Two types of exercise bikes are available. The design of the upright
bike resembles that of a typical road bike but they are stationary. The
pedals are positioned below the rider and puts added stress on the
joints. The seat on the recumbent bike’s seat resembles chairs and the
pedals are out in front of the rider so that pedaling is more natural
and puts less stress on the joints.
Other types of exercise bikes are available as well. Dual action
exercise bikes are upright bikes that have moveable bars or arm
handles. You use both of your arms and your legs on this bike. While
using this bike you will experience aerobic activity and upper body
toning.
There is variety with resistance bikes as well. With direct tension
bikes you can manually adjust the resistance you use. The cycling
motion on a bike with flywheels is like regular cycling motion. Bikes
with air assistance get resistance by pedaling against the airflow of a
fan blade.
The most sophisticated resistance bikes are magnetic frictionless
resistance bikes. These bikes provide greater variety of workout
levels. On more advanced bikes there are feedback mechanisms that show
the following readouts: speed, time, distance , total calories and fat
burned, program mode, resistance levels, pulse, heart rate, and work
out levels (RPM, watts, METS, mpm’s, and mph/kph).
The bike you choose to purchase will depend on your wants and needs.
The type of workout you’re looking for will also influence your choice
of bikes. A great cardio workout focused on the quadriceps is provided
by an upright bike. You are seated in a reclining position on a
recumbent bike.
Your back is supported by the seat and your legs are out in front of
you. The hamstring muscles and the gluteus muscles get worked. Your
lower back is less stressed on a recumbent bike. Some upright exercise
bikes will have handlebars that move in a simulated rowing motion.
Your back and chest and your arm and back muscles will get a workout.
You will get an excellent cardiovascular workout and calorie burning
experience with both of these bikes. The bike should be matched to your
size. Exercise bikes for the most part are easily adjusted for almost
any body type.
There is a variety of reasons why people use exercise bikes. Cyclists
use them to keep up their level of fitness in the off season. Many
people feel embarrassed about exercising in front of people so they use
them at home. Physical therapy programs also use exercise bikes in
their programs to promote healing and the regaining the use of knee and
hip joints.
Some cardiac rehab programs use them as well, to promote endurance and
greater cardiac health. Exercise bikes can be purchased in sports
stores, department stores like Wal-mart or Sears, as well as online.
Buying them from a store makes it easier to match the bike to your
space, to your body size, and your budget.
Buying online creates the risk of you not getting exactly what you
ordered. The bike you ordered may not have the exact specs or may be
bigger or smaller than what you ordered. Taking delivery is another
problem with ordering online. It is very likely that the delivery
company will not bring it into your house, you will have to bring it in
and set it up.
Even though you are buying it in a store this is true, unless you
contract with someone to do the entire process including setting it up.
You can purchase service contracts from a store like Sears, in case of
a problem. No matter what the reason you have for purchasing an
exercise bike, it will only work if you use it.
You should check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy before
starting a new exercise routine. At first you should start out slow and
build up endurance. Your endurance will improve if you start out slow.
Have fun, be safe and be healthy.
