“I'm actually completely rewriting this review because I HATED the bike at first. I think I just needed to break it in!When the package arrived, I think the tension knob was not at the lowest setting. Because there isn't too much tension I didn't even notice and thought it was broken when I tried to tighten it further because it made some horrendous screeching noises when pedaling. I loosened it as much as I could, cycled it a couple times, and then tightened it back and it seems to be working well now. It is very awkward that it doesn't stop to tell you where the max or min tension is though... the knob just turns freely. Not sure if it's supposed to be like that.HOWEVER, I can now cycle at the tension I want and after using it for about an hour, the pedals now move smoothly and isn't as awkward to use as when I first started. I plan to use this often and am very happy to have some extra motion while having to sit at a desk for the majority of the day.”
“Bought this to help get some exercise throughout the day while working. Very little resistance even when maxed. The screw holes on the bottom are too large for the provided screws. It's extremely unstable.”
“I suggest that if you want to pedal it forward, turn the machine backwards because they unscrew while in use. Also the screen is difficult to read and the numbers go through so fast you can't figure out what they are.”
“I purchased it for my mom that had a stroke. It really help her move her legs well to get circulation going through her leg. She is now able to walk with a walker thanks to her repetitious use of the pedals. Good gift for elderly parents.”
“I have arthritis in my knees and edema in my lower legs and ankles from sitting on my butt all day. Since it hurts to walk, I thought an exercise bike would be in order, but I was afraid it would take up too much space. The mini trainer takes care of both the exercise and space issues, BUT the quality control on its manufacture leaves much to be desired. Luckily, the company has great customer service. The first unit I got had a hitch at the top of each rotation—a problem with the clutch probably. I received a timely refund and ordered another one. When my husband tried to assemble it, he discovered that the cranks were reversed, so he had to reverse the pedals too. He's been an avid cyclist for years and explained that pedals are designed to tighten themselves as they're used on the crank. My unit won't do that, but since I'm just spinning, it's unlikely to be an issue. In sum, the trainer works great for my modest purposes, but I wouldn't recommend it for a real workout.”
“The build quality for the price is excellent, however, with no tension, you can't really get a good workout. I got this because I sit at the computer for hours gaming, and do rideshare for work, so, lots of sitting. I have a treadmill in the garage, but I'm usually too lazy to go use it. I'm also not really overweight at 6'2" 200lbs, but when I sit for long periods my lower legs get a little numb, probably not a good sign. THIS will at least allow me to do some light exercise. Maybe it'll motivate me to use my treadmill more, or buy that Marlin MTB I want and start trail riding again (I used to ride 30 miles a day).I haven't tried any of the other ones, but I'm guessing they all have the same issues. I'd say if you're okay with light exercise, go for it.”
