With all the high-tech equipment you can find in gyms these days, it’s easy to overlook the trusty stationary bike. But an exercise trundling can be a smart investment when you’re building a home gym or just looking for an easy way to get some cardio at home.
Exercise bikes can help you wits many of the physical and mental benefits of cycling without having to squatter the elements (or the traffic) outdoors. So how can you segregate the weightier exercise velocipede for you? Here’s what you need to know.
What to Look for When Choosing an Exercise Bike
If you’re not happy with your exercise cycle, you’re probably not going to commit to using it regularly.
“Most people requite up on their fitness equipment considering it wasn’t what they thought,” says Courtney Grafton, a certified spin instructor and cycling expert at FitRated.com.
The first step is to find a velocipede that feels well-appointed to you. It should finger similar to riding a real bike, Grafton says.
With your bike properly set up, you should be gripping the handlebars with your elbows slightly bent, and your torso should ideally be at a 45-degree wile — not hunched over. And when the pedals are parallel to the ground, the knee of your front leg should be over your foot.
Grafton moreover recommends paying sustentation to these features when shopping for an exercise cycle:
- Smooth flywheel. “Not only will it finger better, but a smoother flywheel will moreover be quieter,” Grafton says. “This is important for people in apartments or who don’t want to disturb the whole house when [using the bike].”
- Bluetooth connectivity. This isn’t a necessity, but it can make it easier to track your workouts on an app.
- Seat comfort. “You’ll be sitting on it a lot,” Grafton says — and if you’re not a seasoned biker, a narrow seat may finger uncomfortable. Grafton suggests looking for a velocipede with a wider seat or purchasing a cushioned seat cover.
- Handlebars and pedals. If your velocipede workouts are high-intensity, you may prefer a velocipede with clip-in pedals. Just alimony in mind you’ll need to buy compatible shoes.
- Price. “Why pay for features you aren’t going to use?” Grafton says. “There are a lot of unconfined bikes on the market that won’t unravel the bank.”
Recumbent vs. upright: Which is better?
There are two main types of stationary bikes: recumbent and upright. “The main difference between a recumbent velocipede and [an] upright velocipede is your overall soul positioning,” Grafton says.
A recumbent velocipede has a full seat back, so you’re in a reclined position while pedaling. “Recumbent bikes are unconfined for seniors and those rehabilitating an injury,” Grafton says. “I would moreover recommend these for those with back or hip issues.” However, recumbent exercise cycles don’t provide as much of a core workout as upright exercise cycles.
An upright velocipede is the type you’d typically see in a spin studio — it has a smaller seat and requires an upright soul position, similar to riding outdoors.
“Upright bikes are unconfined for those looking for a good cardio burn,” Grafton says. “An upright velocipede will work increasingly muscle groups, and you have increasingly riding options on an upright bike, such as sprinting or raising up out of the saddle to climb.”
Our Pick: The BODi Bike
The BODi Bike is our top pick for the weightier exercise bike.
This professional-grade Star-Trac exercise velocipede features mechanical-friction braking and a 41-pound flywheel for a quiet and smooth ride. The velocipede can be hands adjusted to unbend riders from 4’11” to 6’8″, and the versatile pedals are uniform with SPD clip-ins or regular sneakers.
Featuring science-driven heart rate-based training customized to your own heart rate zones, the BODi Velocipede can help you reach your fitness goals faster and increasingly efficiently. Plus, it’ll make sure you’re working out wideness a variety of intensity levels, which can help to reduce fatigue and prevent overtraining.
And with the BODi app, you can stream workouts or join live classes led by certified trainers to mimic the studio wits right at home. The 21.5-inch HD touchscreen monitor plane swivels out so you can cross-train and take your workouts vastitude the bike.
Whether you’re a wanderlust pro or just beginning your cycling journey, these workouts will meet you exactly where you’re at — and then push you plane further.
Plus, the BODi Velocipede has a lower price point than similar high-tech exercise bikes, and the meaty footprint is platonic if you have limited space in your home gym — you only need a 4′ x 6′ space virtually the velocipede to ride and move comfortably.
Bottom line: If you’re looking to invest in the weightier exercise velocipede for your indoor cycling workouts, the BODi Bike strikes a perfect wastefulness between cost, comfort, and connectivity.
The post Shopping for an Exercise Bike? Here’s What to Look For appeared first on BODi.
