Exercise Bike

People today are busier than ever, and consequently, they find themselves faced with less and less time to exercise. One way to combat this issue is to buy home exercise equipment such as exercise bikes. Exercise bikes come in all shapes and sizes, and are commonly referred to as stationary cycles, exercise bikes, and studio bikes. They can be upright, recumbent or semi-recumbent. Exercise bikes offer a dynamite whole body low impact workout. This article will attempt to explain some of the points you may want to consider if you are in the market for a studio bike, and how you can fit one into your exercise program.

Choosing A Bike

The choosing of an exercise bike can be a daunting task just because of the sheer numbers of options available. Are you primarily concerned with improving your cardio fitness? Do you want to strengthen or increase muscle tone? Do you have any lower back or knee problems? These are the types of questions you must ask your self before setting out to purchase a studio bike. A little further along will be a guide about how to choose between recumbent and upright exercise bikes, so for the moment let's just concern ourselves with the physical differences between the two types. The upright bikes are just that. You sit in the same type of seat as a regular bicycle would have, and the pedals are situated below you. There may or may not be linked handlebars to give your upper body a workout at the same time. On a recumbent bike you are seated lower to the ground and the pedals are out in front of you. The seat is larger and usually includes some type of back support.

Recumbent Bikes

The recumbent variety is much easier to workout on, and there is some debate on whether this type of bike is as beneficial as an upright bike. But with all the resistance adjustment available and the reduced stress on your lower back and legs because of the reclined position, many doctors and physical therapists recommend a recumbent bike. For all around health benefits though, it is hard to beat an upright. There has been many changes made to these bikes through the years, and you can rest assured that which ever type you choose you will receive a great workout.

Great Health Benefits

The health benefits of an exercise bike are enormous. Just the cardio benefits alone should be enough to convince everyone to have one in their home. But in addition to cardio, you can expect to raise heart rate, burn calories, and increase aerobic condition all with one low-impact activity. If you are overweight or have bad knees or lower back problems you may want to seriously consider using a recumbent bike as they will allow you to sustain a longer workout, increasing health benefits without harming you.

Exercise bikes are available at sporting goods stores, both new and used. They also can be found at retail outlets such as Wal-Mart. You may be able to find cheaper prices at retail outlets, but you probably won't get any questions answered there. A sporting goods store will be able to help you decide which type of bike would be good for the fitness goals you have in mind.

Exercise Bike |