Sitting all day has been compared to smoking in terms of health risks, and while standing desks offer an alternative, they aren’t always comfortable for everyone. Many office workers find standing desks tiring after prolonged use. There must be a middle ground – a way to be active at work without discomfort. This is where the concept of a Bike For Under Your Desk comes in.
Recently, the idea of using bike pedals under desks gained traction when a middle school teacher implemented them in her classroom. She noticed significant improvements in her students’ focus and behavior. This sparked our curiosity: Could an under-desk bike be the comfortable and healthy solution for staying active at work? We decided to investigate and test the DeskCycle, the same product used by the teacher, to see if it lives up to the hype.
DeskCycle claims that using their bike for under your desk doubles your energy expenditure compared to sitting still, surpassing the 30% increase offered by standing desks. We ordered a DeskCycle to put these claims to the test.
Alt text: Unassembled DeskCycle components before setup, showcasing the parts of this under desk bike.
After a simple assembly process, placing the bike for under your desk under my workspace was straightforward. Strapping my feet in and beginning to pedal, I immediately noticed how quiet it was, just as advertised.
Alt text: Fully assembled DeskCycle positioned under a desk, ready for use as an office exercise bike.
The DeskCycle allows for adjustable pedal tension to modify workout intensity. I found that maintaining a comfortable typing speed was challenging above tension level 4. Higher levels definitely provided a significant workout.
Alt text: Close-up of the DeskCycle tension adjustment knob, showing levels to control resistance for varied workout intensity on this under desk bike.
A small, battery-powered display unit tracks your pedaling speed, distance, and estimated calories burned.
Alt text: DeskCycle’s digital display showing metrics like speed, distance, and calories burned during an under desk cycling session.
After a week of consistently using this bike for under your desk, here’s a balanced look at the pros and cons.
The Drawbacks of Using a Bike for Under Your Desk
One notable downside was the need to adjust my seating position. Lowering my chair to its lowest setting and leaning back was necessary to prevent my knees from hitting the desk. This posture made it slightly harder to see fine details on the screen and reach the keyboard comfortably. Additionally, to keep my chair from moving while pedaling, I had to wedge a wheel against the DeskCycle frame.
Alt text: Image demonstrating how to stabilize an office chair with DeskCycle by placing a wheel against the frame for steady pedaling on this under desk bike.
Furthermore, tasks requiring intense concentration were difficult to perform while pedaling. The bike for under your desk was effective for less demanding activities like reading emails or browsing, but focused work required stopping the cycling motion. It seemed to be an either-or situation.
The Unexpected Benefits: More Than Just Exercise
Despite the challenges, I discovered a significant advantage: the DeskCycle became an excellent outlet for restless energy. Typically, I’m a fidgety sitter, constantly moving and adjusting in my chair. This bike for under your desk provided a productive way to channel that energy. Unlike simple fidgeting, pedaling actually engages and strengthens leg muscles.
Alt text: Person using DeskCycle with regular office shoes, showing versatility of this under desk bike with different footwear.
However, the most surprising benefit wasn’t related to fitness or calorie burning. By the end of the week, while I hadn’t achieved significant fitness gains, the DeskCycle solved a persistent office problem: staying warm in a cold environment.
Many offices are notoriously over-air-conditioned, and studies show women are particularly susceptible to feeling cold in these settings. On particularly chilly days, my hands often get numb, hindering my typing ability. Using the bike for under your desk changed this dramatically. Just a few minutes of pedaling at a moderate resistance level warmed me up enough to work comfortably without extra layers, while coworkers around me were still bundled in sweaters and scarves.
While the calorie burn was modest – only 473 calories over the workweek, less than 100 calories daily, equivalent to a very short run – the primary advantage of this bike for under your desk wasn’t weight loss. It was the on-demand warmth it provided.
If you’re considering a bike for under your desk to get warm, stay active, and channel fidgety energy in a cold office, the DeskCycle is definitely worth considering.
Want to experience the warmth and subtle activity boost? You can order a DeskCycle online here.
