Exercise Bikes
It helps to know what to expect before you go shopping for an exercise bike. You are not going to get one with all of the bells and whistles for just $100. A good entry level exercise bike might run about $200 just for the basics. Mid-priced exercise bikes in the $300-$600 range will offer more features. At around $500 you can get a bike with super smooth operation, magnetic resistance controls, an adjustable seat, a variety of built-in workout programs and some sort of pulse or heart rate control. The top-of-the-line exercise bikes can cost over $600 and at that level should include push button resistance control, LED display console, good warranty, pulse driven workout choices, an adjustable handlebar and a selection of pre-set workout programs.
Exercise bikes should be comfortable and adjustable or you won’t want to workout on them. Comfort on an exercise bike often translates to one of two seating positions; recumbent and upright. Recumbent exercise cycles are the ones that put your body in a comfortable seated position. Riders sit in a reclined position with their feet pedaling out in front. The second and more traditional type of exercise bikes are the uprights, where riders sit exactly as if they were riding a normal bicycle. Most enthusiasts prefer the recumbent bikes because they are more comfortable, but they do make it harder to pedal as intensely as you might if you were in a more traditional standing position.
Remember that cheap exercise bikes often have a poor display screens and lack any pre-set workout programs. Moving up into the $300-$600 dollar range will yield a lot more choices, and should all feature built-in workout programs and a display providing feedback on heart rate, time, distance and calories burned. The higher-priced exercise bikes will also feature magnetic resistance instead of tension belt resistance to insure quiet operation.
An exercise bike lacking user feedback features will quickly lead to boredom and a lack of motivation. High end exercise bikes will boast all manner of LED readouts and customizable programs to track the progress of your workouts and keep users motivated. One important thing to remember when shopping for an exercise bike is that the point of riding is to get your heart rate up. If your target bike does not have a heart rate monitor, you might want to look for something else.
Before You Buy
Before you purchase a new exercise bike there are a few salient points to remember:
- Make sure the seat is comfortable and adjustable.
- Make sure the stride length is adequate for your height – you don’t want to be cramped.
- Make sure your bike displays speed, distance, time, calories burned, and resistance.
- Make sure the pedals fit your feet with your workout shoes on.
- Make sure you can reach all the controls easily while working out.
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