Why Use an Exercise Bike?

Why Use an Exercise Bike?



There are so many home exercise equipments for losing weight but the most popular is the stationary bike. It is user-friendly and light. In addition, a lot of these stationary bicycles are easily folded away for storage.

Training on an exercise bike can be combined with other exercises such as push ups. Say you ride your bike for forty minutes then tone the rest of your body like the muscles in your arms by following up with other exercises. Devise a routine on how you want to do your different exercises. You can interchange them to make them less repetitive. First select the exercise you will do on a daily basis. If you start with the exercise bike training on the first day, on another day start with push ups followed by your bike riding exercise and so on.

Using the stationary bike is definitely a great way to conveniently exercise in the comfort of your own home. Not only do you have privacy, but you also control your schedule. Training in a gym by using barbells, doing push ups, running, walking, or riding outdoors are equally as intense as training on an exercise bike. They are all meant for the same purpose and that is to keep you fit. It's a matter of setting a goal and maintaining it. You have the freehand of choosing which method best suits you. All of them require concentration and determination on your part.

Every type of training begins with warm-ups. By doing light exercises, you set the pace for yourself and eventually build the momentum as you go.

Exercise bike training does not necessarily limit you to exercising at home. You can join various exercise clubs. This will make training more fun and interesting since you will be interacting with people as well. When training with an exercise bike you don't need to concentrate a lot. It allows you to exercise and at the same time have a great conversation with your fellow trainee. Before you know it, you have been riding for an hour. This is just one of the advantages of training with an exercise bike.


By Marco Riley

Exercise Bike Workout For Weight Loss

Here's an exercise bike workout for weight loss. First, I must say that overall, I DON'T like using bikes for working out. Why... because it's an UNNATURAL exercise that doesn't fit evolution. I'll explain this more further along in the article. Look, if you do in fact use a bike, then I'm going to show you the best way to make it work for weight loss.

Exercise Bike Workout for Weight Loss

1. DON'T just ride the bike nice and easy while comfortably sitting on it

Here's a hint you won't burn much fat. Can you talk in a normal conversation while you're exercising? If so, you might as well stop doing it. You're just wasting your time.

2. DON'T ride at the same pace the whole time

This is not going to cause much fat burning. You need to change it up on your body, keep it guessing

3. Do use INTERVALS... high intensity intervals mixed with low intensity intervals

This is the 1 and ONLY WAY to lose a good amount of weight using this piece of equipment. Here is a general outline that works great for most people. You can adjust the times to fit your conditioning.

Ride the bike as fast as you can for 10 seconds. That's tough, but definitely doable. Next, ride it slow for 50 seconds. You're still exercising, but this is actually an "active rest". After that, repeat the 10 high intensity seconds. And so on. You keep repeating the 10 hard seconds followed by 50 easy seconds for at least 20 minutes.

At the end of 20 minutes, you would've rode the bike fast for a grand total of 200 seconds... barely 3 minutes. YET... I bet you're sweating. Hmm, wonder why. Well, because you're actually working out in a smart manner that's efficient for burning fat.

So take this exercise bike workout for weight loss and give it a try and see what you're missing out on.

If you're SICK and TIRED of getting the same old boring weight loss advice... you know, like "Eat more fruits and vegetables, drink 8 glasses of water, jog, and Blah Blah Blah", then...

By Jennifer Jolan

Exercise Bike Buying Guide - How To Choose the Best Exercise Bike For You

Buying an exercise bike? An exercise bike is an excellent way to build fitness, lose weight and get fit. Plus they're convenient and one of the most comfortable to burn calories in the comfort of your own home.

But how do you choose the best one? This buying guide will show you what to look for when shopping so you can find the best exercise bike for your needs - while avoiding the lemons!

First, ask yourself which class of exercise bike you would like. There are 2 general classes of exercise bikes:

1) Recumbent Bikes

Recumbent bikes are the newer exercise bikes on the market with the chair-like or bucket seats. Your body is placed in a semi reclining position and your legs angle out in front of you to reach the pedals instead of hanging down as on an upright bike.

2) Upright Bikes

These are also called "Stationary bikes" although this term is now becoming a catch all term for both upright and recumbent bikes. These are the traditional exercise bikes that have been around for years and are similar in form to traditional outdoor bikes.

An offshoot of the standard upright bike is the 'Dual Action' Stationary bike. These bikes have movable bars or levers on arm handles to incorporate your upper body into the workout.

Know what you want before you start comparing different exercise bikes. Personally I've owned both and after a while upright exercise bike seats just don't feel too comfortable if you know what I mean. But the choice is yours.

The next thing you need to decide on is your budget. How much are you willing to pay for your exercise bike?

There are really 3 price categories:

1) Under $500

2) Between $500 - 1000

3) $1000 +

Under $500: While there are some above average exercise bikes under $500, don't expect to get a top quality machine for this price. If you don't plan on using your exercise cycle much or if you're on a budget, this may be a good price point for you.

Between $500 - $1000: Unlike treadmills or elliptical trainers, you can usually get a very solid, higher quality exercise bike for your home in this category. Most exercise bikes in this category offer magnetic resistance and high grade consoles that give you feedback on your workout. You should also expect several built-in workout programs, foot straps and heart rate monitors.

$1000 +: These exercise bikes are either the cream of the crop for the advanced home exerciser or they are commercial grade for the health club. Examples of bikes in this category include spinners and commercial bikes like Life Cycle, Kettler and Star Trac.

Always remember that with exercise bikes - in general - you do get what you pay for so try to spend the most that you can and get a high quality machine that will last you.

These are really the 2 most important features to decide on: the type of bike and the price you can afford. Here are a few more features you should know about when choosing an exercise bike.

Resistance

There are several different types of resistance you'll find in your exercise bike

1) Direct Tension - offers you a manual adjustment of resistance

2) Air - resistance is provided by pedaling against the airflow of a fan blade

3) Magnetic Resistance - this is the most sophisticated type of resistance allowing magnetic currents to create and track the resistance. It generally allows for a greater variety of workout levels.

Magnetic resistance is generally viewed as the best option since it tends to be quieter and provides a more even feel when pedalling.

Workout Options

Most exercise bikes give you information on speed, distance traveled, and time of the workout. The more sophisticated you go, you'll also find things like total calories and fat burned, resistance level, heart rate and program mode.

You can also get exercise bikes with numerous preprogrammed workouts and information storage as well as iFit compatibility and Interactive Disc players.

It really depends on your personal preferences whether you choose a bike with 10 preset programs and an ultra high tech computer display or one with just a simple display.

However, keep in mind that in general, the higher priced bikes have more sophisticated options and are built with higher quality materials.

Warranty

Exercise Bikes come with a variety of warranties from 90 days to lifetime warranties on different parts of the bike. For example, parts and labor may be covered for 6 months, electronics for 1 year and the frame for a lifetime. In general a longer warranty is indicative of a higher quality machine.

Final Note: It is also important that you decide how much you are planning to use your exercise bike. For example, if you are new to exercising and not sure you'll use your exercise bike much, you might want to save some money and go with a more economical model.

If however you plan on using the bike a lot and/or are a regular exerciser, invest a bit more and get a machine that will last. Look for a high quality brand that is highly rated and gives you good value for your money.

By keeping these tips in mind when buying your exercise bike, you're much more likely to find one that best fits your workout needs. Good luck!

By Charles O'Neill

Exercise Bikes Provide Enjoyment As Well As a Great Workout

Exercise bikes will provide a lot of enjoyment as well as a great workout. They won't take up too much space in the corner of your room, and some can even fold away smaller still, fitting into the tiniest of cupboards. There are some bicycles that not only measure speed and distance, but also tell you the time you spend cycling, along with calories expended, pulse rate and work rate (or calories per hour).

Aerobic exercise should be performed around 4 to 5 times a week, and depending upon whether one is running, jogging or just walking, the amount of time one spends should be anywhere between 20 and 60 minutes long. There really is no need to overdo it since this can have negative effects on the body, such as fatigue; and you could possibly even get sick. Doing aerobic exercise with a stationary bike is also an excellent option for relieving stress and eliminating any anxiety. It's best to choose something you enjoy and look forward to doing anyway... and stick with it.

Cycling is one of the more diverse and inviting activities out there, and it's hard to find somebody who won't enjoy a bicycle in some fashion for some purpose. Exercise bikes can be used in order to keep up a cyclist's level of fitness in the off season. And some people may just feel embarrassed about exercising in front of other people, so they will use an exercise bike at home, as well as for many other reasons.

Bicycling is enjoyable but it can also be rather dangerous if done on a busy street. With an upright exercise bike, you can cycle in the comfort and safety of your own home while watching TV or listening to music.

By Jeffrey K. Hall

Exercise Bikes Provide Enjoyment As Well As a Great Workout

Exercise bikes will provide a lot of enjoyment as well as a great workout. They won't take up too much space in the corner of your room, and some can even fold away smaller still, fitting into the tiniest of cupboards. There are some bicycles that not only measure speed and distance, but also tell you the time you spend cycling, along with calories expended, pulse rate and work rate (or calories per hour).

Aerobic exercise should be performed around 4 to 5 times a week, and depending upon whether one is running, jogging or just walking, the amount of time one spends should be anywhere between 20 and 60 minutes long. There really is no need to overdo it since this can have negative effects on the body, such as fatigue; and you could possibly even get sick. Doing aerobic exercise with a stationary bike is also an excellent option for relieving stress and eliminating any anxiety. It's best to choose something you enjoy and look forward to doing anyway... and stick with it.

Cycling is one of the more diverse and inviting activities out there, and it's hard to find somebody who won't enjoy a bicycle in some fashion for some purpose. Exercise bikes can be used in order to keep up a cyclist's level of fitness in the off season. And some people may just feel embarrassed about exercising in front of other people, so they will use an exercise bike at home, as well as for many other reasons.

Bicycling is enjoyable but it can also be rather dangerous if done on a busy street. With an upright exercise bike, you can cycle in the comfort and safety of your own home while watching TV or listening to music.

By Jeffrey K. Hall

Stay Fit With Exercise Bikes

The present age has witnessed a huge upsurge with respect to us trying to keep fit and stay healthy. People resort to various options in order to maintain a correct figure and body weight. Moreover the media is highly instrumental in making us aware of the benefits of exercising and keeping in shape with respect to our hectic schedules. Therefore numerous options have emerged such as joining the gym and yoga classes, joining aerobics and dance classes, as well as engaging in sports activities such as swimming, football, basketball, jogging and so on. Some people have also made a gym in their private premises by installing different exercise machines for self maintenance.

Such exercise machines include products like twisters, treadmills and exercise bikes which are used to perform all kinds of routines. Since they are installed at home, they can be used at any time and can burn a lot of calories in the process too. Exercise bikes are common in all gyms and are a popularly used machine. Recumbent exercise bikes are one of the many sorts of bikes which are uniquely defined with specific features. Stationary exercise bikes are easy to use and can be used to burn body fats while performing all other tasks, namely, watching television or talking to others.

On the flip side, stationary bikes are noisy, only good for the leg portions and can even get boring after some time. Recumbent exercise bikes are equipped with an ergonomic mode, which allows the paddle rate of a person to go higher and also builds up his muscles with the same. Such exercise bikes are very easy on the body along with being safe and convenient to use. They provide agility to bone joints and are very good for those with such problems such as arthritis. Recumbent exercise bikes reduce the chances of any kind of injury and are more or less risk free. Safety and endurance are key qualities of such bikes.

Modern day technology has invented programmed bikes which can be tuned into any mode automatically as well as to the television. There are a few options to consider while opting for the best exercise bike. Budget is an important criterion, as the best quality bikes can be a little expensive and should be bought according to one's needs. The kind of bike to be bought also makes important criteria. It is also necessary to browse through several exercise bike reviews online and select one of your choices. Also as compared to regular stores, online ones offer discounts on exercise bikes of the latest models. It is not a bad idea to invest in second hand ones in case of novices.

By Michael Antony

Best Schwinn Recumbent Exercise Bike

When wanting to get into shape you might not think of using a recumbent exercise bike but I am here to tell you that they are the way to go. You simply need to find the best bike for you and you will love getting into shape.

The best schwinn recumbent exercise bike is definitely the model 213. It is the most popular bike for a reason. You won't find any other bicycle that is more comfortable and that lasts as long as this one. If you have ever been in a fitness equipment store and tested out their bicycles you would easily walk away with the 213.

Now you may not know this already but for the most part when it comes to equipment for exercising you get what you pay for. Schwinn is a well known and respected company because they don't make cheap bikes that will break on you. So you can expect to pay a little more for the quality that you will be getting with this company.

You then have to look at the different types of bikes offered. You can get an upright bike which looks like the normal bicycle you learned how to ride as a kid. The recumbent bike is one that has a back rest on it and it very popular for older people or people with bad backs. The mini bike is just a set of pedals that sits on the ground that you can use anywhere you desire. No matter your style, schwinn will have a bike for you.

By Bruce Bentley

Recumbent Exercise Bike Vs Treadmills

Which is best, recumbent exercise bikes or treadmills for home fitness equipment? Both the stationary recumbent bike and treadmill have their advantages. They both can come with preset programs that help you change the difficulty and intensity of your workouts. Both let you feel like you are going up a steep hill. With some of these exercise bike programs you can change levels of workout even intensity without needing to pull a lever or press a button. In many cases you can also set a program to random intensity that will keep you guessing and alert. Some recumbent bikes could be connected to a screen or come with monitors and virtual cycling games. If you pit an exercise vs. a treadmill for variety and these features. The recumbent exercise bikes would win.

The low-impact workout offered by the exercise bike trumps the high impact exercise of a treadmill. For anyone with back issues, knee and joint problems. The recumbent exercise bikes comfortable seating, and reclining design beats the treadmill hands down.

Also, boredom the great killer of exercise routines will no longer be your concern as it is with a treadmill. The recumbent stationary bike will definitely be more fun to exercise on and therefore would have more value for the money you spend and your long term fitness goals.

The treadmill seems to win in the calorie burning department. But does it? One fitness company did research on healthy people that do regular exercises and cardiovascular work outs. Using different home fitness equipment. Despite the fact that these people perceived workout intensity to be the same from one exercise machine as with another. This study concluded that more calories are to be burned when using ski exercisers and treadmills.

In the battle of exercise bike vs treadmills, this development seems to spell victory for the latter. Seven hundred fifty calories are burned in treadmill per hour versus five hundred fifty are burned on the stationary recumbent bike. However, there are many reasons why you should not just pick the fitness equipment that burns more calories. Why? Ask yourself this question: are you really going to stay committed to an exercise that burns more but is less fun and comfortable? Studies show the answer for most is , NO. Does it not make more sense to buy a stationary bike since you will use it more often. As opposed to a treadmill which probably will wind up accumulating spider webs because it is just becomes too boring or hard to use?

Here is one last thing to consider. Are you really going to work out on a treadmill for an hour or more daily? A walk outside would be much more fun than that. And that would be free. Most people that workout on exercise bikes say that twenty minutes on a bike goes by much faster and easier than on a treadmill. If you use a comfortable recumbent exercise bike twice as often as a treadmill, then you would end up burning more calories if you bought the recumbent bike. The choice is yours of course. Think about this when selecting a home exercise machine. If it is recumbent exercise bike vs. a treadmill. Be sure to choose the one that is safer, more fun, and that you are more to keep working out with.

By JoiAnn Marshall

Is the Schwinn Airdyne Evolution Comp Exercise Bike Better?

The Schwinn Airdyne Evolution Comp Exercise Bike is the update of the classic dual action exercise bike. Anything can be improved, and the standard model Airdyne is no exception. To show they have good sense,the Schwinn people didn't try to replace the original Airdyne. They just introduced this model as an added model. Good move. Here's how the Evo Comp does it better...

It's the breeze... and the noise... See, the Airdyne models use the resistance from turning a fan to create the load you work against. Turning fans make wind and noise. In this case, lots of wind and lots of noise.

What the Evo has is a different fan and a different drive system. That fan is smaller and the drive is a belt not a chain. Plus, that makes for a physically smaller machine, easier to move and store.

What you get is a quieter bike with less wind noise and less drive noise too. That's a good deal. Plus you get less breeze on you too. Now a breeze is not all bad, but the old Airdyne can generate gale force winds. That's not good.

So, with the newer Schwinn Airdyne Evolution Comp Exercise Bike, you get the same type rugged design as the older model. But, you get that same performance with less noise and less wind blowing at you too. This is worth a look if you're in the market for a rugged exercise bike that will probably work for as long as you want to pedal an exercise bike.

By Al Bullington

The Schwinn 231 Exercise Bike - What You May Not Know

You can buy an exercise bike for less than a Schwinn 231 will cost you. Here's the problem, lesser bikes often self-destruct and even worse... Exercise bike riding is a great way to burn fat. That's because you're building muscle, not just burning calories. That's the way you burn fat... build muscle and boost your metabolism. Here's the Schwinn advantage...

1. Computers for weight loss...

The 231 has lots of computer power. That's programmed workouts to select from. Why does that matter? Those programs give you varied workouts so you don't get bored. A bike that's fun to ride is a bike that gets ridden more. That's the ticket to fat burning and weight loss... more riding.

2. Comfort seat and more...

Recumbent exercise bikes put you in a good position, but you still need a big, comfortable seat if you 're going to keep pedaling. That's what you get here. Plus, you get seat mounting rails, so you can adjust the seat to just the right spot. You also get an easy step through frame... no high stepping required.

3. Then there's the noise...

or the lack of noise. See, the magnetic drive makes almost zero noise as you pedal away. Read, watch a movie or listen to music. Do whatever you choose in almost perfect quiet...

4. Quality or else.

Cheap exercise bikes often self-destruct. You can waste all the money you pay for a cheap bike if it doesn't stand the strain. And there is a strain. All that pedaling can tear a lesser machine all to pieces. That's a Schwinn strong point... rugged construction. It will stand up over the long haul.

5. Expensive, but not too...

This isn't the cheapest bike you can get, but it gives you a lot for a moderate price. A bike like the 231 is a stay at home machine with no gym fees, no membership fees, no travel expense, no on-going expense of any kind. It does most of what much more expensive exercise bike do too.

The Schwinn 231 recumbent bike has lots of computer power, but it has solid basic construction too. It's a popular choice if you're looking for a recumbent bike at a moderate price. Make sure you don't pay full retail price though. You can find it much cheaper if you know where to look...

By Al Bullington

The Exercise Bike Upright Type Pros And Cons

Exercise bike upright types provide a riding experience much like a road bicycle. The seating position is upright with handlebars and a seat much like a conventional bicycle.

This is a good starting point for equipment if you are just looking for a cardio machine to add to your workout. This will give you an option for an indoor workout even in bad weather. The lower priced exercise bikes are often found in this design. But even many of the lower priced machines are very useful and well made.

Those with injuries or severe limitations may find these bikes hard to use. Also the lower priced exercise bikes are not heavy enough for very vigorous stand-up pedaling. But for moderate level workouts for most of us, the moderate priced upright bikes may be all you need.

One advantage to upright exercise bikes is they have a small footprint. They do not take up much space so are useful in most any home and are fairly easy to move.

Another consideration for a bike is the noise level. Most of the upright exercise bikes have a quiet magnetic resistance system. The resistance system provides the load against which you pedal. Listen to music or videos with no problem if your bike uses a resistance system. With an air resistance machine, there's much more noise, but you get the cooling breeze from the fan.

A final major consideration in choosing an exercise bike is the workout programming. Most of these bikes have a performance monitor tracking time, calories burned and miles covered.

Do you want other functions? For extra motivation you can get bikes that vary resistance levels and simulate workouts over varying terrain. This should make your workout time fly by. You can even get machines that let you play video games as you ride for a real diversion to make the workout time rush past. Consider getting a heart rate monitor.

Choose an upright exercise bike as a starter machine and you can get a very useful machine at a moderate price. A higher priced upright bike may be right for you if your bike will be punished by very vigorous workouts. Higher priced upright exercise bikes can stand very hard use for many years.

By Al Bullington

Recumbent Exercise Bikes - What Are Their Advantages?

We hear a lot about recumbent exercise bikes when it comes to fitness equipment, but what are their advantages? Here's a look.

Recumbent bikes work very well with all age groups and fitness levels. Because of how you are sitting back on the wide, comfortable seat, they are very low impact, yet provide an excellent workout.

Beginners

For beginners, a recumbent bike is one of the easiest pieces of exercise equipment around. You can set the resistance level to 1 if you like, or to as much resistance as you would like. Because of the nice, wide, padded seats, these machines are comfortable for all individuals regardless of weight.

Experts

Don't think that recumbent exercise bikes are only good for beginners because they work equally well for fitness experts. Since you can set the resistance levels as high as you wish, developing increased strength and stamina is easy. These bikes can help prepare your body for any sports routine or event.

Low Impact

There is a reason why sports doctors, health car professionals and fitness trainers recommend a recumbent exercise bike. They provide a very low impact workout and work even better for those working their way back from an injury.

Unlike other fitness machines or stationary bikes, you are not putting stress on your knees or back. You are not hunched over like you are when riding a bicycle.

Recumbents are also a good way to build muscle in your lower body. This is particularly helpful to many men who tend to only work their upper body strength. Of course, there are cardiovascular benefits with recumbent bikes as well.

These are only a few of the advantages that these bikes have over other types of fitness equipment.

By Gary Bradfield

Mini Exercise Bike

You might be thinking you what a mini exercise bike is but it's not what you might think. It's not an exercise bike that is just smaller than a normal sized one. The name mini refers to the bikes that are only the pedal system without the rest of the bike.

A mini exercise bike is very small and compact and can fit under any desk. You can imagine how useful this can be for your fitness level. Just imagine, you can be at work on the computer while pedaling to good health at the same time. Many people prefer to be doing something else while exercise because you are focused on things other than the pain or burn that you may feel from the workout.

Not many people can devote a whole room in their house for fitness equipment and for this reason a mini bike is perfect because you can store it anywhere you want. This way you don't have to have a big bulky piece of exercise equipment in one of the rooms in your house.

The bikes have different resistance levels depending on how hard you want to work. Sometimes it's good to just have it on an easy setting while you are busy doing other stuff so that you can focus on your work. Or maybe you just want to pedal for an hour during one of your favorite t.v. shows. You could even sit in your favorite chair and read a book while you work on your fitness.'

By Joshua Dibbs

Cardio Benefits of an Exercise Bike

Fitness exercise bikes can be used inside the home or in fitness clubs. Many people use cardio equipment to maintain their health and stay in physical shape. Recumbent bikes are extremely popular because they give the user a lot of cardio exercise, which strengthens your heart. There are many benefits of using an exercise bike.

The majority of people today do not get enough daily exercise. Our society has evolved with technology such as cars and other forms of transportation. Many people are working 40 hours a week and do not have time to exercise. They are not exercising and their health is deteriorating in the process. One thing that is great about an upright bike is that you can place them anywhere inside your home. You can ride your bike while watching television. Thirty minutes a day, three days a week is a great start to getting the right amount of exercise you need.

You can always get on your own equipment and ride it any time you want. If it is raining outside and you want to ride your regular bicycle, you are unable to do it. With an exercise bike, the weather can be awful or you can suffer a power outage, you can still ride it. Having an exercise bike inside your home is very convenient and you do not have to worry about going to a local gym. You can just stay at home and develop an exercise routine that fits your needs.

Many Americans die from heart disease each year. Heart disease is one of the main causes of fatalities in the United States. Why? We are not exercising enough. You do not have to do indoor biking. You could do outdoor biking. More and more communities are building bike trails available for public usage. Ever considered dance aerobics? That will boost up your cardio. Running is also a great way to get your heart pumping. Many sports can also help your heart. There are so many exercises to choose from, you will most certainly find something that works for you. Doing exercises at home will save you a lot of money and time. Going to the local gym in your area almost always requires a monthly membership.

Exercising regularly and maintaining a good balanced diet will ensure great health benefits and active life. You will live longer and you will get to enjoy life's greatest wonders. Exercise bikes are also affordable. You really have nothing to lose. Researching the availability of cycling bikes could be a fun challenge to take on. That is what life is, full of excitement and unpredictability. Choosing the right bicycle and the right exercise regimen for you could well be the greatest investment you will ever make.

Also research other health benefits related to cardiovascular exercise. You could even meet some long term friends in the process. This is a victory for you when you purchase a piece of equipment that you like and will use for something besides a clothes rack. You will have a heart of gold once you know the potential health benefits of exercising.

By Michael Joshua

A Review of the Top Exercise Bike Ratings

Exercise bikes are still very popular pieces of equipment in the home fitness field. Although treadmills has taken over the number one sales spot, exercise bikes still get plenty of attention. No doubt, many people are drawn to them because of the familiarity of design. What can be simpler than the design of a bicycle? And riding a bicycle has very good health benefits as we all know.

But which exercise bike is best for you? Actually, the first question to ask is which exercise bike type best for you? You need to answer that question because there are two main types or styles of exercise bikes available for sale. One is the upright bike and the other is the recumbent bike. The upright style looks most like a normal bicycle with a seat and handlebars, and pedals underneath. The recumbent style of exercise bike can look completely different, with a seat that you actually lay in while you work the pedals out in front of you. Either type of exercise bike seems to perform well when it comes to giving you a good thorough cardio workout. So the choice is actually a matter of preference rather then effectiveness.

But which models seem to be rated the best overall? There have been several independent reviews made of exercise bikes over the years, and lots of consumer reviews are available online as well. By going through them, you can get a good feel for both the models that you want to buy, and those that you should stay away from. We have made a search of these available exercise bike reviews and ratings, and here are some recommendations that we can make based on our findings.

1. The Life Fitness C3-5 upright and the Life Fitness R3-5 recumbent bikes are extremely well reviewed and rated highly by almost everyone. In general, Life Fitness exercise bikes seem to get good ratings anyway. But these models enjoy particularly good ratings. They are both packed with features like 20 levels of resistance, an integrated heart rate monitor, and 10 pre-programmed workouts that you can choose from. Another great feature is that they are very solid and sturdy, supporting up to 400 lbs., meaning that even some of the largest consumers will be able to safely use them. And Life Fitness also stands behind their products with a very solid warranty.Expect to pay about $1800 for each.

2. Another manufacturer that gets very high marks in many exercise bike reviews is Schwinn. Of course, Schwinn has been in the bike business for years now, and is no stranger to the exercise bike field. Perhaps one of the best features about Schwinn exercise bikes is how much you get for the money. They don't tend to come loaded up with all the bells and whistles, so if you want all of that you probably need to look elsewhere. But what they do give you is a solid machine for a very good price. For instance the Schwinn 113 upright and Schwinn 213 recumbent models only cost around $600, but they still have a 300 lbs. weight capacity, 16 resistance levels, and 10 programs to choose from, making it a great value in the exercise bike genre. Expect to pay about $600 for these models.

There are other exercise bike manufacturers and models that have received positive ratings and reviews. For instance,Tunturi exercise bikes have also been rated highly many times in the past by both product reviewers and consumers alike. But the two models we listed above seem to rise to the top of most exercise bike ratings and reviews on a consistent basis, and we feel that they would be a good choice for almost anyone.

By Thad Pickering

Why Ride a Schwinn 230 Exercise Bike?

One of the worst mistakes you can make when choosing an exercise bike is spending too little money. Here's why... Cheap bikes self destruct and are no fun to use while they last. As a contrast, the Schwinn 230 exercise bike offers good value, but at a fair price too. The 230 is noted for 3 real advantages.

Quiet.

The magnetic drive is almost whisper quiet. That way you can watch movies or read a book and you get to do it in quiet. You can even listen to music while you pedal away.

Comfort.

The seat on these bikes gets much praise. It's a big almost reclining seat that's rated high for comfort. Plus the seat is on a sliding rail so it fits just about anybody. It's comfort all the way. That way you can ride longer and harder and still be comfortable.

Fight boredom.

Why do exercise bike owners not ride those machines? Easy... Boredom. One way to win over boredom is with the built-in programmable workouts. That's another way this machine is rated high. It has lots of workout routines to keep the rides interesting and fun. You can mix up workouts and fight back the boredom.

The Schwinn 230 exercise bike is a good value and a quality machine. Ride in quiet and comfort on this machine. You also get plenty of computer power so you can avoid the boredom of pedaling. Here's another thing... You can buy these bikes at a big discount off of retail price, if you buy at the right place...

By Al Bullington

5 Tips to Get the Best Dual Action Exercise Bike

For years the dual action exercise bike has been a popular machine. See, you can work out your lower body and your upper body at the same time. That's a good deal. Not just because it's a better workout either. It's a great way to fight boredom. Boredom stops many exercise bike riders. Here's what to look for to get the ride machine.

1. Heavy counts...

See, what you want is heavy and rugged. Why's that? This type of machine takes a real beating. There's one brand that made these machines famous. There are also look-alikes that want a piece of that market. Problem is... the wannabes often come apart in no time. Make sure your bike is heavy and rugged...

2. Seats count too.

Riding an exercise bike involves a lot of sitting and quite a bit of moving. The right seat makes all the difference. You can almost tell by looking that many seats are torture devices. Get a good seat. You won't be sorry.

3. Noise matters.

Dual action machines generate resistance by turning a fan. That's a good way to make a lot of wind and a bunch of noise too. Does the bike you're looking at shield the rider from the wind? Is there some attempt to control the noise? There's more...

4. Looks can be tricky...

A bike may look like it would work, but look deeper. Look at the fit and finish of a machine. If it's really cheap to buy, there may be a reason. Quality pays, but it often costs too. Buy a discount machine and get ready for a self-destruct. Don't pay too little for an exercise bike. It will be a waste of money.

5. Are there a lot of owners?

Can you find owner feedback? That's the ticket. Especially if you find a bike that's been around for years. You can then feel some confidence that you will be wisely turning loose of your hard earned funds.

A dual action exercise bike is a great way to stay fit without leaving home. Look out though. It's hard to make a machine that can stand up to the pounding. Looks are deceiving too.


By Al Bullington

Why Using a Fitness Exercise Bike is the Best Form of Exercise

There are a wide range of fitness exercise bikes on the market today, offering the perfect workout for literally everyone who with fitness goals. From someone looking to drop a few extra pounds to those just looking to tone up or maintain their current weight, an exercise bike is the perfect home tool to help achieve these goals.

You probably know by now that the only formula for real weight loss or maintenance is calories in versus calories out. You have to burn more than you eat to lose weight or balance it nicely to keep at your current weight. Try going in the other direction and you will find your need for a home exercise bike even more urgent as you pick up more weight.

Fitness bikes help with this equation because they will help you burn off massive calories on a daily basis, so that you can eat a little more while still losing weight. Dieting alone is one way to go, but you will have to seriously restrict calories in order to stay below the amount your body naturally burns just to stay alive and sustain your daily movements.

Exercise is critical so that you can eat a little more and still take off the weight or improve your physical fitness. Biking has always been one of the best ways to burn off calories and maintain a healthy body, but now it has been made even more comfortable with the recumbent fitness exercise bike.

With a recumbent you ride in a seated position with your legs stretched out in front of you. There is virtually no pressure on your lower body unless you really crank up the resistance on purpose. This makes recumbent bikes excellent forms of exercise without the dangers that you may worry about with an upright bike.

The best part is that working out in your home doesn't have to be expensive. There are very affordable options, such as the highly rated Proform fitness bike. For as little as a couple hundred dollars you can have an efficient bike in your home that burns calories at whatever time of day is convenient to you.

If you prefer the older bike style, consider the Schwinn Airdyne fitness bike. It delivers more resistance the harder you pedal just like older bikes and even delivers a cooling breeze as you pedal. If you have physical fitness goals to meet, fitness exercise bikes could make the difference between sticking to an exercise program and giving up because it is inconvenient.

By Robin Murphy

Why Exercise Bikes Are Great

Exercising is very important to the health of all people. If you live in America there is a 40% chance that you are well overweight. It's no surprise that exercise equipment sales are on a rise. How many people do you know that buy a treadmill and use it less than 10 times? I know a lot of people that have a great treadmill but it ends up with dust all over it and takes up half of a room in their house. Treadmills are a great way to get some exercise but who has that much space? The are super expensive and most of them are very loud. If you want to get into shape I would suggest that you get an exercise bike.

• They are silent for starters so you won't annoy everyone else in the room if you decide to start riding it.
• They are inexpensive compared to all the bulky equipment available today.
• They can be stored in the closet and in some cases even under you bed.
• They are very good for people with bad joints, especially knee problems. Because you are seated the full impact of your body isn't crushing down on your knees every second.
• They allow you to exercise while doing other things such as reading a book or watching T.V.
• Some come with a backrest for people with bad backs. The style with a backrest is called a recumbent bike.

So with all the positive reasons listed about biking for good health why would you go with any other type of machinery. Don't pay tons for a some contraption that you will only use a couple of times, stick to what is familiar and enjoyable.

By Cade O.

Exercise Bike Guide - Reduce Weight With Exercise Bike

Exercise bike is presently one of the most popular home cardio exercise equipments. It is the best equipment to improve one’s health. Actually it is designed for some special purposes. Exercise bikes are categorized as upright exercise bikes and recumbent exercise bikes. Both are good but people generally feel comfortable with recumbent because they’ve bucket seats.

Exercise bikes are light & portable and can be easily transferred from one place to another. They help you to get into shape and burn off some extra calories. Exercise bikes offer aerobic benefits at your home. They can be easily parked in front of your room’s window or television or anywhere else where you want to place it.

Indoor stationery bikes are used to beat obesity or for exercise purposes. Exercise bikes offer different methods to increase the resistance that include magnet, fans and friction mechanisms. Sometimes users are allowed to pedal backwards for the exercise of antagonist muscles that are not exercised with forward paddling.

Doctors usually suggest heart patients to reduce some weight but they can’t go out for daily workout thats why exercise bike is the best option for them to exercise at home. Users should talk to their doctor before starting any exercise program. You don’t have to spend a lot for stationery exercise bike. Prices range of exercise bike is from $100 to slightly over $2000.

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