Top Bike Desks
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Overview
At WorkWhileWalking, we’re often asked how treadmill desks and bike desks compare. Our answer is no secret: we think walking is the best way to stay active at work—from both an ergonomic health and productivity standpoint. That being said, we also recognize the surging popularity of cycling at your desk, and we want to keep you — as a worker committed to office fitness — as informed as possible on the merits of these relatively new products.
Our review staff has rounded up abstracts of each of our bike desk reviews below. They investigated design features, weight and size specs, customer experiences, and more according to our rigorous review process. Below, you’ll see the combined results of our research. You can click on the product name to read the full review.
Bike desks have perhaps become a bit outdated due to competition from the even faster growing category of under desk pedal exercisers. To clarify what is sometimes a confusing nomenclature, Bike desks are basically stationary bikes that integrate with a desk workspace. They include the FitDesk 2.0 Bike Desk, LifeSpan C3, and Markant Oxidesk.
If cycling while working is your thing but you’re not sure whether you went to sit on an actual bike or just put a set of pedals under your desk, be sure to check out our round-up of Desk Cycle Reviews, as well.
1. Flexispot Deskcise Pro Bike Desk
Pros: Versatile, all-in-one workstation fulfilling a variety of needs. Pedals operate smoothly and quietly. Eight levels of adjustable tension. Locking caster wheels make it mobile.
Cons: User’s legs may hit the seat when using the product as a standing desk. Surface can be shaky. Lighter weight capacity than competitors.
Bottom Line: The Deskcise from Flexispot is a jack-of-all-trades that does not excel at any one task—its strength is that it does several things well while being lightweight, portable, and cost-effective. You can easily switch between sitting, standing, and cycling without having to shell out for multiple products or accessories, making it a truly accessible fitness solution. Our biggest contention is that the seat bumps into users when using it as a standing desk—not all of its modes are ideal for longer work sessions. However, with a home audience being the primary target, the Deskcise shines as an all-in-one solution that can help bring exercise into an otherwise sedentary environment.
Price: $499.00
2. FitDesk 2.0 Stationary Bike Desk
Pros: FitDesk is portable, able to fold up and wheel away when not in use. Has a robust cycling mechanism and 8 resistance settings. Non-slip desk surface and belt secure your laptop in place.
Cons: Like other bikes and bike desks, FitDesk forces users into poor ergonomics. In addition to the small size of its desk, the inability to customize monitor height and typing angle make the FitDesk suited only for short bursts of exercise, not work.
Bottom Line: While the FitDesk may excel among stationary bicycles, it’s still an exercise machine, not a piece of office fitness equipment. Bike desks like the FitDesk aren’t designed for the same level of multitasking as a treadmill desk. All but the simplest tasks – answering emails or jotting down notes– become overwhelmingly difficult to do while pedaling. The FitDesk is no substitute for a standing desk or a treadmill desk, and it is not a NEAT device. If you’re looking for some light, NEAT movement, you would be better served going with a proper treadmill desk.
Price: $349.99
3. LifeSpan Fitness C3 Standing Desk Bike
Pros: Well-built mechanically. Comfortable seat, at least for short durations. Great for getting some cardio burn while watching TV or reading a book.
Cons: Don’t expect to type comfortably or with any proficiency while mounted atop this upright stationary bike. It was clearly designed to be used as an exercise machine, not in front of a desk. Ergonomically, it’s a nightmare. Lacks things you’d expect at this price range—like a real Bluetooth interface to phone apps and popular wearable devices like Fitbit. Difficult to mount and dismount, no matter how short or tall you are. Hard to move around despite the built-in wheels. Weak sales since its introduction a few years ago have led to deep discounting; but even at the current price we can’t recommend this product.
Bottom Line: Multiple design flaws stem from the fact this was originally designed as an upright cardio exercise bike. It’s been simply re-skinned and re-positioned as an office fitness product to broaden out Lifespan’s popular treadmill desk line (which has seen far greater success). Poor reviews from verified buyers on Amazon confirm what our review experts have long said about this product. If you want to avoid disappointment and the return hassle, move on to one of the many competing products that are twice as good at half the price.
Price: $899
If you’d like more insight into how we reviewed these products check out our guide “Anatomy of a Review“.
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