With hardware handled, it's time to add a software experience to keep it interesting. Alternatively, if you know you want the best, a smart bike will free you from the constraints of a bike designed to ride outdoors.

These are options that will allow you to connect to a computer, tablet, phone or even a TV and have the resistance change right along with what's happening on the screen. If you've got a bit more cash to spend, the sweet spot today is something from our list of the best smart trainers. If you are looking to keep costs low, most indoor cycling apps will allow you to ride with a basic trainer plus a speed and cadence sensor.

Before you get too far though, you'll need to consider hardware.