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Buying an exercise bike? An exercise bike is an excellent
way to build fitness, lose
weight and get fit. But how
do you choose the best one?
This buying guide will show
you exactly what to look for
when shopping so you can find
the very best exercise bike
for your needs! 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 and Star Trac.
Always remember that with
exercise bikes - in general
- you get what you pay for
so try to spend the most that
you can and get a 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 compatibilit
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 keep in mind that
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 cheaper 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. That's it - good luck
and have fun! Charles O'Neill
is a certified personal trainer
and contributing writer for
Exercise Bike Review a consumer
oriented website focusing
on the home exercise bike
market. For more buying tips,
brand reviews, and best buys
visit http://www.Exercise-Bike-Review.com
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