Best Spin Bike Accessories and Parts
When you’re building a home gym or want to stay in shape all year round, an indoor cycling bike also referred to as spin bike is a great piece of exercise equipment to consider.
Thanks to their affordable price and low-impact workout they offer, today, indoor bikes and spinning classes dominate gyms and fitness centers around the world.
While the concept and design behind indoor cycles are fairly basic compared to ellipticals, there are lots of options to choose from, making it a time-consuming and difficult decision.
But don’t worry because we made it extremely easy by picking the best budget spin bikes as well as top magnetic spin bikes on the market for you. But even then, there are some accessories and spinning clothing that you will have to buy separately.
A floor protection mat or a water bottle, for example, most of the time they not included with spin bikes. So, you will need to purchase them separately. Down below I listed the most important accessories that you might need. With no further ado, here’s a list of our favorite new indoor riding essentials that I am sure you would enjoy using them on your home gym spin bike.
Indoor Cycle Parts and Accessories:
Computer For Spinning Bike:
Unfortunately, many spin bikes don’t come with fitness meter. So, you wouldn’t be able to see your performance. If that’s the case with your spin bike, there is nothing to worry about.
There are Spinning computers that provide precise metric measurements and valuable feedback to make your Spinning training a success at home, the gym, or wherever you choose to ride.
The best spin bike computers boast several functions, with a battery life of up to months or even years. They support RPM reading, speed, time, calories, wireless heart rate chest strap compatibility, and ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity.
Note: Always look for wireless indoor cycle computers. Unlike wired computers, they receive data from wireless sensors which makes them require less maintenance.
- For more details about monitors, see our best spin bike computers;
- For more details about an alternative option, see our best spin bike speed and cadence sensors;
Mat For Under Spin Bike:
Indoor cycling exercise bikes, as well as other types of exercise machines, cause vibration, especially when they are placed on rouged floors. It can damage the floor, make noise, and also ruin your bike.
The equipment mat is the perfect solution to prevent all the mentioned damages and have a stable ride on all types of floors including hardwood, carpet or tile. The best ones are made with no harmful chemicals or materials and are safe for use around children and pets.
They are made of heavy-duty, durable materials that will protect your equipment investment from dust, excess vibration, dampen noise, and will help extend the life of your equipment while protecting your floors from damage and scratches.
Note: They use different materials to make the mats but the best mats for under spin bikes are made of thick durable rubber. Good brands such as SuperMeat manufactures in the U.S.A. using U.S.A. sourced materials.
- For more details about the mat, see our best exercise bike mats;
Spin Bike SPD Pedals:
Unfortunately, most bikes come without spin shoe cleats and pedals so you will have to buy them separately. In case you are new to cycling, SPD pedals allow you to workout with proper cycling shoes (clipless) while the regular pedals allow you to ride with normal athletic shoes, only.
Again, the lack of SPD pedals is not a deal-breaker in a spin bike because it is very common and they are widely available on the market and also they don’t cost much. A pair of spin bike replacement pedals with SPD can cost anywhere from $30 – $60.
You can use a mountain bike (SPD) or road bike pedals (SPD-SL) but some of them are specifically designed for indoor cycling featuring two-sides. One side is for when you like to ride with spinning shoes and one side has toe cages for when you want to exercise with regular athletic shoes.
Note: When buying this part for a spin bike, make sure the threads match. Almost all spin bikes feature 9/16″ pedal thread.
- For more details about pedals, see our best spin bike SPD pedals;
- For more details about power pedals, see our best spinning power meter pedals;
Indoor Cycle Seat:
Less expensive exercise bikes usually come with cheaply made stock exercise bike seats. They are hard and not ergonomic, meaning they are not breathable and don’t have the proper curves and designs to reduce chafing or provide the support for longer rides. Additionally, using an uncomfortable stock seat can give you prostate problems, chronic back pain, and even erectile dysfunction.
If that’s the case with your spin bike seat, I suggest you invest $20-$30 in a comfortable bike seat and forget the painful rides. There is anatomically supportive and comfortable road bike saddle that will distribute pressure from your back across the surface of the saddle and will eliminate sit bone pain immediately.
Due to their narrow design, ideal soft padding, and a deep center cutout, these ergonomic spin bike saddles will relief pressure points in your sensitive areas and will allow you to pedal longer without experiencing chafing, soreness, and pain.
Note: Some of these spin bike seats are specially designed for men’s anatomy while some are designed for women. There are also unisex seats which I recommend, only if male and female family members ride the bike. Otherwise, go with a gender-specific seat for a better fit and extra comfort.
- For more details about the seat, see our best spin bike seats;
Water Bottle:
It is something that is almost never included with the bike but it’s an important accessory to consider in order to stay hydrated during a long or even short indoor cycling workouts.
While there is no rule against using a regular water bottle, an indoor cycling bottle is less polluting and perhaps more hygienic to use. On top of that, the best cycling bottles can keep the water cold for longer because they usually have double-walled construction.
Most of them are engineered to securely fit in a variety of bottle cages. You can easily squeeze to get more fluid with less effort and last but not least they have easy to clean interface.
Note: When buying this accessory for your spin bike, look for leak-proof bottles that allow separating the parts for thorough cleaning. Also, look for 100% BPA-Free water bottles.
- For more details about bottles, see our best indoor cycle bottles;
Spin Bike Seat Cover:
You might sometimes need to change the seat to enjoy a comfortable spin workout but sometimes to get rid of the seat pain (determination killer), all you need is a spin bike seat cushion.
Therefore, before giving up on your bike’s seat, you may want to try this inexpensive alternative. It usually works because the best stationary bike seat covers feature top gel material:
They provide the needed support for you to enjoy longer rides on your indoor cycling bike. Gel bike seat covers are easy to install and mount. This low-cost solution will make your saddle feel much better.
Note: If you are the only one using the exercise bike, look for a gender-specific spin bike seat cushion. Also, make sure to check the gel seat saddle dimension to confirm it can fit your original bike seat before ordering.
- For more details about gel, see our best spin bike seat cover;
Indoor Cycle Device Holder:
Another spin bike accessory that you might have to buy separately is the media shelf also known as tablet holder and device holder. To catch up on your favorite TV show or just track your stats while training indoors, you will need either a handlebar mount for tablets or phones.
Most media shelves are designed for either the tablets or for phones. So, if you want to keep the tablet and the phone on the handlebars, you will need to buy two separate device holders.
These indoor cycling bike tablet holders use a bracket that is suitable for handlebars. Some of them are vertically and horizontally adjustable which makes them compatible with tablets of just about any size.
Note: When buying a tablet holder for spin bike, look for a design that provides you with a safe distance so that no sweat falls on your screen while you’re exercising.
- For more details about the device holder, see our best indoor cycling bike tabler holder;
Spinning Workout DVDs:
For indoor cycling workouts, you might have different approaches. Some people prefer signing up to cycling apps and follow virtual instructors while others prefer the less expensive options of DVDs and YouTube.
I personally suggest you check out the Youtube as there are many free workouts available and they are pretty good. But if you want to stay offline and follow a more complete series of classes, you can buy a spinning workout DVD.
They are really helpful for beginners and help to take your fitness level up a notch. Most of these DVDs are guided by top Spinning instructors and professional cyclists.
- For more details about workouts, see our best spinning workout DVDs;
Chamois Cream:
Chamois cream is a non-greasy skin lubricant designed for use with all chamois. These creams immediately improve riding comfort and soothe already chafed or irritated skin.
You can use the Chamois creams to lubricate, soothes, and soften the skin. They are for all athletes who experience chafing. Apply liberally to skin and/or chamois before each ride.
The non-greasy chamois creams are the favorite of professional and recreational road cyclists and indoor spinning instructors. The good ones contain no artificial fragrances or colors and they are usually made in the USA.
It is not something you have to use, but if you do experience chafing, which is very common for cyclists, I highly suggest you use these creams. They make your workouts more pleasant and comfortable.
Indoor Cycling Headphones:
To listen to the media a lot more comfortably, it’s best to go with a pair of wireless headphones. Almost everyone enjoys listening to music or watching TV shows/movies when they’re on their indoor bike. And if you’re one of these riders, you want to have indoor cycling headphones to help you immerse yourself a lot better.
Wireless headphones for indoor cycling are a popular option and there are so many of them on the market. But we narrowed down the options and found the best sports wireless headphones suitable for road and indoor cycling workouts.
In our list, you’ll find the top 10 best wireless headphones for cycling. So, you can choose the one that appeals to you the most. We have options to fit anyone’s budget and that will provide a high-quality sound experience on the spinning bike.
Keep in mind that what you want from these indoor cycling earbuds is not only high-quality sound and bass, but also long battery life, highly stable connectivity, and waterproof technology. So, it’s okay if you spend a bit more because you will save down the road.
- For more details about the cycling earbuds, see our best wireless indoor cycling headphones;
Spin Bike Handlebar Tapes/Cover
There are several scenarios that you might need to use tapes on your spin bike handlebars. For instance, if the handlebars are too hard, you will quickly get elbow and forearm sore, especially if you use the spin bike aero bars for triathlon cycling position.
Another scenario that you might need to wrap tapes around your spin bike handlebar is if they tear or if they get slippery when you sweat. There are also other cases that you might need to use tapes to cover your indoor bike handlebars.
If any of these scenarios apply to you, this piece of spinning bike accessory is for you. They are easy to install and should fit pretty much any spin bike on the market.
We have chosen the best spin bike handlebar cover/tapes that can increase the quality and comfort of your indoor cycling exercise. They add extra padding for your elbow and forearm while allowing firm grips during spinning exercise.
- For more details about the tapes, see our best spin bike handlebar covers/tapes;
Final Thoughts on Spin Bike Accessories and Parts:
Now that you know all you need to know about spin bikes accessories and parts and read what to look for, you are armed with all the information you need to choose the best spin bike parts and accessories for your bikes.
You should have no problem choosing one that is the perfect fit for your bikes and fitness goals. However, if you still need help, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through email or comment. We will get back to you ASAP.