| The need to get fit, lose weight and stay healthy is | | | | action bikes do not use a traditional pedaling motion - |
| emphasized in the scientific and popular media alike. In | | | | your arms get a workout too. These exercise bikes |
| all developed countries, the incidence of overweight | | | | have been shown to provide more effective cardio |
| and obesity is dramatically increasing, along with | | | | workouts and burn more calories than traditional bikes. |
| lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease and | | | | Dual action bikes also improve your overall body tone |
| diabetes mellitus. Beginning and maintaining an exercise | | | | because you are working more muscle groups. If you |
| program is an important part of staying healthy - and | | | | suffer from muscle or joint complaints, try a recumbent |
| riding an exercise bike can help you achieve all these | | | | exercise bicycle instead of an upright bike. The |
| things. | | | | slightly-reclining position you adopt when using these |
| Unlike traditional bicycles, stationary bikes are designed | | | | exercise bikes reduces the pressure on your joints, |
| for exercise and not transport. Recently, many new | | | | especially your knees. The recumbent position means |
| types of exercise bike have emerged onto the | | | | a better abdominal workout and keeps your center of |
| market, including recumbent bikes (where you sit as if | | | | gravity low. Since your feet are more closely in line |
| in an armchair), "spinning machines" designed for use at | | | | with your heart on a recumbent bike, your blood |
| the gym in spin classes and dual action bikes, which | | | | pressure stays lower and your exercise routine is |
| offer lateral resistance in the handlebars. It is possible | | | | therefore safer. |
| to adapt a traditional road cycle for use indoors, by | | | | As with all exercise equipment, the money you pay for |
| placing the bike on rollers or on a wind trainer. This kind | | | | an exercise bike is linked to the features it will have |
| of adaptation is mainly used by road racing cyclists | | | | and the build quality. Almost all indoor cycling bikes |
| when the weather is inclement, or as a warm up prior | | | | have some way of measuring speed, distance |
| to competition. | | | | traveled and cadence (pedal rotations per minute). You |
| Cycling offers a great aerobic workout and can help | | | | can pick up an entry-level bike for about $200. Bear in |
| to build your endurance if you do it for long enough | | | | mind that these bike models use a flywheel for |
| and at an appropriate intensity and frequency. The | | | | resistance and do not have programmable exercise |
| pedaling action you use on an exercise bike is | | | | options - however they will give you a good workout |
| sustained by the muscles of your legs. The powerful | | | | on a budget. |
| muscles of your thighs, the quadriceps and hamstrings, | | | | Middle-of-the-range stationary bikes typically have |
| are supported by the smaller muscles of your calves, | | | | more features, including programmable exercise |
| included the gastrocnemius and soleus. Your buttocks | | | | modes and heart rate monitory capacity. The bikes in |
| also provide additional power during cycling, as do the | | | | this price range are magnetic resistance bikes, which |
| supporting muscles of your lower back. As a result, | | | | means resistance is achieved using a magnet. Unlike |
| using an exercise bike is a great way to achieve | | | | flywheel resistance models, magnetic resistance is |
| definition of your legs and bottom. | | | | quiet ... you can exercise without waking the entire |
| Using an exercise bike can be helpful if you are just | | | | street! Magnetic resistance bikes typically retail for |
| getting started on your exercise routine and are too | | | | between $200 and $1500. If money is no object, you |
| overweight or out of condition to run, or if you have | | | | can lash out on a model that has everything that |
| pre-existing joint or muscle problems that will be | | | | opens and shuts, including additional workout |
| aggravated by weight-bearing exercise. Another | | | | programming. You can easily spend more than $1500 |
| advantage of using an exercise bike is that you can | | | | on a deluxe exercise bike. |
| make the workout as easy or difficult as you want, | | | | By regularly using your exercise bike, you will notice |
| simply by varying the resistance of the bike. | | | | your cardiovascular fitness improve and your legs and |
| So if you think cycling your way to fitness sounds like | | | | gluteal muscles begin to firm up. Exercising reduces |
| your best bet, what kind of exercise bike should you | | | | your risk of chronic diseases, helping you to live longer |
| look for? Upright bikes are the traditional style of | | | | and in better health. Jump onto an exercise bike today! |
| exercise bike and provide a solid aerobic workout. Dual | | | | |