This $400 stationary bike desk lets me get work done and a workout at the same time - it's a win-win for people like me with busy schedules
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- The FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro ($300-$400) lets you exercise while working on a computer, reading or writing, or handling any other task you usually complete while seated at a desk.
- The bike features multiple resistance levels and a height adjustable seat and desk, so you can customize it for the ideal workout and personal comfort.
- The average-sized person of moderate fitness can burn more than 400 calories an hour on a stationary exercise bike set to mid-level resistance.
Here in my mid-30s, a given weekday in my life consists of the morning routine with my 5-year-old son, a quick kiss for my wife and our infant daughter before taking him to school, hours at the computer writing and occasional trips into New York City for meetings, an afternoon jog and workout, playing with my daughter, making and eating dinner, a family walk or more play, putting the kids down, cleaning up, then sharing an hour or two of adult time with my wife, which usually consists of us being utterly amazed how tired we are and how the house still isn't completely clean even after that half hour we spent picking things up and wiping surfaces down and such.
Now, out of all that, what do you think is first on the chopping block when I'm pressed for time? I can't not get my kid to school, and I can't not make dinner (I mean, my wife cooks too, but I'm usually the chef), and we can't not get the kids cleaned up and bedded down at night. And I have to work, last time I checked. So yeah, you guessed it: The workout is always the first to go.
While I always willfully sacrificed a run time for other aspects of my life, I hated missing more than a day or two of exercise. But then I realized I didn't have to.
AmazonFlexiSpot Deskcise Pro without desktop, $299.99
The FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro is a stationary exercise bike that allows you (and me!) to get work done while spinning your way to a leaner, fitter self. It comes in two versions, one being simply a compact stationary bike without handlebars that can slide under a tall desk or table, the other actually features an attached desktop for an additional $100. In both options, you can raise the bike's seat for ideal comfort and leg positioning, and in the desktop setup you can adjust the height of the tabletop area for the best comfort and ergonomics as you type, write, or read.
You really can type, write, read, have a call, work on a sketch, or complete any other activity usually reserved for a non-bike table or desk while pedaling on a FlexiSpot. The bike is quiet enough not to distract you during use, not to mention the fact that it won't bother nearby coworkers or be picked up on a phone call. It's also stable enough not to vibrate or shake as you spin, so you won't churn out typo-ridden emails or handwriting that your elementary school self would scoff at. I mean, if you weren't so polite and well-mannered back in those days, that is.
As for the workout itself, that's up to you.
The FlexiSpot features eight different resistance levels, the lowest of which is an easy, breezy spin you could keep up for hours. At the top level of resistance, prepare to break a sweat while burning hundreds of calories per hour - which for me, working at home, is great. But if you work in an office, maybe keep it moderate and enjoy enhanced blood flow and a bit of light cardio without the sweat dripping down onto your shared workspace.