Exercise Bike Buying Guide

An exercise bike is a fantastic yet simple piece of equipment, which is above all extremely convenient. You can use it at anytime whenever you want in the comfort of your own home. Your legs will get a superb workout that will benefit your overall stamina and general fitness, including your cardiovascular system.

If you are looking for exercise bike buying tips, then you are at the right place. This guide will help buyer’s looking for an exercise bike make an informed decision.

Use our guide and website to find the best exercise bike for you!

What is your budget?

As with any other product, when it comes to exercise bike, money matters. Exercise bikes however can be relatively in expensive, with some basic exercise bikes available for lower than £100. A high-end exercise bike packed with countless features can cost up to £2000. However not everyone wants to spend this much, and it is certainly pointless paying so much if you are not going to use the features.

As with most equipment however the more you pay, generally means the better quality you are getting. With exercise bikes this is evident with better materials, stability, adjustability, design, and programmes.

We recommend that your budget should be as much as you can afford, and if in the buying process you find a cheaper suitable exercise bike, then save your money! At ExerciseBike.org.uk we also find you the best exercise bike offers online. This means that you can get exercise bikes for a lot cheaper than they would be on the high street.

How much space do you have?

Another factor which you may need to consider is the amount of space you have available for your exercise bike. Exercise bikes are small pieces of equipment (in comparison to other fitness equipment), however you should always measure the free space you have and ensure that the exercise bike will safely fit into the space.

What type of exercise bike do you want?

There are two main types of stationary exercise bikes. You will have to decide which is more suitable for your purposes.

Upright – This is the most common type of exercise bike, and retains you in a similar position as if you were on a bicycle. The pedals are directly below you, and you will be seated in an upright position.

Recumbent – A modern alternative to the upright bike, a recumbent exercise bike has a larger seat with back support. You are seated in a reclined position, similar to sitting on a sofa. The seat is much lower, and the pedals are directly in front of you as opposed to below.

Aside from these two it is also possible to buy semi-recumbent bikes, which fall somewhere in between the upright and recumbent exercise bike.

The style which you go for should come down purely to personal choice, for example, which do you think would be more comfortable? Which do you think you would enjoy using more? However you should take some of these tips into consideration.

A recumbent bike provides support for the back which means it will be more comfortable than an upright bike for those with back problems. Another advantage of recumbent bikes is that they put less strain on your knees, which makes then ideal for anyone suffering from knee problems or high blood pressure (this keeps your blood pressure lower).

If you are not suffering from any of the problems discussed, then an upright exercise bike may be better as it has it’s own advantages. It is more compact than an upright bike, which is ideal if you have limited space. Some upright bikes also provide a rowing type movement with the handlebar, and this may appeal to you. It must also be noted that upright exercise bikes due to the nature of their design are said to encourage more intense workouts, and may be ideal if you want the most out of each workout. They also simulate a real life bicycle better.

A final type of exercise bike that is also available is known as a training cycle. These are typically found in gyms across the country, however they are not as widely available for home use.

Why the size of the flywheel matters….

The heavier the flywheel on the exercise bike, the smoother the motion will be. As a general rule, the flywheel will be heavier as the price of the bikes increase. The weight of the flywheel is normally given with the exercise bike.

Why the resistance matters…

The resistance on cheaper models of exercise bikes is adjusted manually (where you have to get off the bike to adjust it), and the type of resistance on these machines is friction-based. Some exercise bikes also run on air resistance, where a fan produces the resistance.

Better models of exercise bikes tend to use magnetic resistance, which is a more complex type of resistance, where magnetic currents create and track the resistance. This is the type of resistance which is recommended, as it is smoother in operation. Electromagnetic resistance is even better and smoother in operation. Magnetic resistance also tends to provide the greatest range of resistance, which will lead to better more varied workouts.

When choosing an exercise bike with magnetic resistance, you may want to opt for one with automatic resistance settings, where the resistance can be changed with the push of a button, while you are exercising on the bike. This is convenient to many users.

Why the control panel and programmes matter

Virtually all exercise bikes offer some electronic feedback, such as the time, speed and distance. However, better models of exercise bikes will also show your heart rate and calories burned. If you have specific goals that you want to achieve then it is useful having better and more detailed electronic feedback as this will allow you to see progression and to continually motivate yourself to achieve new goals (better stamina, fat loss etc). The more expensive the model of the exercise bike, generally means a better and more sophisticated control panel.

You may also want to purchase an exercise bike that has built-in programmes. These will aid you in achieving your goals, and may increase your motivation levels. Many exercise bikes also have customisable workout programmes, which are great for making your workouts more efficient. If you think you might experience drops in your motivation every now and again, then it is extremely useful to get an exercise bike which provides you with a wide range or programmes. Some manufacturers also offer models that can be attached to the Internet, a video or CD player for increase interactivity.

Some of the more expensive exercise bike models also offer heart-rate controlled programmes, which will, based on your heart rate, increase or decrease the resistance of the exercise bike to keep your heart-rate as close as possible to the pre-set rate (the pre-set rate may be better for fat loss etc.). Such programmes have been proven to assist in weight loss. However, the benefits of such programmes will have to be weighed up with the cost as models with such features cost more.

Does it have a warranty?

You should always go for an exercise bike with a warranty ahead of one that does not. However, some manufacturers will offer you a better warranty than others and you should consider this when comparing the exercise bikes. It is important you have some sort of warranty for at least 1-2 years as exercise bikes are complicated machines which can and occasionally do go wrong. In such circumstances you do not want to be liable when it is not your fault, and especially when you have spent so much money on your exercise bike.

Here at Exercise Bike we strongly recommend you have a warranty with whatever exercise bike you go for.

We hope this guide has helped you…

Our aim is to provide you with information you need to make the best choice. If you have any further questions, then please feel free to contact us.