The exercise bike is a fixed machine used in gyms to do cardio, making a kind of simulation of riding a bicycle. Due to its pedaling function, different areas of the body are worked, exercising and strengthening them.
Exercising with this machine is one of the most common ways there is because it precisely takes up a minimal amount of space. There are many exercise bikes available in the market. Here we will tell you a few points that you must consider before buying an exercise bike.
Our weight
It is one of the first questions that we must take into account when buying an exercise bike. Because each one supports a maximum of actual weight, we will considerably shorten the useful life of our bicycle if we overcome it. This information is in the technical description of the product.
As a general rule, if we exceed 220 lbs, we should avoid folding bicycles. And it will be better to opt for traditional or reclining bikes, as they are more robust.
Of course, if we exceed 220 lbs, but we have more muscle than fat, and we are really in good shape, we can consider the spinning bike as our best option.
Use
When buying an exercise bike, you should take into account how you will be using the bike. The characteristics of it will depend on it and, in most cases, the price it will cost. In this aspect, we can tell you that if you are a beginner and you only plan to use the bike for smooth and not so continuous workouts. You can choose something more compact, with more comfortable finishes on the seat and handles, but that offers you several levels of resistance.
If your training is already semi-professional, we recommend a bike with more ergonomic seats. Which usually has a backrest and side supports, as well as a highly visible LED screen. Also, in the latter case, you should make sure that the pedal system is of outstanding quality, to avoid annoying noises due to the intensity of the training.
Comfort
Comfort is an essential point to keep in mind before buying an exercise bike. The comfort depends mostly on the exercise routine. For this, ergonomic seats and handlebars are crucial, giving a sense of stability. In the case of the handlebar, it has the necessary inertia to help you pedal smoothly.
Also, you must look at the manufacturing materials for these components. It must be soft to the touch, and, in the seat’s case, it will be much better if it has a backrest and lateral supports. It would be best if you also made sure that the pedals are non-slip. All of these factors will make your routine less stressful and more enjoyable.
Console
This accessory is essential when choosing an exercise bike. It allows you to control the parameters of your training to make it more optimal and personalized. If you are a beginner, it probably seems complicated and even unnecessary to have this console.
Many models come with recreational applications such as videos and music into the console. Which, in many cases, helps make the routine more fun and bearable.
Size
We often fail to buy an exercise bike because its size is not adequate, and it ends up getting in the way or as a rack somewhere in your room. Therefore, before buying a bike of this type, you must be clear about the space you have to do your exercise routines. That way, you can choose something more compact and foldable or, on the contrary, you have a lot of space, a bigger and more robust bike.
This feature also has to do with the ease of transporting it, since many times, we stop using the bike because it is cumbersome and bothers us when moving it. Anyway, when buying your exercise bike, look at its dimensions so that you can choose what best suits your needs.
Transmission
It measures the quality of pedaling; it is the number of turns the steering wheel makes for each pedaling cycle; the lower, the better the quality. A 1/8 ratio is, therefore, better than a 1/6 ratio.
Endurance
It is very important to take this characteristic into account before buying an exercise bike. Bikes with manual resistance are based on braking with the shoe, which makes the movement heavier. Today, only the simplest and cheapest bikes have this type of resistance.
Then there are those with magnetic resistance, where braking is very quiet and allows great fluidity when pedaling. Finally, there is also the so-called electromagnetic resistance, which is the most modern, since it is carried out by the bicycle computer, and allows pedaling to be very light.
FAQ about exercise bike
What are the benefits of using an exercise bike?
There are many useful benefits of an exercise bike, some of which are the following.
- Losing weight: by perseverance, and by doing the workouts correctly, you can lose several extra kilos.
- Eliminate certain discomforts: under certain limits, it helps considerably to reduce low back pain.
- Butt Strengthening: Although it is not an easy task, with a lot of discipline and perseverance, you can achieve glute tightening.
- Do rehabilitation exercises: with different special programs, you can do rehabilitation on your legs.
How to Maintain exercise bikes?
Any appliance kept at home needs frequent maintenance because, with each use and with dirt, it could break down, affecting its functions. In this machine it will be easy:
- Cleaning the appliance: since all the user sweat will fall on it, you should take a towel moistened in soapy water to remove all the dirt. This care will help prevent corrosion.
- Adjust moving parts: for this, we must be very attentive to any unusual noises coming from those parts. Also must verify that there are no loose wires or damaged.