I’m not sure why exercise bike mats can be seen as not being important when looking at buying an exercise bike.
As they do have a number of benefits and not just for the floor. They provide protection to the floor and to a stationary bike.
They can extend their life, the functionality and keep them looking at their best.
They can do this by protecting each from dust and dirt.
They also absorb any vibration and reduce noise.
The mats can stop sweat getting to your floor, prevent dents and scratches too when the exercise bikes move.
Here are out top choices for you to check out, along with what to consider before buying a mat for your exercise bike.
1. Bike Bicycle Trainer Floor Mat Suits Ergo Mag Fluid for Indoor Cycles
Top Pick
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This exercise bike mat is our pick for putting under your exercise bike mat with a number of good features to protect your floor and bike from vibration, dirt and sweat.
The mat is made from high density PVC and should be odor free after the initial opening when you might have notice a slight smell.
As well as protecting the floor and bike from vibration it can help absorb noise to make for a quieter experience.
There are 2 different types and two sizes for stationary bikes.
There is the soft version which is better for bike trainers rather than exercise bikes and can be too soft for carpets. Although some customers have been happy with using this for their indoor cycling bikes.
The high density is for exercise bikes and fitness equipment.
It comes in 2 sizes – 2.5 ft by 6ft and 3 ft by 7 ft to cover length and width of most exercise bikes from upright bikes to recumbent bikes with the longer one being more expensive it would be more economical to buy the length you need.
It is suitable for carpets, tile, hardwood floors etc and shouldn’t leave any marks on the floor. It is 3 mm in depth. It is designed to prevent slipping on tiles and stop the bike from moving around too.
On carpets without a deeper pile it can also provide a little more stability but for more plush carpets you may need a plywood board.
It isn’t really made to be moved around with it weighing 13.2 lbs which indicates the density of the mat.
If you wear cleats it seems to stand up to them (except in one case when using the soft version of mat and customer received a full refund). Others have not experienced this but as noted I wouldn’t advise twisting on the mat.
It can cost more than others in our selection but it does do what it is supposed to and appears to be very durable.
Although it says it is for indoor cycles it can be used by other exercise bike styles for effective protection of bike and floor as it is for heavy exercise equipment.
Check out its high rating and availability on Amazon here
2. Stamina Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat
Space Saver
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The stand out feature of this exercise bike mat is that it folds up.
It’s good for saving space to get it to a closer to the size of your exercise bike – it can be folded up to fit folding bikes or folded out for recumbent bikes.
If you don’t want to leave the bike and mat out you can quickly fold it up to store out of the way. It folds down to about 1 ft wide with 6 folds (7 sections). It needs about 1 ft by 3ft and 6 ins (approx) when folded for storage. It does weigh 7 lbs.
Folding it downs allows it to be a manageable size and has a weight of around 7 lbs making it convenient to carry around.
It also makes it good for apartments or homes where space is at a premium.
When completely unfolded you have 7 ft by 3 ft to place your bike on it and is 1/4 inch thick. If you don’t need that you can fold down in 12 inch increments.
The folds appear to be sturdy in that they don’t rip or tear easily. I’d avoid putting the weight of the bike on the folds as they won’t have the padding of the mat segments.
The mat is made from closed cell foam (PVC type material) and most people only notice a slight smell when they first get it.
It can be cleaned by using water and mild soap. It is waterproof so will stop sweat from reaching the floor underneath.
It is non-slip and can be used on all types of floor including carpet, tile, wood and concrete. It will help stop the exercise bike from denting or scratching the floor as can still happen even with end-caps.
One person has experienced an issue with it tearing from cleats and they were refunded promptly. Others say it hasn’t been an issue and have been pleasantly surprised but it does pay to be caareful
It provides a barrier to stop dust or lubricant landing on the floor and reduce the incidence fibers etc getting stuck in the moving parts of the bike.
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3. CAP Barbell Premium Spin Bike Mat
Great Fit
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This exercise mat has an economic fit of 3 ft by 4 ft making it a great fit for many spin and indoor cycling bikes including Peloton. It can be use by other exercise bikes too as long as they’re not longer than 4 ft.
CAP do also make a longer version at 3 ft by 6.6 ft but isn’t available at current.
It is made from blown PVC giving a slight cushioning to dampen noise and reduce vibration.
The compact size makes it ideal if tight on space with the shorter length of 4 ft.
The blown PVC manufacturing process also allow it to be used to stand on for long periods of time with reduced tiring, although probably not such a big deal if you have your bike on it.
It is 1/4 inch thick to protect floor from damage from weight of the bike and scratching if bike moves while in use. It will stop from sweat on reaching the floor, although it will need to be wiped up or cleaned with water and mild soap.
It can be used on all types of floor surfaces keeping stationary bikes in place and doesn’t slip.
Read more reviews and check latest price here
4. Rubber-Cal Treadmill Mat
Eco-choice
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This is the mat for those who are eco-conscious with it using recycled rubber like old tires.
The mats re made from recycled tires, helping to reduce land-fill as well as extending the useful life of the rubber.
It is designed for treadmills coming in two sizes of 4 by 6.5 ft and 4by 7.5 ft making it on the larger size for an exercise bike mat so you are paying for extra as most other exercise bike mats are 3 ft wide.
It is fairly heavy too, with it weighing in between 26 and 30 lbs with a depth of 3/16 ins. The mat will absorb vibration and reduce noise by dispersing them, which can protect the exercise bike as well as the floor.
It does smell when first opened but it goes away quickly. Most say it isn’t overpowering.
It can be used on a range of floors including tiles, hardwood, concrete and carpet. It prevents scratching and dents. It also has been used on thicker carpets without creasing or causing any damage from bleeding. But you may want to use a plastic sheet to safe on white or light colored carpet. (There an reported issues with this, I’m just naturally cautious).
It is waterproof providing a good barrier to stop it dripping on to your floor. It can be cleaned using water and mild soap.
There has been some concerns over how it is cut with it not being cut straight not being good on the
eye. It is possible to straighten it up or cut to size with a good cutting knife and perseverance.
Despite the width it is eco-friendly nature of the mat that I like and is why I’ve included it in my top five selection as it helps reduce waste. And it can do a good job on protecting the floor and the bike.
Read more reviews and check availability
5. BalanceFrom GoFit High Density Treadmill Exercise Bike Equipment Mat
Best Seller
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The BalanceFrom GoFit High Density Treadmill Exercise Bike Equipment Mat is a popular and highly rated exercise bike mat. It protects all floor types from heavy exercise equipment.
It comes in 2 sizes 2.5 ft by 5 ft which should fit most exercise bikes and 3 ft by 6.5 ft for treadmills and those wanting a larger mat.
The mat is made from PVC, and is about 1/4 inch thick and protect carpets and other surfaces from dents and scratching.
It is waterproof and will stop sweat from dripping on to your floor. It can easily be cleaned up with a mop or rag and with soapy water as needed.
It has an anti-slip design to prevent it slipping on the floor or your exercise bike sliding around when in use.
It comes with a two year warranty.
Although there has been reports from customers experiencing the mat tearing too easily although this is a minority. It is this reason why the bike is ranking lower in my selection.
a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QXLZNN9/?tag=indfit-20″ target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>It still remains best seller with some of the best ratings overall you can check out the reviews on Amazon here
What To Think About When Buying Your Mat for Exercise Bike
What Type
Exercise mats in a lot of ways seem fairly standard.
There are 2 main uses for them – one is to exercise on and second is for protecting the floor from exercise equipment and the equipment from dust or fabric from the floor getting caught in moving parts.
Those mats for exercising on or performing yoga tend to be softer and not really designed for the weight of exercise equipment so it is important to look for one that is made for this. They are tougher and don’t normally have the give to provide more protection to the floor from the weight and movement of an exercise bike.
Size Matters
Next up is thinking about how big is your exercise bike’s footprint to ensure you have one that is big enough to fit the bike on comfortably.
Also, depending on floor space available you might want to ensure it isn’t bigger than you want. There are folding ones that can help you size mat to available space or to fitbetter to bike size.
Floor Type
Most floors can be protected by the mats to prevent scratching or dents and the mats don’t affect the floor including light colored carpets.
The mats shouldn’t bleed into your carpet or stain them but if you want to be safe you could get a plastic cover especially if using a rubber mat that may discolor but should be fixed normal carpet cleaning.
The mats are textured on the underside and top to prevent slipping on surfaces such as tiles and hardwood floors and also stop a stationary bike moving too.
Moving And Storing As You May With Your Bike
If you will be moving your bike regularly you need to consider the weight of the mat and how easy it is to roll or fold up and store out of the way.
Most roll up into a reasonable size roll for storage and in a few cases they have fold lines to allow you to fold up neatly for moving and storing away.
The PVC mats normally weigh a few lbs making them easy to move around, however rubber mats tend to be heavier with them coming in at 22 lbs – which is still not too bad but not as easy to move – you might be able to get a little resistance training at the same time – if so inclined.
Floor Type
Most floors can be protected by the mats to prevent scratching or dents and the mats don’t affect the floor including light colored carpets.
The mats shouldn’t bleed into your carpet or stain them but if you want to be safe you could get a plastic cover especially if using a rubber mat that may discolor but should be fixed normal carpet cleaning.
The mats are textured on the underside and top to prevent slipping on surfaces such as tiles and hardwood floors and also stop a stationary bike moving too.
What Is It Made From
You have a choice of PVC or Rubber or Foam.
Most exercise bike mats are made from PVC it light and durable. You may see some stationary bike mats described as closed cell-foam and this is manufacturing process that provides PVC it’s toughness and robustness.
Foam can usually used to describe exercise mats that are best suited for exercise or yoga mats and not entirely suitable for the weight of bike.
It won’t hold the weight and you sre more likely to experience it ripping or the floor be damaged below it.
There are a limited options of rubber mats and these tend to be recycled using old tires as the main source. Using a rubber mat does keep the rubber out of landfill and increase the lifespan. They do tend to be up to 4 times heavier than PVC and probably not as well cut resulting in not so straight edges.
Balancing The Bike
The mat can help with balancing up an exercise bike on a carpet or slightly uneven tile surface (but that is more the levelers job under the stabilizer bars) adding something a little more solid below the
bike in some cases.
If you have a deeper pile carpet the mat is unlikely to solve the issue completely you may need to look at putting a plywood sheet under your bike to get a completely stable platform.
Cleaning
The mats will have dust and sweat fall and lubricant on them as well as other liquids possibly that you may want to clean off to keep them looking presentable. For most you can clean them with mild soap and water and vacuum as needed.
Smell
I don’t like the plastic smell you can get from new plastic things. It can almost make you feel sick.
Most mats don’t suffer with too much of this sort of unpleasant odor, however they all seem to have a range of customer reaction from barely any smell to being too disgusting. It seems no mat pleases everyone, as there is a customer who found the smell overpowering.
There are very few customers that have this problem with more finding it a slight smell at worse.
Some have found the smell can be lessened significantly by washing with mild soap and water and being left outside for a couple of days at most.
In Summary
To me the best exercise bike mat should protect your floor from your exercise bike and as an added bonus protect your bike from dust and fibers from the floor. It should also not be too smelly and that should fade quickly. It shouldn’t damage the floor and not be too much hassle to clean.
For me, these exercise bike mats are the top ones available currently.