What Are the Benefits of an Exercise Bike?

Have you ever wondered if you should bother using an exercise bike? If you have, you’re not alone. In this age of iPod-compatible treadmills, elliptical trainers outfitted with Internet access, and other space age fitness equipment, the ordinary stationary bike seems to have been all but forgotten.

It shouldn’t be. An indoor bicycle is one of the most effective pieces of aerobic equipment that you can use. These machines offer a proven way to improve your cardiovascular health and strengthen and tone your calves, thighs, hips, and other important muscles, all while minimizing the impact on your knees, ankles, and lower back.

Stationary bikes come in two basic types: upright, and recumbent. The model you’ll choose depends upon your specific needs and goals.

The Upright Bike

An upright bike resembles a typical outdoor bicycle. It includes a saddle (the more comfortable, the better) and pedals placed directly beneath your legs.

Since this style of bike doesn’t include any back support, maintaining proper form during use is especially important. If you don’t suffer from lower-back issues, using an upright bike is a great way to put in an intense cardiovascular workout and thoroughly exercise your legs.

The Recumbent Bike

A recumbent, on the other hand, includes a bucket-style seat. It’s a bit like sitting in your favorite recliner. The pedals are positioned in front of you. Maintaining proper form is a no-brainer.

For these reasons, a recumbent is an excellent choice if you experience chronic lower-back pain, or are overweight and find sitting upright for an extended period to be too difficult.

As an added bonus, recumbent bicycles exercise your hamstrings and hips at a different angle than the upright models. It also can be a good cardio machine to use for a change of pace in your routine, and to enjoy a new style of muscle stimulation.

Common Features in Both Types of Indoor Cycles

Both types of exercise bikes usually include consoles designed to make it easy to read a book or magazine while you’re burning those calories. This is a clear advantage over treadmills and elliptical trainers. With those machines, you’re bouncing up and down so much that it’s virtually impossible to read words on a page.

Want to exercise your arms, too? Check out the dual-action bikes. These models feature movable handlebars, helping you to tone your upper body and boosting your calorie-burning efforts to the next level.

Think these machines are short on technology? Think again. Today’s exercise bikes offer electronic features that rival anything you can find on a treadmill. You can track your calories burned and distance traveled, monitor your heart rate, adjust the resistance and speed, follow pre-programmed workouts, and on some models, even surf the Internet and play video games.

There are dozens of manufacturers that offer quality exercise bicycle models. Some of the best known brands are Schwinn, Stamina, Reebok, Lifecycle, and Proform.

The next time you’re searching for exercise equipment for your home gym, give an exercise bike a try. The results might surprise you.

About the Author

B. Massey is editor of an
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web site. For
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and consumer reports on other fitness equipment, visit his site today.

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