It is always best to do your research prior to buying any type of fitness equipment, and an exercise bike is no different. This Exercise Bike Guide offers tips on buying the right exercise bike for you, at the right price, and with the best features for your bicycle workout.

There’s definitely a lot to consider when it comes to buying an exercise bike, such as how much you have to spend and how often you plan on using it. With so many brands and models out there, choosing the right bike for yourself can be difficult. Take a look at our guidelines below to know exactly what to look for when you’re shopping for an exercise bike.

Price

As with most things in life, and exercise equipment in particular, you get what you pay for when buying an exercise bike. An exercise bike isn’t something that you want to purchase on a whim. It’s a good idea to take some time to research various models and their features to really get an idea of what is important to you, then you can more easily narrow in on a price range. If you’re starting out with a specific price range and don’t want to take the time to save up more money, you can generally still find a bike that suits your needs with a little research and some compromise. Plan to spend at least $200 for a very basic exercise bike and up to $1000 or more for a bike with all of the bells and whistles.

Operation

Most exercise bikes have adjustable resistance that works either by tension belt or magnetic resistance. Lower-end bikes will have tension belt resistance while more expensive bikes usually have magnetic resistance. Magnetic resistance is preferable because it operates more quietly and consistently. Either type of resistance is usually controlled by either a knob or at the push of a button. Bikes that have pre-loaded workout programs will also automatically change the resistance according to the workout. It really is up to you whether you prefer to spend the money on pushbutton magnetic resistance, you can certainly get a good workout without it, though it is much easier to use.

Built-in Workouts

As previously described, if you buy a bike with pre-loaded workouts, the resistance will change automatically while you are doing one of those workouts. Pre-loaded workouts are a great feature and usually worth the money as your workouts will be more effective and varied. If you opt to buy a machine without pre-loaded workouts, you should still pay special attention to the display console. The display console on your bike provides valuable feedback that will alert you if you need to speed it up or slow down, your heart rate, distance and calories burned. Without pre-loaded workouts or a decent display console, you’re essentially flying blind which can lead to boredom and frustration. At the higher end, many bikes come with iFit workout compatibility. With iFit, your bike will come with pre-loaded workouts and you’ll be able to update your bike by purchasing additional programmed workouts and loading them onto your machine (either by CD or direct download). Bikes at this end of the price-range also usually have more detailed display consoles that provide more feedback and options for customization.

Recumbent vs. Upright

As you probably know, there are two main options when it comes to exercise bike configuration: recumbent or upright. With a recumbent bike, you pedal in a reclined seated position, with back support. This more comfortable option might be very important to you if you have any back issues. The major disadvantage of recumbent bikes is that because you can’t stand up and pedal you can’t quite get as intense of a workout as with an upright bike. Upright exercise bikes are the more traditional seating option and work just like a mountain or road bike. Regardless of which style you opt for, make sure that the seating is fully adjustable so that you’ll be able to get the most comfortable workout possible.

After reading this hopefully you are less confused about knowing what to focus on when it comes to purchasing an exercise bike. If you do your homework and know what you want, you should be able to easily find a bike that will suit your needs perfectly. Part of doing your homework is reading reviews and knowing what’s out there, be sure to check ours out.

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