Health

Qualities to Look For in an Exercise Bike

Qualities to Look For in an Exercise Bike

Getting some exercise is crucial for our health. We should all be spending a good 30 minutes every day in some sort of moderate exercise. Different kinds of exercise will suit different people. Some like to distribute their exercise throughout the day – like a quick yoga session in the morning, some speed walking home and then a 7-minute workout before bed. And in this time when we’re spending more time at home than ever, we are all looking for ways to get our exercise at home. A popular option are exercise bikes, which are widely available. And because there are so many – how can you pick the right one? Here’s a list of things you should consider when getting an exercise bike:

Comfort

The number one thing you should look for is comfort. If the entire time you’re on your bike you’re feeling something poking your bum, or the armrests have an awkward grip or your feet keep slipping off the pedals, you might give up before you’ve even given it a shot. Don’t let the poor design of a bike keep you off exercising, so make sure it’s something that you can try out – sit on it, see how it feels and test it out before you buy it. You won’t regret it.

The Seat

Now let’s go over the bike part by part. Firstly, the seat. There isn’t one magical design that will fit everyone best. You might need to try several before you commit. When you sit on it, you want to make sure that it feels comfortable and is giving you enough support, because otherwise it might cause back problems and pain. You should also pay close attention to the material that is covering the seat. If it’s smooth and plastic, it will stick to you like glue and you will be so uncomfortable at the first appearance of sweat. Try to find a softer material that feels good under your hand – or calculate the budget for a seat cover.

The Software

On the lower end of the scale, you have the regular bikes where you can adjust the resistance of the bike while you’re riding and it shows you some basic info like how long you’ve been cycling and how many calories you’ve burned. However, if you look at modern bikes, they offer so much more, like a display with classes you can follow along. When comparing bikes, make sure they are offering what you’re looking for – whether that’s live classes, or a big library of on-demand classes, or just different surroundings you can enjoy while you’re riding. It’s important to have this variety because, without it, you’ll end up getting bored and quitting.

The Pedals

One of the crucial parts of every bike and your main connection to it. You want to make sure that the pedals are wide enough that you can comfortably place your feet on them and that they are textured enough so that you have enough grip and your foot doesn’t slip off them. Some people like to have additional velcro tapes that you can secure around your entire foot, but if the pedal is constructed well enough, your feet shouldn’t be slipping off it anyways.

The Frame

Lastly, let’s talk about the frame, the thing that holds it all together. The quality of the frame is what varies the most at different price points, so you need to find the right balance. If you get something with a weak frame, it will be wobbly and you risk injury. But unless you’re planning on some seriously intense workout sessions, you might not need the top-of-the-line ones either. Especially if your goal is to lose weight, you want to make sure if a weaker frame can properly support your weight and be stable. If the bike has just one large base in the middle of it, it will be far less stable than one that has several legs on every corner of the machine. These are the small things that will really make a big difference.

Additions

Many bikes will come with some additional equipment. Some with dumbbells or exercise ribbons for an upper body workout, some with many exercise routines you can access, some with incline capabilities and so much more. You should always check what are all the things that come in the package and compare prices with that in mind.

In the end, whichever bike you get, the main thing is to use it regularly and not let it become a glorified clothing rack. Put it in a prominent place in the house and hop on it when you have some spare time.

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