Guide to Exercise Bikes

There are so many exercise bikes these days that it’s easy to be confused or even overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices that one is given — talk about information overload. There used to be only two types of bikes exercise — bicycles that you used outdoors to get to places or run around in, and then there were stationary bikes that were used indoors and didn’t go anywhere because the rear wheel was gone and a stand took its place.

Here we are going to tackle the second kind, what are classified as exercise bikes (vis a vis sports bikes) except that they now come under different names, models, brands and designs. Some of the terms you have probably heard are stationary bikes, spinning bikes, dual action bikes and recumbent bikes. There are so many different kinds that it’s almost as though you have to be a fitness equipment expert to be able to understand the differences between them.

Exercise bikes have come a long, long way, just as their outdoor counterparts have also evolved in terms of design and functionality. The new designs have been engineered to for low impact on the body while providing a more effective workout at the same time. One other great thing about having so many choices is that they also come with a wide price range to suit different budgets!

You will see in the carousel above that there are so many kinds of exercise bikes. To simplify matters for our readers, here then is a quick summary of the different types of exercise bikes that are available today:

Stationary Bikes

Stationary bikes are upright bikes (they are sometimes classified as that, too) that provide a low-impact, high intensity cardiovascular workout and builds both strength and endurance, making them one of the more popular forms of indoor exercise. Their designs have not changed much since first hitting the market, and while using them one can hardly do anything else — like reading a magazine or watching tv — because there’s a tendency for too much movement, such as leaning left or right, and bouncing up and down, while pedaling.

Spinning Bikes

Spinning bikes have been all the craze in fitness gyms and health clubs, with a front wheel that spins (that’s why they are so named), and group cycling classes with trainers barking out instructions a variety of movements and speeds, with spinners sometimes standing on the pedals and other times sitting like normal, somtimes pedaling at top speed and other times recovering at a slower pace. And unlike most modern exercise bikes, a spinner has a large flywheel front wheel, meaning there is real momentum and resistance. The reason they are popular is because, when done correctly, spinning burns a lot of calories – up to 450-500 for a 45-minute workout.

Most spinning exercise workouts average 45-60 minutes, with movements synchronized to music that sets the pace. One nice thing about spinning classes is that anyone can do them — if you get tired, you simply lessen the resistance on your bike and reduce your pedaling speed. The reason spinning classes are popular is because if one were alone, the tendency of a newbie would be to quit after spinning for just a few minutes.

Dual Action Bikes

Dual action bikes are so-named because, unlike stationary or spinning bikes, they give you both an upper and lower body workout.  They have handles that move independently – much like an elliptical machine.  Dual action bikes do provide a good workout, but can be bit tough for beginners, and as usual, the time on the bike becomes boring eventually.

There are dual action bikes that allow you to adjust the machine to create an arm-pedaling workout but it’s usually fairly difficult to make the adjustments.  It’s also two separate exercises, which create a longer workout and most folks are not as likely to keep up such a routine.

Recumbent Bikes

Aha, now we come to the most “modern,” most popular and best types of exercise bikes in the market — recumbent bikes. Recumbent bikes feature comfortable bucket seats and you sit back and lower to the ground as you pedal.  These ergonomically designed exercise bikes are easy enough for even the most sedentary beginners, and they usually offer workout programs to keep the exercise from becoming mundane.

Recumbent bikes, are not only more comfortable yet fun to use among all exercise bikes, they also offer a host of advantages that the above types of bike exercisers do not.

Read Next: Advantages of Recumbent Bikes >>