Disclaimer: I received the Yo-Yo Desk Bike to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. See more information here.
As a blogger, I spend the majority of my week sat behind my desk at home. It can be quite a sedentary life and it’s really not great from a health point of view.
Sit-Stand.com approached me about a collaboration and I thought I would give one of their Yo-Yo Desk Bikes a whirl.
What is a Yo-Yo Desk Bike?
Combining two lockdown traditions – working and exercising from home – the Yo-Yo Desk Bike is one step beyond a standing desk, combining a workspace with a workout.
It is a very simple upright exercise bike – available in black or white – but rather than handles and screens etc there is a desk measuring 58cm wide x 51cm deep which is big enough for a laptop, notes or a book.
The idea of the Yo-Yo Desk Bike is that you can can do some light cardio while you’re working, watching TV or reading. It uses magnetic resistance, which means it’s very quiet, and has 8 different levels of resistance so you can get your legs a decent workout.
I found that pedalling at a speed of about 13km/hr with the resistance set to 6 I could still type and read fairly easy, although if I wanted to go faster or harder for a while it was slightly trickier to multi task!
Building the Yo-Yo Desk Bike
The bike and desk were delivered in one package. It was well packaged and arrived undamaged which is always a worry with heavy furniture.
It’s really easy and takes no time at all to assemble; the legs fold out from underneath and the pedals pull down; they all click when they’re in place.
The worktop itself inserts into the base of the bike and then tightens on with an allen key. It can be repacked for storage if required.
Features of the Yo-Yo Desk Bike
The resistance levels mean you can change how hard you have to pedal easily by changing the dial. This is provided by magnetic resistance which is a lot quieter than traditional friction resistance meaning it isn’t distracting even if you’re on a call (although maybe give it a rest when you’re on Zoom!).
The seat and the desk height and distance (the worktop can be moved forwards and backwards as well as up and down) are easy to adjust with levers under the worktop and seat. The bike is suitable for users from 5’0 to 6’3” (so my boyfriend can’t nick it, ha).
The worktop itself – which measures 58cm wide x 51cm deep – has a soft ergonomic ledge to support your wrists.
There is a small LCD display on the base; this needs 2 AA batteries. It shows the time, speed, distance, RPM and calories burned. These really do mount up, even if you only pedal sporadically throughout your working day. There’s also a cup holder just above.
It’s actually fairly compact, measuring less than a metre long, so doesn’t take up that much room and is on castors so that it can be moved easily. Mine sits in the corner of the room and is far less imposing than I imagined it would be! It could easily fit in a bedroom or in an existing office.
The frame comes with a 3 year warranty, and the electronics 1 year.
What are the benefits of a Yo-Yo Desk Bike?
The biggest benefit of a desk bike is of course to your health. Even a small amount of pedalling each hour in your work day can get the blood pumping and when it comes to burning calories, every little helps.
It isn’t designed for heavy exercise however having a desk bike has definitely encouraged me to get more exercise during my working day. It would be a great option for busy workaholics who find it hard to make time to exercise.
It can also be used as a standing desk; you can read more about the benefits of standing desks here.
Downsides of a Yo-Yo Desk Bike
A desk bike isn’t a permanent workspace solution; it’s a small desk, big enough for a laptop, notes or a book, but you can’t put a desk lamp on it or use it for storage etc and depending on where you place it, getting cables to it safely could be an issue. Also the seat, although padded, doesn’t provide you with the support you’d need to work comfortably all day long.
Although the pedals have silicone around them, there are no toe clips to keep your feet in place. It also isn’t designed to rival a Peloton; you can get a decent work out but it isn’t a professional piece of exercise equipment.
My Yo-Yo Desk Bike will never replace my current sit-to-stand desk because I need more than one screen to work with, however, as an additional workspace to be used for a few hours a day, it’s a compact and fun solution which will hopefully encourage me to get fitter; I can easily burn off a few hundred calories a day without putting much effort in.
It would make a great addition to a traditional office.
How much and where to buy
The Yo-Yo Desk Bike costs just under £500 including delivery.
There are a whole range of desk bikes, sit-to-stand desks and other workspace solutions available on the Sit-Stand website here.