Placing a mat under an exercise bike has several benefits. It can protect your machine and floor surface, keep you stable during workouts and reduce noise. Cleaning up your workout area is easy with one, too.

Read further to learn about these advantages and the effects of using a mat on various floor types.

Also, check out my brief buying guide on how to choose a floor mat for exercise bikes.

Table of Contents

Why Do I Need a Mat Under an Exercise Bike?

An exercise mat may seem like an optional add-on.

But this protective accessory has a lot of purposes and can enhance your overall workout experience.

These include:

  • Floor protection. Daily vibrations from your exercise bike can scuff your home gym or apartment flooring. These can also scratch or dent the base of your machine over time. Having a mat in between them helps preserve their good condition.
  • Better workout stability. Intense workouts can make your bike move or slide around. Placing your bike on smooth flooring types causes the same problem. An exercise mat under an exercise bike should increase grip, minimise vibration and keep you stable while working out.
  • Noise reduction. The cranking sound of metal during cycling and the bike base hitting the floor create disruptive noises. And this can be a bigger problem if you are in a small house or apartment. A padded mat can absorb the shock and vibrations for more peaceful workouts.
  • Easy clean-up. Cycling makes us sweat, and droplets can end up on your floor. And if you are using a chain-belt drive, lubricant can leak and drip, too. With a mat underneath your bike, you can keep moisture out of your flooring. Also, cleaning a floor mat is quicker than mopping stained floors.
Exercise Mat on Hardwood Floors

Does an Exercise Bike Mat Work on Any Flooring?

A mat is a handy exercise bike accessory. But its function and efficacy can vary, depending on the type of floor you have at home.

Cycling workout frequency and how you use your stationary exercise bike are also relevant factors. Here’s what you need to know.

Exercise mat on hardwood floors

Mats are ideal if you’re placing your bike on wooden floors. Hardwood lacks enough grip to keep you and your stationary bike steady when cycling.

Constant sliding could scratch the wood surface, too. Also, sweat damage can result in stains or permanent dark markings. A mat should protect this beautiful and expensive flooring type.

Exercise mat on vinyl floors

Vinyl floors are one of the best surfaces for exercise bikes. They can naturally reduce vibration and noise. This flooring type is pretty level, too, preventing your bike from rocking unsteadily.

It’s also easy to wipe clean. So, a mat under an exercise bike on vinyl floors may have minimal value.

However, an exercise bike mat is a must if you have a larger build and cycle excessively under heavy resistance. This extra layer should prevent the bike base from scratching or puncturing the vinyl.

Exercise mat on carpet

Some people prefer to use carpets or rugs under their indoor cycling bikes. While these can provide protection, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.

For one, stationary exercise bikes are heavy, while carpeting materials are significantly softer. Over time, the bike’s weight can put permanent dents on your expensive rug. These dents, in turn, can make your cycling workouts feel unstable.

Extra fluffy carpets tend to release dust and fibres, too. These can get inside your bike, accumulate on its moving parts and affect overall machine performance.

Sweat from cycling workouts can build up on your carpeted floor as well. Eventually, your carpet will be dingy, smelly and, worse, mouldy.

An exercise mat is far easier to clean and maintain. Compared with a soft rug, it provides better floor protection.

Exercise Bike on Carpet

Exercise mat on tiles

Tiled floors have two characteristics that make them unsuitable surfaces for stationary bikes or any fitness machine.

One is they are slippery. Second, they are fragile. Putting an exercise mat under an exercise bike gives your tiled floor extra grip and prevents your machine from sliding around.

Also, the mat can muffle the sound that tiles make while you are working out. It can also absorb the pressure from the exercise and your weight, protecting the tiles from cracking.

Exercise mat on concrete floors

An exercise mat is not that necessary for concrete flooring. Typically, concrete is noise-absorbent and has a good grip. It’s heavy-duty flooring that pressure will hardly cause a dent or scratch.

Concrete floors are also low maintenance. Sweat from workouts does not affect this type of floor either. So, mats, in this case, are optional.

How Do I Choose the Right Mat for My Exercise Bike?

There are several types of protective floor mats available. So, choosing the best one can be confusing.

But you can narrow down your options by considering these essential features:

  • Construction material. Rubber, foam and PVC are the most common materials for exercise mats. PVC ones are odourless and work well with carpeted floors. Foam mats are excellent for concrete and hardwood flooring. A rubber mat is the most expensive but best for most floor surfaces.
  • Thickness. A 5-mm-thick exercise mat suits most floor types and user needs. But mat thickness also varies, depending on the construction material. Your choice should depend on your purpose for getting a mat (e.g., floor protection, noise reduction).
  • Size. Your mat should be about 7 to 8 cm wider than your bike on all sides. The size can be smaller than this for as long as the entire base is within the mat. Make sure to know your exact indoor bike dimensions before getting one.
  • Grip. Some exercise bike mats are textured, while others are smooth. The choice depends on your preference, so feel free to choose whichever you like best. Reading customer reviews might help you decide.
Exercise Bike on Tiled Floors

Conclusion

Now that we understand its purpose and advantages, it is clear that a mat under an exercise bike is not like any other accessory.

This protective layer is practically a must when owning an indoor exercise machine. With one, you’ll be protecting your fitness investment and home.

So, consider getting one when buying an exercise bike. And make sure to pick a mat that suits your flooring type and needs.

1. Is it okay to put a yoga mat under an exercise bike?

A yoga mat is not ideal for your indoor cycling bike. Yoga mats are usually narrower than the width of most stationary bikes. That means part of the machine will be off the mat, creating an uneven and unstable surface. Also, yoga mats are not thick enough for optimum floor protection and noise reduction. Like carpets, the bike weight can damage your yoga mat over time, too.

2. Aside from using a mat, can I store an exercise bike outside to reduce noise?

Exercise bikes are best used and stored indoors. These machines have metal and electronic parts that could deteriorate fast when exposed to weather changes, moisture, dust and other outdoor elements. You can turn your basement or a vacant room on the ground floor into a permanent workout area to keep the noise down. Alternatively, adjust your indoor cycling schedule to avoid disrupting others. Also, opt for a magnetic bike instead of a noisier air type.

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