15 Under Desk Bike Benefits (I Tried One For A Week)

Have you ever thought about using an under-desk bike? If not, then you are missing out on a machine that is highly beneficial, as well as being a whole lot of fun.

I tried out an under-desk bike for 7 days before writing this article.

For the record, the one I used was the Desk Cycle Under Desk Bike Pedal. This one offered a much larger range of resistance (from super-low to super-high) than pretty much any other under-desk bike on the market. Plus, it is incredibly quiet (which is great if you’re in an office with lots of others).

Having had this firsthand experience (as well as doing a bit of research on the topic), I’ve found there are 15 crucial benefits of using these under-desk bikes. In this post, I’ll dive into exactly what these 15 benefits of Under Desk Bikes are:

1. You Release Endorphins

This was the real biggie for me! I just felt freakin’ great for the week!

Any form of exercise will result in the release of endorphins. That does mean you will feel better and happier, and it’s all thanks to these hormones.

The fact you can have those endorphins released without doing too much, and being able to achieve this even while working is pretty cool. But these hormones do more than simply make you happy.

Instead, they are known to help people to become more productive. They give people more energy, and it’s all thanks to the fact we feel far more energized when we feel happier.

So, if you are struggling with your mood, then an under desk bike could be the answer.

Check out the Desk Cycle Under Desk Bike Pedal on Amazon here

2. Improved Mobility

If you are used to sitting at a desk for an extended period of time, then you probably already know how tough it is when standing up. You can often feel your legs and hips have stiffened up, and it takes a little bit of time for things to get moving once again.

Well, working that under desk bike means your joints are continuing to work, and fluid flows through the joints stopping things from effectively freezing up.

That is the reason why this bike will be capable of improving your mobility, guys!

3. You Burn Calories (Duh!)

This is probably quite an obvious one (as an understatement), but I thought I’d better throw it in, as this may well be the main reason a lot of people try it out.

An under desk bike will help you to burn calories while sitting there working. You don’t even feel as if you are doing this, but believe me when I say it does indeed help to burn off more calories than you would expect.

Now, we aren’t talking about a huge number of calories, but hey every little thing helps, doesn’t it?

In fact, if you pedal at a medium pace, which is slower than you would do on a normal road bike, then you are looking at burning in the region of 100 to 150 calories a day. [Source]

4. Improved Concentration

This benefit could surprise people, but an under-desk bike can help improve your concentration.

The key is those hormones it releases in your brain. It not only produces those endorphins but also reduces cortisol, which is the stress hormone. 

Doing this effectively clears up the fog that can cloud your mind and ability to stay focused. The simple act of turning those pedals can sometimes be enough to allow nervous energy to dissipate, that cortisol level to drop, and your concentration increases as there’s nothing to distract it.

5. You Become Healthier

Maybe another Captain Obvious statement here, but – yep, this is really true!

People feel confused at the idea of becoming healthier while sitting at their desks, but an under desk bike turns this into a reality. But the problem is people almost forget that the bottom half of their body is doing this workout while the top half is at rest. 

The truth is that the lower body movement you are creating here is working those muscles and also working your heart. It may not feel like it, but your body realizes it’s doing a workout, even though it’s quite subtle.

That promotes health and will even improve stamina. However, don’t expect too much as this is quite a gentle exercise, so we aren’t talking about major gains.

6. It Stops Fidgety People

If you tend to be an individual who fidgets on a regular basis, then this bike could be the perfect solution. People who fidget often do so thanks to nervous energy, so anything that allows them to ‘use up’ that energy is a real bonus.

The gentle exercise that comes with this under desk bike is enough to move that energy and use it in a better way. Also, it’s not only workers that have found this to be beneficial. Instead, some teachers have even installed them in classrooms with their students performing better thanks to these bikes.

That alone is a good reason to consider using one yourself.

I found a fantastic youtube video about under-desk bikes, and the presenter thought that the bike helping control her fidgeting was its number one benefit. You can check out that video here:

7. It’s Easy to Adjust the Tension

These bikes are easy to use, and that also includes adjusting the tension to fit in with your own physical ability. This was especially true of the Desk Cycle Under Desk Bike Pedal.

What this means is you can change how hard you work on your bike.

That means this bike is really for everyone. Whether you want to take things easy or work those leg muscles a bit more, that option is undoubtedly out there.

It also means you can change things throughout the day, depending on what you hope to achieve. 

8. It Can Prevent Obesity

So while using an under-desk bike is not the only way you can prevent obesity, since it involves a hell of a lot more, it does play a role. Keep in mind this is a form of exercise.

Anything that gets you moving, in any sense, and also burns off some calories does help reduce your chances of becoming obese.

It’s cool to think you are doing something so positive for your body even while sitting at your desk.

9. It Reduces Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance can lead to diabetes, and also increase your chances of developing heart disease. However, doing a simple exercise such as using an under desk bike can reduce the chances of all of that happening.

By ‘working out’ in this way, it changes how your body uses sugar and glucose to produce energy. It can stop spikes in sugar levels, especially when you pedal at an even speed, and that all bodes well for your body.

But as with the obesity benefit, there’s more to help improve insulin resistance than simply getting on your bike.

However, it’s a cool extra tool that is certainly highly beneficial to you.

10. You May Live Longer

This is perhaps the benefit that will get people rushing out and purchasing their own under desk bike, but there are studies that indicate this exercise will help you live longer.

You see, any exercise is good. Any exercise benefits the body in some way, but we often stress about going to the gym, and that’s bad.

However, this bike allows you to exercise without stressing, and also without it taking extra time out of your day.

Also, add in the weight loss, improved heart health, better blood pressure, and everything else to see how this can indeed help you live longer.

11. Better Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major cause of illness around the world, and it’s caused by being unfit or stressed.

The fact this easy exercise routine can counteract both things at one time is impressive, and reducing your blood pressure is something we should all take notice of.

But at the same time, taking things at a leisurely pace means you avoid placing your body under stress by working out. See this as a simple stroll where you aren’t breaking a sweat, but where you know it’s still proving highly beneficial to your body. 

In next to no time, using your under desk bike on a daily basis will result in a noticeable drop in your blood pressure, and we could all do with a bit of that.

12. You can Use it Anywhere

These bikes are lightweight and portable. That means you are free to use them anywhere you like, and they take next to no time to set them up either.

So there’s no reason why you cannot use it at work, or even at home while watching that latest box set.

The key is you are in a chair that allows you to use your legs and feet to get those pedals moving. As long as you can do that, then you are good to go, and that applies no matter the location.

13. It Improves Your Posture

We have a tendency to slouch and sit incorrectly most of the time, and that causes a problem with our posture.

By strapping our feet into this bike, it forces us to sit in a better position, or the pedals are just not going to turn.

It pushes our body into the correct alignment, and then we are forced to keep that perfect alignment due to sitting there for an extended period of time. This means it won’t only help your lower body, but also improve your spine as well since it stops us from putting undue pressure on the wrong part of our spine.

14. It’s Quiet

These bikes are almost silent, so there’s no noise to ultimately distract others, or even yourself for that matter.

This can help individuals in a work setting where they don’t want to draw attention to themselves.

The pedals just do not make a sound. The only way you know they are working is because you feel your legs and feet moving, but aside from that, you would have no idea. Even setting it up and changing the tension is done in absolute silence. 

Of course, it also means you won’t have any noise distracting you should you be using it in front of the TV.

15. You Tone Your Legs

If we are honest, a lot of us simply cannot make enough time in order to go to the gym. An under desk bike will help you to work on toning your legs throughout the day, and over time you will certainly feel a difference developing.

Of course, the greater the tension, the greater the development, and the speed at which you will tone your legs. But do keep in mind that this is intended to be slow and gentle.

It’s not a race or trying to get that muscle burn. In fact, it’s almost the complete opposite. 

Summing Up

And those are the benefits linked to an under desk bike, and if you have never thought about using one before, then I highly recommend you give it a go.

As I say, the one I strongly recommend is the Desk Cycle Under Desk Bike Pedal. (Check it out on Amazon here).

If you need to sit for extended periods of time at a desk, then an under desk bike can help you improve your health rather than damaging it.

Keep in mind that sitting is now seen as the new smoking, and we are told to move around more, but that’s not always possible. However, this is the possible solution, and with them not being too expensive to purchase, an under desk bike can be a wonderful way forward.