Indoor studio cycling has become one of the nation's most popular and effective methods of group exercise, according to FitMoves.com. This type of group fitness involves a class taught by a trained instructor in which participants ride stationary exercise bikes fit to their bodies. Because each person can ride his own individual bike, the workout can be modified specifically to the participant's fitness level. These classes are meant to simulate an outdoor cycling ride and include exercises such as climbs, jumps, sprints and flat road rides.
History
According to FitMoves.com, competitive cyclist Johnny Goldberg first created indoor cycling in 1986. He was training for a race across America and needed a training method that would allow him to ride regardless of the weather. Thus, he created a stationary bike with a weighted flywheel for resistance. He benefited so much from his invention that he took the idea to Schwinn, which patented the bike.
Benefits
An indoor exercise bike offers many benefits. You can ride it in all types of weather, and participants of all ages can benefit from this low-impact, yet challenging workout with no impact on the joints. No difficult choreography or routines need to be mastered. Each participant is in control of his own cadence and resistance, and able to modify the workout to his level of fitness. The class can build camaraderie and begin to feel like a "team" of cyclists. Also, participants can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour during this high-intensity workout.
The Stamina
The Stamina bike has a monitor that tracks time, speed, distance and calories. It has a one-button control on the interface, weighted pedals for safety and a padded seat for comfort. The resistance is adjusted on a dial, and it has an adjustable seat, but no handlebars. The Stamina bike does not have the smoothest ride, but it's one of the cheapest on the market, for only about $140, according to Shopping.Yahoo.com.
The Schwinn
The Schwinn indoor cycling exercise bike was the first indoor studio bike. This bike requires the participant to turn a dial to adjust the resistance, and the seat and handlebar height are also adjustable. This exercise bike comes in several versions, some with digital monitors, and some without. It's a quality bike, with a belted wheel, and is one of the least expensive exercise bikes a gym or individual can buy. It can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,200, according to Amazon.com.
The LeMond
The LeMond exercise bike is named after Greg LeMond, legendary road cyclist. He created this exercise bike after trying several bikes that he thought were difficult to use, uncomfortable and felt like "pedaling a 300-pound gorilla," according to LeMondFitness.com. Each LeMond fitness bike is built to replicate the feel of riding on the open road, and it has clip-ins for SPD cleats. These bikes have adjustable seats and handlebars and a dial to adjust the resistance. The ride is particularly smooth, and each bike has a digital screen that highlights distance, cadence, time, and calories when wearing a heart rate monitor. The LeMond's handlebars are slightly steeper than other exercise bikes, which makes it difficult to sprint in the aerodynamic position. This is uncomfortable for some riders. The LeMond bike costs between $1,400 and $2,000.
The Keiser M3
The Keiser M3 bike is unique in that it is beltless -- the wheel is magnetic. This bike does not have a dial for resistance, but a lever on the digital screen. The magnetic wheel is directly underneath the rider's seat, which makes for a smooth ride. According to Keiser.com, the seat and handlebars are fully adjustable, and the caged pedals have clip-ins for SPD cleats. The digital screen provides information on gear number (1-25), RPMs, calories--when wearing a heart rate monitor, distance, time and wattage. The Keiser M3 has three handlebar positions: straight, wide and narrow, or "aero" bars. The Keiser M3 costs no less than $1,300, according to Keiser.com.
Considerations
Each of these exercise bikes can be purchased for individual or home use. However, attending an indoor cycling class may produce better fitness results, as the intensity is generally higher, there is accountability with the instructor and other participants, distraction is limited, and the music creates a fun environment. Be warned that the first few times riding these bikes may be uncomfortable and produce soreness. A padded bike seat or padded cycling shorts can help remedy this problem.
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