Do you spend your days at your desk, wishing you could be more active?
I know how it feels to struggle to choose between making more money and choosing your physical health. I’ve been searching around online to try to find ways to help me become active while I’m spending all day at my desk. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but there are many days where I sacrifice my lunch breaks (or any breaks at all) to get more work done. I often prioritize my desire to be more productive in the workplace over my own health.
So, I began looking around for ways that I could get more active, even while I’m spending a lot of time at my desk. I’m not looking to lose weight while I’m sitting at my desk all day. Although that would be a benefit, I really just want to focus on burning more calories to help myself get healthier.
Long story short, that’s how I stumbled upon the Desk Cycle 2. I’m here to help you take an in-depth look at Desk Cycle 2 and all it has to offer to you.
What is the Desk Cycle 2?
The Desk Cycle 2 is a type of under-the-desk exercise bike. This under-the-desk exercise bike is a super useful tool to invest in if you’re looking to burn a few extra calories in your day and increase the circulation in your legs. While I wouldn’t say the exercise you get from the bike will replace the need for you to work out on a daily basis, I did find that it helped to keep me much more active than I once was.
This bike was created to help people who spend a lot of time sitting down to get more blood flowing throughout the body and to burn a few extra calories. If you’re worried about your cardiovascular health (like I am), this is a great option to look into to make an improvement in your physical health.
Personally, I would recommend this option for people who are looking to add light and moderate-intensity level workouts into their life. You can use the Desk Cycle 2 while playing video games, reading, watching TV, working, surfing around online, or chatting with friends.
Continue reading our full guide on how to find the best desk cycle.
What’s it like using the Desk Cycle 2?
It’s super easy to use the Desk Cycle 2! There aren’t any complex frills behind using this machine; it’s super straightforward. On the unit, there’s a small computer that comes with one button and an LCD display. It’s powered by a battery. There’s a small amount of information displayed on this computer, which includes how long you’ve been using the cycle and how many miles you pedaled.
For you to adjust the resistance of the bike, all you have to do is adjust the knob. The knob is located in the front part of the machine, down by where your feet go away.
The LCD display is physically attached to the top of the cycle. However, I was also able to mount the display on my desk, so I could keep an easier eye on my physical activity level.
Is the Desk Cycle 2 portable?
Yes, I believe so! The box itself wasn’t too heavy to lift and move upstairs when it got delivered to my house. It was easy to assemble, not too heavy, and pretty small in size. As a woman who doesn’t have a lot of physical strength, it was pretty easy for me to move around the house without the help of my husband. It weighs around 20 pounds, so this should give you a better idea of whether or not you’d be able to move this around the house (or office) by yourself!
Was the setup easy?
When I opened the box, there were a few pieces of equipment I needed to put together the cycle. This included the tools and the manual I needed to get everything set up. Inside of the manual, there was a diagram that easily broke down the setup instructions into each individual step. This made the entire put-together process super easy to understand and follow!
I wouldn’t say that I have a lot of put-together or building experience, but it took me around 15 minutes to put together the entire thing by myself. All you had to do to put the entire cycle together it to attach the legs, level them out, and tighten them up. Next, you’ll want to attach the pedals on the proper sides of the machine (left to left, right to right) and tighten the pedals down. After this, you’ll want to pop the batteries into the computer, slide the LCD display into place, and plug it into the machine.
This all took me around 15 minutes to do, but I feel like it only took me that long because I struggled to get the LCD into the proper place.
Why should you invest in Desk Cycle 2?
There are several reasons why I would highly recommend Desk Cycle 2. Let’s take a look at a breakdown of each of the reasons why I highly suggest you consider investing in this bike:
It’s quiet
There are several reasons why I love Desk Cycle 2. The first reason why I fell in love with this under-the-desk exercise bike is because of how quiet it is. When I was shopping around online, I was really worried I was going to find a bike that was noisy and distracting. There are a lot of under-the-desk exercise bikes that are super noisy, so I’m really glad this wasn’t a problem with this bike.
As someone who works from home, I wasn’t too worried about investing in a desk that would distract other people. Instead, I wanted something that wasn’t going to keep me from being distracted while I was working. However, if you’re someone that’s sharing office space or you happen to work in an open office setting, it’s really important that you find a desk that doesn’t have any noise while you’re using it.
Comes with several resistance levels
The Desk Cycle 2 really fits a large variety of people who have different ‘skill’ levels. There are several resistance levels that you can use. If you’re not used to being active while you’re working, you can do the same thing I did. I started off using the lowest setting, and I began to gradually increase my resistance the more comfortable I got with cycling.
In the notes that the manufacturer left in the user manual, they recommend using it on the lowest setting if you’re worried about it interrupting your workday. You’ll still get benefits from using it on the lowest setting. While you’re moving your legs around, it’ll put your body in a low cardio zone that’ll improve your circulation. So, by improving your circulation, your brain will start to get more oxygen to it.
Displays all day long
I really enjoyed the Desk Cycle 2 offering a display option that gave me access to tracking my pedaling all day long. Seriously- it tracks up to 16 hours of daily usage. I found that 16 hours is a super long time to pedal, and I didn’t pedal for more than 4 to 5 hours at a time. Even though I sit at my desk for longer than that, I would get super focused on my work sometimes. So, I wouldn’t always be pedaling.
Easy to adjust
Another part of the Desk Cycle 2 that I really loved is that it’s super easy to adjust the height of this desk cycle. I found this to be super important when I was moving around to different types of desks or locations around my home from. So, instead of limiting the choices of the areas where I’m struggling to cycle because of desk height, I could adjust the height of my Desk Cycle 2.
Plus, I really love that the Desk Cycle 2came with Velcro straps that were adjustable. There were times where my husband wanted to use the cycle while he was playing video games. It was super easy to adjust the straps on the foot area to fit our different foot sizes. I have narrower feet than he does, but it was no problem using these straps to adjust to our different size feet.
Comes with a free app
With the purchase of your Desk Cycle 2, you’ll get access to an app that’ll allow you to track your exercise for free. The app you get access to is the FitBit, which allows you to keep a journal of all of the different activities you participate in. Over time, you’ll get access to all of the activities you participate in on a daily basis. I really loved having this feature because it makes keeping track of how much physical activity I’m getting every day (and each week) a lot easier.
Pros & Cons of the Desk Cycle 2
Pros
- The pedals are heavy, so they stay stable while you sleep your feet into the pedals
- Easy to put together
- Affordable
- Adjustable straps for the foot section
Cons
- I didn’t like how the position of the pedals isn’t adjustable
- Might be too small for someone who has larger feet
Other alternatives to consider
Are you looking for other options on the market? If the Desk Cycle 2 isn’t the perfect fit for you, there are other options you should look into before giving up on your hunt. Here’s a quick look at other comparable models on the market:
Cubii Pro Under Desk Elliptical
If you don’t like under the desk cycles, you could look into this elliptical option. Choosing this will allow you to make a stepping motion instead of the peddling motion. Some people may find the pedaling motion to be more disrupting to their workflow, so this could be something you could look into using too.
Also, what sets this apart from other options listed below is that it comes with both Apple HealthKit and Fitbit options. So, you can truly customize your fitness journey, as you’ll get an idea of how many calories you’re burning.
Fitdesk Under Desk Cycle and Exercise Bike
This is a unique under the desk cycle option, mainly because you can use it with both your hands and your feet. There are grips that are molded onto the cycle that’ll form themselves to your unique grip, meaning it’ll be comfortable for you to use to encourage you to keep moving.
The biggest downside to this exercise bike is that it’s nearly twice the height of the Desk Cycle 2. So, if you’re taller or if you have a lot more desk space to work with, this should be an option that you look into. I would highly recommend having a desk that has a height of at least 36 inches for you to have plenty of room to comfortably use this exercise bike.
MagneTrainer Mini Exercise Bike
This is a great option to look into if you don’t feel like buying a separate desk from your exercise bike. If you’re looking to have a brand new set up in your work from the home office, this is a two-in-one option that’ll fit your home comfortably.
Keep in mind that the lowest height for the pedal is 9.5 inches, meaning that it’ll be about ½ of an inch taller than the Desk Cycle 2 options.
FAQs
Do you still have a few questions that haven’t been answered by this review? Don’t worry! I’m here to help answer the rest of your questions. Here’s a look at the most frequently asked questions with the answers you’ve been searching for!
Answer: Yes, you can fit the Desk Cycle 2 under most desks.
Answer: The dimensions of the Desk Cycle 2 are as follows:
• 24 inches in length
• 9 inches for the top height of the pedal
• 20 inches for the extra-wide front leg
Answer: Yes, you can lose weight while using Desk Cycle 2! It really just depends on how long you use it. You can burn extra calories while using this, and the longer you use it, the more calories you’ll burn. Over time, these calories will add up, and you’ll lose weight.
Conclusion
Overall, I would highly recommend Desk Cycle 2. It’s super easy to put together, and I really love how the velcro straps make it so that everyone in your household can use this (if you feel like sharing). It’s a great tool to increase your activity without having to spend time sacrificing how much you’re able to work. I personally feel like this was a very affordable under-the-desk exercise bike, especially compared to other models on the market.
Considering how easy this bike was to use, how easy it is to move around , and how small it is, I would give it a 9/10 recommendation. This is an incredible value for someone who wants to find a convenient way to add exercise into their daily routine while still working. Plus, it doesn’t take up a lot of desk space, so you won’t be sacrificing too much easier. I found this a wonderful tool to incorporate into my daily life to become a little bit healthier. While this wasn’t enough to replace the need for a daily workout, it did help me to burn extra calories, feel better about my productivity, and de-stress while I’m working!