Lifestyler exercise bikes are no longer in production. Icon Health and Fitness, the largest fitness equipment manufacturer in the world, made the Lifestyler brand in the late 1980s and early 1990s. You might still find these exercise bikes online and at garage sales. Lifestyler exercise bikes offer a low-impact cardio exercise you can do at home.
Space
Lifestyler exercise bikes don't take up a lot of space and are perfect for apartments or small rooms. The American Council on Exercise provides guidelines on creating a home gym. Of all the cardio equipment available, including ellipticals and treadmills, ACE lists stationary bikes as taking up the least space, only 10 square feet, compared with 30 square feet for a treadmill. Lifestyler bikes are generally even smaller, being only 3 feet long and 2 feet wide.
Joint Stress
Exercise bikes are less stressful on the joints. The seat of the bike holds your weight, taking the pressure off your knees and hips. Exercise bikes offer a low-impact cardio option compared with other aerobic machines, such as treadmills and stair-steppers. Lifestyler offers both upright and recumbent bikes. ACE says recumbent bikes are a good choice if you have low back pain because the full seat supports your low back.
Simplicity
Icon Health and Fitness discontinued the Lifestyler brand before many of the newer, electronic features were available on the market. The console on a Lifestyler bike offers only basic information such as time, distance and approximate calories burned. Some of the models offer electronic resistance that you can adjust by pressing the up or down arrow keys on the console. If you don't want a lot of fancy features, a Lifestyler bike provides a simple way to work out at home.
Considerations
Lifestyler exercise bikes offer a convenient way to get in a cardio workout at home. However, you may have difficulty locating a Lifestyler exercise bike. You cannot purchase these bikes new anymore, but you can often find used Lifestyler bikes. These bikes are small, compact and offer a simple way to get in a cardio workout.
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