CYCPLUS DC1 Mini Pedal Exerciser review - Well-built and unobtrusive exercise option

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REVIEW – The field of under-desk exercise options is pretty full right now. There are a lot of products and different designs and I’ve been interested in finding a way to bump up my passive exercise levels for a while now. I tried an elliptical style under-desk exerciser a while back and I enjoyed it, but I wanted to see what a pedal exerciser would be like as well. Enter the CYCPLUS DC1 Mini Pedal Exerciser. It has a streamlined, standalone design that I really like the look of, and I had to give it a shot. Read on to see how it has held up in use so far!

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $169.99
Where to buy: Amazon

What is it?

The CYCPLUS DC1 Mini Pedal Exerciser is a small exercise machine designed to fit under a desk so you can pedal away while working.

What’s included?

CYCPLUS DC1 Pedal Exerciser
Anti-Slip Mat
Buckle Strap
User Manual

Tech specs

Dimensions: 503x355x213mm
Weight: 4.8 kg
Built-in Battery: 1000mAh
Resistance Levels: 10
ERG Adjustment Range: 30W – 100W
Max Power: 160 W

Design and features

The design of this exercise machine is pretty simple, but there are a few nice features embedded within. It seems that compared to other under desk exercise machines that they’ve simplified and kept things compact and well contained.

There are two modes that you can select from, Manual and ERG Mode. Manual mode allows you to select a resistance level of choice and as you pedal harder the resistance level will also increase. This is a pretty common mode you see on most exercise machines.

ERG (Ergometer) Mode targets a set power output and adjust the resistance to meet that power output. Apparently it’s used more in different training scenarios. I was initially confused by this one as I wasn’t sure what it was trying to do. If you set a certain power level, you’ll see the resistance go down the faster that you pedal as it’s looking to meet that set power level. If you pedal slower, the resistance will go up to keep things consistent at that power level output.

The machine tracks basic metrics you’ll see on most exercise equipment. Distance / Calories burned / Duration

Since you are pushing against the exercise machine, they include a strap to attach it to your chair so you can keep the pressure on. They also include an anti-slip mat, which was a nice addition.

Performance

The biggest surprise with this mini pedal exercise machine was the ERG mode. I think the only place I’ve used an exercise machine with an ERG mode was on a rowing machine. The concept that it gets harder the slower you go is a nice little incentive to keep the pace up. Of course, it takes a little while to figure out what your ideal pace is, but that’s just part of the fun of exercising and finding the sweet spot.

Final thoughts

I think this is a great little exercise machine. It fits nicely under my desk and the built-in battery makes it so that I don’t have to plug it in anywhere, which is especially nice as there is stiff competition under my desk for available plugs. The two different resistance modes are great and it’s just a well designed little package. I definitely recommend for anyone looking to sneak some additional movement into their day while working at a desk.

What I like about the CYCPLUS DC1 Mini Pedal Exerciser

No plugs!
Efficient design and layout
Very quiet. You don’t have to worry about bothering coworkers or other people around you
ERG Mode is a nice addition

What needs to be improved?

I couldn’t find anything

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: CYCPLUS and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by CYCPLUS. CYCPLUS did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.