, the solar function may not benefit you and you can save yourself a few bucks by downgrading to the Edge 840, minus the solar charging.

The mapping and GPS system on the Edge 840 is excellent and very accurate, and you can store up to 32GB on the device. It’s just as good as the Hammerhead Karoo 2 — which bests the Edge 840 Solar in screen size. The Karoo 2 features a 3.2-inch screen, while the Edge 840 Solar’s screen is 2.6 inches.

Garmin packs the Edge 840 Solar with features like address search, which you can use on the fly while out riding. ClimbPro lets you see upcoming climbs without having to upload a course beforehand.

Best GPS bike computer for navigation

The Karoo 2 is the bike computer to beat for exceptional navigation. The bright, anti-glare touchscreen makes it easy to pick out map details, and route-finding is super-easy whether you've pre-uploaded a route or you're doing it on the fly.

There's 32GB of onboard storage, so you’ll have plenty of space for uploaded routes. You can also set routes right on the computer while you’re riding. And if you miss a turn, the Karoo 2 features instant automatic rerouting.

The touchscreen toggles on and off, so if you’re not interested in accidental taps, you can tailor your experience and just use the physical buttons. Hammerhead frequently releases software updates — enough that you might find it annoying.

The advertised maximum battery life is 14 hours. That’s lower than most of the Karoo’s competition, and in practice, my battery life was closer to 9-10 hours. The device has a unique mount, but it doesn't do anything the Garmin-style mounts can't. Fortunately, the Karoo 2 has an adaptor for you to use Garmin mounts.

The desktop dashboard offers plenty of data analysis and ride-tracking potential. But there’s no app to upload your ride right away. You’ll need to connect to Wi-Fi to get your ride data from the Karoo 2 to your computer dashboard. But the Karoo 2 also supports 4G LTE with an optional SIM card.

Best GPS bike computer for battery life

The Coros Dura has a whopping 120 hours of battery, which means you can certainly say goodbye to battery anxiety. And the solar rechargeability means you can top it up with an extra two hours of power for every hour of ride time.

After a nearly three-hour ride, our test unit still read 100% battery life, blowing away its nearest competition. You don’t need to turn the unit off (though you can, deep in some of the menus), as it goes to sleep on its own.

There's a knob that allows you to scroll through screens quickly, though it’s super sensitive and difficult to use accurately while riding. The included mount does not mate with the head unit tightly enough, leading to some rattling, though Coros has said they're going to address this in future production runs.

The mapping is good but not great. On-device re-routing can only be done when you’re in cell service or Wi-Fi range. It relies on Google Maps information, so dirt or gravel roads may not show up. Some of the on-screen climb data and visualizations are useful but could use some refining to better service the rider’s needs in real time.

Pairing the Dura to ANT+ and Bluetooth accessories was quick and easy. And the Dura found a GPS signal much more quickly than many of its competitors. It’s easy to pair to your electronic shifting system, too, though you may not find your specific gear range listed.

How we test the best GPS bike computers

I used each one of the units in this test personally on my bicycle rides. In testing, the first step is to understand the out-of-the-box setup process. Easier is usually better, though some computers with a more intensive setup process also offer more features once the setup is complete.

From there, each computer gets mounted to the bicycle so I can get a sense of how solid and user-friendly the mount that’s included with each unit can be. Then, it's time to check how easy is it to simply get pedaling, with no other adjustments or pairing.

After, I consider how easy is it to pair devices, navigate through menus and set the screens up the way I like. Then, it's time for a ride to test the GPS abilities, including how quickly each unit links up to GPS satellites, how accurate the turn-by-turn directions are, and how easy it is to set and follow routes.

Battery life can be a tricky aspect to test since battery life varies drastically depending on whether you’re using navigation, what the ambient conditions are outside during your ride, whether you have several sensors paired to the computer.

How to choose the best GPS bike computer

When choosing the best GPS cycling computer for you, start by determining what data is most important to you: GPS wayfinding, or other features like power data, movement capture, clear screen optics, etc.

Or perhaps size and/or price is your north star. There are GPS cycling computers available to support just about any price point, and if you want just a simple, small unit, such computers still offer lots of information and powerful navigation.

If you’re a multi-sport athlete — you’ll want to track your activities on the bike, running, skiing, swimming, etc. — a wristwatch-style GPS computer, instead of the usual handlebar-mounted device, may be your best bet.

FAQs

If owning your own Peloton bike doesn't signal that you are the epitome of health, then what will? All jokes aside, Peloton exercise bikes provide a great way to stay fit at home and make sure you keep progressing and hitting your fitness goals via the live classes and feedback provided. And now, as part of some of the best Black Friday deals, you can get the original Peloton bike for considerably less.

Right now, the Peloton bike is just $1,095 at Amazon, that's $350 off its original price. Over last year's Cyber Monday deals, we thought we had seen the Peloton bike hit its lowest sale price at $1,145, but this year's early Black Friday offer has topped this and we love to see it. 

We don't know how long this 24% discount will stick around, so check this deal out now while you can.

This is a pretty mega deal happening within the Peloton sale. Not only is this a compact exercise bike for using and storing away neatly in your home but it's also adjustable, meaning the whole household can get fit together. If the 22-inch screen isn't big enough for you, there is the option to mirror the display on a smart TV, providing a superb immersive experience.

In our Peloton bike review, we spoke about how we loved doing the live classes during testing. The exercise bike brand reveals weekly live classes allowing users to plan out their workout schedule each week, helping you to stick to your goals. It's hard to tire of this bike when the workouts are so rich in variety, for example, you can do Tabata rides, interval and arm rides, low impact or endurance rides, and the list goes on.

We must note that the Peloton All-Access Membership is not included in your purchase and must be bought separately in order to access Peloton content on your Bike. This costs $44 per month, but will be accessible to your household so perhaps you could strike up a deal with your partner or roommate and bring down the cost a little between you both.

Looking for some new sweat-wicking gear? Check out this deal: Amazon’s best-selling Under Armour workout T-shirt just crashed to $9 before Black Friday. Or if you are looking to invest in a new Garmin fitness tracker you might find this article helpful: Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro: Which running watch should you buy?

Biking in the rain can be most unpleasant. Still, many folks choose to do it. Maybe you rely on your bicycle for commuting, or perhaps you ride for fitness/pleasure and live in a city where rain is a reality for a good chunk of the year. Whatever the reason, reliable wet-weather cycling gear can make or break the experience. 

I know firsthand. When I first moved to Seattle, Washington, almost a decade ago, I was comically unprepared to handle the seven to eight months of annual rain, both mentally and gear-wise. But I’ve adapted and now find myself peddling through precipitation like it’s a sunny day. What follows are the pieces of gear I’ve come to rely on to stay both dry and safe when the weather is at its worst. 

Helmet: Lumos Ultra MIPS

A good quality helmet is a wise investment for biking in any condition. The best models use MIPS safety technology, which can also be found in motorcycle and ski helmets. My favorite bike helmet for city riding is the Lumos Ultra MIPS because it’s comfortable and includes built-in, high-power front and rear lights. 

At dusk, I set the Lumos Ultra lights to blink so that motorists can easily see me, but once the sun sets, I switch them on to a constant light stream. You can also signal turns via the helmet lights using a small Bluetooth remote that attaches to the handlebars. Admittedly, I don’t use this feature often, as I prefer to signal with my arms. 

In terms of battery life, the Ultra lights stay on at full power for up to 4 hours — 10 hours in blinking mode. And it’s rechargeable via USB with a 3-hour charge time. 

Gloves: Oakley Park B1B Gloves  

This one may have its naysayers but I stand by my recommendation. My favorite gloves for wet-weather biking aren’t biking gloves at all; instead, they are the Oakley Park B1B Gloves. Intended for skiing and snowboarding in terrain parks, these gloves are ridiculously grippy and provide greater wrist coverage than most biking gloves. They also keep my hands warm in temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit and dry even in downpours. Beyond that, they are quite comfortable and fairly breathable. 

For even colder biking conditions, you may want to consider the Pearl Izumi Am-FIB Lobster Gloves. While I personally have not used these, many of my fellow cold-weather cyclists swear by them. And come on, who among us has never dreamed of having lobster claws?

Outer layers: Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket & Marmot Men’s Precip Eco Pant 

For outer layering during the wet months, I’ve had good luck with the Gore-Tex Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket and Marmot Precip Eco pants. The former weighs next to nothing, yet provides great water protection and more than enough stretch. I also like it because if the sun does come out —it won’t — I can take the jacket off and easily pack it away into my small bike frame bag. 

When it comes to pants, I only rock the Marmots when the rain is particularly hard. Otherwise, I wear just my base layer pants (more on that below) and a pair of workout shorts. That said, when the Marmot Precips do make an appearance, they serve dutifully. Like the jacket, the pants are lightweight and very easy to move in. The bottoms also have a drawstring for sinching so that your pants don’t get caught in the bike chain. 

Base layers: Smartwool Long Sleeve & Smartwool Bottoms  

Full disclosure, I’m obsessed with my Smartwool base layers and wear my long sleeve and bottoms for everything from snowboarding to cycling, hiking to jogging. These garments, made from Merino Wool,  are extremely warm, yet breathable and don’t retain moisture. They are also insanely comfortable to cruise around the house in. 

Fenders: SKS X-Tra Dry Rear & SKS S-board Front Quick-release fenders 

My SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Fender has served me well for 12-plus years — that’s some solid longevity for $20. As the name implies, it’s quick and easy to attach and detach from your seatpost. It also fits most bikes and more importantly, does a great job keeping mud, water and grime from splashing up onto your back. 

For even more weather protection, consider adding the SKS S-board Front Quick-release Fender to your setup, especially if you’re like me and don’t like puddle water splashing up into your face.  

Lights: Cygolite Metro Pro 1100 (front) & Cygolight Hotshot Pro 200C (rear)

Last but not least, we have bike lights. We briefly covered lights while discussing the Lumos Ultra above, but helmet lights alone are not enough to keep you safe during the darker months of winter. Instead, you’ll want to invest in a powerful pair of bike-mounted front and rear lamps with good water resistance and battery life. 

Next to my fenders, my Cygolights Metro Pro and Hotshot Pro are my longest-serving pieces of bike gear. Used by many city cyclists, both models offer USB charging and quick-release mounting.  On the subject, be sure to take your lights with you whenever locking up. For whatever reason, bike light theft seems to be at an all-time high.  

Final thoughts

There you have it, my top picks for staying dry and comfy while pumping the pedals all winter long. While these may not be the priciest or most technically advanced pieces of biking gear out there, they all have served me well for many seasons. And I have no doubt they will do the same for you. 

For more on biking gear, check out our best bike lights, best bike helmets and best bike locks buying guides.  

More from Tom's Guide

• The best electric bikes of 2023
• Best bike lights of 2023
• The best water bottles in 2023
  

The BQi-C3 Pro from NIU welcomes riders of all heights and abilities with a generously deep step-through design. That sets the tone for what the BQi-C3 Pro is all about: ease, comfort, and adaptability. 

In keeping with that trend, there’s only one gear — no shifter to contend with. It features a maintenance-free belt drive system rather than the more typical chain drive found on bicycles. And the motor assist offers plenty of power to get you up and over even the steepest hills on your commute. And if you’ve got a long commute, the BQi-C3 Pro offers an incredible range due to the dual battery system.

It’s a simple, ready-to-ride bike for urban commuters. While the single-speed design does lead to a few on-bike challenges, overall the BQi-C3 Pro offers everything an urban commuter needs for daily use over varying terrains and long distances. It's the best electric bike for those who need to travel far, and, at its sale price, one of the best budget electric bikes for the money.

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: Price and availability

The BQi-C3 Pro is available for purchase through the NIU website or through Best Buy. The regular retail price is $2,199, but can often be found for much less; during the holiday season, we saw it for as low as $1,299.

You can finance your purchase through Klarna when buying through the NIU website. And NIU offers a 30-day free trial, as well as a 2-year warranty. 

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: Design

The BQi-C3 Pro features a step-through frame design that makes it easy to get on and off the bike. The seat adjusts up and down as well, making the bike appropriate for a wider size range of riders. The stem adjusts as well to bring the handlebars in closer to the rider, or further away, depending on your needs. 

A Gates Carbon Belt Drive replaces the more common steel bicycle chain found on most bikes. The belt drive offers quiet operation and a much longer lifespan than a steel bike chain — as well as almost no maintenance needed.

While the BQi-C3 Pro is heavy for a bike like this at 70.5 pounds, some of that extra weight can be attributed to the dual-battery design. There’s one removable battery in the down tube, and another in the seat tube. This effectively doubles the bike’s range, as it’s quick and easy to swap the batteries when one runs out of juice.

The batteries power a 500-watt rear hub motor that can be engaged by pedaling, with three assist modes to choose from. Or, the motor can be engaged using the throttle mounted on the handlebar.

To slow things down, the BQi-C3 Pro comes equipped with mechanical disc brakes front and rear. Other nice touches include integrated front and rear lights, and an integrated rear rack.

Everything rolls on 27-5-inch wheels shod in puncture-resistant tires. There are also integrated front and rear lights, front and rear fenders, and a rear rack to complement the ride.

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: Performance

There’s an awful lot of Styrofoam packaging in the box when you start to build the BQi-C3 Pro. Not exactly environmentally friendly stuff, but it did keep the bike well protected. And building the bike is quick and easy if you have a bit of familiarity with the tools. 

Getting on and off the bike is a breeze too, thanks to the very low step-through design. I’m 

5’ 11”, and my wife is closer to 5’ 3”. Both of us were able to get on and off comfortably. 

The BQi-C3 Pro is fairly heavy for a bike this size, likely due to the dual battery design. Its footprint is small enough to keep it maneuverable, though, and the weight largely isn’t a factor once you start pedaling.

The ride itself is a bit on the stiff side, though I probably could have lowered my tire pressure to get a bit more compliance. I was pleased to see that NIU opted for a rigid fork instead of a suspension fork; most bikes in this category won’t benefit greatly from inexpensive suspension forks, and they can in fact become a detriment to the steering and handling of the bike.

Three assist levels are available to you as soon as you start pedaling. Usually, when I ride a bike for the first time, I’ll put it in the highest assist level to start draining the battery as quickly as I can. I’ll also use the throttle a lot. But in this case, the lower two assist levels were so powerful that I hardly needed the highest assist setting. Getting up to full speed was quick and easy without having to go full-power.

That’s both great, and not so great, depending on the terrain on which you’ll be riding. It’s great if you’re not all that interested in pedaling. The single-speed drivetrain combined with the quick assist means you’ll get spun out pretty quickly. Pedaling won’t do much of anything at that point, so you’ll be reliant solely on the throttle and inertia.

It’s also great if your commute involves a lot of climbs. The BQi-C3 Pro makes short work of them, even in the lower assist levels. If you don’t want to work going uphill, you certainly won’t have to.

There’s one exception: starting from a dead stop on a hill. The rear hub motor struggled to get going, even while using the throttle, when you’re starting from a dead stop on a steep bit of tarmac. Usually in this case, I would shift the drivetrain into the easiest possible gear to overcome this problem. But the BQi-C3 Pro only has one gear, so you may find this more challenging.

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: Battery life and performance

NIU includes two batteries with the purchase of the bike. Both batteries are removable and integrate flush into the frame. The combined advertised range is up to 90 miles, with 60 miles as the target for more common usage.

On my first ride over about nine miles, I noticed that both batteries were draining as I rode. I assumed the bike would work through one battery first, then either switch automatically to the second, or require me to physically change one battery out for another. But that wasn’t the case. 

Over the course of those first nine miles, both batteries went from a fresh charge (100%) to 90% charged as indicated by the head unit. While I was disappointed to see both batteries draining simultaneously, this mileage still indicates that the bike can come close to the advertised 90-mile range in certain conditions.

One other thing to note about the batteries: NIU advertises them as “lightweight” at 12 pounds each. But that’s not particularly lightweight for an ebike battery, even ones of this size and capacity.

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: Accessories

The NIU website offers a wide range of accessories for all its products — which include scooters as well as ebikes. An extra battery is available for purchase for $250, as well as other common replacement parts like chargers, inner tubes, grips, tires, and brake pads. Aside from the electronics, which are specific to the BQi-C3 Pro, however, many of these accessories are easily available at local bike shops. 

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: The competition

Many bikes on the market today come in two designs: a high top-tube version, and a step-through design. Notably, the BQi-C3 Pro only comes in a step-through design. 

Notable comparisons to NIU’s bike include Propella’s new 9S Pro V2 step-thru, which costs $1,399, and has a range of up to 55 miles.

Another great comparison is the Gazelle Arroyo C8 HMB Elite. The Arroyo comes with many more bells and whistles, including more gears in the drivetrain, a suspension fork, and a much lighter weight. But it also costs far more than the NIU. For the price, the BQi-C3 Pro offers a lot for a barebones price. 

NIU BQi-C3 Pro review: Verdict

The BQi-C3 Pro offers a lot of power, range, comfort, and functionality for commuters who will tackle hilly terrain. At the its discounted price, it’s a great deal, too, and the best electric bike for those who don't want to have to recharge the battery too often.

It’s not a light bike, but that will mostly factor in only if you need to pick up the bike. The weight is far less of a factor when you’re actually riding, and the trade-off of having two batteries makes it worthwhile. 

For simplicity’s sake, the single-speed drivetrain is nice for folks who want the least amount of maintenance and operational complexity possible, but the bike would benefit from more gears in the drivetrain, especially if the rider needs to start from a dead stop on a steep hill. 

Ultimately, the BQi-C3 Pro is fun to ride, comfortable, and super powerful. The step-through design is a real win, as is the powerful assist.

A strong, well-designed bike lock will help protect your two-wheeled purchase from opportunistic thieves. To help you choose the best bike lock for you, we put many of the most popular models to the test, from U-locks to chain locks, folding locks to cables.

It's worth keeping in mind that every single bike lock on the market today can be cut or otherwise destroyed by a determined thief. However, the best bike locks, namely, those listed here, will deter opportunistic, grab-and-go crooks and thwart all but the most prepared criminals.

When testing the best bike locks, we looked at usability, portability, weight and of course, the level of protection provided. Of the numerous models we used and abused with angle grinders, hammers and bolt cutters, these are the best ones you can buy in 2025 to guard your bike, electric bike or electric scooter.

We've divided this guide into sections based on the various types of bike locks available to help you decide which is best for your bike and needs. On the subject of protecting valuables, be sure to keep your head safe, too, with one of our best bike helmets.

Best bike locks you can buy today

U-Locks

Chain locks

Folding locks

Cable locks

How to choose the best bike lock for you

Think carefully about your needs in order to choose the best bike lock for you. For starters, think about how much security you’ll actually need. If, for example, you’ll be leaving your bicycle locked outside your apartment or office building for hours or even days at a time, you’ll want a heavier-duty lock. But if you’re only popping into the coffee shop for a few minutes, a lighter, more portable lock might do the trick.

Portability is an important consideration as well. A lock you don’t want to carry with you is a lock you’re likely to leave at home. Some locks are small enough to fit in a jersey pocket, while others will need a dedicated mounting space on your bike or some real estate in a backpack.

While not always the case, locks that focus on portability will sacrifice some burliness by necessity. So smaller, thinner locks may be more susceptible to common tools that thieves use. Still, even a small and portable lock will offer some theft deterrence for quick lockups outside the coffee shop or grocery store. Try to decide whether you’ll need more portability or more theft deterrence. You can always buy two different types of locks to fit different needs, too.

The lock’s weight matters too, and while that’s closely related to portability, it is entirely possible to find a strong, durable lock that doesn’t weigh a ton and packs down relatively small. Weight becomes more of a concern if you’re stowing the lock in a pocket or backpack. It can be less impactful if you’re mounting the lock on your bike.

That said, the heaviest-duty locks are also, well, quite heavy. Such locks are best for locking your bike long-term in high-theft areas. But they won’t feel too great in a backpack or slung over your shoulder.

The theft deterrence level depends largely on the materials used to create the lock and the overall design. Keeping in mind that any lock can be cut or destroyed with the right tools, you can hedge your bets by choosing a lock with heavy-duty materials like steel chain links or a U-Lock with a steel shackle. Cable locks can be cut quickly and easily with bolt cutters, but burlier locks will require heavier-duty tools like an angle grinder. The odds of a thief walking down the street with an angle grinder are much lower than a thief equipped with bolt cutters, so heavier-duty locks can act as a deterrent without ever having to face an actual attack.

Finally, prices for bike locks can vary widely, from $20 all the way up to $300 or more. Choose a lock within your budget, and keep in mind that just because a lock is expensive doesn’t mean it’s better for your needs. Consider all of the above criteria before plunking down your credit card.

Bike lock types

Chain locks vs. U-Locks vs. folding locks

Chain locks differ from U-Locks and folding locks in construction and capability. Chain locks are built with chain links and are connected at the ends with either a small U-lock or an integrated locking unit.

U-Locks feature a U-shaped metal shackle that inserts into a locking mechanism. And a folding lock features metal links that pivot to open up in a wide circle, then fold up for easy storage.

Each type of lock has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Chain locks are very durable, easy to lock around a variety of fixed objects, and depending on the size of the links, they can be worn around the shoulder for easy transport, and they are very resistant to theft attacks. But such locks can be quite heavy, especially as the links get larger.

U-locks are one of the most common types of locks because they are resistant to all sorts of cutting tools. They stow easily in a backpack, too, and can even mount cleanly on your bike. They, too, can get quite heavy when you get into longer shackle U-locks. U-locks are also limited in locking capabilities because the shackles often don’t reach far enough to be useful.

Folding locks solve that problem by extending outward to create more locking opportunities. The articulated arms extend to form a large circle. These locks fold up compact and can be stowed easily in a backpack or mounted on your bike. The pivots that connect the arms can be a weak point, however, making these locks susceptible to drilling or leverage attacks.

How we tested the best bike locks

Portability, price, weight, and ease of use are all fairly easy to determine by simply taking the lock with you on various rides around town. So that’s exactly what I did with each lock in the test. From coffee shops to train stations, I locked up my bike for quick trips and all-day storage. Fortunately, no thieves came upon my bike; if they did, they were deterred enough by the locks to move on.

I cut a random sampling of locks using both bolt cutters and an angle grinder to get a sense of the effort that goes into it. Not surprisingly, I was able to destroy each one, though the time and effort it took varied quite a lot. Round cables were the easiest to cut with 24-inch bolt cutters I had on hand; large-diameter chains and U-lock shackles were the most difficult and required the use of an angle grinder.

But as mentioned previously, it’s possible to cut through or otherwise destroy any bike lock on the market with the right tools and enough time and determination. With that in mind, we examined each lock for potential weaknesses or obvious flaws that might make cutting or destroying easier.

Frequently asked questions

Features Comparison

More from Tom's Guide

• Best electric bikes
• Best bike helmets
• Best budget electric bikes
• Best bike lights

Dutch electric bike maker VanMoof has announced it has gone bankrupt and is seeking a buyer for all company assets based in the Netherlands in “the next few weeks." 

In a statement to employees (which was subsequently shared in full on Reddit) the company noted the bankruptcy only applies to its Dutch entities while those based in the U.S., U.K, Taiwan, Japan, Germany and France remain unaffected.

The statement explained: “The bankruptcy of the Dutch VanMoof entities was needed - despite all your efforts and hard work to prevent this - as there simply is not enough cash flow to meet the current liabilities. By placing the Dutch companies into bankruptcy, it becomes more likely that a restart of the VanMoof business can be accomplished.”

The decision means a buyer could effectively scoop up the company’s assets and operations in the Netherlands without having to take on the outstanding debt. Two administrators have been named to oversee the process and are investigating whether a restructuring and asset sale would allow the company to continue operations.

VanMoof told employees they are expected to work a six-week notice period before they will receive their final payments but that there are “no funds to pay salaries” long term.

The news is a dramatic turnaround for VanMoof which, only two years ago, claimed to be the “most funded e-bike company in the world” after securing a $128 million investment. That belied the problems as, according to a report in Dutch outlet FD, the company suffered a $13.4 million gross margin loss that same year. 

The company’s e-bikes are regularly touted as some of the best on the market, and at one time were on the Tom’s Guide best electric bikes list.

What to do if you own a VanMoof electric bike

If you own a VanMoof bike yourself, then this news is likely to create some understandable waves of uncertainty. It’s not clear what will happen in the coming months and years in terms of support although VanMoof says its e-bikes “will remain functional and rideable, as we aim to keep our app and servers online and aim to secure the ongoing services for the future.”

For now, owners in the U.K. and U.S. are unaffected, but as ever with these things it could change at a moment's notice. You would be best advised to download the unique digital key relating to their model should the company’s servers be taken offline.

Rival e-bike company Cowboy has created an app called Bikey (which you can download here for iOS) that allows you to download your keycode, so you can continue using your bike. However, it's advised that you do so immediately, in the event that the VanMoof servers go offline. 

More worryingly, the bankruptcy announcement means all repair work and deliveries of e-bike parts in the Netherlands will be stopped. Of course, this could be reversed if the company finds a buyer.

More from Tom's Guide

• The best electric bikes of 2023
• I tried this futuristic e-bike — and now I want one
• VanMoof S3 review: Dutch design delight

Whether you’re a casual biker or well-seasoned cyclist, the Apple Watch is a useful device filled with all sorts of biking features. From frictionless ways to launch workouts to potentially life-saving safety tools, there are lots of ways the Apple Watch can improve your cycling experience.

With bike riding part of my regular cardio routine, I’ve discovered quite a few biking features built into the Apple Watch. Some might seem pretty obvious, but others are definitely lesser-known. There are also some excellent third-party Apple Watch apps dedicated to biking that can further enhance your rides.

If this sounds like tips you’ve been looking for, check out the best Apple Watch biking features below. All apply to the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as any Apple Watch device with watchOS 9 installed.

Turn on Start Workout Reminder

Say you’ve started your bike ride, but forgot to launch a cycling workout to track your activity and close your Apple Watch rings. Attempting to launch the workout while you’re already moving can be difficult, not to mention dangerous. While you can try to trigger Siri and ask the voice assistant to start your workout, it might be better to let your Apple Watch pick up on the fact that you’re riding. Here’s how to set it up:

• Open Settings on your Apple Watch
• Scroll down to Workout and open Workout settings
• Enable ‘Start Workout Reminder’

The Apple Watch can automatically detect a handful of workout types, which is why this is also one of the best Apple Watch running tips. For bike rides, I usually receive a buzz and a prompt asking me if I want to record an outdoor cycle in under 5 minutes and in less than half a mile traveled.

Enable Auto-Pause

As most bikers know, the chances of going for a non-stop ride are slim. Between traffic lights, pedestrians and photo-worthy stops, you could take a quick break from moving multiple times throughout your trip. That’s why you’ll want to enable Auto-Pause for your Apple Watch workouts, which detects when you stop traveling to provide more accurate pace data. Here’s how it works:

• Open Settings on your Apple Watch
• Scroll down to Workout and open Workout settings
• Click on ‘Auto-Pause’
• Enable ‘Auto-Pause’ for Outdoor Cycling

When you start moving again, your Apple Watch workout will automatically resume, ensuring you get credit for your progress and a true reflection of your time-to-distance metrics.

Set up Fall Detection

No matter your usual bike route, it’s a smart idea to set up Fall Detection on your Apple Watch. If you take a hard fall during your ride, your Apple Watch will monitor your movement and responses to determine if you need emergency services. If you don’t respond to the alert and remain immobile for a minute, your watch will call for help and alert your emergency contacts. Here’s how to turn on fall detection:

• Open Settings on your Apple Watch
• Click on ‘SOS’ settings
• Select ‘Fall Detection’
• Enable ‘Fall Detection’

You can opt to only use Fall Detection during workouts, if you’re not concerned about the alerts for regular use. That said, there have been multiple reports about Fall Detection enabling people to get the help they need, so it’s a good feature to use. 

Create a Custom Workout

While it’s easy to start an open biking workout, you can customize your workout to follow a training plan. If you’re preparing for a big race or have a cycling goal in mind, using warmup, work, recovery, and cooldown intervals could help with your progress. Here’s how to set up a custom workout: 

• Open the workout app on your Apple Watch
• Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the Outdoor Cycle option
• Scroll down to the bottom, then select ‘Create Workout’
• Tap ‘Custom’ to create your workout based on your desired including a warm-up, work and recovery intervals, then a cooldown.

Each interval can be measured by Time or Distance, based on your ride preferences. You can also set pace alerts, if your goal is to ride at a certain speed. Either way, creating a custom workout on Apple Watch for your outdoor cycle can take your ride to the next level.

Track your Heart Rate Zones

If you’re bike riding as a form of cardio, it could be a good idea to track your heart rate zones throughout your workout. Any Apple Watch with watchOS 9 translates your effort and heart rate into zones that help visualize how hard you’re working. Depending on your performance level or exercise needs, paying attention to your heart rate zones can help you find sustainable effort levels.

While you’re in a biking workout, swipe up on the workout display to see your heart rate zones. The zones are automatically calculated based on your cumulative workout metrics, but you can manually change them in the Workout section of Settings app, if you prefer.

Use Precision Start

More of a lesser-known feature, Precision Start is an optional setting that eliminates the countdown when you start a workout. The countdown comes enabled by default, so you might not know that you can turn it off. Here’s how:

• Open Settings on your Apple Watch
• Scroll down to Workout and open Workout settings
• Enable ‘Precision Start’

If you tend to immediately start peddling after launching your Outdoor Cycle workout, the delay could slightly skew your data. It’s only a slight hesitation, but one you might want to try ditching for your next ride.

Explore third-party apps

While the native Outdoor Cycle workout program on Apple Watch lets you track your ride and offers a good overview of your trip afterwards, some of the best Apple Watch apps for biking could further enhance your experience. 

One of our favorite biking apps for Apple Watch is Komoot. Komoot is all about adventure, with specific modes for mountain biking and gravel riding, in addition to road biking. The app lets you create your own trails or follow community-made ones, making it easy to explore new trails. The community element of the app is a another big perk, allowing you to connect with fellow enthusiasts.

Strava, one of the best workout apps and best running apps, also has a bike ride-tracking feature. Not only does Strava recommend routes based on your taste, but it has built-in safety features for notifying trusted contacts of your whereabouts. 

Try riding an e-bike

Whether you have bought one of the best electric bikes, or have the chance to try out an e-bike on vacation or from a city rental, don’t forget to track your ride on your Apple Watch. The Apple Watch’s exercise-tracking algorithm can identify if you’re riding an electric bike or a standard bike based on your heart rate and speed. 

That way, you still get credit for your movement, but you’re not over-credited for the effort eased by an e-bike. What’s more, e-bikes are a great way to get some activity if you’re intimidated by the challenges of regular cycling. Plus, a bike like the VanMoof S3 has a compatible Apple Watch apps that lets you lock and unlock the bike using your smartwatch.

Earn badges

One of the best parts of working out with my Apple Watch is earning badges. In fact, badges are my favorite Apple Watch fitness feature you're probably not using. There are a number of cycling-specific badges available in the Fitness app that use a bit of gamification for motivation.

You can check out badges, both ones you’ve earned and have to earn, in the Fitness app on your iPhone. Scroll down to ‘Awards’ in the ‘Summary’ tab and select ‘Show More’. There, you’ll see all the different badge types, from Limited Edition Challenges to Workout-specific achievements and even badges specifically aligned with Apple Fitness Plus classes. Currently there are audio-based Fitness Plus workouts for outdoor running and walking, but you could try an indoor cycling workout if you have access to one of the best exercise bikes.

Take on a triathlon

If you’re really ready to take your cycling to the next level, you could introduct swimming and running as part of triathlon training. There are a variety of triathlon distances based on the race, but thanks to the Multisport option in the Apple Watch, you can track all three activities in a single workout based on your own goals.

The Multisport workout lets you combine Outdoor Cycle, Outdoor Run and Open Water swim tracking (you can even choose two of the three). You can set goals for each segment, and get alerted when it’s time to start the next leg. Your Apple Watch will automatically detect when you’ve transitioned between workout types, giving you one less thing to worry about.

More from Tom's Guide

• Here’s what 30 minutes on an exercise bike can do to your body
• I swapped my real bike for Peloton classes for two weeks — here’s what happened
• How to manually add a workout to your Apple Watch

Cargo bikes tend to be the most useful of all e-bikes. But that versatility comes with some drawbacks — most notably, the bike’s weight and size. Radpower has solved one of those two problems with its lineup of e-cargo bikes. The Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus is the latest in that lineup, and its generally small size, versatility, and comfortable ride rank it among the best cargo bikes out there.

It's still heavy at 75.5 pounds (before you start adding accessories that truly make the RadRunner shine). But given its stout payload capacity, easy ride, powerful assist, and versatile build, it’s easy to look past the weight when it comes time to replace car trips. Read the rest of my RadPower RadRunner 3 Plus review to see why it’s earned a place on our list of the best electric bikes.

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: Price and availability

The RadRunner 3 Plus debuted in February 2023 (we reviewed the bike that June), and costs $2,299 before you start adding accessories. It’s available for sale now on Radpower’s website. You can also customize your RadRunner 3 Plus right on the website with all the accessories that would make it most useful for your purposes. If you’re not sure what you want, Radpower offers pre-selected packages as well. 

If you’d prefer to test-ride the bike before buying, Radpower offers a Test Ride a Bike feature on its website that allows you to find the RadRunner 3 Plus somewhere nearby and schedule a test ride. 

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: Design

The RadRunner 3 Plus places convenience at the core of its design. The step-thru frame makes it easy to mount and dismount, especially for smaller riders. The 20-inch wheels keep the bike’s center of gravity low. Combine that with the fat, 3.3-inch tires for comfort and stability and you’ve got a cargo bike ready to handle plenty of weight in all seasons.

The Radpower website features a sizing slider based on your inseam. This allows you to see whether the bike will fit you properly, and whether you’ll be able to pedal comfortably.

The rear rack is incorporated into the frame design. You’ll need to add a front rack if you want one, but that’s an easy installation once you purchase it from the Radpower website. The max capacity — including rider — is 350 pounds, so loading up at the grocery store is no problem.

The RadRunner 3 Plus comes with integrated front and rear lights, a kickstand, and front and rear fenders. The suspension fork offers 60mm of travel to take the edge off bumps and chatter. Radpower wisely includes hydraulic disc brakes for plenty of stopping power, especially when you’re loaded down with cargo or passengers.

The removable battery is semi-integrated into the down tube, which makes it easy to access and charge. That battery works in conjunction with a 750-Watt rear hub motor. To add even more versatility for varying terrain, the RadRunner 3 Plus comes with a 7-Speed Shimano drivetrain.

The motor offers pedal assist up to 20mph, and a handlebar-mounted throttle allows you to get going and stay going, even without pedaling. You can adjust the assist setting using the push-button controls mounted on the handlebar. My test bike came with two displays: one integrated into the power assist buttons and one mounted in the center of the handlebar.

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: Performance

I’ve had the RadRunner 3 Plus for about a month and a half now, and I’ve decided I’m not sending it back after I’m done testing. It suits my lifestyle wonderfully and has replaced far too many car trips for me to give it up. 

Before you reach for your wallet (like I am), however, it’s best to know what the RadRunner 3 Plus can and cannot do. For starters, if you’re looking to load up very heavy loads, or if you want to take your medium to large dog with you on trips, you’ll probably want a larger cargo bike with a big, low payload area, like the Yuba Supercargo CL. 

The RadRunner 3 Plus can haul big grocery loads, but only if you add the front and rear baskets, which cost extra. Radpower makes a pet hauler too, but it’s only appropriate for smaller pets.

One of the biggest issues I’ve faced in the past with cargo bikes like the RadRunner 3 Plus is the difficulty presented by switching between a rear cargo basket and a passenger seat. Sometimes I want to take my daughter with me on trips; sometimes I want to load up with cargo. The RadRunner 3 Plus makes it super-simple to switch between a padded passenger seat and a cargo basket. The passenger seat comes off with the turn of a plastic knob, freeing up the rear of the bike for the basket. You’ll still need to bolt on the basket, though.

Most of the time I spent riding the Radrunner 3 Plus was with my daughter aboard. She loved it but complained she didn’t have anywhere to hold on. So I ordered the passenger handle accessory, and the problem was solved. With foldable foot pegs below and the bars attached, the RadRunner 3 Plus is set up ideally as a kid hauler.

When I saw that the RadRunner includes a suspension fork, I was immediately wary. My experience with suspension forks on cargo bikes has not been great; they are often low-end components that are far too soft to be useful, or they’re made redundant by wide tires at low pressure.

That latter point still applies to the RadRunner. Given the big, wide tires that you can run at low pressure, you probably don’t need a suspension fork to soak up road chatter. But I’m happy to say that the fork never felt squishy or soft, and it was effective at soaking up larger hits. It’s still probably not entirely necessary on a bike like this, but I was happy to find that it worked well.

The pedal assist offered by the rear hub motor is startlingly strong, especially at the highest setting. You’ll want to start at lower settings and get used to the quick engagement. That power comes in handy when starting from a stop or trying to get through an intersection quickly. And the RadRunner starts from a dead stop on inclines very well.

One other neat feature of the RadRunner 3 Plus is the throttle. Throttles aren’t unique on cargo bikes, but the RadRunner’s throttle can actually complement your pedal assist power or even overwhelm it to get you going more quickly when you want to. I found this useful when starting a climb. If I wanted to keep my pedaling cadence consistent, all I had to do was twist the throttle to get a little extra boost in addition to my pedaling assist power.

I also opted for the Console accessory that sits between the rider’s knees. This too is easy to install and remove quickly. It’s got a keyed top, so you can lock away valuable goodies inside (though I still wouldn’t recommend tucking your fine jewelry or grandma’s heirlooms in there). But it does make it more difficult to mount and dismount the bike, particularly if you’re a shorter rider.

Overall, it was hard to find much I didn’t like about the RadRunner 3 Plus. While I would have preferred a center stand rather than a traditional kickstand to make the bike more stable when loading or unloading cargo, that’s a minor complaint given the bike’s overwhelmingly positive versatility and usability.

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: Battery life and range

I brought the Radrunner 3 Plus to a full charge before my first ride. On that first ride, I primarily used the throttle rather than the pedal assist to see how fast I could wear down the battery. I also attached the passenger seat on the rear of the bike and went for several rides with my daughter on board.

The battery life didn’t reach the 45-mile maximum range, which is to be expected when you’re heavy on the throttle. I got about 25 miles in before the battery was close to drained. But on subsequent trips, I got very close to the 45-mile advertised range when using a variety of pedal-assist settings and throttle use. So Radpower’s battery life claims are close to spot-on.

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: Accessories

It’s easy to accessorize your bike the way you want it using the preset packages that Radpower offers on its website. Or you can go fully custom, like I did. 

I knew I’d be riding with my daughter a lot, so I immediately included the Passenger package ($139). My daughter says the seat is comfy, and it’s easy to install and remove. But she wanted somewhere to hang on rather than around my belly, so I also sprung for the Passenger Bars ($79).

My test bike came with the Console ($129) that sits between the rider’s knees. It’s a good place to stow a lock or a jacket.

The Large Front Mounted Basket ($119) lives permanently on my test bike too and makes a great place to put some grocery bags. Notably, the basket mounts directly to the frame, not to the fork. That means when you turn the front wheel, the basket does not turn with it.

There are many more accessories available on the Radpower website, like the Rad Trailer ($299) that allows you to carry even more stuff.

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: The competition

The Momentum Pakyak E+ ($4,900) was perhaps my favorite cargo bike until I tested the RadRunner 3 Plus. The Pakyak has a similar design, with front and rear rack capabilities and a center console. But the Pakyak’s console sits behind the rider rather than between the knees, which is more convenient. The Pakyak also has larger wheels, which is nice for ride quality but not so nice for keeping the bike’s center of gravity low. The RadRunner beats it in price, and the RadRunner is also much easier to reconfigure when switching between passenger-carrying and cargo-carrying. 

The Cero One ($3,799) is a mixed wheel size cargo bike: a larger back wheel with a smaller front wheel.  It too features a front rack that mounts directly to the frame for more stability when hauling cargo. It also comes with nice features like a quiet belt drive system and a center stand. The RadRunner’s front basket size and shape is better than the Cero’s however, and I still prefer the smaller wheel size to keep the bike’s center of gravity as low as possible. 

Radpower RadRunner 3 Plus review: Verdict

The RadRunner 3 Plus has earned itself a permanent home here with me. It’s the right combination of versatility, power, comfort, and ease of use in a cargo bike, and it’s easy to reconfigure the bike to your specific needs. For parents bumping from soccer practice to birthday parties, or solo riders looking for a functional SUV alternative for grocery runs, the RadRunner 3 Plus really is one of the best electric bikes.  

If your kid wants to get a taste of what it’s like to ride a motorbike, the Droyd Blipper could be a good place to start. This electric bike has a 250W motor and cruises along at a top speed of about 12 miles per hour, but has the styling of a more adventurous ride. We gave the Droyd Blipper to a kid to try it out for a few weeks to see what he thought — and if it’ll be fun for your child, too. It was so much fun that we just had to add it to our list of the best electric scooters for kids, even if it blurs the lines a little bit. 

Droyd Blipper review: Price

The Droyd Blipper is available on Amazon and other online retailers. When it was released in 2023, it originally cost $529, but you can now often find it for less than $500. It comes in three colors: A white frame with green accents, a tan frame with beige accents, and a black frame with red accents. 

Droyd Blipper review: Design

The Blipper looks somewhat like a mini dirt bike. It has a very sturdy trapezoidal steel frame with a long cushioned seat. The bike’s battery sits at the bottom of the frame, just above the foot pegs. A large, protected headlight sits at the top of a chunky front fork, and the bike rides on beefy, 16-inch tubeless tires. If it weren’t for the fact that it lacks suspension, it’d be tempting to take it offroading.

The bike is meant for kids aged 13 and up weighing up to 165 pounds, and its 250 rear hub motor is capable of a max speed of 12.5 miles per hour, and a range of 12.5 miles or 60 minutes. 

Getting the Blipper ready to ride was pretty easy; the bike comes mostly assembled, so all you have to do is attach the handlebars and the front wheel. It took me between 15 to 30 minutes; however, you’ll want to make sure its battery is fully charged, which can take up to 6 hours if it’s drained. 

Controls are fairly simple: There’s a handbrake on the left handlebar, and on the right is a throttle, above which is a power indicator and a button to turn on the bike’s headlight. 

To help prevent theft, the bike’s battery can be secured with a small key; while you can’t physically remove the battery, removing the key will prevent the bike from being able to be turned on. 

The Blipper measures 52.4 x 33.1 x 22.1 inches and weighs 43.7 pounds. You’ll want to store it somewhere on the ground level.

Droyd Blipper: Performance

As I’m too old and too big to test the Blipper, I gave it to a friend’s son Chase, who was more than happy to take it for a spin and give his impressions.

Off the bat, Chase dug the Blipper’s styling, which he likened to a motorbike. He just wished that it came in more than the two colors offered: white and sand.

Chase said that the Blipper’s seat, handlebars, and footpegs were all comfortable, and rode really well on pavement. The location of the controls made it easy to use and he liked that it shows the battery level, too. However, it wasn’t as good on dirt — he wished that the tires were a bit bigger to accommodate less smooth surfaces. 

Because of the bike’s low center of gravity, Chase said that it was easy for a beginner to ride and overcome any fear they might have of falling over. He also liked the large LED, which made the Blipper great for riding in darker conditions — such as if he stayed a little too late at a friend’s house, and had to get home for dinner. 

Chase found that the Blipper’s battery life was ideal for short rides around the block and to and from friends’ homes. However, its top speed of 12.5 miles per hour meant that he had trouble keeping up with friends and adults who were riding electric scooters with faster top speeds

He also found that the Blipper wasn’t as good for longer rides, as the battery didn’t have the stamina. He did find it recharged fairly quickly, though, so that he could get a few rides in per day. 

Droyd Blipper review: Verdict

In all, the Droyd Blipper is a fun ride for children who want to (safely) get a taste of what it’s like to ride a motorbike. At around $500, it’s a bit more expensive than some of the best electric scooters for kids, but it’s a great alternative, and has limits on its top speed that will help to reassure nervous parents. 

If you think the Blipper is a bit too much power for your kid, Droyd also sells the Droyd Weeler ($349 Amazon), which has a lower top speed of 10 MPH, 14-inch tires, and a max range of 8 miles before it needs to be recharged. 

The fat tire craze has been a staple of the mountain bike world for some time, and in recent years that massive rubber has made it onto other types of bikes — notably, electric commuter bikes like the Aventon Aventure.2. At first it seems gimmicky: who really needs that much rubber to roll down the road? 

When the road is covered in snow, or if that road isn’t paved, or if that road simply isn’t maintained, the Aventure.2 shines enough to answer that question. There are also big benefits to those big tires that go beyond the terrain it can grapple with. Comfort increases significantly, too. 

But, is this the best electric bike to get you to and from your work? Read the rest of our Aventon Aventure.2 review to find out. 

Aventon Aventure.2 review: Price and availability

The Aventure.2 was introduced in the spring of 2023 (when we initially reviewed it). At the time, it cost $1,899, but as of 2024, was available for $1,799 through Aventon’s website. Financing is available through Affirm if you want to break the cost into payments. The site also features a dealer locator should you prefer to buy in person.

On top of that, Aventon offers optional accident protection through Extend, which covers certain damages to the bike with no deductibles. Choose from three plans ranging in price from $119 for one year, up to $239 for three years. 

Aventon Aventure.2 review: Design

The fat tires tell part of the story: The Aventure.2 is intended to go anywhere in just about any condition. A suspension fork with 80mm of travel reinforces that notion. On top of that, the Aventure.2 comes with powerful hydraulic disc brakes for reliable stopping power in all conditions.

You can choose from two sizes: Regular for riders from 5’3” to 5’10”, and Large for riders 5’10” to 6’4”. Shorter riders can also opt for the step-through design that offers more clearance between you and the frame.

Regardless of what size you choose, the Aventure.2 comes with an 8-speed drivetrain, fenders, and integrated lights. Notably, the lights function as turn signals and brake lights too.

The Aventure.2 is set up as a class 2 ebike out of the box (which gives you an assist up to 20 MPH), but you can configure it for class 3 use (which boosts it to 28 MPH) using the Aventon app. The app also gives you the capability to record your rides, and even share those rides with the Aventon community.

Just about all other adjustments can be done right on the bike using the full color LCD display. You can change the assist levels using the handlebar-mounted buttons. That’s also where you’ll operate the turn signals. The throttle control is just inboard of the handlebar buttons.

The motor is built into the rear hub of the bike. A torque sensor measures your pedaling input and amplifies your cadence. That means the harder or faster you pedal, the more assist you’ll get.

Aventon Aventure.2 review: Performance

The Aventure.2 weighs 77 pounds, and that weight is immediately noticeable before you even start pedaling. Maneuvering the bike can be a bit cumbersome. 

Once you’re up and riding, the weight becomes less of an issue. It’s a super fun ride, and those big, wide tires mean you can monster-truck your way over lots of obstacles. Riding the Aventure.2 in the snow was particularly fun, as the big tires (with lowered tire pressure) offer plenty of traction and stability.

The fenders wrap around the tires nicely to keep road spray off of you. The Aventure.2 is truly meant for all conditions, and the bike certainly stood up to such tests. The motor is strong and quick to engage, powering the bike through mud, dirt, snow, and pavement with ease. There’s very little lag between pedaling input and the motor’s engagement, and the throttle engagement is quick too, though perhaps a hair slower than the response from pedaling input.

I was impressed with the Aventure.2’s response to pedaling torque. The motor kicks in with more assist when you push down on the pedals with more force, even just for one pedal stroke. It’s an easy way to get going faster when you’re approaching a hill.

The Aventure.2 is equipped with brake lights and turn signals. The brake lights illuminate automatically, which is a nice touch not found on most ebikes. The turn signals are cool too, but you have to remember to use them — which I often didn’t. Still, the light system is a great advantage for city commuters.

The suspension fork is the Aventure.2’s weakness. It’s not a particularly smooth-feeling bit of suspension, and ultimately, with the tires as large as they are, the suspension fork really isn’t necessary. Bigger tires mean you can run lower tire pressures, which adds more than enough comfort and compliance to the ride. The suspension fork is therefore just added weight and complexity for little real benefit.

My test bike came with the optional rear rack. It installed in just a few minutes and felt stable. It’s a great place to tote what you’re carrying, though you’ll need to find a way to secure your loads, since Aventon does not include any straps.

Aventon Aventure.2 review: Battery life and performance

The battery is mounted conveniently in the down tube of the Aventure.2. It’s removable using the included keys. That means you can pop the battery out for easier charging or safekeeping. 

Aventon advertises up to 60-mile range per charge. That’s largely dependent on what assist mode you use, what terrain you ride on, and other riding conditions. If you just use the throttle without pedaling, Aventon says you can get up to 30 miles out of a single charge.

My first ride on the Aventure.2 was a ten-mile round trip. I used a mix of pedaling assist and throttle, and I kept the assist level on the highest setting (Turbo). By the end of my ride, I had worn the battery down to 80%. That’s in keeping with Aventon’s advertised range estimates.

Aventon Aventure.2 review: Accessories

The Aventon website has a large online store full of parts and accessories to customize your ride. My test bike came with fenders, and Aventon sent along a rear rack for me to test as well. 

If I was to request another upgrade, it would be the front rack, which allows riders to carry even more cargo up front.

If you’re after as much comfort as possible, you could even add a suspension seatpost — though as I mentioned, the big tires at low pressure already add quite a lot of comfort and compliance.

Aventon Aventure.2 review: The competition

The Aventure.2’s most direct competition is the Velotric Nomad 1. The Nomad also features oversized tires that make it appropriate for many surfaces from pavement to dirt and snow. It also features a front suspension fork which feels largely extraneous. While both the Nomad and the Aventure.2 are both very capable and fun bikes, the Nomad is $300 less expensive. It doesn’t come with the nifty brake lights and turn signals, though. 

Lectric’s XP 3.0 puts a unique spin on the fat tire bike. It’s also a multi-surface master, but it comes in a diminutive folding package. You can fold up the bike and stow it easily in an apartment or other small space. It’s also less expensive than both the Nomad and the Aventure.2 at $1,000.

Aventon Aventure.2 review: Verdict

As a multi-surface commuter, the Aventure.2 shines. It’s capable of rolling easily over dirt, through mud and snow, or just zipping along on pavement. The turn signals and rear brake lights offer nice commuting features you won’t find on many other ebikes on the market. And the torque sensor makes for a wonderfully tailored assist experience. 

The Aventure.2’s biggest drawbacks are its weight and the suspension fork. If you’ll be carrying the bike upstairs, the Aventure.2 may not be the best option for you. The suspension fork feels largely unnecessary, too, and a rigid fork (without suspension) might even shave off a pound or two. But overall, it’s one of the best electric bikes for getting you to and from the office — wherever that happens to be.

Making the trek to the gym can be hard, especially when you have a busy schedule which is why I and many others have a home gym instead. While I have a weight rack and a pull-up bar in my garage, I also have a Peloton Bike Plus in my game room since the heat out there can be brutal while doing cardio.

Getting a Peloton wasn’t actually my idea; it was my wife’s. Before we moved, she had started doing spin classes and really enjoyed them. However, when she couldn’t find a spin class near our new house, she decided to go with a Peloton — after checking out a few of the best Peloton alternatives first. 

Although my wife loved the on-demand classes and Peloton’s charismatic instructors, we got pregnant shortly thereafter and as can happen with home exercise equipment, our Peloton Bike Plus sat in a corner and started gathering dust. I tried riding it myself and while the classes were pretty fun, they just weren’t for me as I’ve always preferred to go at my own pace. 

The Peloton Bike Plus also wasn’t my first exercise bike as I had a folding one I loved back in our apartment. I really liked riding it while catching up on TV shows or even playing video games — something you just can’t do with a Peloton unless you hack or jailbreak it. Since this was my wife’s bike and hacking was off the table, I knew I had to come up with a creative workaround — and that's exactly what I did.

Designing the monitor mount

Adding a laptop tray on top of the handlebars of the Peloton Bike Plus or even hanging a tablet holder from its screen would have been the easiest solution to my problem. However, despite not being the biggest fan of Peloton’s classes, I love its user interface and the fact that it runs on top of Android.

I didn’t want to cover the screen with another one or block it with one of the best laptops. After a lot of brainstorming, I came up with a solution: I would mount another monitor on top of the Bike Plus’ screen. A dual-monitor setup made perfect sense as I would still have access to the Peloton UI while also being able to watch TV or play games. Now, I just had to figure out a way to make it work.

I initially thought of using a monitor arm to attach an old, 15.6-inch portable monitor to the monitor mount at the back of the Bike Plus. However, while testing this out, I realized that a metal monitor arm was actually heavier than my portable monitor. I saw a few videos online of DIY monitor arms made out of 1-inch PVC pipe and decided to go this route instead.

Not only is PVC pipe lighter but it’s also easy to cut to size and drill holes into. I took the VESA mount off a metal monitor stand and attached it to the PVC pipe using two screws. Since my portable monitor didn’t have VESA mounting holes, I used a VIVO Universal VESA Mount Adapter ($25, Amazon) to attach it to the pipe. This adapter also works with the best tablets.

In order to attach the PVC pipe to the back of the Peloton Bike Plus, I drilled holes on either side of the PVC and ran some cable ties through. I had to use two 10-inch cable ties attached together to have enough length to wrap them around both the PVC pipe and the Bike Plus’ monitor mount. Another reason why I used cable ties as opposed to something more permanent is that the whole setup can actually be taken down in just a few minutes 

With just two sets of holes and my cable ties pushed through them, I managed to attach my DIY PVC monitor mount to the back of the Bike Plus and to my surprise — it stayed in place. During this prototype phase, I used an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max to test and make sure everything was working. But I wasn’t done there.

Besides the classes and features available on the Bike Plus, what makes it one of the best exercise bikes in my opinion is its design. I didn’t want my DIY monitor arm to detract from the beauty of its black, powder-coated, carbon steel frame, which is why I took everything down and painted the PVC pipe.

I used nail polish remover to take off the red writing on the PVC pipe and then sanded it down so that the paint would stick. With a box from one of the best office chairs, I carefully painted the PVC pipe after drilling a few extra holes so that it would attach firmly to my Bike Plus.

Putting it all together

Besides painting and adding more holes for additional cable ties, I also added an elbow joint along with another piece of PVC pipe. This way my DIY monitor arm would be connected to the Bike Plus’ monitor mount at more points. However, this also allowed me to run an HDMI cable along with the portable monitor’s power adapter up to the top of the Bike Plus from its water bottle holder.

I also ran a micro USB cable through the pipe to power a Chromecast connected to the portable monitor. However, after doing so, I realized I didn’t have enough power outlets on the extension cord I was using. Fortunately, with a USB-C to USB-A adapter, I was able to power the Chromecast from the USB-C port at the back of the Peloton.

As I was already using the monitor mount at the back for my DIY monitor arm, I used a DoublePlus Phone Holder ($11, Amazon) designed to attach under the handlebars of the Bike Plus for my Nintendo Switch. Instead of using an official dock, I actually tried using a third-party dock for the first time. Unlike other ‘unofficial’ docks that have been known to fry the Nintendo Switch, the Genki Covert Dock Mini ($50, Amazon) uses the correct voltage. It’s also absolutely tiny and 20 times smaller than the original Switch dock.

The power adapter for the portable monitor along with the Genki Covert Dock Mini are plugged into an extension cord that sits on the Bike Plus’ water bottle holder on the left side. Their cables then run through the PVC pipe which goes horizontally before going vertically up to the portable monitor.

Tackling my backlog one ride at a time

I know die-hard Peloton fans will probably scoff at my DIY monitor arm and the fact that I now have a portable monitor mounted above the Bike Plus’ main display. However, I’m loving the setup so far and my Peloton hasn’t seen this much usage since it was first delivered.

With a one-year-old son, I just don’t have the time to exercise and play video games anymore. I have to choose between one of the two with the little time I have left each day. However, thanks to my new setup, I can do both simultaneously. Sure, my rides may not be as intensive as those of the Tom’s Guide fitness team but with exercise, what works for one person may not work for another.

Still, gaming while riding a stationary bike is a bit different. Though you might have a difficult time playing fast-paced games, I love grinding my way through lengthy JRPGs like Persona 5 Royal and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 while on my bike. I also enjoy playing first-party Nintendo games like Yoshi’s Crafted World which are a bit slower during my rides.

I had concerns about the stability of my DIY monitor arm while riding my Peloton Bike Plus but I’m happy to report that it hasn't fallen down yet, even when unclipping the Peloton shoes. In fact, I’ve had so much fun with my new setup that I’m even considering picking up some pedal converters for my Peloton so that my friends can try it out without having to pick up a pair of the best Peloton shoes.

Unlike when I turned an old monitor into a digital dashboard or used smart lights to decorate for the holidays, this project actually took over a month to come to fruition and I even took my son to the hardware store for the first time to help me pick out the PVC pipe. 

I’ve now been using my upgraded Peloton Bike Plus for the past week and hopefully with a backlog full of the best Nintendo Switch games and a Chromecast to watch new TV shows and movies from the best streaming services, I’ll keep up with it this time around. Even if I don’t though, I did manage to fix one of my biggest gripes with the Peloton without having to hack my Bike Plus.

More from Tom's Guide

• Big Wear OS update syncs Galaxy Watch 5 and Pixel Watch with Peloton 
• PSVR 2 sales reportedly not living up to Sony’s expectations
• Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus — Which should you buy?

Ride1Up’s Turris will surprise you the second you start pedaling. A powerful, 750-Watt motor kicks in almost immediately, with far more punch than you might expect from a bike at this price. That’s likely what Ride1Up was going for: a lot of excellent features packed into a value bike. 

Yet the Turris does not feel like a value bike (which is to say, the ride feels solid and well built). While it’s by no means the perfect commuter and has some drawbacks — most notably the suspension fork — the Turris punches well above its stature thanks to a smart spec, great motor, and comfortable riding position. Among the best budget electric bikes, it’s definitely worth your consideration.

Ride1Up Turris review: price and availability

The Turris costs $1,295 and is available for purchase on the Ride1Up website. If you're in the continental United States, shipping is free. For delivery to Hawaii and Alaska, delivery costs $600, while shipping to Canada sets you back $100. 

As it's a high-ticket purchase, you can use payment plans from Affirm to spread the cost, or use PayPal's financing options to pay the balance in instalments. 

Ride1Up Turris review: design

The Turris is built around an aluminum frame that is available in two designs: step-over, or step-thru. The step-thru design is more appropriate for shorter riders. Both designs keep the rider in an upright riding position for more comfort. 

The removable battery is integrated into the bike’s down tube, but you do not need to remove the battery from the frame in order to charge it. Ride1Up thoughtfully includes two keys, in case you happen to misplace one. 

The Turris’s motor lives in the rear hub. It’s plenty powerful, offering 750W and 65Nm of torque. To further tailor your pedaling cadence or effort, the Turris comes equipped with a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain.

While you can use the pedaling assist mode up to 28mph, the throttle assist cuts out at 20mph. The assist modes can be changed using the handlebar-mounted LCD display. 

The Turris comes well-loaded with useful accessories, like front and rear fenders, a 60 Lux headlight, an adjustable kickstand, and wide, 27.5 x 2.4-inch tires for multi-surface riding.

The Turris also features a front suspension fork that offers 100mm of travel to take the edge off chatter and big bumps. Notably, the Turris also features Zoom hydraulic disc brakes, a nice inclusion at this pricepoint. 

Ride1Up Turris review: performance

Once unboxed, you need to assemble the bike. The Turris definitely isn’t a straightforward build; my test bike came with the fork uninstalled, as well as one crank arm, among other things. If you have never built a bike before, you may want to take the bike to a shop to get it built correctly. 

Once I got pedaling, the Turris became an easy bike to enjoy. The assist kicks in quickly when you apply pedaling force, and only slightly less quickly when you throw on the throttle. I was surprised by how strong the motor felt on the higher settings (3-5). 

I took the Turris to a moderately steep hill to see how it'd handle starting from a dead stop on an incline. It did well, getting going with the help of both the throttle and the pedal-assist, with the gear shifter set to one of the easiest gears. But the throttle got bogged down when I tried to start without using the pedal assist. 

That held true on longer but less steep climbs. While the throttle alone got me to the top, the assist kicked in with far more vigor if I applied power to the pedals. 

The Turris offers plenty of comfort, between the super-soft seat, suspension fork, and wide tires. But the suspension fork doesn’t feel very plush, especially on bigger hits when it feels like a very tight spring.

Ultimately, the Turris would probably be just as good of a bike with a rigid fork. The front suspension just doesn’t add enough advantage and can be distracting in the long run.

I rode the Turris the day after a snowstorm, and the sun came out to make a mucky mess of everything. I was glad to have the fenders, though it took some doing to get them adjusted properly so they didn’t rub on the tires. If they were just slightly wider, the tire rub could be avoided much more easily.

Ride1Up Turris review: battery life

A 48V, 12.8Ah Reention Prism battery is integrated into the downtube of the Turris. It uses LG cells for reliability. Ride1Up advertises a 25-45-mile range on a single charge, which is fairly common among commuter bikes like this.

Your results will vary depending on a lot of factors, including the terrain on which you ride, the assist mode you use most often, throttle use, and even the weather. My first ride totaled 10.5 miles, and I was super heavy on the throttle.

I ended up using less than half the battery during that ride; most of the battery rundown came when I was full on the throttle up a sustained hill. Given that performance, Ride1Up’s advertised range seems accurate. 

Should you buy the Ride1Up Turris?

For the price, Ride1Up offers a lot of great riding features in the Turris. While the suspension fork feels unnecessary and distracting, the rest of the bike is super comfortable and the motor assist offers unexpectedly strong power. If you’re after a reliable commuter without breaking the bank, the Turris deserves your attention.

However, the Propella 7S hits a similar price as the Turris at $1,199, and also makes a value-packed entry-level commuter ebike. The Propella has much narrower tires, however, and it is set up as a single-speed bike. The Turris has more gearing options and tires equipped for multi-surface riding. 

Propella also offers the 9S Pro for $1,599, which has wider tires for multi-surface riding and a 9-speed drivetrain. But there’s no suspension fork or throttle, and the battery is mounted externally.  

When you're riding a bike, you don't want any surprises. By this measure, the Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0 is a paragon of perfection. This is not to say that it's boring. It's a well-balanced, well-behaved, easily handled commuter ebike for weekday errands or weekend sojourns.

Despite some sophisticated technology and design, the Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0 eschews complexity. It uses an internal gear hub, for example, so there's no need for shade-tree mechanic servicing, and rather than a fussy handle-bar mounted controller, it relies on a single button to power on the bike and select electric assist levels. It's simplicity itself and it's competitively priced at $3,250. If you’re shopping for one of the best electric bikes, it’s worth the splurge.

Specialized Turbo Como SL Ebike Review: Price and Availability

In addition to a wide array of traditional bikes, Specialized has built out a solid line of ebikes under the Turbo moniker. The $3,250 Turbo Como SL 4.0 is one of the entry-level models, which extend to gravel and mountain ebikes, as well as super light models.

If you're more of an off-road rider, there's the Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy for $5,800. It includes not only all the suspension you'd expect on a mountain bike but also a bigger 500Wh battery. For serious gravel runs and those looking for the ultimate in agility, there's the Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL EVO boasting a carbon fiber frame, a weight of just over 29 pounds, invisible electric assistance, and a $14,750 price tag.

Specialized Turbo Como SL Ebike Review: Design

The Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0 is a Class 3 ebike, which means it delivers continuous electric pedal assist at speeds up to 28 mph. It does not have a throttle-only mode, but it delivers smooth power thanks to a Specialized mid-drive motor with a torque sensor and a Shimano Nexus 5-speed shifter. The bike uses a completely enclosed rear hub gearing system, which protects it from the elements and is attached to a conventional chain with a short chain guard to keep your slacks clean.

Unusual in this category of ebikes, the Turbo Como SL 4.0 does not include an LCD controller. A series of blue LEDs on the downtube indicate how much battery power is left and a three-stage set of LEDs set in a circle indicate the level of power assist you have chosen by pushing the single button above. Should you want to make finer adjustments and track your rides, there's an included Mission Control Specialized smartphone app for doing so.

Neatly tucked inside the bike's aluminum frame are all the cabling and electronics. Even the battery is hidden within the bike's downtube. It means that the Turbo Como SL 4.0 will handle wet weather without trouble, and it gives the bike an air of simple elegance that most ebikes lack. Only the VanMoof S3 has cleaner lines than this.

Longer, full-length fenders cover more of the wheels using flexible extensions; they help keep the dirt off of office workers' clothes, and a front frame-mounted basket provides space for picking up groceries on the way home. The whole Specialized package has a very buttoned-down feel; even the charger and owner's manuals come in a handy hard carrying case.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of small design flaws on the Turbo Como SL 4.0. The included rear fender-mounted light stays lit but doesn't flash when you apply the brakes. The front stem-mounted light is very bright, but because it is mounted on the head tube, it points directly ahead at all times, so when you're turning it tends to leave you in the dark. Most ebikes mount the front light so that it turns with the handlebars or front wheel. And there's the lack of an electric horn; Specialized includes an inexpensive mechanical bell, which is barely audible in busy traffic.

Specialized Turbo Como SL Ebike Review: Performance

While not the lightest ebike we've tested, the Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0's 47 pounds feel very light on the road. It handles extremely easily, remaining balanced and poised even in tight turns. The overall quality of construction and design make the Turbo Como SL a standout among higher-end commuter ebikes and reward the rider with predictable handling in all conditions.

The Specialized Turbo Como SL doesn't have shocks to handle country road washboards, but the bike is solid, steady, and silent on paved roads. Indeed, it's one of if not the quietest ebike we've ever tested. The only sound you'll hear is when you're in the lowest gear to climb hills and even then, all you'll notice is a slight high-pitched whine from the bike; otherwise, it's pleasantly mute. The 5-speed gearing is good enough to handle most hills with modest assistance. On steeper climbs, you'll have to put in more effort, and the Como SL could use a couple of higher gears for downhill sprints.

The Turbo Como SL has three levels of pedal power assistance—Eco, Sport, and Turbo modes-- which are indicated by three blue LEDs. We are not ashamed to admit that while we experimented with all modes, we kept it on the maximum power assist Turbo mode for the majority of our rides. (Otherwise, what's the point of having an ebike?) The Como comes with a relatively small 240-watt motor, not uncommon for basic commuting but many urban models now have 400- or even 750-watt motors.

If you want to track your travels, you can do so by using the free Mission Control Specialized app. Aside from tracking the route and distance of your rides, the smartphone app lets you run diagnostics on the bike and to set something called smart assist. This feature lets you enter a destination on the app and then tell it how much battery power you want to have left at the end of your trip. The bike will then dynamically adjust the amount of electric assistance so that you don't run out of power before you reach your destination.

Specialized Turbo Como SL Ebike Review: Battery Life and Range

To monitor battery levels, a series of blue horizontal LEDs on the downtube indicate the battery level and while not as precise as percentage numbers, we found it was pretty accurate concerning how much battery life remained. You can also track it on the app, if you're so inclined.

Specialized doesn't list an official distance rating for the standard 320Wh battery hidden in the Turbo Como SL 4.0's downtube. But over the weeks we tested it, we estimated the average maximum distance to be about 40 miles. That can vary widely, however. We tested the bike in an area rife with hills and mountains. Flatlanders could get considerably more distance between charges.

Specialized Turbo Como SL Ebike Review: Competition

Compared to like-minded easy riders, the Specialized Turbo Como SL sits in a sweet spot between less expensive but less sophisticated commuters that lack the Turbo Como SL 4.0's technology and design and models that offer a few more features and technical niceties but at a substantially higher price.

Consider a model from another major brand, the Trek Verve+2, which costs less at $2,850 but lacks some of the Specialized Turbo Como SL's features. For example, the Trek model uses standard external gearing (rather than a protected internal hub), and its battery is clumsily strapped onto the downtube, which makes it appear more downmarket. It also doesn't apply electric assistance as smoothly or consistently as the Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0.

At the other end of the spectrum are more expensive commuters like the Gazelle Ultimate C380 HMB for $4,249. Compared to the Specialized Turbo Como SL, the additional $1,000 for the Gazelle gets you a carbon belt drive (versus the more maintenance prone chain on the Specialized model) and a shock absorbing seat post and front forks.

Specialized Turbo Como SL Ebike Review: Bottom Line

For people who just want their bike to be ready whenever they want to take a ride in the park or to the grocery store, the Specialized Turbo Como SL is an excellent two-wheeled companion. It requires little maintenance, no messing with complex controllers (it doesn't even have one), or mastering some complex gearing setup. Indeed, the Turbo Como SL may be the simplest ebike we've yet encountered.

And it is priced right. Less expensive commuting ebikes are rougher, less protected from the elements and harder to handle. More expensive models—those from the likes of Gazelle and Riese & Müller—offer more features but with prices well over $4,000. For city dwellers looking for comfort and carefree riding, the Specialized Turbo Como SL is an excellent choice.

Whether you’ve just added one of the best exercise bikes to your home, or you’re kick-starting a new workout routine, get ready to reap the rewards. Exercise bikes are a popular piece of home gym equipment — they don’t need to be replaced constantly, and even if you opt for the likes of the Peloton Bike or the Peloton Bike Plus, the monthly subscription is cheaper than most gym memberships. Plus, you can even pedal whilst watching television. But what are the benefits of regular cycling, and are exercise bikes good for weight loss? 

For those who are looking to lose weight, you should aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio activity at least five days per week, or at least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity three days per week. If you’re looking to increase muscle, you should keep to around three days of HIIT a week, but focus on shorter and even more high-intensity sessions.

The bike will help to work particular muscles and can be beneficial for several parts of your body and health system. But, there are also things to keep an eye out for. We spoke with Physical Therapist Anthony Maritato, of Choose PT 1st, to find out exactly what 30 minutes on an exercise bike does to your body.

What muscles do you work on an exercise bike?

“When it comes to riding an exercise bike the main muscle groups you are working include the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteals,” says Maritato.

The quadriceps are the four main muscles on the front of your upper leg. This group includes the rectus femoris, the vastus lateralis, the vastus intermedius, and the vastus medialis muscles. 

The hamstrings are the muscles behind the upper leg and include the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris muscles.

The gluteals are the powerhouse muscle group of the hip. This is often referred to as the buttock and includes gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus.

When cycling with the correct form, you can also work the abs. Plus, a recent study found that “stationary cycling exercise relieves pain and improves sport function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis,” so it might even be a safer choice than other forms of cardio for those suffering from knee pain. 

Is an exercise bike good for weight loss?

Maritato explains that weight loss may be achieved in many ways from reducing caloric intake to increasing caloric expenditure and many variations in between.

A common recipe for weight loss includes burning 250 calories more per day while you consume 250 calories less per day to create a 500 calories per day deficit. After seven days this equals 3,500 calories which equate to approximately 1lbs of fat loss per week.

Riding an exercise bike is a wonderful method of weight loss for several reasons:

• It is a form of non-impact cardiovascular exercise that may be performed indoors 
• It is easy to adjust the intensity of exercise and duration of exercise with each exercise session 
• It is reasonably affordable 
• Exercise bikes come in a variety of models and sizes allowing exercises with various body types to easily adjust the exercise bike to fit your body 

Here’s more on how to lose weight using an exercise bike. 

What can 30 minutes on an exercise bike do to your body?

There are a number of different benefits to jumping on a stationary bike regularly, these include: 

Reduce Chronic Low Back Pain: Low-intensity continuous exercise like riding an exercise bike may reduce chronic low back pain. Studies have found that riding an exercise bike for 30 minutes may improve the cardiovascular system, desensitize lumbar structures, increase circulation, and reduce stiffness.

Improved Mood and Brain Function: While we don’t fully understand the exact mechanism for how regular exercise improves mood and cognition, there is a growing body of evidence to support this hypothesis. Several studies suggest that exercise may have a beneficial effect on hormone regulation. Other studies look at how exercise may help a person to feel healthier, stronger, and empowered.

Improved Sleep: In a 2012 study, sleep data across 305 total participants was analyzed and the research suggested that participation in an exercise training program has moderately positive effects on sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults.

Who should avoid riding an exercise bike?

The most common injuries sustained using an exercise bike are either overuse injuries like tendinitis or bursitis, or mechanical injuries related to improper fitting of the bike to the rider.

Tendinitis and bursitis are acute inflammatory conditions in which the tendon or bursae become inflamed. This could happen when you increase intensity or duration too quickly, or when an exerciser neglects recovery time between workouts.

It is often hard to know how much is too much, but one rule of thumb is to look for signs of acute inflammation and overtraining. These signs may include pain with palpation, decreased range of motion, increased stiffness, and declining performance.

The common causes of injuries on an exercise bike are: 

• Low back pain attributed to the seat being too close to the pedals and the lumbar spine experiencing too much lumbar flexion 
• Knee pain attributed to the seat being too low and experiencing excessive knee flexion 
• Neck and shoulder pain attributed to too much strain on the upper body 
• Wrist pain attributed to ill-fitting handlebars 

If you are adding an exercise bike to your home, it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of the best indoor cycling shoes. It’s also important to point out that the best exercise is what’s right for you and your body. If you don’t enjoy cycling, there are other forms of cardio that might be better suited to you. Take a look at our treadmill vs exercise bike face-off here. 

Looking for more inspiration? Read what happened when one TG staffer went from not exercising to one month on a Peloton. 

This is the first time we're experiencing Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals since Peloton started selling its products on Amazon. So it might not be a huge surprise that the iconic Peloton Bike is on sale, slashing the price of the machine that popularized indoor cycling at home. 

Right now the Peloton Bike is on sale for $1,145 at Amazon. That's 21% off full retail and the lowest price we've ever seen for the Bike. It's another $100 cheaper than it was for the Prime Early Access Sale last month, making now the perfect time to join the pack and start cycling. New year's resolutions are just around the corner, after all. It helps that the Peloton Cycling Shoes are 30% off in every size, too.

There’s a reason why Peloton tops the best exercise bike lists year after year — the classes. While there are cheaper bikes on the market, Peloton’s magic is in its instructors and pack-mentality, making you feel like you're working out in a high-energy group studio without ever having to leave your home.

Note that this discount applies to the Peloton Bike, not the Peloton Bike Plus. The main difference between the Bike and the Bike Plus is the screen — the screen on the more expensive Bike Plus rotates, meaning you can turn it to take classes next to the bike, rather than behind it. It also doesn’t have the auto resistance that the more expensive bike has, so your instructor won’t be able to take control and make those hills harder... although maybe that’s not the worst thing.

That's to say, you shouldn't let the differences dissuade you if you've been tempted into the Peloton community. The Peloton Bike on sale during Black Friday is a rare discount that might not last long. Though there's now an option to rent a Peloton for $89/month, buying your own could be a smart investment if you plan to take cycling seriously. 

Make sure to check out the deal on the Peloton Cycling Shoes as well. They're generally considered the best shoes for Peloton, clipping in securely to the Bike for safe and effective rides. 

The deals on fitness gear this Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best we've seen this year. Check out the best Lululemon deals and best massage gun Black Friday deals right now, as well as our roundup of all the best Amazon Cyber Monday deals you can score early.

There’s no shortage of smart and connected exercise bikes available right now, and for a variety of different price points. While its not the cheapest connected bike around, the Echelon Ex-3 still manages to come in at the lower end of the spectrum — especially compared to other big brands like Peloton.

Granted you lose some of the more premium hardware you’d get on more expensive bikes. There’s no built-in display, and the bike itself is overly reliant on a companion app on your phone. But, regardless of that it lacks, the Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike is able to offer a great cycling experience alongside a fitness platform with just about everything you would need for your home workouts. How does it compare to some of the best exercise bikes on the market? Read our Echelon EX-3 smart connect bike review to find out more.  

Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review: Price and subscription

The Echelon EX-3 Smart Connect Bike can be purchased for $800 in the U.S., though it does regularly go on sale. The Echelon FitPass, which covers bodyweight workouts (or those you don’t need equipment for), costs $11.99 a month. If you do want cycling workouts, the Echelon Premium memberships are also available, priced at $34.99 a month, $399.99 a year or $699 for two years. This offers all the same benefits as FitPass for up to five people, as well as classes for Echelon’s smart fitness equipment.

In the U.K. the Echelon EX-3 originally retailed for £949, but is currently available for £749. FitPass subscriptions cost £12.99 a month, while Premier memberships are £29.99 a month. It’s also possible to subscribe for £299.90 a year or £476.76 for two years.

Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review: Design and Setup

The Echelon Ex-3 Connect was fairly easy to build and set up. Like other large fitness equipment, the most complicated parts are already done by the time it arrives, and all it takes is for you to piece the rest together. 

While I felt the illustrations in the manual could have been a little larger, and the different screws better labelled, I didn’t have any major problems getting the bike up and running. Threading the electrical wires through the casing was a little bit fiddly, but it was manageable. And, unlike just about every piece of Ikea furniture I’ve ever built, I didn’t have to go back and repeat parts because the instructions were unclear or I hadn’t paid attention.

Overall it took me around 45 minutes to put everything together, though the process was aided by the use of an electric screwdriver.

From a design standpoint, the Echelon Ex-3 Connect doesn’t really have anything too out of the ordinary. The lack of a display is the most glaring omission, with the Ex-3 instead offering an adjustable tablet stand to house your own device. Personally I think it’s better this way, since you’re not beholden to Echelon's hardware, and can swap and change your device whenever you see fit. It’ll also help keep the price down, which is nice.

Beyond that the design is nothing overly spectacular. The frame on our review model was a mix of black and red, though pure black is available. Everything appears to be made of either thin plastic covering or sold metal, offering quite a sturdy feel to the whole bike. Two maneuvering wheels at the very front let you reposition the bike as you see fit. Just be aware you need to tilt the bike quite far forward before those wheels hit the ground and become useful.

The seat has two levels of adjustment, while the front bar can be raised or lowered to match your own shape. The seat itself is made from a covered foam-like material, and is designed for comfort.The pedals offer a dual-purpose design, with a choice of traditional toe cages or clip-in cycling shoes (check out the best shoes for Peloton and indoor cycling here). There’s also a large button to force a connection to your tablet’s Bluetooth, though in my experience this happened automatically once the pedals started turning.

Also included are dual water bottle holders at the font of the bike, and a dumbbell rack at the very back.

Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review: Performance

The main thing you need to know about the Echelon EX-3 is that it’s almost completely reliant on a connection to the companion app. Without that crucial link the resistance lever is totally unresponsive, leaving you to cycle at the lowest possible setting. If you can’t get that Bluetooth link you’re going to end up having to spend a few minutes figuring out why. Odds are restarting your phone (or tablet) will fix the problem, but it’s an annoying issue to be faced with mid-workout.

The bike tries to auto-connect as soon as you start pedaling, and once connected to the app things happen about as smoothly as you might expect. Your choices are to cycle freestyle, or join one of the classes — with live and on-demand options available to Echelon Fit subscribers. You get a 30-day free trial to Echelon Fit when you buy, but letting that subscription lapse locks you out of everything except Freestyle mode.

Speed, cadence, watts and other stats are visible at the bottom of the screen, above your current session time. The left-hand side of the screen features a league table, so you can compete with your classmates, and on the right are buttons with elapsed time (again), music playback, and an option to sync with a separate heart-rate monitor. Local music playback doesn’t appear to have shuffle or repeat options, so you may be better off using a more fully-featured standalone app instead.

My main gripe with the Echelon Ex-3 Connect is that the resistance lever isn’t the most responsive. When you start up your workout it can take several seconds before it registers you’re trying to up the ante, and the precision is lacking. Even after several weeks using the bike I find myself struggling to pick the right resistance level. I’m either twisting the dial too much, and overshooting, or so little thay the bike fails to even register it.

Once connected, and provided you can sort-of get the hang of the subtleties of the resistance lever, the Echelon Ex-3 works exactly as described. You sit down, make sure the bike is connected to the app properly, and get pedaling. How you pedal is entirely up to you (or your on-screen trainer), and the magnetic resistance has so far worked absolutely perfectly.

Though I’m not sure how I will fare against an extended workout, the foam seat has been fine for short bursts of cycling, but there have been plenty of occasions where it’s started to get fairly uncomfortable by the end of my longer sessions.

Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review: Live and on-demand classes

Echelon offers a wide variety of classes, all of which are locked behind a subscription. Those of you with the Echelon Ex-3, or any other piece of the company’s equipment, will need a premium membership to get the most out of the classes on offer. FitPass may be cheaper, but only offers off-equipment workouts on its own.

Granted there are plenty of off-equipment workouts for you to choose from as part of the FitPass subscription. Yoga, Zumba, kickboxing Boot Camp, HIIT, Kickboxing and Pilates to name a few. Those classes are all organized into their respective categories, making them relatively easy to find. 

As for the Premium membership classes, Echelon has a daily schedule of classes going up throughout the day, some of which then get added to the on-demand catalogue, which itself has over 2,000 workouts available whenever you like.

Classes can be filtered by time, intensity, the instructor and even the kind of music they’re playing as you ride. I guarantee that after trying some of the different classes and instructors you’ll have picked out your favorites and will stick with them going forward.

The benefit to the classes is that you have that extra voice guiding you and pushing you into trying different things, rather than sitting there and pedalling at a semi-constant pace for the duration of your workout. You also have the option to compete against everyone else taking part, which may just be the perfect motivation to try a little harder than last time.

It is possible to take part in some Echelon classes with your own equipment, though the app really doesn’t like it when you do. The company offers a 30-day free trial to its premium membership, which should give you ample opportunity to test that out for yourself and see if you run into any problems.

Without the subscription you are restricted to using the Ex-3 in freestyle mode. Which is perfectly adequate by itself, though you have to jump into the settings menu to find it. It would be nice if the mode was displayed a little more prominently, but right now it’s not too taxing to get things going. It’s ideal if you like cycling at your own pace, like me, or if you want to rely on instruction from elsewhere.

Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review: Verdict

If you’re looking for a no-frills connected exercise bike, you can do worse than pick up the Echelon Ex-3. The bike is relatively cheap, and the paid subscriptions give you access to thousands of different classes and workouts to help you get the most out of your equipment. That includes plenty of alternatives for the days when you just don’t feel in the mood for more cardio.

Of course the relatively low price comes at the expense of more upscale features, like the built-in displays you get from more premium bikes — including those offered by Echelon itself. While I prefer it this way, this fact means it’s not going to be the right option for everyone.

Overall the Echelon Ex-3 is a great bike, albeit far from perfect. The resistance dial is fiddly, and takes a while to get the hang of, and the seat can take its toll during those lengthy rides. Still, it gives you the freedom to workout in a way that suits you, with the option to do as much or as little as you like. So whether you’re a hardcore cyclist or someone who generally hates exercise, the bike (and its app) have plenty to offer.

The Peloton Bike Plus is Peloton’s most premium exercise bike, building on all of the features of the original Peloton Bike, to give users a top-of-the-range cycling experience from their living rooms. Compared to the Peloton Bike, the large, 24-inch screen rotates, allowing you to spin the screen around and join Peloton’s yoga, strength, HIIT, Pilates, and stretch classes. 

Like toilet roll and hand sanitizer, Peloton Bikes were one of the most popular purchases during the Coronavirus lockdown, but how does the Bike Plus compare to some of the best exercise bikes on the market, and is it still worth investing in? To find out more, I installed the Peloton Bike Plus in my living room and cycled over 100 miles on the Bike+ over several months. Read my Peloton Bike Plus review below to find out more.

Peloton Bike Plus review: Price and availability

The Peloton Bike Plus costs $2,495/£1,995,  $1050/£650 more than Peloton’s cheaper Bike option, which retails for $1,445/£1,345. On top of this, you’ll need to pay the $44/£39 a month All-Access Membership fee in order to do classes on the Bike. There’s no doubt about it, this is an expensive piece of equipment.  

Of course, there are a number of different financing options available, plus Peloton recently rolled out its Bike rental scheme, allowing you to rent the Bike Plus and get access to Peloton’s library of classes for $119 per month (although at the time of writing, this is only available in the US). 

There is also a number of different packages available, that include accessories for the Bike+ such as a mat to protect your floors, as well as shoes (check out the best Peloton shoes here) and weights. These include the Starter Package, which gives you the Bike+, Bike mat, Bike shoes, and a set of light dumbbells for $2695, the Select package, which gives you all of the above, plus a Peloton water bottle and a heart rate band for $2775, and the Ultimate package, which includes everything in the Starter pack, plus a heart rate band, set of dumbbells and a reversible yoga mat. 

There are also a number of finance options available, allowing you to spread the cost of the Bike Plus. The Bike Plus comes with a 12-month warranty, and at the time of writing, the price includes delivery and set-up. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, here’s what you need to know before buying a used Peloton. 

It's also worth noting that in May 2023, Peloton launched three new app-only memberships, including one that is completely free, as well as a new Peloton Gym feature of guided strength workouts. Two of these, Peloton App One and Peloton App+, give you access to cardio classes, without the need to buy equipment. Read more about the app memberships and Peloton Gym here. 

Peloton Bike Plus review: Design and set-up 

Unlike other exercise bikes on the market, Peloton only gives you one option when it comes to the color of the Bike Plus — all black, with a red resistance knob. The Bike+ has the same footprint as the cheaper model, which is about as big as your average yoga mat at four feet long, and two feet wide. Peloton recommends you have 24 inches of space around the Bike Plus to train, but if you’re like me and you’re short on space, you can get away with less (although don’t blame me if your couch gets sweaty). 

As you’d expect from a piece of fitness equipment worth this much money, it’s set up and installed in your home as part of the delivery fee. From my experience, this is seamless — the Peloton delivery guys had carried the Bike Plus into my home, installed it in my living room, and connected the Bike Plus to my WiFi before I’d had a chance to make them both a coffee. Once they’d given me a quick run-down on how to use the Bike, they left, but I had a number to contact support on with any post-installation questions. 

When it comes to getting yourself up and running on the Bike Plus, it’s easy to adjust the saddle and handlebars to your riding position by using the levers. I found this particularly useful, as my boyfriend (who swore he didn’t want a Peloton), used the Bike as often as I did — switching between our two set-ups took seconds. 

The Bike+ has an extremely premium feel to it — if you want to feel like you’re working out in a high-end gym, this is the exercise bike for you. It only took one workout for me to realize that the Bike Plus lived up to the hype. The large screen has a  360-degree swiveling mount, allowing you to tilt it up and down for a better view while cycling or 180 degrees left and right for floor workouts. At the top of the screen, there’s an 8MP front‑facing camera with a privacy slider built-in. You can use this for connecting with friends during workouts, although you both have to be following one another, and taking the same class at the same time.

The bike itself is made from high-grade powder-coated carbon steel, which means it’s heavy — 138kg of heavy. This isn’t an exercise bike you’ll want to be wheeling from room to room, (although there are wheels on the front of the Bike Plus if you do need to move it). When picking a spot for the Bike, you’ll need to consider how much space you have above you too — Peloton says the ceiling needs to be at least 8 feet to allow you to stand up on the Bike.

The downsides? I can’t really think of any — the Bike looks great, doesn’t take up an awful lot of space and the screen is bright and clear. If you were hoping to get a more subtle colorway that blends in, or a bike that you can move around regularly, however, this might not be the one for you.

Peloton Bike Plus review: Performance

You don’t buy an exercise bike to look pretty in your home. After months of using the Bike Plus, I can confidently say that it’s the top exercise bike I’ve ever used. It’s comfortable to cycle on, even when I’ve stacked rides for an hour-long cardio burst. The handlebars are easy to grip, even during the sweatiest of workouts, and the Bike Plus feels stable, no matter how much you move around on the bike. 

The Bike Plus has a 2.5 GHz Qualcomm QCS605 processor and 4GB of RAM and features Wi-Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth 5.0, and 100Mbps Ethernet connectivity. I preferred connecting my Bluetooth headphones to the Bike, rather than waking my household with Cody Rigsby’s pop anthems. I was also able to use my Apple Watch Series 8 as a heart rate monitor during classes — here’s how to connect your Apple Watch to your Peloton. This meant my heart rate would appear on the left-hand side of the screen, and the Bike was able to calculate my strive score — a metric that measures how much time you spend in each heart rate zone. 

The Bike Plus also has a 17kg magnetic flywheel at the front, which allows you to adjust your resistance during classes using the red knob on the bike. The resistance knob is sensitive — just a tiny twist and the resistance can be increased or decreased, it also has haptic feedback, which I appreciated during testing. The Bike Plus also has the option to switch the bike to electronic resistance, which means the instructor can change your resistance during class, so you don’t have to worry about it. It’s a cool feature, but one that’s only available during on-demand classes. 

Peloton Bike Plus review: Classes and app

It’s something I said when I reviewed the Peloton Tread, and something I’ll say again here — Peloton’s magic lies in its classes. There are thousands of on-demand classes already on the Bike, and new classes are uploaded every week. There are also a number of different instructors, and it won’t take you long to find your clique. Sure, at $44/£39 a month it doesn’t come cheap, but living in London, it’s much cheaper than a gym membership, and the cost of a class and a half at my local spin studio. 

When finding a class, the sidebar on the right allows you to filter by the instructor, length (there are 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90-minute workouts), music genre, and class type — there’s low impact, beginner, interval and themed rides amongst others. You can also bookmark classes to save for later, and stack classes, so they play one after the other if you want to pair a ride with a cool-down, or stretch. 

During the class, the instructor will give you a cadence range and a resistance range to aim for. The cadence range (RPM) is how quickly you spin your legs and appears at the bottom left of the screen, and the resistance is controlled by the knob on the Bike Plus, appearing on the right. These two things add up to your total power output score — a calculation of your resistance combined with cadence, measured in kilojoules, or KJs. You can also see your heart rate if you’re wearing a connected monitor on the right of the screen and the music track, which you can save to a playlist should you wish. On the left, you have the leaderboard, which allows you to compete against others in the class if it’s live, or everyone who has previously taken that class or started at a similar time if you’re riding an on-demand class. At the top, there’s a countdown timer measuring how long you have left in the class. If all that sounds too distracting, you can easily hide the metrics you don’t want to see. 

There are around ten live classes each day, at different time zones for both US and UK users. You can set reminders on your phone and connected watch to join these classes, and see them in the schedule section of the connected Peloton app to keep track of them.

From an app and class perspective, the functionality is seamless. I loved the clever, well-thought-out features like being able to stack classes, so I didn’t have to go back to the home screen and find them in my bookmarked menu. I also loved how the more I rode the Bike Plus, the more it suggested classes from my go-to instructors or new rides to try. I do wish there was an option to download classes onto the Bike Plus on days when my internet was a little sketchy. I also wish there was the option to interact more with fellow Peloton users on the Bike Plus or the app — aside from seeing what rides they’ve taken, and organizing to ride together, there’s no easy way to see what your friends have been up to, and I’d like the option to give them kudos or a high five for their achievements.

Peloton Bike Plus review: Verdict  

If you can afford it and the ongoing costs, the Peloton Bike Plus is an excellent exercise bike. The live classes are wonderfully motivating, and the bike itself is one of the most premium bikes on the market right now. It’s fun to ride, and as a result, I’ve used it daily over the past few months. 

That said, if you’re not all that bothered about the rotating screen, the Apple Watch connectivity, and the electronic resistance, the classes are exactly the same on the Peloton Bike, which is $1000 cheaper. 

Overall, this is an excellent piece of home workout equipment for anyone looking to get into cycling, get better at cycling, or just up their cardio indoors. There’s a reason why Peloton offers newbies a 30-day free trial — you won’t want to send it back. 

So you’re thinking of adding one of the best exercise bikes to your home, and you have your heart set on a Peloton. Good decision, but do you go for the Bike or the Bike Plus? Having painstakingly cycled for miles on both bikes, we’re here to talk you through the similarities and differences between the two popular exercise bikes. 

Both exercise bikes allow you to take Peloton’s plethora of live and on-demand classes, from its range of instructors. Both bikes are also available to rent as part of Peloton’s new rental scheme in the U.S. If you think you’ve already made your mind up, you can skip to our Peloton Bike review and our Peloton Bike Plus review to find out more. 

If you're not in the market for an exercise bike, you can still use Peloton's app to access its wide range of classes. In May 2023, Peloton announced three new Peloton app membership options, including one that is completely free. Read more about the memberships, and the Peloton Gym feature here. 

Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus: Price and availability

The Peloton Bike Plus costs $2,495/£1,995, which is $1,050/£650 more than Peloton’s cheaper Bike option, which retails for $1,445/£1,345. 

For both bikes, there are plenty of financing options available, as well as bundles that combine the bike with accessories for a cheaper price. The cheapest bundle for the Peloton Bike is the Starter bundle, which includes the Bike, a pair of cycling shoes, a set of light dumbbells, and a bike mat for $1,645/£1,530. The same bundle for the Bike Plus costs $2,695/£2,180. 

Right now the cost of both bikes includes the delivery and the set-up of the bike. Both bikes are available from Peloton directly. In the U.S., the Peloton Bike is now available on Amazon. 

Winner: Peloton Bike — if you’re on a budget, and considering the fact you’ll have to pay for the monthly classes, the Peloton Bike is undoubtedly the cheaper option.

Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus: Design 

At a glance, both of the bikes look pretty similar — they both have large screens that allow you to take the classes, they both only come in black, with red accents and they both have the same neat footprint, which is about the same size as a yoga mat at four feet long and two feet wide. The Bike has a metal cage at the back for two lightweight dumbbells, which can be used in abs and arms classes on the bike, whereas on the Bike Plus, this is plastic. The handlebar design differs slightly between the two bikes as well. 

The most notable difference between the two bikes from a design standpoint is in the screens. On the cheaper Peloton Bike, the screen is slightly smaller, at 21.1 inches compared to the Bike Plus’ 23.8 inches. Both screens are HD, offering similar picture quality, but the Bike Plus has an anti-reflective coating — handy if you’re planning on positioning your bike right next to a window. The screen on the Bike Plus has a 360-degree swiveling mount, allowing you to tilt it up and down for a better view while cycling or 180 degrees left and right for floor workouts. The screen on the Bike doesn’t rotate from side to side. 

From a technical standpoint, the resistance is slightly different on the Bike Plus, which has the advantage of an auto resistance option. This automatically changes your resistance on instructor cues, meaning you don’t have to worry about it during class. 

Winner: Peloton Bike Plus — it might not sound that significant, but the rotating screen really does make a difference, especially if you plan on taking strength, HIIT or yoga classes and don’t want to have to do so behind your bike. 

Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus: Features 

As well as the screen and the resistance, the Peloton Bike sound system is slightly less powerful than that of the Bike Plus. The Peloton Bike has a 2-Channel rear-facing stereo speaker system with 16 watts of total power, whereas the Bike Plus has 2.2 Channel front-facing stereo speakers with 26 watts of total power and 2.2 rear-facing woofers. Both bikes connect to Bluetooth headphones, however, so if you’re not worried about playing the classes out loud through the bikes speakers, don’t let this bother you. 

Talking of Bluetooth, the Peloton Bike has Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and the Peloton Bike Plus has Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, although this mainly refers to the distance you have to be from the bike. As you’re unlikely to be connecting your headphones in a different room to the bike, the range shouldn’t be an issue. 

The Peloton Bike has a microUSB port for charging your tech as you pedal, whereas the Peloton Bike Plus has a USB-C charging port. The camera on the higher spec model is also, as you’d expect, slightly higher spec — on the Peloton Bike the front facing camera, which you’d use if you were taking a class with a friend, is 5 megapixels, whereas on the Peloton Bike Plus it’s 8 MP. 

Winner: Peloton Bike Plus — this one is slightly more difficult to call, as it’s unlikely most users will notice the differences between the two in terms of Bluetooth and the megapixels of the camera, but the Bike Plus is a higher spec device. 

Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus: Classes and app 

Both bikes have exactly the same classes, and the ability to take live and on-demand classes. For both, you’ll be able to see in-class metrics like power, cadence, resistance and heart rate, as well as the leaderboard. You can do scenic rides on both, complete training programmes and challenges (read what happened when our fitness editor tried the four-week ab challenge here), and see your workout history. 

The only real difference between the two bikes from a class perspective is that the Peloton Bike does not allow you to connect your Apple Watch to the bike to use it as a heart rate monitor, whereas the Peloton Bike Plus does. Here’s how to use your Apple Watch as a heart rate monitor on Peloton. 

Winner: It’s a tie. For Apple Watch users, the ability to pair your watch to the bike is a plus, but you can still use a heart rate monitor on both bikes.

Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus: Verdict 

Which bike is best for you really depends on your budget, and whether you’re bothered by the little extras that come with the Peloton Bike Plus. The main selling point in our eyes is the rotating screen, which really is a plus when doing strength classes, but if you don’t mind standing behind your bike, or doing strength classes on a tablet or your phone via the Peloton app, don’t let this put you off. 

If you are an avid Apple Watch user, being able to hold your best Apple Watch up to the camera to seamlessly connect to the Peloton Bike Plus is a cool feature, but whether it’s worth the higher price point is a personal preference. 

Either way, the magic of Peloton is in its classes, and both bikes offer access to them. We liked both bikes enough to rate them highly on our best exercise bikes page and found both to be brilliant home workout tools to help you reach your goals. See you in the saddle! 

I’m the first to admit — I love having my Peloton Bike in my living room on days when the weather is too dark and miserable to run outside. That said, if you’re not sure a Peloton is for you, or you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an exercise bike before you’re sure you’ll be able to fit regular spinning sessions into your routine, you can now rent a Peloton Bike for $89 a month. 

Peloton’s new rental program, which launched last month, is now available throughout the US. It gives users the opportunity to rent the Bike or the Bike+ on a monthly basis, without any upfront costs. The rental includes the Peloton All-Access Membership (usually $44 per month), and users have the option to purchase the exercise bike at a reduced cost should they want to.

Looking to add one of the best exercise bikes to your living room but not sure you’re ready for the commitment? Read on to find out more. 

The rental model is the latest attempt from the home-exercise giant to get more bikes into homes, following a drop in uptake after the pandemic. By making the bikes more affordable, and less of a permanent investment, Peloton is attempting to widen its target audience.

How does the Peloton Bike rental work? 

The Peloton Bike rental cost includes the cost of the Bike and the All-Access Membership, which give you access to Peloton’s large collection of classes. Peloton have said, “Rented Peloton Bikes are a mix of new and refurbished Bikes that are thoroughly inspected, repaired, and tested to ensure they pass our quality inspection in order to be ready for you to start riding at home.”

It’s worth noting, anyone who has previously done a home trial is not eligible for the Bike rental program.

How much does Peloton bike rentals cost? 

The rental costs $119 per month for the Peloton Bike+ — Peloton’s top-of-the-range exercise bike, which has a rotating screen, allowing you to take strength classes next to the bike, or $89 per month for the Peloton Bike. You also have to pay $150 for the delivery and set-up of the Bike in your home. 

For reference, the upfront cost of the Peloton Bike+ is $2,495, plus $44 per month for classes. The Bike costs $1,445, plus the monthly membership cost. If you want to keep the bike after a few months of renting, you’ll be able to purchase the bike at a reduced cost, with the price based on how long you’ve been renting the bike. 

Peloton Bike buyout pricing by date of buyout:

$1,295 at day 0 to 12 months
$895 at 12 months, 1 day to 24 months
$500 on or after 24 months, 1 day

Peloton Bike+ buyout pricing by date of buyout:

$2,345 at day 0 to 12 months
$1,595 at 12 months, 1 day to 24 months
$895 at 24 months, 1 day to 36 months
$750 on or after 36 months, 1 day 

Once you buy the bike, you will also pay the $44 monthly All-Access membership. 

What if you want to cancel?  

You cannot freeze your membership at any time during the rental period. However, you can cancel and return your Bike for free. 

If you do decide to rent, it’s worth noting that the bike doesn’t come with any accessories, so you’ll need to invest in a pair of the best shoes for Peloton if you want the best experience. 

What kind of cyclist are you? Are you into mountain biking or road? Do you prefer pedal power or electric? Whether you are a club or competitive rider, cycle only in fair weather at the weekend or spend your winter in a virtual world on your indoor trainer, we want to hear from you.

The world of cycling is changing and to help you keep abreast of all the developments, we like to keep in touch with our readers’ experiences. We’d like to hear all about the ‘how, where, and when’ of your interest in cycling, the kind of bike you choose to ride if you use the latest cycling tech as well as your views on the kind of bikes available.

So let us know your thoughts. This survey should take about 6-8 minutes to complete and to say thank you for your time, your name will be placed into a prize draw for a chance to win* an Amazon voucher worth £250 or a $300 gift card (depending on where you live). 

The survey is open to those based in the UK, US, Canada, and selected countries in Europe. Interested? Act fast! The survey runs till 23 November 2022 so get your answers in quick! 

 Click here for more details and to take the survey.

Good luck and we look forward to hearing from you!

* T&Cs apply 

The importance of the best bike lights cannot be understated. These little illuminating devices for the front and rear of your bike are especially crucial when riding at night or in less favorable weather conditions, ensuring you can see clearly and remain visible to others on the road.

Many of the best bike lights we've tested, like the Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+ and NiteRider 1200 OLED, our top two picks, offer impressive battery life, customizable blinking patterns and adjustable brightness levels. If your cycling adventures take you off-road, prioritize brighter and longer-lasting options.

Need a hand with installation? Check out our go-to guide on how to install bike lights correctly for maximum effectiveness. But for now, Read on to find out how the best bike lights in 2025 compare based on our research and testing.

Quick list

The best bike lights you can buy right now

Best bike light overall

The Macro Drive 1400+ from Lezyne narrowly beat out the NiteRider 1200 OLED Boost for best bike headlight. They are both excellent lights, but the Lezyne light tends to be cheaper than the NiteRider.

The Macro Drive lasted longer than any other headlight in the test at the highest setting, shining brightly for just under three hours. At the 450-lumen setting, the Macro Drive lasted just under 13 hours.

The mount offers a stable system that’s easily adjustable to handlebars of various thicknesses. It’s a thick band that seems like it’s built to stand the test of time. It’s so thick, in fact, that it can be a touch difficult to pull it to length to secure it to the hook on the other end of the mount. But once it’s in place, it’s easy to adjust the position and the light stays solidly in place.

The beam itself casts a broad light in front of you, with a concentration of light in the center of the beam. It’s great if you’ll be riding dark roads and trails and need to see as much as possible. With 1,400 lumens, you won’t be in short supply of light.

And you can even add an optional remote switch ($15) that mounts closer to your handlebar’s grips. That allows you to adjust the light level and pattern on the fly without having to remove your hands from the bar.

The only real downside to the Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+ is its size. It’s on the heavy side for a light at 230 grams, and it takes up a bit more handlebar space than the thinner mount on the NiteRider 1200 OLED Boost.

But that seems to be about the only downside to this powerful light.

Easiest to mount bike light

The NiteRider 1200 OLED Boost narrowly missed out on the top spot in the best bike headlights list to the slightly more affordable Lezyne Macro Drive 1400.

But you get plenty for the price. For starters, the mount secures the light better than all of the others in this test, aside from the Cycliq Fly12, which is bolted in place. The 1200 OLED Boost’s mount is actually better though; it can be adjusted easily using the thumb-twist screw, and you can remove the light entirely from the mount to charge it, or use it as a flashlight.

The OLED screen on top of the unit offers key data that’s helpful while you’re riding. In particular, you can see how much time you have remaining before the battery dies. The screen also tells you what light mode you’re in at any given time.

The NiteRider 1200 OLED Boost’s light beam casts wide and evenly. It’s perhaps slightly less bright than the Lezyne Macro Drive 1400, but the Lezyne also has an extra 100 lumens. It was honestly difficult to tell the difference between the two lights in practice; both gave me more than enough light in front and to the sides.

NiteRider says you can get about an hour and a half of battery life at the highest setting. I had it set to medium, which gives you 550 lumens; NiteRider says you should get about three hours of life in this setting. I got five hours and 10 minutes from it.

Great battery life, an excellent mount, a strong beam and a nifty screen make this a top choice in the headlight category. It’s a touch expensive but worth every penny.

Most versatile bike light

Knog’s PWR Trail 1100L does more than just light the way — it also doubles as a power bank so you can charge your phone or GoPro from it; pop it out of the mount and use it as a flashlight; or swap out the light head and use it to power other PWR accessories, like the PWR Sound speaker or the PWR Lantern. There’s no other light in this test that comes close to the PWR’s versatility.

Turning the light on and off is super easy; just twist the light head. It’s an excellent system that eliminates the need for buttons of any kind. Pressing the red release button on the unit allows you to pop the light attachment off if you want to use the battery as a power bank, or when it’s time to charge the unit.

The PWR Trail 1100L casts a nice, even, wide beam on the maximum mode. At the Mid mode (600 Lumens), the light ran for 3 hours and 40 minutes, besting the advertised run time by over an hour. The small lights on the side of the PWR Trail 1100L indicate how much battery life you have left.

There are only a few downsides to Knog’s big light. For starters, the mounting system was my least favorite among the test lights. It seems over-complicated, though it does allow you to run the light underneath your handlebars easily.

Given that this light has Trail in its name, it seems it would be marketed specifically to mountain bikers. But the mount only accommodates handlebars up to 31.8mm; most modern mountain bikes have transitioned to 35mm bars.

And it’s heavy and long compared to the competition. Of course, that’s a minor consideration if you’re interested in the PWR Trail 1100L for more than just its light beam. This light is best for adventurers; think bikepacking, camping and long adventure rides.

Best affordable bike light

The Lumina Micro 900 from NiteRider uses the same mount as its big brother, the 1200 OLED Boost. It’s an excellent, stable mount that adapts to handlebars of various sizes and the light itself detaches easily from the mount should you want to stuff the light in a pocket or use it as a handheld flashlight.

It’s far less expensive, too, largely because you’ll do without 300 extra lumens and the OLED screen on top. The single button also acts as the low-battery indicator; it lights up blue when you’ve got a good charge and turns red when you’re running low.

The body of the light feels stout and durable. The beam casts wide at full power, so you can definitely use this as a trail light on your mountain bike.

The run time during our testing wasn’t bad, but it did not quite reach the advertised two hours of operation at 900 lumens, falling about twenty minutes short of that.

Still, the Lumina Micro pushes out an impressive amount of light, hits a great price point, and sits on the most stable and convenient mount in the test. It’s a safe bet if you like the build, mount, and features of the 1200 OLED Boost but want to save some cash and don’t mind doing without the information screen.

Best bike light with a camera

The Fly12 Sport from Cycliq is a light. But that’s almost its secondary purpose. The Fly12 also records video so that you can capture ride highlights — or altercations. If an incident occurs, such as a crash or collision, the Fly12 detects it and ensures the footage before, during, and after the altercation does not get overwritten. Otherwise, the Fly12 records in a loop.

There’s a lot to love about the video capabilities of the Fly12. A wide viewing range and stereo audio recording can all come in handy should you need to record a specific event, and the image stabilization makes the footage smooth.

On the light side, you won’t get as much as other headlights in the test. For starters, the Fly12 only offers 600 lumens. And the light beam itself is fairly narrow.

Battery life is just okay. With the camera rolling and the light on medium, the Fly12 went dead after 2 hours and 20 minutes. With just the camera rolling and the light off, Cycliq says you should get up to 7 hours of recording. There’s an integrated “HomeSafe” mode that starts when the battery is low to ensure you have lights for up to 30 minutes.

The handlebar mount is rock-solid, largely because you need to bolt it on with an Allen key. You can mount the Fly12 on top of your bars or underneath, but once it’s set in place, adjustments require tools. Of course, the ¾ turn mount allows you to take the light off when you’re not using it, so you can stuff it in a pocket.

Buy this light if you’re more interested in the camera features. You can also opt for the Fly6, which is the rear-facing version of Cycliq’s light/camera combos. Note: It's easiest to purchase the Fl12 Sport through Cycliq directly.

Best small bike light

The Trek Ion 200 RT (previously called the Bontrager Ion 200 RT) packs a powerful punch for such a small light. The beam is very focused, so you won’t get a wide sweep of light, but it’s viewable from a very long distance — up to two kilometers (1.25 miles), according to Trek. While it casts some light out front so you can see what’s right in front of you, the primary function of the Ion 200 RT is to ensure you’re seen rather than able to see.

The Ion’s diminutive size is perhaps its biggest benefit. It’s small enough to stuff in a pocket and it mounts easily just about anywhere. It’s super simple, with a single button to turn it on and off and to adjust the modes. The best light is the one you actually use and Trek has done a great job ensuring it’s as easy as possible to do just that.

You can buy the Ion 200 RT individually or as a set with the Flare RT rear light. The combination of the two ensures you’re seen from the front and the rear, even in daylight. But you won’t get much visibility from the sides; just from the direct front and rear.

The biggest drawback to this tiny light is its price. $65 seems steep for a light that doesn’t have enough lumens to cast a big beam for seeing well ahead of you at night. If you’re after convenient, always-on visibility lights in a tiny package that won’t take up much space on your handlebars, it’s hard to beat the Ion 200 RT. But if you’re cost-conscious and need as many lumens as you can get, this probably isn’t the right choice.

The best bike taillights you can buy right now

The best bike tail lights should be long-lasting, weatherproof, easy to mount and with a highly visible output. We also look for rear bike lights that feature multiple flashing patterns and/or power level settings and prefer those with a built-in rechargeable battery. Extra points are given for durability and a lightweight design.

The best bike taillight overall

During testing, I set the Sentry Aero 260 to the setting I most commonly use: solid light on the sides with a flash at the rear. In that setting, the light lasted a whopping seven hours and 45 minutes. That runtime would be shorter on certain settings, but I have owned this light for almost two years now and use it almost exclusively on this setting. It seemed fitting to test it this way.

The Sentry Aero beats the competition in side visibility, with its long, aero-shaped lens casting light in all directions. It’s easy to mount to any type of seatpost using the silicone strap and it stays in place securely. I did manage to break the original silicone strap; fortunately, a second was included in the box and that one has lasted over a year and a half, so far.

While other lights in the test are more visible from further away, particularly in the daytime, the Sentry Aero 260 offers the best all-around visibility (rear and sides). It hits a good price, too, especially given its durable design and solid mounting system.

After a couple of years of use, and in comparison to all the other lights in this test, the Sentry Aero 260 remains my favorite light for its reliability, visibility and durability.

The best bike taillight runner-up

Topeak’s Taillux 100 offers a lot of visibility in a small, convenient package. It’s one of the best taillights you can buy.

Single-button operation turns on the light and allows you to choose from four different modes. You can toggle between constant light and blinking, or a combination of the two. Topeak says you can get up to three hours of battery life in the constant, 100-lumen setting and that played out almost to the minute in the course of testing.

Topeak also says you get up to 220 degrees of visibility, which means you’ll be seen by vehicles behind you and on the side of you. The visibility is indeed very good here, both from the rear and sides.

The mounting system uses a small but stout silicone band, which means the Taillux will work with a variety of seatpost sizes and shapes. The light comes with adapters that slide into place on the rear of the light to best accommodate the most common seatpost shapes. A clip mount is also included, so you can clip the light to your pocket or backpack.

The Taillux comes very close to being the best tail light in the test, bested only by Niterider’s Sentry Aero 260, which offers more lumens and better side visibility. The Taillux is less expensive and lighter, however.

The best bike taillight with safety features

The Varia from Garmin feels more like a rear radar that happens to have a light integrated into it. The radar itself alerts you to vehicles approaching from your rear with visual and audible alerts. It pairs to your Garmin head unit or to your smartphone, giving you notice when a car is approaching so you can make better road positioning decisions.

If that doesn’t sound like it’s your cup of tea, the Varia RTL 515 definitely isn’t the light for you. The light itself is small, though Garmin says it is visible for up to a mile away. The rest of the light’s body is dedicated to the radar function; the body itself measures a long four inches, which means if your seat post is low, you might have trouble mounting this light.

While there are some smaller lights built into the sides of the Varia RTL515 light, they aren’t as prominent as other lights in the test. It’s great that the lights are integrated into the radar in the first place, but they definitely don’t seem to be the primary function here.

The quarter-turn mount lets you remove the light quickly and easily. Once slotted, the light stays in place solidly, though the mount itself is held in place with fairly thin silicone bands that could wear and break more quickly than some of the thicker bands on lights in this test.

And at $200, the Varia isn’t cheap. If you’re interested in the Varia, you’ll be doing it largely for the radar system, at which point the system seems worthwhile for the price. But if you’re after the best taillight functions, look elsewhere.

Brightest bike taillight

CatEye’s Rapid X3 features some of the best side visibility in our test. The 150 lumens pump out brightly both to the rear of the rider and to the sides. The flash modes seem particularly useful for grabbing the attention of drivers.

The Rapid X3 mounts easily to seatposts of various sizes and shapes, making it a good choice regardless of what type of bike you’re riding. It’s held in place with a rubber band. There are two power buttons, one on each side of the light, so you can activate the light from either side.

Overall, the Rapid X3 could make a very strong case as a top taillight, but it’s held back by a few mostly minor drawbacks.

For starters, the two power buttons are difficult to push. And, it was difficult to turn the light on and off; sometimes when you pushed both buttons the unit would turn off, but other times it would simply change the flash mode. There really doesn’t need to be two power buttons to begin with, since the unit is so small anyway.

And while the mounting system accommodates various seatposts, the Rapid X3 is held in place with a thin rubber band rather than a thick silicone one. This isn’t necessarily a problem if you’ll be riding mostly on roads, though such rubber bands tend to allow more movement and break down more quickly than thick silicone bands.

If you’ll be riding primarily on the road, the Rapid X3 is a good choice. It offers very conspicuous flash modes and lots of side visibility. The drawbacks certainly don’t outweigh the benefits here.

The best long lasting bike taillight

CygoLite’s Hotshot Pro 200C offers a bright, focused beam with plenty of flashing modes to get you noticed on the road. With 200 lumens blasting out, this light is plenty powerful for day or night visibility.

The light auto adjusts to ambient light conditions too, optimizing your lumen output for the light around you. The Hotshot Pro 200C does push out some light to the sides for some side visibility, but it’s not as focused or as bright as other options in our test.

I used this light on the highest flash setting during testing and it lasted seven hours. That’s decent battery life that can be extended by using a lower power setting.

The Hotshot Pro features two buttons: a power button (which also switches the flash modes) and a tempo-adjust button that lets you customize your flash patterns. I found this two-button system unnecessary; this light would be more convenient to use with just one button to contend with, and I’m not sure I need that much control over my flash patterns to justify a second button.

The mounting system is dated. It only accommodates round posts and requires a screwdriver for mounting and unmounting. That said, it is quite easy to slide the light off the mount without having to remove the mount itself, so you can clip this onto a backpack or slide the light into your pocket.

Fortunately, CycoLite offers another version of this light, the Hotshot Pro 200 USB, that features a silicone band mounting system that accommodates seat posts of various sizes and shapes. This is a better option that opens up far more mounting possibilities.

The best affordable bike taillight

NiteRider has established itself as a leader in bike lighting and for good reason. The Sabre 110 is another solid example of NiteRider’s careful thought and design. For just $30, this is an excellent light that’s easy to use, super bright, and convenient for removing from the mount to clip on a backpack.

The mount features a thick silicone band that will accommodate seatposts of various sizes and shapes. It grips solidly and doesn’t shift when the road or trail gets rough. That band connects to a plastic mount that pivots so you can adjust the light up and down. Those two components connect via a small screw, which is not ideal, but it’s also not something you’ll need to mess with frequently.

The light itself casts a bright beam directly behind you. The six modes allow you to toggle between steady and flashing. The only downside is the Sabre 110’s side visibility, which is quite limited.

Still, for the price, it’s hard to beat this small and convenient light. With its solid mounting system and small, versatile design, it’s a worthy purchase, especially if your budget is limited.

The best small bike taillight

Bontrager’s Flare RT certainly wins the battle for the most compact design. It’s downright tiny, in fact, and easy enough to stash in your pocket simply by removing it from the mount. Despite its tiny size, the Flare RT manages to pump out a strong beam of light that Bontrager says is visible for up to 2 kilometers.

The silicone band mount features a plastic hook that makes it easy to mount just about anywhere, plus, it accommodates various seatpost sizes and shapes. The side lever makes it super easy to remove the light from the mount, too.

The Flare RT also features a light sensor that auto-adjusts the light intensity based on the ambient light around you. On top of that, there’s a battery save mode that provides an additional 30 minutes of run time when the battery reaches 5% left of its life.

The flash patterns are quite intense, which means motorists are more likely to notice you, even though the Flare RT only boasts 90 lumens. But there’s not much side visibility to speak of.

Bontrager notes a maximum run time of 15 hours in the 5-lumen flash mode. I ran this light in the 90-lumen flash mode and got just over six hours of run time out of it (Bontrager advertises six hours of life in this mode).

This tiny light packs a punch. Grab it if you don’t mind spending the cash on the small package, great mount and decent battery life. Look elsewhere if you’re looking for good side visibility too.

The easiest bike taillight to mount

Right out of the box, Serfas’s UTL-6 Thunderbolt Tail light feels well-constructed, with a silicone-encased body and two silicone bands that secure the light to your seatpost. The bands accommodate seatposts of any shape and size, making the Thunderbolt easy to mount. Keep in mind, though, that this light is fairly long at just about four inches, so it takes up a bit of real estate on your seatpost. If you run your post low, you might not have enough room for this light.

The Thunderbolt is one of the least expensive lights in our test, but it also features the lowest brightness level at 35 lumens. It punches above its weight class here, with a directional LED strip and noticeable flash patterns that alert surrounding vehicles to your presence. There’s almost no side visibility, however. The light blasts almost exclusively backward from the rider.

Serfas advertises up to 8.5 hours of run time on the 10-lumen low-flash mode. This isn’t especially impressive compared to other lights in the test that run longer, even with higher lumens. I tested the Thunderbolt on the high, steady setting and it died after just under two hours. This bests Serfas’s advertised battery life of 1.5 hours in this setting, so it did outperform in that sense.

It took almost five hours to charge the Thunderbolt from a fully depleted battery. Notably, the Thunderbolt uses a USB mini port, which is dated. USB micro ports and USB-C ports are far more common these days, so be sure you don’t lose the included charging cable.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive light with a solid mounting system and a durable build, the Thunderbolt is worth a look. But there are more powerful lights with better run times that don’t cost that much more than Serfas’s option.

How to choose the best bike lights for you

Price is always a good starting point for choosing the best bike lights for you. If you’re budget-conscious and want both a front and a rear light, consider a combo package that includes both. And stay simple: the more features you add, the higher the price tag goes.

Then consider whether you want to see, be seen or both. That will often dictate whether you need a high-lumen light or if you can opt for a less expensive light that has fewer lumens. This applies mostly to front lights.

Whenever you’re choosing the best bicycle lights for you, consider how much visibility the lights truly give off. This is especially pertinent to tail lights; the best bicycle tail lights will feature plenty of side visibility in addition to rear visibility. And the best tail lights also offer various modes — from steady light to flashing and a combination of the two — to ensure you’re as visible as possible both in the daylight and at night.

Perhaps most importantly, the best bicycle light is the one you’ll actually use. Make sure the one you choose is simple to mount, easy to operate, and compact enough that you won’t mind taking the lights with you on even the shortest trips.

How we test the best bike lights

To test the best bike lights, we went riding in them! We tried all of the bikes on this list for hours of riding to test battery life and ease of use, as well as performance in a number of different lights and weathers.

FAQs

The Trek FX+ 2 feels like a bike. Trek has definitely made an effort for this city-focused eBike to look and feel like a bike as much as possible and in that effort, it succeeded. The FX+ 2 felt like riding a traditional bicycle until you really turn on the pedal assist, and even then it still largely kept that feel. At around 40 pounds, it also is closer in weight to a traditional bicycle, at least compared to the competition. I was able to get it up and down stairs without breaking a sweat, which was convenient. 

For all these successes, the $2,399 FX+2 is significantly more expensive than our best budget electric bike, the Aventon Soltera ($1,399) or our best overall electric bike, the Rad Power RadCity 5 Plus ($1,999). This despite the FX+ 2 having no throttle, no LCD display and no removable battery. As enjoyable as riding it may be — and it is — it’s tough to recommend it over the competition.  

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Price and availability 

The Trek FX+ 2 came out in May 2022 at a starting price of $2,200, but the version we reviewed came with a price tag of $2,399. Unfortunately, it looks like the price has gone up since launch, with the 2023 models of the FX+ 2 coming in at $2,499 on Trek’s website.

The good news is that you are not forced to buy the FX+ 2 from Trek. Trek offers its bikes through local retailers in addition to its website, and those retailers may offer lower (or higher) prices than Trek. So make sure to check with your local bike shop before adding the FX+ 2 to your cart.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Design 

Trek offers the FX+ 2 eBike in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) and three colors: Satin Trek Black, Viper Red and Satin Mulsanne Blue. The model I was provided with was a Satin Mulsanne blue in size L, which worked perfectly with my 6-foot 2-inch height and 32-inch inseam.

At first glance, the FX+ 2 looks like a traditional bicycle. That’s because Trek has intentionally designed it this way, with the cables and battery stored within the tubes of the bike. Unfortunately, that means the battery isn’t removable — at least by you. Trek says that the battery can be removed by a trained technician, so you’ll need to head to a shop if anything goes wrong. 

That said, you can still add an external battery for extra range. There are two water bottle holders, one on the seat tube and one on the down tube, and the one on the downtube allows for a 250Wh plug-and-play Range Extender battery. This allows you to easily double your range if needed. That battery life comes at a price though; the Hyena Range Extender Battery costs $499.

Designed for commuters and city bikers, the FX+ 2 comes already equipped with some much-needed accessories. The eBike comes stock with a front fender, rear fender, headlight, taillight, kickstand, bell and rear bike rack — no need to buy one of the best bike lights separately. There’s also a chain guard to prevent clothes from getting caught in the chain.

Still, there are a couple of things missing in the design that would be nice to have. First, the Hyena pedal assist control system has an LED display for the battery status and pedal assist mode. It is easy to use and read, but many eBikes now have LCD displays, so this feels cheap by comparison. Additionally, the wheels are not quick-release, which means if something goes wrong you’ll need tools on you to get the wheels off.

But the biggest design flaw is the lack of any shock absorption in the bike. The FX+ 2 definitely feels every bump and pothole, especially at top speed. Even merely adding a seat post shock absorber would be a welcome addition.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Performance 

The performance of the Trek FX+ 2 was more than adequate. Between the three power modes (Eco, Normal and Turbo) and the nine-speed rear cassette, I was able to hit the top speed of 20 mph frequently, regularly averaging 13MPH while riding through the streets of Atlanta.

Hills were also not a problem once you get a feel for the bike. I could regularly keep my cadence going up hills by using the full range of the bike’s gears and the Turbo pedal assist mode. The pedal assist modes kicked in very smoothly and with almost no lag.

The only shortcoming the FX+ 2 really has in terms of performance is the lack of a throttle to give riders fully motor-assisted thrust (i.e. no using your pedals), which does come on some of the FX+ 2’s competitors like the Soltera and RadCity 5 Plus. However, I would be lying if I said I missed it. The bike is plenty quick and easy to ride without it. 

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Battery life and range 

Trek states that the FX+ 2’s 250Wh battery can provide riders with up to 35 minutes of range. This of course depends on a range of factors, from the pedal assist mode you typically use to how hilly your terrain is.

My commute to work was just over five and a half miles round trip and I would go through about a quarter of the battery. That puts my estimated range at closer to 22 miles. However, I almost always used the Turbo (highest) pedal assist and I do have a large hill each way. So had I been more conservative I could have probably got more range out of the FX+ 2. 

Luckily if you do need to charge the bike, it only takes around two hours for a full charge and the charger can be plugged into any wall outlet.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Competition 

Unfortunately, the Trek FX+ 2 really struggles when compared to the competition, at least on paper. I have yet to ride the Aventon Soltera, but it is currently our best budget eBike and has a very similar feature set and design aesthetic compared to the FX+ 2. While the pedal-assist seems like it is not as smooth and responsive as the FX+ 2 and it lacks a 9-speed option, you can still get a 7-speed for $1,399. That’s $1,000 less than the FX+ 2 I reviewed, but you get more range, a throttle and an LCD display.

If you want something higher-end, the Rad Power RadCity5 Plus is our best budget bike and would still be my pick over the FX+ 2 based on the research I have done on the RadCity 5 Plus. The FX+ 2 is lighter, and significantly so (over 20 pounds!), but the RadCity 5 Plus has a feature set that really sets it apart. Yes, you only get a 7-speed rear cassette, but you also get a throttle, a removable battery and two LCD displays compared to the zero LCD displays on the FX+ 2.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Bottom line 

Ultimately, if the Trek FX+ 2 eBike was cheaper it would be a lot easier to recommend. It was a lot of fun to ride, easy to carry with its 40-pound weight and has a very clean design. If price weren’t a factor, I would say the quick pedal assist make it a great choice, and the fact that it comes with fenders and a rack standard is a nice touch.

But none of that can make me get past the fact that this bike is hundreds — if not a thousand — dollars more than its competition without providing a lot of reasons why. Yes, it's lightweight, and it's a Trek so the build quality is excellent, but it lacks the LCD displays, removable battery or throttle that so many of the best electric bikes have. If the FX+ 2 had even some of those features, I’d rate it significantly higher, even with the price. 

Electric bikes have definitely grown in popularity over the past few years, and it's easy to see why. Using an eBike can have environmental benefits and gives you the opportunity to get active without strenuous activity. 

So when Trek gave me the opportunity to review its new Trek FX+ 2 eBike to see if it would make our list of the best electric bikes, I thought, “What if I bike to work for a week?” After all, working in a city, it’s not exactly cheap to park a car. Parking a bike is free, provided nobody steals your bike. Add that to the environmental and health benefits, and it could be a game-changer to my daily commute. 

So have I been converted? Or am I going straight back to the car or bus? Here’s what I found after swapping my car for an eBike to commute to work for a week.

eBiking to work: The positives 

Despite being pedal assist, using an eBike still gives you a decent workout to start your day as long as you're willing to push it a bit. I used my Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic to track my commute and the workout data had some interesting insights. 

The data from October 13 showed that I biked for 11 to 12 and a half minutes over the course of a 15 to 17-minute trip. On average, I went 2.67 miles, burned 184 to 185 calories and had an average speed of 13.15 miles per hour. I personally question the calorie count, given the watch thinks I’m biking with a traditional bicycle rather than using an eBike so I’m putting out less effort per MPH. However, the smartwatch will track my heart rate, and my average heart rate during the two trips was 130.5 BPM, which does indicate aerobic activity. So while I don’t think the eBike is a workout replacement, it definitely gets you working out.

Aside from the workout aspect of it, I also just liked starting the day with a bit of physical activity. It genuinely made me feel better in the morning and at the end of the day, and is a big reason I may continue biking to work in the future.

But another big positive was the money it save me. I typically pay for parking the three days a week I go into the office, which costs me $12 per day. That means I saved $36 a week just by biking to work, and it only took about 10 minutes longer to get to my desk than when I drive. Granted, the bike itself cost $2,399, so it would take you a bit over a year to make up the difference in what you pay for parking. But luckily, there are some great budget eBikes available that can have you breaking even in about nine months.

eBiking to work: The downsides

First thing, you’re still going to sweat on an eBike. The pedal assist really makes hills easier to manage and your speed faster overall but it is still pedal assist — though there are electric bikes that will do all the work for you. I managed to not get too sweaty by the time I got to work, so luckily I didn’t need to bring a change of clothes.

However, I did still have to bring all my work stuff and a bike lock. This meant carrying around 20 pounds on my back between laptops, peripherals, lunch and my  lock. Also, if I crash or fall, all that stuff is much more susceptible to damage on my back than in my car. So there are certainly some risks involved.

One of those risks is that you may get rained on. Unfortunately, one Wednesday I was unable to avoid that risk and had to bike home in the rain. It was unpleasant. I definitely wish I had not been wearing jeans for that trip, given that cotton absorbs so much water. I was soaked to the bone by the time I got home. If you have the option to bring your bike onto the bus or subway to avoid the elements, I definitely would recommend it over biking in the rain. 

Finally, you need to invest in a good bike lock and be comfortable riding your bike in city traffic. I hesitate to call these downsides, as they are more like necessary evils but they merit mentioning. I was lucky enough that I had an office where I could secure store my bike, but had I needed to lock it up there was no shortage of locations. I also felt very comfortable riding on the busy streets of Atlanta due to the 20MPH top speed of the eBike, but use a bike lane wherever possible and obey the rules of the road.

Outlook: I think I need an eBike 

Despite having my parade literally rained on, I enjoyed my time taking the eBike to work and would highly recommend it to anyone who has the option. Are there some caveats? Sure. You need to have an accessible path (no highways) from your home to your office and somewhere to safely lock the eBike. Plus, you may find yourself upgrading to a slightly sportier (and water-resistant) office wardrobe.

But overall, it's a great way to get a bit of exercise in, not use gas and save a bit of money. That’s a tough combination to beat, so make sure to check out our best eBikes list to pick out your new way to get to work. 

Electric bikes are a super handy way to get around, although they usually come with a pretty high price tag. The best budget electric bikes will help get you on the road without breaking the bank.

They're an ideal entry point into e-bikes, especially as many of the best electric bikes can range up to thousands of dollars, and you may want to test out a more affordable option first while you get used to the experience.

Still, while low cost does not always mean low quality, it's important to check that they perform well, too. This is why we've put numerous e-bikes to the test to check for comfort, adjustability, battery life, and uphill performance — all key considerations when you're choosing an electric bike.

From our time on the road, we felt that the Ride1Up Roadster V3, is the best budget electric bike overall, thanks to its comfortable ride and features. But these aren't your only choices, as we've put together a range of budget electric bikes to suit leisurely rides about town, long distances, and crowded commutes. Below, you'll find our top three, plus the cheapest way to convert your regular bike to an e-bike.

Best budget e-bikes compared

The best budget electric bikes you can buy today

Best budget electric bike overall

The Ride1Up Roadster V3 is the follow-up to the now-discontinued Roadster V2, which was one of our favorite budget electric bikes for a long time. Fortunately, the V3 is a worthy upgrade that makes the bike easier and more fun to ride.

It's a little heavier than the V2 (39 vs 33 pounds), but can also reach a higher top assisted speed (28 vs 24mph) and lasts longer (40 vs 30 miles). The V3 also costs $200 more, but the performance upgrades are definitely worth the increase.

Like its predecessor, the Roadster V3 makes for an excellent commuting e-bike — it even looks more like a traditional commuter bike you'd find in the parking lot at offices across the country.

The solid handling made it easy to navigate around tighter spaces, and the motor gets you up to speed pretty quickly, in combination with the pedal-based torque sensor that changes the assist based on how you're pedaling.

The 45mm tires are versatile too, and worked just as well on roads, sidewalks, and light dirt paths. We also tried starting from a stop on a steep hill, and the bike didn't struggle. Plus, at around $1,300, it's definitely cheaper than the $3k-plus prices you can see for other electric bikes.

It all sounds great, and it is, but one area lets it down — the battery.

It's rated for up to 40 miles, but we found that after just five miles at high assist, the battery had drained an incredible 80% — far short of the brand's lowest range estimate of 20 miles.

If you like what the Ride1Up Roadster V3 offers, but want a bit more choice, the Propella 9S Pro comes in at a similar price, looks like a commuter bike, and has a nine-speed drivetrain. But it maxes out at 20mph, instead of the Roadster V3's 28mph.

• Read our full Ride1Up Roadster V3 review

Best adjustable budget electric bike

While taller riders may find the Propella 9S Pro a bit cramped, we like that this electric bike has adjustable handlebars, so those of smaller stature will have an easier time adapting the bike to their body. It also comes in a step-over or step-through design, further adding to your choices.

Apart from that, we found the 9S Pro V2 functional and fun to ride. Improvements to this model over the original include a torque sensor and a new motor that are much faster to engage once you start pedaling.

It's pretty powerful, too: We were able to get moving, even on steep hills, though the addition of a throttle wouldn't hurt. An even better improvement: The 9S Pro V2's removable battery is now integrated into its frame, which not only makes the bike look a lot nicer but also eliminates the annoying rattle of the original.

Like the previous model, the 9S Pro V2 has a headlight (but no taillight) and integrated fenders to keep mud off your clothes in wetter weather. It also has hydraulic disc brakes, something you don't often see at this price.

Speaking of price, it comes in at around $1,400 — just slightly more than the Ride1Up Roadster V3.

• Read our full Propella 9S Pro V2 review

Best budget electric bike for commuting

One compromise you have to make with many electric bikes — budget or not — is their range. The more pedal assist you use, the quicker you're going to drain its battery. The NIU BQi-C3 Pro is the best budget electric bike for those who have range anxiety, as it packs two batteries that can provide you with as much as 90 miles before they run out of juice.

In our testing, that claim looks pretty accurate, too. This means you should be able to bike to and from work without worrying that your e-bike will give up the ghost partway through.

Aside from its endurance, there are a lot of other niceties we found on this bike for the price. For starters, it has a carbon belt drive, which is not only quieter but lasts longer and is easier to maintain. Then there's the mechanical disc brakes, front and rear lights, and a built-in rear rack. The bike's step-through design made it easy for both a 5' 11" rider and a 5' 3" rider to hop on and off.

The biggest knock against the bike is its weight — 70.5 pounds — most likely down to its two batteries. Fortunately, we found the pedal assist from its 500W motor to be more than up to the task of getting us going wherever we wanted.

The BQi-C3's regular price is $2,199, but we often see it on sale, sometimes for as low as $1,299, so we recommend waiting until it's discounted.

• Read our full NIU BQi-C3 Pro review

Also tested

If none of these options quite hit the mark, or you're looking for the best electric bike under $500, here's our top budget pick:

How we test electric bikes

We test the budget electric bikes the same way we test all electric bikes — we put them through the same tests, which include, of course, riding them around a lot. We gauge the bike's comfort, such as its seat, handlebars, and grips, our posture when riding, and how easy everything — especially the seat — is to adjust.

Many electric bikes come fully assembled, but budget models often require you to attach a wheel, handlebars, or some other component. In those cases, we look at the ease with which you can put the bike together, how long it takes, and if the instructions are easy to follow.

While we don't expect budget electric bikes to perform as well as high-end models, they should still provide an enjoyable experience. So, we ride the bikes up hills to see how much assistance their electric motors provide, and how fast they are to respond when we start pedaling; lower-quality models will take a longer time to engage, which makes for more difficult starts when going uphill.

In the course of testing an electric bike, we see how quickly the battery drains when riding in different conditions. We test this using pedal assist and, when available, throttle, to see how much the battery is impacted.

Last, we also look at what other features come with the bike — a large display, integrated lights, disc brakes, etc — and factor this in with its price to determine its rating.

How to choose the best budget electric bike

If you're looking for a budget-friendly electric bike, generally under $1,500, then you'll need to be prepared to make some compromises compared to the premium models that can range up to thousands of dollars.

However, there are some critical areas that you want to keep an eye on before you decide on a specific model. The most crucial is the motor. Assisted bikes have two sensors — one for cadence and one for torque.

Cadence sensors, which detect when the crankshaft is moving, are generally less expensive than torque sensors (those that detect the force on the crankshaft) and are found on most budget electric bikes. However, they're also slightly less accurate.

So, you may find that there's a slight delay between when you pedal and need assistance and when the motor kicks in. Plus, if you live in a hilly area, you may want to avoid bikes with a single gear, as these make it more challenging to do hill starts.

If you're buying a budget electric bike online, it's important to read many reviews (including ours) to see whether people rate the build quality. Though it's easier to assess this if you can make it to a showroom and give the bike a spin.

You also need to factor in that many companies ditch integrated lights to keep the cost down. If you'll be riding in dark or dim conditions, it's vital to stay well-lit, but you can always add some of the best bike lights later on.

FAQs

There’s no doubt about it — I’m addicted to my Peloton. If Peloton is a cult, I’m a truly integrated member — I wear the apparel, I join the challenges, and I follow my favorite instructors on Instagram. I’m also checking out the best Peloton deals on Amazon Prime Day, and I already have the Bike+ sat in my living room. 

If you’ve been tempted to buy a Peloton Bike, now is a good time to do so. The signature Peloton bike just dropped to $1,225 on Amazon. This is the first time the brand has featured in Amazon’s sale event, having been added to the platform in August this year. Tempted? Read on to find out more. 

There’s a reason why Peloton tops the best exercise bike lists year after year — its classes. While there are cheaper bikes on the market, Peloton’s magic is in its instructors, and the classes are the same on the Bike, and the more expensive Bike+. Today, the Bike is $1,270 cheaper than the $2,495 Bike+, which is a huge saving. 

The main differences between the Bike and the Bike+ is the screen — the screen on the more expensive Bike+ rotates, meaning you can turn it to take classes next to the bike, rather than behind it. It also doesn’t have the auto resistance that the more expensive bike has, so your instructor won’t be able to take control and make those hills harder (although maybe that’s not the worst thing). If you’re not all that bothered about moving the screen, don’t let either of these things put you off. 

As a runner, I was skeptical about how much I’d use my Peloton, or whether it would be come the most expensive clothes horse I’ve ever bought. Three months later, however, I’m still just as addicted. 

I love the flexibility the Bike gives my workout routine — if the weather is awful outside, I can hop on the bike for a 30 minute class and be ready for work in no time. It also came in handy as a cross-training tool when I twisted my ankle. The experience is second to none, and if you can afford it, it’s by far the best exercise bike I’ve ever tested. Still not sure? Read our Peloton Bike review here to find out more. 

An exercise bike is an investment you'll want to think carefully about — the right bike will help you build lower-body strength and cardiovascular fitness; the wrong bike will become an expensive place to store clothes.

To help you make the right choice for you, we've tested the best exercise bikes on the market to help you decide which to install in your spare room or garage gym. Right now, the best exercise bike if you're looking for a community of like-minded individuals to motivate you is, unsurprisingly, the Peloton Bike+. It's been around for a while, but it's still a fantastic bike.

If you're looking for a bike with air resistance, the best choice right now is the Wattbike Air. It's an impressive bike from an impressive brand, and will help you get fit.

If you're a cyclist who prefers to be out on the road, the Zwift Ride with KICKR Core is a great choice. It feels pretty close to cycling on the road, and you'll even be able to join a virtual spin class with your mates on Zwift.

We've also found other alternatives to suit every style of cyclist and budget. Dig out your cleats and get ready to ride, but read on to find our top picks first.

Best exercise bikes you can buy right now

Best air resistance exercise bike

When we tested the Wattbike Air, we were (quite literally) blown away by this air resistance bike. It's similar to those you might have used in the gym, with a manual resistance wheel on the side, and is best suited for sprints and HIIT training, rather than standing out of the saddle and climbing.

The air resistance tops out at 2500W, which is higher than the Wattbike Proton’s 1800W. However, if hill climbs are your preferred exercise bike workout, then you’ll be better off with the Proton.

That said, thanks to the fantastic companion Wattbike app, if you're looking for a bike to help you boost your fitness, rather than pedal for hours, the Wattbike Air is a great choice. Erin found the app had plenty of excellent features and workouts, and was able to hone her cycling technique by using it.

It's also a subscription-free bike, which is a massive plus, and gives it an edge over other exercise bikes, such as the Peloton Bike+.

• Read our full Wattbike Air review

Best exercise bike for community

The Peloton Bike+ is the upgraded version of the Peloton Bike, the connected exercise bike that popularized virtual spin classes. The Bike+ comes packed with Peloton tech, including a large touchscreen for you to interact with the Peloton app.

While the premium bike plays a part, the experience relies heavily on the app's on-demand and live classes. It's an expensive option — the bike is $2,500, and its required membership costs $44 per month — but after testing it, we have to say that it's definitely popular for a reason.

The Peloton instructors are famed for their high-energy classes, so if you're after a way to keep motivated to train regularly, the Bike+ is a good option. Plus, aside from the software, the Bike+ actually feels like the kind of equipment you'd find in a studio.

When we visited the Peloton Studio in London and tried a 30-minute in-person class, we found it to be intense, but a lot of fun. Plus, the studio bikes still had the famed leaderboard, so he could see how his performance fared compared to all the members spinning away at home, too.

The bike also has an auto-resistance mode, where the magnetic resistance will automatically change based on the instructor's recommendations, so you don't need to worry about fiddling with menus or buttons, and can just keep peddling.

The display is also where you'll find all of your workout stats, and you can view your training history to keep track of your progress. The Bike+ has a rotating display too, so you can swivel it and do mat-based workouts instead.

It's a tech-heavy option, and an expensive one, but it's also one of the most versatile exercise bikes available right now. Peloton has also thought about the smaller details, like adding water bottle holders, USB-C charging ports, and Bluetooth.

• Read our full Peloton Bike+ review
• Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike+ — which should you buy?

Best real life exercise bike

If you want an exercise bike, but don't want to shell out for a smart one, the Zwift Ride is a great option. It offers great value for money, and costs half as much as a smart bike.

It’s the easiest and most enjoyable way to ride on Zwift, and after testing it out, I have to say that it's also the bike I’d buy if I were starting afresh with my indoor cycling setup.

If you're new to the Zwift app, it allows you to cycle on virtual routes alongside your friends, do workouts, and ride iconic courses. It's like social media for cyclists, and it's a great way to beat the boredom indoors.

The Zwift Ride comes with the Wahoo KICKR Core trainer, which is one of the best turbo trainers on the market. You have to connect the two together, but once riding the bike, it feels like a complete unit in the same way as other smart bikes.

The ride is smooth and very quiet — if you use a fan to keep you cool during workouts, which I highly recommend doing, you can barely hear the bike itself.

Shifting gears using the handlebar controls and Zwift Cog is seamless and quiet as well, and the KICKR CORE responds quickly to changes in the gradient when riding routes on Zwift to automatically adjust for climbs and descents.

It's closer to cycling outside than a lot of the other bikes on this list, and is a great pick.

• Read our Zwift Ride smart bike review

Best budget exercise bike

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike isn't lacking in features. It comes with a display to help you keep tabs on your workout stats. It shows essential metrics like time, speed, distance, and calories.

Of course, this doesn't come close to the amount of data you can track on a smart exercise bike like the Peloton Bike+, but it's a helpful way to track your progress for a fraction of the price.

Unlike the Peloton Bike+, there are no classes to join (unless you clip on the included smartphone mount and use a workout app or free YouTube session), but it's a durable beginner-friendly bike.

When I initially set up the bike in testing, I was worried it would feel a bit unstable. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Instead, whether I took it for a speed or distance ride, the bike stayed firmly on the ground while in use.

The friction system added enough resistance to make my workouts effective, but after a while, you'll probably want to upgrade to a machine that'll challenge your muscles a bit more. But for cardio-boosting workouts on a budget, it's a great choice.

• Read our full Yosuda Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike review

Best Peloton alternative

The Echelon EX-3 used to be in this spot, but now the Echelon EX-5s has taken its place — and for good reason, too. Like the Peloton Bike+, the EX-5s has a magnetic resistance system with 32 levels to choose from, as well as a 21.5” HD touchscreen that flips 180º.

The magnetic resistance is quiet, too, so you won't disturb others in your home or nearby neighbors, even when you're doing a high-intensity workout.

At $1,299, it's cheaper than a Peloton, but still offers elite coaching, upbeat motivation, and excellent workout performance. In testing, I was pleased with the high levels of adjustability on the bike that allowed me to customize it to myself, as well as how convenient and simple the touch-screen display was to use.

There is a drawback, though. Not only is the Echelon EX-5s more expensive upfront than other non-Peloton bikes, but you also need to purchase a membership that works out at $399 per year to get the most out of the bike. You do get access to a huge selection of workouts with this subscription, though, not just the bike sessions. So, if you're looking for a bike to replace your gym membership completely, this is an excellent choice.

Additionally, I did notice some stability issues during high-speed workouts or during exercises that required me to come off the seat. I didn't feel like I was going to fall off, but this is something to keep in mind. Also, the bike took around two hours to set up — not ideal if you were looking to get in a workout right out of the box.

Still, these are fairly small complaints. Overall, the Echelon EX-5 is a great, lower-cost alternative for those looking for the community of a Peloton but not the price tag.

• Read our Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review

How to choose the best exercise bike for you

Choosing an exercise bike for your home can be a challenge. After all, you first need to decide whether you want a standard friction-based bike or a smart one, and factor in the increased cost of a smart bike and the ongoing subscription.

However, once you've made a decision between the two styles, there are other practicalities, like the physical size of the bike, whether it can be easily stored away between sessions, and if the bike can be adjusted for your height and posture.

It's also worth thinking about the exercise bike's resistance mechanism. This will affect how much you can customize the intensity, and you can select from magnetic resistance, flywheels, and belt-driven bikes.

Magnetic resistance generally has the largest range, usually covering 100 different levels, and is the quietest, but bikes with these systems are often towards the higher price bracket too.

Also tested

We regularly review exercise bikes, but not all of them will make the main roundup. Some come close, though. So, if you're after more options, these are the bikes we've tested that didn't quite make the cut.

How we test the best exercise bikes

To help you determine which exercise bike is best for you, we put them to the sweat test! We install each of the bikes in our homes or workout studio for at least a month, and put them to the test over several different workouts.

Since we had the bikes to hand, we looked at how easy it was to use, move around the house, maintain, and, for the smart exercise bikes, the range of classes on offer.

Plus, we consider any extras like how many profiles you could set up, and useful accessories like phone mounts and water bottle holders. And on the smart machines, we looked at the ongoing subscription costs associated with the bike, and what you get for your money.

FAQs

If you want to stay safe while taking a ride, you'll need one of the best bike helmets. Whether you have a slip or something potentially more serious, these helmets are designed to protect your head, taking the impact for you.

But since you'll be wearing them in all conditions and for hours at a time, you want to find a helmet that'll be comfortable, breathable and still looks good as you clock up the miles. That's why we put the best bike helmets to the test.

We've ridden hundreds of miles in helmets ranging from $50 to $300, some with smart features, others designed to be solid and reliable without breaking the bank checking to see how they fared over extended periods.

Plus, we only feature helmets with MIPS technology, the industry standard, or something comparable to ensure top-notch protection from concussions and other head injuries.

So, before you head out on your new electric scooter or one of the best electric bikes, pick yourself up one of the best bike helmets to protect your head while on the road.

The best bicycle helmets you can buy today

How to choose the best bike helmet for you

Shock absorption technology: There is still some debate about the most effective helmet technology for protecting your head. However, most researchers agree that it's the rotational forces that tend to cause the most damage, including concussions. The most popular technology today to address these types of crashes is the multi-directional impact protection system or MIPS technology. It is designed to reduce the rotational force on one's cranium in an accident by allowing the outer shell of the helmet to slide slightly on impact. Many helmet makers offer MIPS models, and there are a couple of competing designs, including POC's SPIN pads.

Fit Matters: Helmets need to fit snugly in order to protect your pate in an impact. Most models now feature a cage-like design that can loosen or tighten an interior set of straps to fit around your head. Over time, chin straps can stretch and loosen, so don't forget to snug them up on occasion. Also, make sure you don't push the helmet back; they're designed to sit slightly forward over your brow to protect your forehead.

Use case: Bikes are used in a variety of ways, from commuting to mountain biking, and bike helmet manufacturers make helmets tailored for those scenarios. While it's perfectly acceptable to wear a mountain bike helmet when cycling to work, it may have extra features, such as a visor or a chin guard, that you don't necessarily need or want to pay extra for. Look for a helmet that will best match how you plan to use your bike.

How we tested the best bike helmets

One of the criteria in selecting the best bike helmets to test was if they had MIPS protection or the equivalent. MIPS, which in this use stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, includes a layer that allows the helmet to slide relative to the head, thus reducing rotational forces that can cause concussions or other brain injuries.

We then wore the helmets on a number of bike rides, evaluating their fit, adjustability, and comfort. If a helmet had other features — such as built-in lights — we also tested their ease of use.

Bike helmet safety ratings

Of course, we could not test the helmets under actual crash conditions, so we consulted several test reports that conducted extensive lab-based impact analysis. Those included Virginia Tech and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's evaluation of 162 bike helmets and a 2021 study of 27 helmets tested in oblique impacts published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering. We also considered the results of a 2020 study conducted by a Swedish insurance company as part of our evaluation.

Below is a chart with the Virginia Tech ratings of the helmets we reviewed; the lower the number, the better.

Since fit and comfort are two of the most important features of bicycle helmets, we then head-tested every model, riding many miles in different circumstances (off-road, dirt roads, highways and city streets) to see how they held up under real-world use.

Features comparison

Frequently asked questions

If you're new to working out on an indoor bike, you may be wondering if clipping in is worth it. Clipping in helps maximize efficiency and power output, improves lower-body alignment, and reduces impact on your knees. By using the best shoes for Peloton, you'll be more efficient on the pedals, whether you clip into a Peloton bike or another model.

On that basis, we've chosen our top three models that clip into the best exercise bikes. Each model below gets the final nod from our fitness desk.

During our rigorous testing, we evaluated comfort, support, breathability, and clip systems across brands such as Peloton, Shimano, Rapha, and Nike to evaluate which are the best shoes for Peloton.

Our top pick is the Shimano RC1 spin shoe; we found it breathable, comfortable, and easy to wear. However, they are not the only option — read on to discover the most comfortable Peloton shoes and the ones best for use with a Peloton bike.

Best shoes for Peloton overall

After riding for a few months with a number of models, we think the best indoor cycling shoes overall are the Shimano RC1. It's a reasonably priced spin shoe that comes in both men's and women's models.

These shoes are lightweight and feature synthetic leather uppers with mesh texture to promote a comfortable fit. They also have three durable hook-and-loop straps across the top of the feet for easy wear and removal.

During our time, we found them to be breathable, comfortable, and easy to wear. They were light but not overly stiff, and three Velcro straps made it easy to get the fit we wanted.

Unlike Peloton’s shoes, Shimano’s shoes don’t include clips, which must be purchased separately. The RC1s are designed for Delta cleats, but you can also purchase an adapter so they'll work with SPD cleats, too.

Read our full Shimano RC1 spin shoe review.

Best shoes for Peloton for comfort

If you're looking for a comfortable indoor cycling shoe, the Venzo cycling shoes are an excellent option.

Both the men’s and women's shoes feature quick-drying, highly breathable mesh and synthetic upper and have a low-cut construction for a light, fast fit and feel. We wore these shoes for a month, and they fit perfectly; it felt like my feet were molded to the shoe.

These shoes come with three velcro straps; the shoes’ tongue is attached to the middle strap, which helps keep it from sliding down while riding, an issue we had with the Tommasos.

The Venzo cycling shoes are compatible with both Delta and SPD clips. However, you should keep in mind that they only come bundled with Delta — if you want SPD cleats, you’ll have to purchase them separately.

Read our full Venzo cycling shoe review.

Best shoes for Peloton

Not surprisingly, the best Peloton shoes overall are those made by Peloton itself, but these spin shoes can be used on other exercise bikes, too.

These lightweight, breathable upper and mesh vent Peloton shoes feature a ratchet clip and velcro straps. If you plan on purchasing these shoes with your new bike, Peloton will deliver your shoes with your bike so you’ll have them in time for that first ride.

Peloton shoes tend to run true to size; we like that they come with the clips, but you'll have to attach them yourself. We found these shoes to be very well made — they felt like they were built to last.

We also liked that the tongue stayed in place while riding. However, they're a bit on the pricey side. But if you're buying them with your Peloton, you can't beat the convenience.

Peloton has released a different model of cycling shoes, the Peloton Altos, which have a single velcro strap to make it easier to get the shoes on and off. They are, however, more expensive than the Peloton cycling shoe.

Read our full Peloton cycling shoe review.

Also tested

FAQs