Is A Treadmill Or An Exercise Bike Better?

Treadmills and exercise bikes are two of the most common workout machines found in fitness and facilities and home gyms these days. After all, they both provide great cardio workouts that burn tons of calories, and just about anyone can use them. So when deciding whether a treadmill or an exercise bike is better for you, take into consideration your personal preferences and physical needs.

Boredom

Walking on a treadmill or sitting on an exercise bike can be boring, but on an exercise bike you can multi-task while you ride. On some exercise bikes you can stand and sit on the bike; you can incorporate weights into the workout; you can read or talk on a phone. Some exercise bikes are even equipped with built-in programs to simulate riding on different terrain. There's less variety on a treadmill. You can walk and run on a treadmill, and even incorporate hand weights, but the bouncing motion makes it difficult to read. You can, however, listen to music or watch television.

Safety

The exercise bike is the safer piece of exercise equipment. There is less chance of injury and bikes require less coordination than a treadmill. If you lose your focus or try to take a drink of water while running on a treadmill, you run the risk of losing your balance and falling off.

Calories

You burn more calories on a treadmill than on an exercise bike, making the possibility for weight loss easier on a treadmill. On average, most people burn about 750 calories per hour on a treadmill, whereas you are likely to burn up to 600 calories an hour on an exercise bike.

Joints

The advantage of exercise bikes is that they are easier on the joints than treadmills. Running on a treadmill puts strain on your ankles, hips and knees, which can cause damage to your joints. The cycling motion of an exercise bike is easy on the joints and back.

Workout

Treadmills offer a full-body workout and have been around longer than most exercise bikes. A person can run, walk or climb on a treadmill. An exercise bike, on the other hand, works only the quads, hamstrings, thighs and core muscles.