The customary exercise bike and the group cycle have many similarities. Both are good for cardiovascular workouts that tone the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, hips, and abdominal muscles. Both are stationary and are made for indoor use. A customary stationary bike has several features that a bike built for group indoor cycling doesn't, and vice versa.
Flywheel
Unlike most stationary bikes, which contain a flywheel that can move freely even when the pedals are not moving, a group cycle has a weighted flywheel that allows for momentum and resistance during the ride, much like a road bike.
Resistance Knob
Customary stationary bikes feature built-in programs that can automatically adjust tension to simulate different terrain, whereas a group cycle has a knob on the bike that adds tension to the weighted flywheel, allowing the participant to determine the intensity of the workout. Turning the knob increases or decreases resistance, which simulates ascending a hill on a road bike.
Variety
Unlike an exercise bike, where the rider stays in the seat, bikes built for indoor group cycling classes are made of stronger steel to withstand the weight of the rider standing up on the pedals with a high resistance.
Adjustability
A rider's posture on a bike built for group cycling mimics that of a road bike. A group indoor cycle allows the rider to customize the seat and handlebar positions both forward and back and up and down to simulate riding a road bike. Exercise bikes are more upright and have wider seats that are generally more comfortable than a group cycle's seat. The seats of some exercise bike models also recline.
Design
The group cycle is generally designed for either specialized cyclists who can't train outdoors or for group cycling classes held at fitness facilities. Stationary bikes are typically designed for those who are not specialized cyclists. Customarily stationary bikes are used in home gyms and in fitness facilities and contain more features, such as LED displays showing calories, speed and distance; heart-rate monitors; and automatically adjusted tension control.
Member Comments