Using bikes for exercise is a good exercise option, especially for people with back or joint problems. Cycling is a low-impact workout that can provide excellent aerobic benefits, report researchers at Consumers Report. Stationary exercise bikes have become more user friendly and provide a more effective workout, Consumer Report researchers report. There also is a wide range of options available in stationary bikes for exercise.
Recumbent Bikes
Recumbent bikes are particularly useful for people with back problems. The seat on a recumbent bike is low, and users push out the pedal in front of them. The seat is wide on a recumbent bike, providing stability, support and comfort for obese users. There is a backrest on the seat of a recumbent bike, giving users even more stability and support. Like other bikes for exercise, recumbent bikes come with a variety of options that include heart rate monitors, odometers to measure the ride distance and monitors to report the number of calories burned. Resistance can be adjusted on recumbent bikes to provide strength training. A recumbent bike builds muscles in the thighs and buttocks. Recumbent bikes for the home range anywhere from $100 to $500, depending on the number of onboard options, as of February 2010.
Upright Bikes
Upright exercise bikes mimic the form and style of a road bike. Riders sit high on an adjustable seat and hold onto the handlebars, pumping the pedals in a circular motion. Upright stationary bikes also come with a wide range of onboard-computerized programs that can be used to monitor performance. Heart rate, intensity and calorie output can be measured with the electronics. Upright stationary bikes can be set to mimic the conditions of the road for cycling athletes to practice and get the same level of workout as when they are competing. Road conditions such as uphill rides and fast straightaways can be set through the controls on the bike. Upright bikes provide a total lower body workout and can provide strength training for the abdominal core when riders lean into the handlebars. At the same time, doctors at the American Academy of Family Physicians report that bike riders should make sure the handlebars do not create back and neck strain with reaches that are too long. There should be a 10- to 15-degree angle of the handlebars to prevent strain. Elbows should remain flexed and riders should vary their hand position often through the workout. Upright stationary bikes vary widely in price, and options and can be purchased for as little as $100 or for upwards of $1,000.
Cross Trainers
A two-in-one option is the upright bike and elliptical cross trainer. The cross trainer incorporates an elliptical machine that is used in a standing position while moving handles back and forth, providing a full-body workout with a seat for bicycle training. On the elliptical workout, the rider holds handles that move in tandem with the legs, which are pumping a set of pedals. The adjustable seat can be used to vary the workout. Cross trainers, like standard recumbent and upright stationary bikes, come with a wide range of options that affect the prices. Cross trainers can cost anywhere from $150 to more than $1,000.
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