Checklist · 11 picks · 4 categories

indoor cycling kit

Edited by Zach · updated Oct 30, 2026 · How I pick

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Quiet budget bike MERACH S36 Magnetic Resistance Bike Best for a quiet ride while your roommate sleeps$300-500Shop on Amazon
App-friendly bike Schwinn IC4 Best for peloton-style classes without the Peloton price$500+Shop on Amazon
Budget heart rate COOSPO H6 Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor Best for heart rate zones on the cheap$25-50Shop on Amazon

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Spin class at home means no waitlist, your own playlist and nobody judging your sweat puddle.

The bike is the only real essential. Garage Gym Reviews reviewed the budget bikes and the Peloton alternatives, from a compact bike for a small room to the Schwinn IC4, which pairs with apps like Peloton and Zwift on your own phone or tablet. Everything else is a nice upgrade. Clip-in shoes from NBC Select's spin shoe guide lock your feet to the pedals, but check your bike first, because some budget bikes don't take them. A heart rate monitor shows how hard you're really working, and padded shorts from OutdoorGearLab's tests make the seat a lot friendlier. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you ride outside to get places; the Bike Commuter list has helmets, lights and locks.

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Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.

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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

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01 Bike

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
MERACH S36 Magnetic Resistance Bike	budget	$300-500	a quiet ride while your roommate sleeps	1 outlet
Schwinn IC4	splurge	$500+	peloton-style classes without the Peloton price	1 outlet
YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike	budget	$200-300	trying spin workouts for not much	1 outlet

Best exercise bike

budget pick · 44.9 x 20.5 in

MERACH S36 Magnetic Resistance Bike

Best for a quiet ride while your roommate sleeps

Garage Gym Reviews' best overall budget exercise bike: its top budget pick for quiet magnetic resistance, stability and value.

Heads up. Pedals don't take clip-in cycling shoes, and the handlebars aren't comfy to lean on

1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best Overall Budget Exercise Bike.

$300-500

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splurge pick · Full-size

Schwinn IC4

Best for peloton-style classes without the Peloton price

Garage Gym Reviews' best Peloton alternative for studio classes: a sturdy bike that pairs with studio apps like Peloton and Zwift on your own phone or tablet.

Heads up. Bare-bones LCD display with metrics that can be off, and assembly is a bit complicated

1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best Peloton Alternative for Studio Classes.

$500+

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budget pick · 40.2 x 21.7 in

YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike

Best for trying spin workouts for not much

Garage Gym Reviews' best budget cycling bike: a quiet, compact, low-cost bike with a 35 lb flywheel.

Heads up. No smart features or built-in programming, and a lot of parts feel flimsy

1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best budget cycling bike.

$200-300

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02 Shoes

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Shimano SH-RP101 Cycling Shoe	budget	$50-100	clipping in on a budget	1 outlet
Shimano SH-IC100 Cycling Shoe	mid	$100-150	sweaty classes that need airflow	1 outlet
Tiem Slipstream Indoor Cycling Shoe	splurge	$150-200	spin shoes that look like sneakers	1 outlet

Best cycling shoes

budget pick · Unisex sizes

Shimano SH-RP101 Cycling Shoe

Best for clipping in on a budget

NBC Select's best budget spin shoe: an NBC Select video producer who rides indoors three to four times a week likes its stiff soles.

Heads up. Needs some break-in time

1 outlet. NBC Select best budget spin shoes.

$50-100

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mid pick · Men's and women's

Shimano SH-IC100 Cycling Shoe

Best for sweaty classes that need airflow

NBC Select's expert pick for spin shoes: spin instructor Jules Peckinpah finds it snug and comfortable.

1 outlet. NBC Select expert pick spin shoes.

$100-150

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splurge pick · Men's and women's

Tiem Slipstream Indoor Cycling Shoe

Best for spin shoes that look like sneakers

NBC Select's best overall spin shoe: a street-style look with balanced comfort and stiffness.

Heads up. Only for two-bolt SPD cleats

1 outlet. NBC Select best overall spin shoes.

$150-200

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03 Track

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
COOSPO H6 Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor	budget	$25-50	heart rate zones on the cheap	1 outlet
Wahoo Tickr Fit	mid	$50-100	people who hate chest straps	1 outlet
Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor	mid	$50-100	accurate numbers and a long battery	1 outlet

Best heart rate monitor

budget pick · One strap size

COOSPO H6 Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor

Best for heart rate zones on the cheap

Garage Gym Reviews' best budget heart rate monitor: an affordable chest strap with solid accuracy and easy setup.

Heads up. Only one adjustable strap length, and shorter battery life than competitors

1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best Budget Heart Rate Monitor.

$25-50

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mid pick · 2 strap sizes

Wahoo Tickr Fit

Best for people who hate chest straps

Garage Gym Reviews' best armband heart rate monitor: more accurate than a wrist monitor, without a chest strap.

Heads up. Short battery life, and less accurate than a chest strap

1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best Armband Heart Rate Monitor.

$50-100

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mid pick · Chest strap

Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor

Best for accurate numbers and a long battery

Garage Gym Reviews' best heart rate monitor overall: its top pick for ease of use, a secure fit, long battery life and accuracy.

Heads up. The small size only comes in black

1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best Heart Rate Monitor Overall.

$50-100

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04 Wear

Best padded bike shorts

budget pick · Men's

Bikewa 3D Padded Bike Shorts

Best for short spin sessions

OutdoorGearLab's best men's value short: temper your expectations and you'll be pleased with what you get for the price.

Heads up. Lacks breathability, and the chamois can hold moisture and compress after a couple hours

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Men's Value Short.

$25-50

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budget pick · Women's

Heathyoga 4D Padded Bike Shorts

Best for padded shorts in lots of colors

OutdoorGearLab's best value women's bike short: decent performance for a very low price.

Heads up. Durability concerns, and the chamois is on the thin side

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Value Women's Bike Short.

$25-50

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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

What do you need to start indoor cycling at home?

Just a bike to start. Clip-in shoes, a heart rate monitor and padded shorts are nice to have once you're hooked. For strength gear to go with it, our Home Gym list has dumbbells, kettlebells and mats.

Do you need cycling shoes for a spin bike?

Not always. Garage Gym Reviews notes the MERACH S36's pedals don't take clip-in shoes, while the YOSUDA has caged pedals for extra grip. If your pedals do take cleats, NBC Select's best budget pick, the Shimano SH-RP101, works with both SPD and Delta/SPD-SL cleats, but it needs some break-in time.

Can you take Peloton classes without a Peloton bike?

Yes. Garage Gym Reviews' best Peloton alternative for studio classes, the Schwinn IC4, connects to the Peloton and Zwift apps on your own phone or tablet. Its LCD display is bare-bones, though.

indoor cycling kit

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