An exercise bike is a great way to keep fit at home. Especially for people who don't want to go outside in all weathers or shy away from going to the gym. The consumer magazines "Kassensturz" and "Gesundheitstipp" tested eight home trainers up to CHF 600 in various categories: How easy is the device to set up, how well does it train and how loud is it when in use? Five of the eight products tested are available in our Swiss shop: from the test winner to the loser. Availability may be slightly different in other country shops.
A total of four exercise bikes scored "good". The test victory was shared by two ergometers with an overall score of 5.1: the Domyos EB 520 and the Kettler Hoi Ride. According to the test report, both home trainers are suitable for training sessions lasting several hours and have a comfortable saddle. The EB 520 was much quicker and easier to set up in the test (within around 30 minutes) than the Hoi Ride (around 75 minutes). On the other hand, the Kettler model impresses with its low noise level during training. Only the second Kettler model, the Ride 100, achieved the same top score in this category.
Both the second bike ergometer from Kettler, the Ride 100, and the HT3 from Christopeit received a "sufficient" rating from the testers. The Ride 100 only achieved a score of 4.0 in the main criterion of training. The testers criticised the fact that the digital display and the function of the buttons are not self-explanatory. The device is not available in our range. The HT3 also only scored 4.4 and 4.2 in the training and assembly categories respectively. Incidentally, it is the only product designed for a maximum user weight of 150 kilograms. At 110 to 100 kilograms, some of the other trainers are significantly lower.
Two exercise bikes failed the test. They were given the grade "unsatisfactory" by the test team. These were the two cheapest trainers in the test. One of them is available in our shop: the One S Gold from Zipro. Although it is designed for up to 110 kilograms, the testers found that it is only suitable for very small people. There are also shortcomings in terms of stability, instructions and assembly. For the testers, the device is even dangerous. Half a mark is deducted for the risk of falling during training. "As soon as you let go of the handlebars and shift your weight backwards, the home trainer tips backwards because its centre of gravity is in an unfavourable position", according to the test assessment.
