Wednesday 26 March 2014

Important Factors to Consider when Buying an Exercise Bike


Many people get excited when buying an exercise bike about the amount of features an exercise bike may have, such as programmable workouts.  However, there are a lot more important factors to consider when buying an exercise bike.

Exercise bikes make working out in the comfort of your own home easy and fun.  They are low impact which means that they are kinder to your joints and knees than many other forms of exercise.

However, it’s important to get the right exercise bike that is best for you.   There are different types of exercise bikes which you need to look at, as different bikes are suited to different people depending on what you are looking to get out of a bike.  In addition, you need to consider factors such as safety, smooth/quiet operation, adjustability options (e.g. seat adjustment for height), resistance/intensity adjustments to keep your workouts challenging, user weight rating limits, as well as price and warranties.
Let’s take a look in detail at the most important factors to consider when buying an exercise bike to help you get the best exercise bike for you:


Type of Exercise Bike

There are several different types of exercise bikes to choose from, including:

·         Upright exercise bikes
·         Recumbent exercise bikes
·         Air/Fan exercise bikes
·         Pro/Spin exercise bikes


Upright exercise bike, Schwinn 170, most common type of exercise bike with monitor console with variety of workout programs
Most people are familiar with Upright exercise bikes.  These are the most common and traditional type of exercise bike.  As the name suggests, you sit upright on these bikes and they commonly come with a monitor/console which includes a variety of workout programs and tracks your workout progress.

Recumbent exercise bike, Schwinn 270, with a fuller seat and back support, with step through design, ideal for people with back problems or recovering from injury
Recumbent exercise bikes have a fuller seat with back support, together with a step-through design to make it easier to get on and off the bike.  These types of bikes are ideal for people who have back problems or who are recovering from injury and have been advised to exercise.

Air Fan exercise bike, Schwinn Airdyne AD6, large flywheel, work on air resistance for unlimited resistance levels, dual-action handlebars for upper & lower body workout

Air or Fan exercise bikes feature a large flywheel and work on air resistance, i.e. the faster you pedal, the harder the resistance will be (effectively giving you unlimited resistance levels).  Many air or fan exercise bikes have dual-action handlebars, allowing you to work both the upper and lower body at the same time, to give you an effective total body workout.


Pro or Spin exercise bikes mimic the feel of an outdoor road bike.  These types of bikes are suited to the more serious cyclists who want to train or cycle indoors.  Rather than sitting upright, you tend to lean forward just as you would on an outdoor bike.



Make sure you choose a bike with an adjustable seat for different user heights.  You need to be able to reach the pedals and handlebars comfortably without straining.  If you have several members in your household who are likely to use the bike, the ease of adjusting the seat is very important.


Seat Size and Comfort

Unfortunately an uncomfortable seat is one of the biggest downfalls when it comes to exercise bikes.  Try to make sure you buy a bike with a padded seat which is the right size to fit you comfortably.

If you find an exercise bike you really like, but find the only thing wrong with it is an uncomfortable seat, you can always buy a padded or gel seat cover at a relatively small extra cost to solve the problem.  Alternatively, check that you can swap the seat out for one of your own choice.

Recumbent exercise bikes generally have the most comfortable seat with a larger seat area and a back support rest.


User Weight Rating

Different exercise bikes are built to different standards and come with different user weight ratings.  Make sure you choose a bike that is built to support your weight.  A bike that is built to support a heavier user weight, will generally be a better build quality and offer a more stable smooth ride than a cheaper bike with a lower user weight limit.  It will also be built for longer-lasting durability.  So even if you’re not that heavy, it’s better to invest in a higher-rated bike if you can afford it.


Adjustable Resistance

Choosing an exercise bike with an adjustable resistance system is important if you want to keep your workouts challenging as you get more used to cycling.  Being able to adjust the intensity of the resistance or tension will help you to keep increasing and improving your fitness levels.


Workout Programs

If you like more of a challenge or you are one of those people who are likely to get bored easily, then choose a bike with a monitor/console that offers a good variety of workout programs.  Different workout programs can make your cycling more fun and interesting.

Many monitor/consoles track the progress of your workouts including stats like time, distance, speed, calories burned and heart rate.  (Not all bikes come with a heart-rate monitor, but many come with a built-in hand-grip pulse monitor.)


Pedals

The pedals should operate smoothly and ideally have straps to keep your feet securely in place as you pedal.  Many exercise bikes have pedals that are ergonomically designed for optimum comfort.


Additional Features

Some exercise bikes come with additional features that although may not be as important as some of the above factors, can be a nice added bonus!  Some things to think about:

·         In-built sound system
·         Head-phone socket
·         USB charger
·         Reading rack
·         In-built fan
·         Water bottle holder
·         Media tray


Safety

Choose an exercise bike that has stabilizers and levellers that help to keep the bike from moving or tipping while you exercise.

Make sure that there are no exposed moving parts on the exercise bike.  This is especially important if you have young children or pets.


Price

We all know the saying, “You get what you pay for”!  A good quality exercise bike is worth paying extra for – it will give you a solid stable workout, together with smooth quiet operation, and will stand the test of time for long-lasting durability.  If you don’t want to spend too much money and just want an exercise bike for light use, then there are plenty of cheap exercise bikes to choose from.  Remember to bear in mind, the above considerations such as user weight limits which is normally lower on the cheaper bikes.


Warranties

Different exercise bikes come with different warranties.   Generally the higher-end models will have better warranties.  Remember to check the warranty offered on a bike – you will typically find that the frame has the longest period of warranty, while the parts, electronics and labor can have varying different warranties.

N.B.  It’s always advisable to consult your doctor or health care professional before undertaking any new exercise regime.


*Prices/discounts/shipping indicated correct at time of writing/publishing and may be subject to change anytime.  E&OE.


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