Best Pedal Exercisers: Motorized & Mechanical | 2022 Buyer’s Guide

Nothing is easier than pedaling while sitting. More importantly, this type of exercise is highly beneficial. First, it relieves excess pressure from your legs, helping blood circulation and oxygen transport in the body. A pedal exerciser is widely used for a cardio workout because it improves heart health. Pedaling for half an hour for at least five days a week will substantially aid your cardiac health, reducing the risk of heart attacks.

Secondly, this type of equipment is good at promoting weight loss. That is why many models like the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike are equipped with a display showing you not only distance, speed, revolutions per minute, and exercise time but also calories burnt.

Thirdly, pedal exercisers will improve your mood, boost energy, and help you sleep better. And finally, you can exercise while working, something that allows you to be more active during the day without sacrificing your work time.

What Types of Pedal Exercisers Are There?

Exercise peddlers differ by the type of mechanism used and their application. There are models made with an electric motor to drive pedals and mechanical options that are activated by the user. Besides, some pedal exercisers are engineered specially for under-desk use and have all the necessary features.

Motorized vs Mechanical Pedal Exercisers

Motorized models are often made with a handheld remote control allowing you to adjust the speed while exercising. Such a device has electrically powered pedals, a motor, and a digital monitor for tracking activity data. Motorized pedal exercisers are recommended for rehabilitation at home and are very efficient. In particular, they help a lot those who have difficulty moving their legs as well as elderly people.

We recommend the Exerpeutic 2000M Motorized Electric Legs and Arms Pedal Exerciser. Made of steel, it has adjustable straps, large foldable pedals, and a handheld speed controller with a long cord. The machine is very powerful and has a useful motor auto-stop feature that stops crank rotation if your legs do not rotate freely.

Mechanical exercise peddlers are created for low-impact workouts and used for general fitness. Those who need to strengthen their legs will also find them beneficial. Such models generally have a folding design, which makes them easy to transport and store. They are easy to use and assemble, let alone the fact that mechanical devices do not consume electricity.

To activate the device, you just need to begin pedaling. However, some mechanical pedal exercisers like the Drive Medical Deluxe Folding Exercise Peddler have an electronic display. Such models require plugging into a power outlet to make the display work, but this does not mean that they are motorized. This exercise peddler is pretty unsophisticated, made of plastic, and cost just some $30.

Under-Desk Pedal Exercisers

Created specifically for use under desktops or tables, this type of equipment has several distinctive features. First, it comes with low pedals so that you could exercise even while sitting at a low or very compact desk. Secondly, manufacturers use magnetic resistance to reduce the noise produced during the machine’s operation. This is particularly essential in offices, where it is important not to disturb your colleagues. And thirdly, these models use a detachable monitor.

For instance, the DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Adjustable Legs Pedal Exerciser can be used with desks as low as 27 inches. It is equipped with an LCD screen that can be detached and placed on a desk. This is very convenient for those who use the machine in the office as well as for elderly people with poor eyesight. Note that the earlier model of the DeskCycle machine came with a fixed display. Other beneficial features of the DeskCycle 2 model include 8 resistance settings and adjustable pedal height.

Pedal Exercisers vs Ellipticals: How Are They Different?

Both exercise peddlers and ellipticals are effective and both are cardio exercise equipment. They improve endurance, cardiovascular system, and tone muscles without building muscle mass. The difference actually boils down to what body areas these machines work. While an elliptical engages the whole body, a pedal exerciser focuses on its lower part. Elliptical machines are, therefore, more demanding and require dedicated time. The difference also lies in the movement pattern. When using an exercise peddler, your legs move in a circular motion, whereas an elliptical involves a forward-and-backward motion.

Ellipticals are often recommended for elderly people because they are not hard on joints. As for weight loss, they are also considered by scientists to be more efficient because of greater fat-burning potential. Since these machines target more muscles, they make you spend more energy per movement. That said, ellipticals are less portable and more expensive as compared to exercise peddlers.

Like pedal exercisers, elliptical machines have under-desk options allowing you to exercise in a sitting position. You may use the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical with 8 levels of resistance. Made with a digital screen, the machine tracks and displays exercise time, speed, distance, and calories. It features a belt drive mechanism with magnetic resistance and anti-slip textured pedals. The device comes fully assembled and has a handle for easy transportation. With a weight of 24 lbs, it is compact and can be used under a desktop.

If you are tight on a budget, you may buy the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical for under $100. Like the previous product, this one is also made with textured pedals and has a compact design. Nevertheless, it is pretty unsophisticated and does not use magnetic resistance. This makes it less efficient for leg strengthening and endurance training. However, the machine is built with a dial for the adjustment of workout intensity. Besides, it features a multi-function display and a sturdy steel design.

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