Jar Rack
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
Exercise Bikes, More Than Just Clothes Racks
In the world of home exercise equipment, few pieces have been around as long as the exercise bike. Although exercise bikes (fitness bikes, studio bikes) received a bad rap for a number of years, being used as clothes hangers, etc., the new versions are sleek, silent, and easy to use.
There are two basic types of exercise bikes, the upright and the recumbent. An upright is what most people think of when they think of exercise bikes. The upright is closest to a regular bike, narrow saddle, pedals below the rider, handle bars out front. On the other hand, a recumbent exercise bike has a wider seat with a small back support. The pedals are out front, and the rider is in a reclined position. Both bikes have good and bad points as we shall see.
The traditional setup of an upright bike allows the rider to more closely simulate an actual bike ride than possible with a recumbent. The rider is able to stand, assume a race crouch, or a neutral position. Trouble is, if the rider has any sort of back problems, especially lower back, an upright can irritate the condition leading to worse problems. An upright is more difficult to get on and off of because of a higher proximity to the ground. This can be problematic for older or overweight people. An upright takes up less room than a recumbent. You may want to keep this in mind if your exercise area is on the small side.
A recumbent exercise bike is easier on riders with lower back troubles, and is lower to the ground, allowing riders that have difficulties getting on an upright to still be able to get a workout on an exercise bike. Don’t let the recumbents seemingly easier ride make you think you’re not getting a total workout; you are. a recumbent does have a larger footprint, keep this in mind when deciding where to put your workout gear.
Exercise bikes have come a long way from the simple, noisy, boring rides they once were. Modern bikes have a dizzying array of electronics that allow you to program a ride that simulates hills and other riding conditions. Most bikes, both upright and recumbent, now come with a sophisticated control panel that will keep you updated on your workout by giving you feedback on such items as heart rate, calories burned, speed, distance, and watts. The resistance system on most exercise bikes is magnetic. The bikes take advantage of a magnets ability to repel and attract to change resistance on the fly, enabling the rider to experience real time varying conditions. This type of resistance also gives the bikes whisper quiet operation.
An exercise bike workout is a excellent way to receive both cardio and aerobic workouts as well as leg and back muscle strength. Unlike a treadmill or roadwork, an exercise bike will not jar your joints, the workouts are very low impact. In addition to the basic types, a dual action bike is available. These bikes have handlebars linked to the drive system so you get an arm and upper body workout at the same time as your lower body workout.
Deals on exercise bikes can be found both on and off line. Make sure to do a little homework on the party you are buying from. Used bikes can be found on auction sites like Ebay, or specialty stores like Second Wind. Another source to consider is buying used bikes from a fitness center when they upgrade. You may be able to get a club quality bike for a good price.
About the Author
To find out more about portable exercise bicycles, and exercise bikes in general,
visit:
Exer-Cycles. Learn where to get
parts, how to maintain a bike, and what to look for when purchasing one.
John Phillips owns and operates http://exer-cycles.com
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