I personally own an exercise bike and use it about
three times a week. I like it because it gives me a low impact cardio workout
in comparison to jogging. I also appreciate the fact that I can read while working
out on the bike.
An
exercise bike offering the benefits of a great low impact workout for toning your
legs, hips and butt and they give your knees a break from impact while offering
a great aerobic workout. With an exercise bike you work out:
- Front
of thighs (quadriceps)
- Back
of thighs (hamstrings)
- Hips
(gluteus maximus)
- Calves
(gastronemicus)
Selecting
the right exercise bike can be confusing. You need to compare prices, specs, company
reputation and warranty details. And to add to the confusion you need to decide
whether you want a recumbent or upright exercise bike. But having a bike in your
home will further encourage a healthy lifestyle. Rather then making the arduous
trip to the health club, where you have to pay a costly monthly fee and fight
the crowds, you have the convenience of your own exercise equipment in your home.
An exercise bike
is the ideal machine for a healthy cardiovascular workout. And ultimately the
question is, "how much money do I need to spend to find the bike that will
service my fitness goals. Here are a few suggestions when selecting an exercise
bike:
A Recumbent
or Upright Exercise Bike?
An
upright exercise bike obviously simulates the feel of riding a road bike. The
different is that you can simulate the road experience in the comfort of your
home. Depending on the model you choose, you can get a variety of programs that
will make it feel like you are on a flat plain or a hilly terrain. The recumbent
bike has many of the same features of an upright bike the main difference is you
exercise in a reclining position. The benefit is a recumbent bikes offer the ultimate
in lower back and lumbar support! This truly ergonomic aerobic workout completely
works your legs and lower back, as well as your cardio levels. Also see Recumbent Exercise Bikes VS Upright Exercise Bikes.
Heart
Rate Control
You
can purchase an exercise bike that has either heart rate monitors or heart rate
controls. The monitor will display the level of you heart rate so that you can
maintain your workout within a healthy range. Heart Rate Control is precisely
what its name implies: The exercise bike reads your heart rate, and adjusts itself
to keep you within a target range. Here's how it works. The exercise bike has
a heart rate receiver inside the console. You wear a wireless heart rate monitor/transmitter
(like the one shown at right), which fastens around your upper abdominals. The
wireless monitor transmits your heart rate to the receiver in the unit. The unit
then adjusts the intensity of your workout until your heart rate is in your preset
zone.
Having Heart
Rate Control in your fitness equipment ensures you get the most out of your workout.
Exercise Bike
Programs
Some
people just want to control the level of tension on their exercise bike. Others
want to have challenging programs that will motivate their workout with a variety
of options. In fact, there are exercise bikes that have screens that visualize
riding on flat roads, hills and mountains. These program often have both pre-set
and custom programs. The custom programs let you create your own workout experience.
Smooth
and Quiet
From
the very cheap exercise bike to the commercial models, the feel can vary. You
want a bike that has the smooth flow of a road bike, not a jerky feel. A bike
with a heavy flywheel will give you that experience. In addition, you want an
exercise bike that is relatively quiet. If you like to watch TV or listen to music
when working out, you'll appreciate a quiet model.
An
exercise bike will provide a low-impact, high-cardio workout. Buy smart and you
will be rewarded.
Other Exercise Bike Reviews:
Reebok RB310 Recumbent Bike