Are you too busy to visit the gym, but looking for ways to exercise regularly? The stationary bikes are great ways to maintain fitness without visiting gyms. However, indoor exercise bikes have several varieties depending on their features and use. Let’s take a look into the significance of a home exercise bike and ways to find the right one that fulfills your precise needs.
What are the Benefits of an Indoor Exercise Bike?
A stationary bike is not merely exercising equipment. It does offer multi-dimensional benefits.
Calorie Burning
Losing weight is not an easy task. It needs determination with continuous workouts. In this busy world, not everyone can manage time for the gym. So, a home exercise bike is the best solution for regular workouts. A stationary bike can assist you in shedding the extra weight from your body.
Customized Workouts
All members of a household don’t bear the same level of fitness. The standard exercise bikes offer a range of resistance levels. It allows users to choose a simple workout or a tougher one.
Cost-effective
If you buy a home exercise bike, it is a one-time investment offering years of service. It saves you money for the gym.
Time Saver
A stationary bike saves you precious time. Now you can continue both office work and exercise together. The under-desk exercisers allow you to keep the equipment under your office desk and continue to the workouts quietly without sweating. Some modern indoor exercise bikes come with a workstation where you can place a laptop and work while exercising.
Multi-tasking
Continuous workouts for hours might sound boring. Thanks to modern technology. Now the home exercise bikes feature smoother and quieter riding experiences. So, you can listen to music or enjoy a TV program during the workouts.
Improve Health
You can get better cardiovascular health, build muscles, lose weight, boost your energy, and improve your current level of productivity through regular workouts.
On the whole, regular workouts with a stationary bike keep you and your family healthy. And, a healthy body is key to maintaining a happy life.
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What are the Types of Indoor Bikes?
Before you buy a stationary exercise bike, it is recommended to know which type of bike best suits your level of fitness, desired comfort, preferred workout pattern, and other precise needs.
Upright Bike
An upright bike resembles the design of the commuter bike. A user is required to get on/off the bike and sit on a saddle without a backrest. It is best suited for people without any kind of back pain or mobility issues.
An upright bike makes your body posture like sitting straight/upright. It might cause fatigue, muscle pain, etc. for long-hour workouts. Generally, an upright bike comes with a smaller size compared to the recumbent bikes. The upright bikes are quiet for the novice riders.
Recumbent Bike
What makes a recumbent bike different from an upright bike is the concept of seating position and the design of the saddle/seat.
A recumbent bike allows the user to keep the body in a seating position with a reclined style. Unlike an upright bike that usually bears a light-padded saddle, a recumbent bike features a full-padded comfy seat along with a contoured backrest.
A recumbent bike engages the lower part of your body – isolating it from the upper part. In simple words, a recumbent bike is highly suitable for people with back pain, people with functional needs, etc. It is also handy for those who always desire a comfortable riding experience.
Indoor Cycling or Spinning Bike
Indoor cycling bikes are also known as spinning bikes. Indoor cycling bike has some similarity to upright bikes, but it resembles the design of the real bikes that you ride on the roads.
Unlike an upright or recumbent bike, a spinning bike allows you challenging moves, like bending the handlebar, standing while riding, etc. An indoor cycling bike doesn’t focus on comfortable workouts, rather it encourages aggressive workouts in different positions.
The spinning bike models are available in health centers, gyms, etc. where professional athletes go for workouts.
Mini or Under Desk Bike
Besides the three main categories – upright bike, recumbent bike, and spinning bike – there are some smaller exercisers called under-desk bikes, minibikes, or pedal exercisers. Unlike an upright recumbent or spinning bike, a pedal exercise comes in a highly portable and smaller size.
You can place a mini bike under your office desk and continue workouts and office work side by side without hampering each other. If you choose an easy workout, the under-desk bikes won’t make you sweat. Moreover, smart paddle exercisers don’t create any noise which can bother your coworkers. Interestingly, some advanced mini bikes allow both arm and foot workouts.
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What Factors to Consider for Choosing the Best Home Exercise Bike?
We have listed out some essential factors that need to be considered before choosing a home exercise bike.
Convenient Riding
A standard bike provides a proper combination of flywheel balance and weight, pedal fitting, resistance grading, comfy saddle, adjustable handlebar, etc. When each component works efficiently, you can enjoy comfortable riding with proper speed and balance.
Adjustable Components
A modern stationary bike allows the user to adjust the saddle, handlebar, pedal fit, etc. according to their respective body height. Only a correct fit can assure the user a safe riding experience.
Flywheel Weight
The heavier the wheel the smoother the ride. So, it is wise to check out the flywheel weight and balance on the perimeter when you buy an indoor bike.
Level of Resistance
Generally, the reputed brands program a range of resistance levels in their home stationary bikes. This facility allows a user to pick a comfortable workout and choose the resistance level according. It makes the riding experience more comfortable.
Weight Bearing Capacity
Each exercise bike features a definite capacity to bear weight. So, while choosing an exercise bike make sure your bike can fairly bear the body weight of you or your family members.
Hand Pulse Scanner
The smart exercise bikes are provided with a hand pulse scanner that aims to monitor your heart rate during the workouts. It has a bonus feature that assists the user in continuing the workouts keeping the heart rate under the safe zone.
Folding Option
Folding equipment is quite handy for portability, saving floor space, easy storage, etc. Considering these facts, many modern stationary bikes offer a folding option. You can carry a folding bike in the office, gym, or any other place without much effort.
Quality of Construction
Fine workmanship and standard materials make any equipment last longer. For instance, a steel-framed bike with aluminum-built components is sturdier than regular bikes made with plastic materials. So, don’t forget to check out the manufacturing quality before you pick a home exercise bike.
LCD Display
The exercise bike must have an easy-to-read built-in LCD screen where all the necessary information would be displayed. It is wise to choose a bike offering an easy-to-operate control panel. It would help the users track their information independently.
Warranty
While buying any product, it behooves us to check the provided warranty period. So, while you buy a stationary bike don’t forget to check out the manufacturing details to know the warranty issues of the bike.
Besides the above-mentioned features, some other pro indoor exercise bikes offer a few exclusive options, like the USB port, water bottle holder, office workstation, etc.
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