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Stationary Bikes Buying Guide

If you're looking for a way to build some muscle, lose weight  and stay fit, a stationary exercise bike  is a great investment to make.  Although they can take up a bit of extra space in the rec room or den--stationary bikes usually do not fold or disassemble for easy storage --the results they can afford your body and your health are well worth a little feng shui  dilemma.  But before you stock up on a new exercise wardrobe, make sure you've researched all your options.  There are many designs on the market that offer added support, various resistance settings, digital timers and tons of other little extras, so you'll need to determine what will best suit your needs and your budget.  To get you started on the stationary bike search, we've gathered some of the basics right here.  

Modern Models

Take a peek at these industry standards:

Upright Exercise Bike 

The first and most common model, upright stationary bikes are similar to traditional outdoor bikes.  They are great if you're training for a bike race, as the positioning of the body is relatively the same as when you're riding the real deal.  Upright bikes are also viable options if you don't require a lot of back support.

Recumbent Exercise Bike 

Recumbent bikes are newer additions to the exercise equipment scene.  These bikes sport a chair or bucket seat on one end, which allows you to be in a semi-reclining position while pedalling.  On this bike, your legs are outstretched in front of you instead of hanging down as on an upright bike, relieving stress and adding to an already well-supported back.  If you like to read while working out, this would be a great option for you.  If you are a true bicyclist, however, you may want to stick to an upright model for a more realistic feel.

Dual-Action Exercise Bike 

Dual-action bikes are upright models that have moveable arm handles or bars.  When you use both your arms and legs on this particular machine, the overall intensity of your aerobic workout increases, and you are also able to tone your upper body. 

Exercise Resistance

There are several types of resistance you'll find on an average exercise bike:

  • Direct Tension.   This allows you to manually adjust the amount of resistance.
  • Air.   Here, the resistance is created by pedalling against the flow of air from a fan.
  • Fly Wheels.   This type of resistance is most similar to that which you experience when pedalling a normal, outdoor bike.
  • Magnetic.   This is a sophisticated type of resistance that uses magnetic currents to create and track resistance.  Utilizing this type allows for a more varied workout.

Feedback

Unlike old school stationary bikes, new models can provide you with a lot of useful information on your workout.   Besides the basics like your speed, distance traveled and the total time of your workout, many stationary bikes can tell you:

  • Total calories and/or fat burned.
  • Pulse and/or heart rate.
  • Minutes per mile.
  • Miles/Kilometres per hour.
  • Resistance Level.
  • Pre-programmed workout routines.

Major Manufacturers

Related Products

Heart Rate Monitors

Mountain Bikes

Elliptical Trainers

Exercise Videos

Rowing Machines

External Links