|
If you're looking for an exercise machine that will give
you a good cardio workout
without stressing your joints,
then maybe an exercise bike
is just what you need. Treadmills
are still the most popular
exercise machine out there,
but not everyone can use a
treadmill safely, because
of the high impact exercise
that it asks you to do. If
you have very sensitive joints
for any reason, you'll have
to try a different means of
getting a daily workout. Elliptical
trainers can work well for
this purpose, but an exercise
bike is also a very fine choice.
A lot of people seem to gravitate
to exercise bikes, probably
because they are familiar
with the overall design. And
everyone knows that riding
a bicycle is good exercise,
so it only makes sense that
if you can perform the same
motions indoors you should
be able to get similar health
benefits. So what should you
look for when you are shopping
for exercise bikes? The first
thing to decide is whether
you wish to have an upright
bike or a recumbent bike.
The upright exercise bike
looks very similar to a real
bicycle, with handlebars,
a seat, and pedals underneath.
The recumbent exercise bike
on the other hand, can be
a sort of strange looking
contraption, that you actually
lay in and pedal with your
feet straight out in front
of you. Most fitness experts
seem to agree that either
type of exercise bike will
work well for you, it just
depends on your personal preference
and comfort level as to which
bike you should buy. For instance,
those with chronic back problems
may find the recumbent exercise
bike much easier to work with.
When looking over the exercise
bike candidates, the same
general rule of thumb applies
here as it does in other exercise
machines. You generally get
what you pay for. In other
words, most of the really
cheap exercise bikes will
not hold up well over the
long haul. So expect to pay
at least $600 to $1000 for
a good piece of equipment,
and $1500 or more for a really
heavy-duty gym quality machine.
It's always a good idea to
try out any exercise bike
model that interests you in
advance in person. See how
comfortable it is for you
to use as you exercise. Does
this seat fit you as it should?
Can you adjust the seat level
to give you a comfortable
travel distance to the pedals?
Other considerations include
whether or not that particular
model has a heart rate monitor.
This is a good piece of equipment
to have for almost any exercise
machine that you want to use.
In fact, some machines are
even coming with interactive
heart rate monitors that keep
an eye on your heart rate
level and adjust your workout
automatically to help you
burn the most calories per
session. If you can get an
exercise bike with this feature,
it can be well worth it. Also
make sure that the display
on each model gives you the
information that you would
really like to have as you
workout. Does it keep track
of the time that you have
been on the machine? Does
it show the calories you have
burned? Does it display your
heart rate level? Does it
allow you to adjust the resistance
of the machine as you workout?
As you test out each machine,
take notes on each model,
both its strengths and its
weaknesses, and then compile
the information after you
have looked at a good representation
of all exercise bike models
available. By keeping the
suggestions listed above in
mind and doing your homework
you should be able to make
the best exercise bike choice
possible for your needs. Thad
Pickering writes on many consumer
related topics including fitness.
You can find exercise bike
ratings and the best exercise
bike by visiting our Home
Fitness website. |
