So, you are thinking about shopping for fitness equipment to help you get fit or keep fit. Great plan, especially if you choose sports and exercise equipment in the convenience of your home or office. Exercise bicycles, also called indoor bikes or studio cycles, provide a great workout with much less stress on knees and ankles. By itself or as part of a home gym, an exercise bike is a great investment in your long-term health. This exercise bike buying guide will help you figure out how to buy an exercise bike that will fit your needs and total fitness goals.
If you are new to a sports or fitness program, you should get a check-up before you begin. Most exercise is good for you, but if you have certain health conditions, some exercises can make them worse, not better. After a thorough exam, your doctor can discuss your individual fitness situation and may recommend workout machines or exercises to address your specific needs.
Cycling, skating and scooters, water sports and team sports are great ways to get fit. Unfortunately, it gets hot, it gets cold, it rains, it snows, the gym closes -- fitness exercise programs are sometimes inconvenient or uncomfortable; in some weather, they could even be dangerous. A home gym stationary exercise bike is a perfect way to work out when you can't exercise outside or for those who want to get fit while doing something else, like reading or watching TV.
Upright bikes
This design is an offshoot of a normal street bicycle and is probably the most common style among stationary bikes. With wheels replaced by gears or other mechanics, upright exercise bikes take up less space than their street cousins. An upright exercise bike feels more natural to cyclists and many experts have concluded you'll get a more intense workout using an upright exercise bike because the stance allows you to put more effort into your ride.
Recumbent bikes
For those with back or balance problems, or those who want more padding than an ordinary bicycle seat can provide, check out recumbent bikes. Some feel recumbent bikes make it easier to read or watch TV while working out. The biggest benefit of a recumbent exercise bike is the seat's ergonomic design; many find the larger seat, natural position and extension of the legs more comfortable. They also feel a recumbent bike reduces stress on joints. Because the effort comes from the lower body, those looking to lose weight in their legs, thighs and abdomen may get better results from a recumbent stationary bike.
Dual action bikes
Dual action stationary bikes combine upright exercise bikes with movable handle bars to give the arms a workout. Most exercise bikes emphasize lower body workouts; these give a better total fitness workout. Of course, dual action bikes are slightly larger (and pricier) workout machines, but generally not so much larger that either becomes a major issue.
Home exercise equipment allows greater convenience, consistency and privacy in your workout program than any gym membership. Gym memberships win in the flexibility and variety categories, because you have more options, but you will pay for the privilege. Some home gym systems also provide a wide variety of exercise options, but these are notoriously high-priced. A stationary bike is a great choice for the budget conscious.
Most stationary bicycles are now equipped with on-board computers to provide assistance in customizing exercise routines. Basic computers can track your speed, time, distance ridden, total calories burned and heart rate. More sophisticated computers have programmable resistance levels and workout plans that help you keep your fitness routines at the right fat-burning or cardio-training levels. Some will interface to your home computer to record workout sessions for comparison. More options mean more money, of course, but if you feel you need the data, they are well worth the extra dollars.
Consider size and weight. Some home gyms are small and light enough to move anywhere in the house, so family members can get fit wherever is most comfortable for them. Some fitness products are big enough that you can't move them easily, so you'll have to decide where you're going to put your new workout equipment before you buy it. Exercise bikes are also geared for specific body sizes. Check your exercise machine to be sure its weight capacity meets the needs of everyone in the family.
Resistance
Have you heard the phrase "just spinning your wheels?" If you buy a stationary bike without some type of resistance, that's what you're doing. Exercise bikes make it harder for you to pedal (putting real "work" into your "workout") in one of four ways:
Seat
If you're going to plant your backside on an exercise bike for several hours per week, it better be comfortable! The exact size, shape and design of an exercise bike seat, the amount of padding and its materials all contribute to a seat's comfort level. What works for one person won't automatically work for another. Some exercise bike seats offer back support and other do not. You can also find adjustable seats that will fit the height of everyone in your family. Drop in on your friends and test drive their stationary bikes , especially their "experienced" indoor bikes. If you sit for 30 minutes on a well-used home exercise bike and your muscles aren't screaming at you, this is a good seat.
Belt
If your exercise machine has a belt, get Kevlar, if you can; it's more durable and smoother than a chain.
Handles
Exercise bikes may have fixed handles or adjustable handles; if the family members vary widely in height, having adjustable handles will be a welcomed option. Dual action exercise bicycles also have movable handlebars or hand pedals for a total fitness workout. If the sports bike has a heart rate monitor, the sensors are usually in the handles. (Padded handles are a very good idea.)
Base and Frame
Stability is the point; a more stable exercise bike is a safer, more comfortable bike. Most stationary bikes have an I-shaped base, a central beam with bars extending to the sides; wider beams are more stable, but as long as the bike doesn't tip as you get on or off, you're probably okay. If you need to move the exercise bike, look for one equipped with wheels. Also, look for tube steel or box steel frames for greatest strength.
Extras
Do you want a water bottle holder? Do you need to keep your cell phone handy? Decide beforehand which accessories you want and need on your home exercise bike and you won't regret your purchase after.
Computer console
Smaller exercise bikes have smaller consoles. Many have a few LED readouts that switch back and forth between several measurements. Look at the size, look at the position, look at how it's laid out and how easy it is to read.
Stationary bikes are pretty simple to maintain. A few common-sense precautions will keep your indoor bike in top condition:
The computer will need power, so check the batteries or electrical cord regularly. If you are going to be away for a while, remove the batteries or unplug the cable.
Isn't riding a bike to nowhere boring?
Yes, in fact, boredom is a serious problem for many people who are trying to maintain an exercise program. An exercise bike has an advantage: you can get a basic exercise fitness workout or a real ironman fitness workout while watching a movie or reading a book (both of which you, undoubtedly, got in the Overstock.com entertainment store).
Is a stationary bike enough?
For total fitness, no; but take that stationary bike, add weights, balls, gym accessories and other fitness equipment; nutritional supplements from the Overstock.com's health and beauty store; great advice in home and gym fitness books and a little personal dedication and you'll be feeling pretty good about your health in no time at all.
Get fit and look good doing it.
Check out all of the cool fitness apparel you can wear while working out. You'll save up to 70 percent on your stationary bike; why not spend a little on exercise gloves and other workout clothing, much of which also works as sport apparel.
Get some variety.
You don't need a complete home gym with every piece of home fitness equipment on the market. However, if you and your spouse like to exercise together, you might prefer a recumbent exercise bike while your spouse prefers an elliptical trainer. You also might like to switch now and then, just for diversity. Likewise, you may need more than one exercise machine to meet your fitness goals. With Overstock.com's prices, you can, over a very short stretch of time, put together a discount home gym package that will help you meet all of your total fitness goals.
Get the kinks worked out
Everybody overdoes it now and then. When you do, or anytime you want to loosen up after a workout or a long day at work, try some sports therapy. Massage, stress relief and relaxation are all very good things, and the harder you work out, the better they feel.
