Thoughts On Buying An Exercise Bike

An exercise bike – unlike outdoor exercise, such as jogging, which involves repetitive, heavy shocks to the joints of the lower body – provides exercise that is supported and low impact, in nature, placing less stress on the body as a whole. This form of exercise can therefore be safely enjoyed by people with a history of joint, or back, problems, or high blood pressure, or recovering from injury. In addition, exercise bikes do not require a huge amount of floor space (many can be folded away for storage, if necessary), are affordable, and provide the convenience of exercising in your own home, for as short, or as long, as you like, at a time to suit you.

Features

All exercise bikes provide resistance of some sort – it is against that resistance that your muscles work, while you exercise – but resistance is provided in a number of different ways, which will influence the quality of workout that you can achieve, the ease of adjustment, the level of noise that the equipment generates, and, of course, the final price tag.

Lower end models tend to have friction-based, direct tension braking systems, which often require manual adjustment. Further up the price scale, you may also come across models that create resistance using the flow of air from a fan, which also doubles as a cooling system, but at the higher end, frictionless, magnetic resistance, more efficient, and adjustable, than the other methods, provides a very smooth, and quiet, ride. The Carl Lewis EM12 Exercise Bike, for example, provides smooth magnetic resistance.

Many exercise bikes include a pulse, or heart rate monitor, which allows you to achieve maximum benefit from your exercise programme, by keeping your heart working at its optimum rate – incidentally, normally between 70% and 80% of its maximum – and, as such, are well worth considering. Other display options, such as those for speed, distance covered and calories expended, will all help to maintain your interest and motivation, by allowing you to plot your progress in real-time, and some exercise bikes include programs which simulate varied terrain and scenery – again to add variety, and prevent boredom, during your exercise routine. The Carl Lewis EMR17 Exercise Bike, for example, features a hand pulse sensor, and computer readouts for distance, time and speed.

Types of Exercise Bike

An upright exercise replicates the conventional cycling experience, with a saddle, supported from below, and nowhere else, and pedals located directly below the saddle. A recumbent exercise bike is lower to the ground, and positions the rider – on a saddle, or seat, supported from below, and from the back – more horizontally, with pedals located to the front, rather than below. This, rather obviously, provides more support for the back, and is generally considered to be a slightly gentler, more comfortable way of riding – although standing up on the pedals, and using your full weight to drive the pedalling action, is not an option. The Carl Lewis EX30A Exercise Bike, for example, is an upright model, providing resistance via a fully enclosed, 7kg flywheel, with adjustable control.

Conclusion

It’s difficult to get away from the benefits that can be derived from an exercise bike in the home, and it’s equally difficult prevent a convincing argument for not owning one – although many of us, perhaps, can come up with convenient excuses – so maybe it’s time to actually do something about it. Convenient, regular, and safe, exercise, as provided by an exercise bike, makes us better equipped to deal with the rigours of modern living, look more attractive, and may even prolong our lives.

Responsible Exercise

Any form of exercise, whilst potentially of great benefit, is not entirely without risks and the use of exercise bikes or any other type of exercise equipment may not be appropriate for you. To reduce the risk of any injury, illness or other adverse effects you should ALWAYS consult your doctor before beginning any form of exercise program. You should also seek advice from a suitably qualified fitness professional as to the suitability of your proposed fitness programme as this will be determined by your age, weight, gender, current fitness level, any medical conditions and other factors. As with any exercise, if at any point during the use of an exercise bike you begin to feel faint, dizzy, light headed or experience any other form of physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a doctor.

Article Source: http://www.articlemonk.com

Sean Clark is Director of eCommerce at Tribal UK.

Find a exercise bikes buyers guide at www.tribaluk.com - your home for quality electrical goods delivered FREE of charge to your door!

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