Everyone who has ever looked at exercise equipment has seen the stationary exercise bike.  It seems that it has been around forever.  A lot of people think of them as boring, colorless, and when setting up a home gym, opt for more expensive, more complex pieces of equipment.  Truth is, the latest models of exercise bikes are anything but boring.  There are different types and they all can provide you with an excellent workout.

There are basically two kinds of exercise bikes:  upright and recumbent.Each has its own range of benefits and features.  With any piece of exercise equipment, including stationary bikes, it’s important to remain interested and challenged or you will stop exercising.  So ensuring that you pick the proper exercise bike for your needs and desires will help keep you motivated to exercise regularly.

Exercise bike benefits are different, depending on whether you choose an upright or recumbent.  The main benefit of both types, however, is a low impact workout.  If you’ve ever run on a treadmill, you know that your hip, knee, and ankle joints can take a beating.  After a certain amount of time, working out ceases to be fun or challenging and becomes painful.  This isn’t an issue with an exercise bike.  Your weight is not supported by your legs, and there is no jarring as your feet hit the ground, so there is very little impact on your joints.  As compared to a treadmill, the tendency is to workout longer on an exercise bike, resulting in a greater calorie burn.

Upright bikes, like the Schwinn Airdyne exercise bike, are very popular and they come with a variety of features. Most come with a computer monitor. You can select programs that will vary the resistance levels and give you feedback on heart rate and calories burned.  The Airdyne also has handles like an elliptical trainer to allow you to work your upper body as you pedal.  If you want to change resistance levels or programs “on the fly” you can easily do it because you are right in front of the console.

Recumbents, like the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike, are very popular.The main difference between a recumbent and an upright is the seating position.  A recumbent has a traditional seat, allowing for great back support.  If you have back issues or you get uncomfortable sitting on a bike seat for extended periods of time, a recumbent might be for you.

Just because the position on a recumbent is semi-reclined doesn’t mean you will get a “laid back” workout.  You will still get an excellent cardiovascular workout.  Like an upright bike, recumbents offer a variety of resistance levels and programs to keep you challenged and engaged, but it is harder to change programs in the middle of an exercise routine because of the sitting position.With a recumbent, you can read while exercising, which is difficult on an upright bike.

To answer which type of exercise bike is best for you boils down to what your needs are.  Whether you choose upright or recumbent, the best one for you is the one that you will continue to use day in and day out.

Tags: exercise bike benefits, Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike, Schwinn Airdyne Exercise Bike
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