A:No matter how much money you’re willing to spend on an exercise bike or what model you are interested in, every piece of exercise equipment needs to have at least a couple of basic features. The bike's mid-range resistance settings should give you a good challenge; this leaves some higher resistance levels for you to "grow into" as you build strength and endurance. You should be able to reach and operate all the controls while pedaling. This includes the resistance up and down buttons, or resistance knob, and handgrip heart rate monitors, if the bike has them. The bike should feel stable and steady beneath you. Poorly built bikes may wobble or even "walk" beneath you. You should weigh less than the bike's maximum weight limit. Decide which exercise bike features are your highest priorities. Keep in mind that no matter what kind of fancy features the bike has, if it breaks it's of no use to you. So a sturdy frame and reliable resistance mechanism should be first on your list. Other common features that will help you narrow down the field of choices include: In-console cooling fans; Preprogrammed workouts; User-customizable workouts; Capacity to add more preprogrammed workouts (for example, the iFit system available from ICON Health & Fitness companies like NordicTrack and ProForm); In-console entertainment options, which might include a built-in television, an MP3-player input jack, built-in speakers, and on a very few exercise bikes, interactive games that get easier the faster you pedal; Handgrip or wireless heart rate monitoring.You will need to look for a bike with various resistance levels, and the seat should be comfortable enough because you will spend quite a lot of time on it. Also, if you are not exactly average-sized, look for seats that can be adjusted accordingly. However, if you are really set on buying one bike in particular, which doesn’t have the best seat, you can always purchase an additional seat cover with gel or padding. Comfort has to be a priority, regardless of the budget. Pedals not only have to be wide enough, but they also have to have some sort of strapping to ensure that your feet won’t slip while pedaling. The built-in computer also has to show basic stats like speed, time, and the number of calories burned. Also, while the heart rate is the most important thing you need to know, if it’s not incorporated you can easily buy a separate monitor.