Stationary exercise bikes, found in fitness centers and homes, provide a cardiovascular workout focusing on the lower body. Cardio workouts benefit the heart, can burn fat if conducted in an intensive way and help reduce the risk of diabetes. Exercise bikes can be either upright or recumbent.
Identification
Upright bikes provide the same riding position as traditional bikes. Your body's weight is supported by the hands, buttocks and feet. You can hold on to the handlebars and stand up on the pedals as on an outdoor bike. On a recumbent bike, you sit in a reclined position with your legs outstretched to reach the pedals. Your weight is distributed to more parts of the body, with less pressure on the buttocks.
Effects
Upright bike seats resemble a wider, more cushioned saddle on a traditional bike. The seats can become uncomfortable during long workouts if not adjusted correctly. Recumbent bike seats are typically more comfortable than upright bikes because they are wider and provide a more natural sitting position. Both types have handlebars for rider stability. Some bikes have bars on the side and in the front. Seats on both types of bikes are adjustable.
Benefits
Exercise physiologist and nutritionist Martica Heaner, writing for MSN Health and Fitness, describes a 1989 study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and a 2005 study in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Researchers found mixed results on whether the recumbent bike was easier. Recumbent bikes benefit riders with lower back pain because they offer more back support. Beginning bikers may find recumbent machines easier to ride because of the added back support.
Features
Features on an exercise bike correlate largely to price. Both types of bikes generally provide digital readouts of distance, calories burned and time. The more you spend, the more features a bike will have. High-end bikes may have large dashboards with screens for selecting type of workouts and custom settings. Some have integrated LCD televisions and MP3 sound systems. An upright bike will provide an experience that resembles a road race. Some have settings for resistance to simulate hills and other racecourse characteristics.
Price
While both upright and recumbent bike prices can reach a few thousand dollars, some upright bikes cost as little as $100. At major sporting goods stores, the price for recumbent bikes begins at approximately $180 as of October 2010.
References
- American Council on Exercise: What's the best piece of cardio equipment to use?
- American Council on Exercise: Exercise Equipment
- American Council on Exercise: Selection and Use of Exercise Equipment
- NetWellness: Build Muscle and Use it to Lose Weight
- MSN Health & Fitness: Bike Dilemma: Regular or Recumbent?
- Georgia State University Department of Kinesiology and Health: Getting Fit at Home
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