Have you ever found yourself sitting at your desk during your workday and thinking, ‘I really need to find time to work out’?
The pressures of work can easily take over your life, making it difficult to find time to take care of yourself, including your physical fitness and health.
This is especially problematic when you consider the fact that regular exercise has been proven to stimulate brain function by increasing the brain’s ability to form neuronal connections and reducing stress hormones.
In other words, while sitting still at a desk all day might seem like the most effective way to get all your paperwork done, it’s likely that this sedentary method isn’t actually enabling you to do your best work.
Thankfully, it seems that FitDesk has found the solution to the work-exercise balance problem so many of us face on a regular basis.
The FDX 2.0 Desk Exercise Bike combines an exercise bike with a desk, allowing you to keep working, studying, or reading while getting your daily cardiovascular exercise.
Product Review
Main Features
Foldable Steel Frame
The FDX 2.0’s steel frame is built to last, suitable for builds between 4 ft 10 inches and 6 ft 6 inches, and supporting weights up to 300 lbs in weight.
The frame’s steel construction ensures durability while remaining lightweight, so you can be sure that the bike will not be weakened or damaged by consistent use.
Additionally, the metal is coated with rust-resistant paint, so whilst it is, of course, advisable to keep your bike away from water and moisture in general, accidental exposure is unlikely to result in corrosion.
The bike’s frame includes rear wheels, allowing the bike to be easily maneuvered into the preferred position whilst set up.
However, the frame is designed to be foldable, so it can be easily stored away in a space-efficient manner when not in use.
Sliding Desk
The main selling point of the FDX 2.0, of course, is its desk feature.
This desk measures 16 inches x 19 inches, meaning it is large enough to accommodate the vast majority of laptop models and any other utensils or accessories you might need to complete your work.
The desk can also be repositioned by sliding it over the support bar, meaning you can adjust the position of your desk to wherever feels most comfortable for you while you exercise.
With its non-slip surface, the FDX 2.0’s desk feature provides stability for your laptop and other work-related items for a worry-free combined work and exercise experience.
Beach Cruiser Seat
If you’re going to be not only exercising, but also working or studying from your exercise bike, it’s important to keep distractions to a minimum, and one of the biggest distractions from effective focus is discomfort.
The FDX 2.0 minimizes discomfort with its comfortable beach cruiser style seat.
This seat is cushioned and contoured for maximum comfort and adaptability to the user’s body.
It also features a padded backrest for lumbar support, combining the structure of an ergonomic office chair and a wide bike saddle.
The seat can be adjusted to sit higher or lower down, catering to users of different heights and leg lengths.
Resistance Settings
The FDX 2.0 operates on a magnetic resistance system, which can be adjusted throughout your workout for varying intensity.
The settings are incrementally adjustable through the use of the attached tension dial, which allows for 8 different resistance modes ranging from mild to moderate intensity.
Whilst the maximum resistance setting is not particularly intense and is therefore unlikely to provide a challenging workout for more proficient cyclists, these settings will provide a casual, mid-level workout for users of most fitness levels.
Performance Meter
FitDesk has also included a performance meter in the design of the FDX 2.0 so you can monitor your performance and progress as you exercise.
This meter consists of a digital display screen and associated control settings which allow you to view your progress in terms of distance covered, calories burned, average speed, and time spent exercising.
However, the performance meter is positioned behind a desk in such a way that it cannot be seen when a laptop is in use, which is one of the only structural disadvantages of this desk bike.
The performance meter requires 2 AA batteries for use, which are conveniently included in the purchase of the bike.
Additional Features
Forearm Massage Rollers
One fantastic additional feature of the FDX 2.0 is its incorporation of forearm massage rollers, which are positioned in such a way as to massage the user’s forearms during typing for added comfort.
Continuous typing on a daily basis can lead to forearm strain and can even result in developing conditions such as wrist tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
The massage rollers included with the FDX 2.0 help to minimize the risk of these issues occurring by providing therapeutic massage action for the wrists and forearms.
Additionally, the rolling bar can be adjusted into 3 different positions for maximum positional control and comfort during use.
Storage Drawer
The bike’s convenient storage drawer means you can keep small items such as your phone, phone charger, or spare pens safely stored away but easily accessible during your workout.
This feature is especially convenient because it contributes to the overall goal of the desk bike, which is to allow for work and exercise to be completed simultaneously in one place.
With this storage desk, you can make sure you have all your accessories and items together in one place, meaning there’s no need to leave your bike to fetch or replace anything.
Seat Extender
This model of FitDesk’s desk exercise bike includes a seat extender, which is an extremely important feature for users over 5 ft 10 inches in height as it allows full leg extension for taller users.
Not having enough legroom on your exercise bike isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a serious problem that can eventually result in muscle strain from improper use and the exacerbation of painful knee conditions such as patellar tendonitis and arthritic knees.
Therefore, the FDX 2.0’s seat extender is a highly important additional feature.
Resistance Bands
In addition to the adjustable resistance settings incorporated with the FDX 2.0, the desk bike includes extra resistance bands to up the intensity of your workout, should you wish to.
These resistance bands can be used for upper body stretching or strength exercises, helping to provide more of a full-body workout than pedaling alone.
Laptop Strap
Although the FDX 2.0’s desk features a non-slip surface, it’s nice to have a little extra sense of security when it comes to valuable items such as your laptop.
FitDesk’s included laptop strap holds your laptop securely in place during your workout, so you can rest assured that it won’t slip or accidentally be knocked from the desk at any point during your exercise routine.
Specifications
- Material: Steel
- Length: 28 inches
- Width: 16 inches
- Height: 45 inches
- Weight: 47 lbs
- Desk surface: 16 x 19 inches
- Overview
Advantages
- Durable, lightweight steel frame
- Suitable for users up to 300 lbs and 6 ft 6 inches
- Frame is foldable for easy storage
- Rust-resistant paint coating minimizes likelihood of corrosion
- Wheels incorporated into frame for easy maneuverability
- Sliding, non-slip desk surface
- Cushioned seat with padded back support
- Massage rollers minimize forearm strain during typing
- Includes performance meter for monitoring time, speed, distance, and calories burned
- 8 incrementally adjustable resistance settings
- Incorporated storage desk for small items and accessories
- Includes resistance bands for upper body workout
- Included laptop strap for extra stability
- Seat extender included for users over 5 ft 10 inches tall
Disadvantages
- Performance meter is not visible behind laptop
- Resistance settings do not go high enough to challenge experienced or competitive cyclists or provide particularly intense workouts
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you lose weight with an under the desk bike?
Yes, I’m happy to report that you can absolutely lose weight with an under the desk bike, but much like any exercise, you’ll have to pair your under desk workouts with a healthy diet.
A study carried out by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that pedaling an under the desk exercise cycle for 50 minutes burns roughly 107 calories, which may not sound like a lot, but it adds up over a 5-day working week.
Burning an extra 500+ calories a week helps to reduce body fat percentage and waist circumference, and it can slow your resting heart rate too.
500+ calories a week adds up to roughly a pound a month, which is nearing a stone a year, which is quite steady progress, but if you wanted to speed things up a bit, you could, of course, pedal for longer or increase the resistance of the cycle.
If you managed to pedal for 100 minutes on a high-resistance setting, you’d be on track to lose around 2 stone a year, all whilst getting your work done — perfect!
Throw in some light weekend workouts, and you’ll be shedding the pounds in no time at all.
Are under desk bikes noisy?
Some under desk bikes can be quite noisy, especially if you’re really pumping your calves on a high resistance setting. This excessive noise can be incredibly annoying, as it can be detrimental to your concentration and prevent you from making important phone calls as you work.
If an under desk bike is especially noisy, it’s not just your own concentration you’ll be affecting, it’ll also be a huge distraction for your coworkers, which isn’t acceptable.
The last thing you want is to single-handedly reduce team productivity and be ostracized from the work fam because your under desk cycle has a volume issue.
The good news is that not all under desk exercise bikes are obnoxiously loud. It’s only ever the budget bikes that make a racket. As long as you fork out for a quality under desk cycle, such as the FitDesk FDX 2.0, you should be fine to burn some calories in relative silence — hurray!
As your under desk exercise bike ages, it’s only natural that components will wear and will perhaps get slightly noisier, but a replacement part here and a spot of TLC there should revitalize it and return it to its former whisper-quiet glory.
What muscles do under desk bikes work?
The main muscles you’ll be using when cycling on the spot on your under desk bike are your Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, and Vastus Medialis, or in other words…your quads.
Your quads stretch from just below your hip to the beginning of your knees, and they’re the largest muscles in the human body. Their sheer size means that it takes a lot of energy to use them, making quad-based exercises the most efficient way to burn off calories.
Behind your quads are another pair of huge muscles known as the hamstrings, which you’ll also be pumping as you cycle your way through the workday. Your glutes won’t be neglected, either.
Calves are another area of focus during an under desk cycle session. Situated on the upper back area of your lower legs, it’s your calves’ job to thrust the pedals downwards, so prepare for a serious burn in that area.
This probably isn’t what you meant by the question, but an under desk bike will also work your brain, as studies show that regular exercise can help it to form neuronal connections. This means that even though you’re technically multitasking, you’ll be more clear-headed and on-the-ball than ever, ensuring a productive day at work.
Final Thoughts
FitDesk’s FDX 2.0 Desk Exercise Bike is an innovative and highly beneficial product for workers and students seeking to incorporate regular exercise into their busy schedules.
The sturdy steel frame ensures that this bike will be a long-lasting investment into your health and wellbeing, whilst the comfortable padded seating provides lumbar support, easing the spinal discomfort caused by long hours of desk work.
FitDesk’s sliding, non-slip desk design allows the user to keep working comfortably and to a high standard while working out, with no need to worry about positional discomfort or slip-related accidents.
The desk bike’s additional features, such as the storage drawer and laptop strap, enhance the convenience of the bike by providing storage space and ensuring stability.
Meanwhile, other included features such as the massage roller, resistance bands, and seat extender help the user to enjoy a safe, full-body workout with minimal chance of strain injury.
The only real limitations to this desk bike are the positioning of the performance meter, which is not visible from behind an open laptop, and the resistance settings, which are unlikely to cater to the intensity needs of more proficient cyclists.
Ultimately, however, if you’re a mildly to moderately active individual and you’ve been searching for a product that will allow you to keep working while you work out, FitDesk’s FDX 2.0 is the exercise bike for you.
