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Exercise Bike Market Statistics: Participation, Equipment, and Training

Survey findings on indoor cycling participation, equipment setups, training habits, room conditions, and participant profiles.

November 12, 2026 9 min read fitnessbodyequipment.com Editorial Team

Contents

Exercise bike market statistics: indoor cycling participation and survey scope

The available evidence describes how a self-selected group of adults used indoor-cycling equipment, rather than the size or sales of the exercise-bike market. The questionnaire was open from January through July 2023, and the paper reporting it was published on October 11, 2024. In total, 492 people completed Part A and 411 completed the full questionnaire. Those counts establish the study’s response scope; they do not represent a census of buyers or equipment owners. Frontiers study

In the Part A responses, self-reported weekly exercise across all forms averaged 10.2 ± 5.2 hours. Cycling across all forms averaged 8.2 ± 4.5 hours per week, while indoor cycling averaged 4.5 ± 3.8 hours per week. These are three distinct measures, and the reported spread around each mean is substantial. The figures describe respondents’ reported activity, not hours recorded by a device or the habits of all people who own a bike. Frontiers study

Respondents also described their cycling competition level: 69.7% identified as recreational or amateur non-competitors, 27.4% as amateur competitors, and 2.8% as national-level competitors or above. Self-reported functional threshold power (FTP) averaged 240 ± 55 W, or 3.1 ± 0.8 W/kg when expressed relative to body mass. FTP is a training measure, not a market indicator, but it helps characterize the participants whose equipment and habits appear in the study. Frontiers study

The limits matter when reading these exercise bike market statistics. The study was cross-sectional and self-selected, with recruitment through social media and indoor-cycling platforms. It did not measure sales, ownership across a representative population, or market shares. The equipment percentages below therefore show reported setups within this questionnaire. They should not be read as consumer preferences across the full market. Frontiers study

Exercise bike market statistics: equipment, software, and display choices

Direct-drive turbo trainers were the most frequently reported setup, at 71.6% of participants. Smart bikes were reported by 17.4%, wheel-on turbo trainers by 9.6%, and rollers by 1.4%. These categories describe the indoor-cycling equipment respondents said they used. A turbo trainer is a device used with a bicycle; its share in this survey is not a share of exercise-bike sales. Frontiers study

Reported indoor-cycling setupParticipants
Direct-drive turbo trainer71.6%
Smart bike17.4%
Wheel-on turbo trainer9.6%
Rollers1.4%

Source: Frontiers study. Percentages are questionnaire responses, not market shares.

Virtual cycling software was widely used: 2.3% reported that they did not use it. Among software users, the most common reported display devices were laptops (32.1%), TV screens (26%), and tablets (22.9%). Mobile phones were used by 9.6%, PC or desktop monitors by 6%, and projectors by 1.2%. The denominator for those device figures is software users, rather than all respondents. Frontiers study

Software display device among usersParticipants
Laptop32.1%
TV screen26%
Tablet22.9%
Mobile phone9.6%
PC or desktop monitor6%
Projector1.2%

Source: Frontiers study. Denominator: respondents who used virtual cycling software.

Display placement had practical and training-related considerations. Room or space constraints were cited by 45.3%, eyesight by 25.6%, performance optimization by 13.8%, and neck-strengthening training by 3.2%. Those answers point to display location as a setup choice shaped by the room and the intended viewing position; they do not establish which device or placement produces better performance. Frontiers study

Other reported accessories included rocker plates, used by 6.7%, and equipment that altered simulated climbing gradients, used by 27.6%. These are specific features of respondents’ training environments. They add detail to the types of indoor-cycling setups represented, but the questionnaire offers no corresponding equipment spending or purchase data. Frontiers study

Exercise bike market statistics: training frequency, duration, and seasonality

A typical reported indoor-cycling session lasted 72 ± 25 minutes. The longest session respondents reported averaged 4 hours ± 48 minutes. The figures distinguish an average session from a longest-session measure; the latter should not be treated as a typical workout duration. Frontiers study

Indoor-cycling hours varied by season in the respondents’ reports. Weekly indoor cycling averaged 6 hours 10 minutes ± 3 hours 30 minutes during winter and 2 hours 52 minutes ± 2 hours 57 minutes during summer. The paper reported a statistically significant seasonal difference (p < 0.001). This is a comparison within the surveyed group; it does not establish why the reported hours differed or predict behavior in other populations. Frontiers study

The selected time of day also differed between seasons. In winter, 31% selected morning, 16.2% afternoon, and 52.8% evening. In summer, 43.2% selected morning, 12.8% afternoon, and 44% evening. These are reported selections for indoor cycling by season, not a record of every session or a measure of total activity at each time. Frontiers study

Training measureReported finding
Typical indoor-cycling session72 ± 25 minutes
Longest indoor-cycling session4 hours ± 48 minutes
Weekly indoor cycling in winter6 hours 10 minutes ± 3 hours 30 minutes
Weekly indoor cycling in summer2 hours 52 minutes ± 2 hours 57 minutes

Source: Frontiers study. Self-reported measures; winter and summer values are weekly averages.

Structured workouts were completed once a week or more by 70% of respondents; the corresponding figure for unstructured cycling sessions was 64.7%. For online racing events, 20.8% reported participating more than once a week. At the other end of the frequency spectrum, 31.9% reported never engaging in online racing events, 9.2% never doing structured workouts, and 8.7% never doing unstructured sessions. The categories describe different session types and frequency thresholds, rather than mutually exclusive participant groups. Frontiers study

Reported perceived exertion, on a 1–10 scale, averaged 8.6 ± 1.5 for racing events, 7.5 ± 1.5 for structured workouts, and 5.5 ± 1.8 for unstructured sessions. The paper reported a significant difference among all session types (p < 0.001). These are participants’ perceived exertion ratings; they are not measured energy expenditure or an objective intensity comparison. Frontiers study

The study also reported associations between FTP and frequency rankings. FTP was positively correlated with ranking frequency for racing events (τ = 0.179, p < 0.001) and structured workouts (τ = 0.095, p = 0.009), and negatively correlated with ranking frequency for unstructured sessions (τ = −0.125, p < 0.001). These are correlations, not evidence that one training pattern causes a particular FTP. Frontiers study

Exercise bike market statistics: room setup and environmental controls

Temperature management was common in the sample. A total of 68.3% said they controlled temperature in both summer and winter, 14.8% in summer only, and 5.3% in winter only; 11.4% reported making no attempt to control it. Among the reported methods, fan use was 90% in summer and 75% in winter. Opening windows was reported by 63% in summer and 43% in winter, while air conditioning was reported by 17% in summer and 6% in winter. These method percentages refer to the respective seasonal response groups in the study. Frontiers study

Only 1% reported moving outdoors in summer, while 12% used central heating during winter. For airflow, 73% reported using one fan, 20% two fans, and 3% three or more. Estimated fan blade diameter averaged 27 ± 12 cm. Fan speed on the study’s 3-point scale was reported as slow by 16%, medium by 37%, and high by 41%. Frontiers study

Fan setup measureReported finding
One fan73%
Two fans20%
Three or more fans3%
Estimated blade diameter27 ± 12 cm
Slow speed16%
Medium speed37%
High speed41%

Source: Frontiers study. Fan speed uses the reported 3-point scale.

Fan distance from the bike was reported as 0.5–1 m by 46%, 1–1.5 m by 34%, and 1.5–2 m by 11%. For the category beyond 2 m, the paper prints “>2%” alongside the distance category. That text does not provide a clear percentage for the more-than-2 m distance, so no numeric share can be stated for it. The reported fan positions were directly in front for 40%, front-left for 36%, and front-right for 29%. For height, 40% favored face height and 35% ground level. Frontiers study

In their own assessment, 57.8% identified their fan position as optimal. Among reported constraints on optimal placement, 28.9% cited space and 11.8% cited equipment. Those responses connect environmental control with room layout, while remaining self-assessments rather than an engineering evaluation of airflow. Frontiers study

Exercise bike market statistics: participant profile and exercise patterns

Part A respondents had a mean age of 46.2 years (SD 13.8). Their mean self-reported body mass was 78.2 kg (SD 13.3); the table did not print a sample size for that row. The gender entries were 437 male respondents (88.8%) and 55 female respondents (11.2%). These characteristics describe this sample and should not be generalized to all exercise-bike users. Frontiers study

Part A profile measureReported result
Mean age46.2 years (SD 13.8)
Mean body mass78.2 kg (SD 13.3)
Male437 (88.8%)
Female55 (11.2%)

Source: Frontiers study. Part A demographic table; body-mass row has no printed N.

Reported ethnicity identities were White, 445 (92.3%); Asian, 22 (4.5%); multi-ethnicity, 10 (2.0%); other ethnic groups, 10 (2.0%); Black, 3 (0.6%); and prefer not to say, 2 (0.4%). The country-of-residence entries were United Kingdom, 213 (43.3%); Other, 98 (19.9%); United States of America, 66 (13.4%); Australia, 29 (5.9%); Germany, 24 (4.9%); Canada, 20 (4.1%); Netherlands, 17 (3.5%); Republic of Ireland, 14 (2.8%); and France, 11 (2.2%). “Other” is retained as the study’s own category. Frontiers study

The most frequently cited reasons for indoor cycling included weather (88.4%), time efficiency (81.9%), general fitness (70.9%), and lack of daylight (56.3%). Respondents could select multiple reasons, so these percentages are not exclusive shares that add to 100%. They report motivations within the questionnaire, not a ranking of reasons across the broader population. Frontiers study

Fluid use was reported by 98% of participants during indoor-cycling sessions. Average reported intake was 0.74 ± 0.28 L/hour. This is a self-reported practice and rate for the surveyed sessions; the finding does not establish a recommended intake for other riders. Frontiers study

Before indoor cycling, 66% said they had never attempted to lower body temperature and 71% had never attempted to raise it. Among those who had tried lowering body temperature, reported methods were cold-air exposure (17%), cold-fluid or ice ingestion (17%), cold-water immersion (3%), and an ice vest (2%). Methods reported for raising body temperature were extra clothing (3%), warm-air exposure (4%), hot-water immersion (2%), and hot-fluid ingestion (2%). The study also found that 16% had used indoor cycling to improve heat tolerance before a hot climate. These findings record reported practices; they are not performance or safety recommendations. Frontiers study

Clothing reports during indoor cycling included shorts only (42%), shorts and a base layer (53%), shorts with a base layer and short-sleeve jersey (15%), and shorts with a base layer and long-sleeve jersey (2%). The responses provide a snapshot of clothing choices in this sample, without establishing a universal indoor-cycling dress pattern. Frontiers study

Sources

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