Indoor cycling bikes are similar in many ways to traditional stationary bikes but are designed to handle higher intensity workouts. Beginners can take immediate advantage of the low-impact and high-calorie burning benefits of indoor cycling.
Weight Capacity
The bikes are available at a wide range of weight capacities starting at 200 pounds. Get a bike that will accommodate your current bodyweight. Not only will this ensure the bike is designed for your body size, but it will also help extend the life of the frame and other components of the bike. Indoor cycling bikes designed for weight capacities of 250 pounds or more tend to offer sturdier frames that provide a smoother overall ride.
Flywheel Weight
One of the biggest differences between a traditional upright or recumbent exercise bike and an indoor cycling bike is in the flywheel design. The front wheel of the indoor cycling bike is actually a weighted flywheel, which provides momentum while you're pedaling. As a beginner, you may want to experiment with a lighter flywheel, such as 30 pounds, to get a feel for how an indoor cycling bike works. Heavier flywheels are more desirable for more advanced riders. Weighted flywheels of 37 pounds or more provide increased momentum when pedaling under resistance. The resistance knob is available on all types of indoor cycling bikes to make the workout more intense.
Price
Depending on your price range, you can get an entry-level indoor cycling bike for just over $200 based on 2011 pricing at major online retailers. These budget models will feature lighter bodyweight capacities and lighter flywheels. Higher-end bikes will use heavier flywheels, sturdier frames and often longer warranties. The price is directly related to the quality and features.
Benefits
Indoor cycling classes, or doing your own cycling workouts, offers several benefits over other types of exercise. It's a low-impact exercise that puts minimal stress on your knee joints. Paired with some upbeat music and with a few friends alongside you for motivation, indoor cycling is also an active workout that utilizes intervals of moderate exercise with spurts of high intensity cycling. A 40-minute session, pedaling at a pace of 80 to 110 rpm, can burn about 400 to 500 calories.
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