Exercise Bike

Big is out and thin is in. These days you have to stay trim and fit if you want to stay ahead in the rat race. An exercise bike is a great way to build your fitness and to keep burning those calories. Also, they are a very handy and comfortable way to fight the flab within the comfort of your own home. So how do you know which is the best exercise bike for your requirements? Well, here are a few tips to help you sort that bit out:

When you are out shopping for the best exercise bicycle for yourself, there are certain points you should consider. These are:

1. The Class/Type of exercise bike 2. Your Budget 3. Warranty Period

1. Type of Exercise Bike: In order to choose the best exercise bike for your needs, you first need to decide which type or class of exercise bike you would like to go for. There two main types of exercise bikes available on the market. These are Upright or Stationary Bikes and Recumbent Bikes.

The Upright exercise bikes have been around for years now and are the orthodox or traditional form of the same. Such bikes offer a seating position similar to a basic outdoor bike. These days, Upright bikes also come with bars or levers on harm handles which can be shifted in order to incorporate your upper body into the workout as well.

Recumbent exercise bikes are a more advanced version of the typical exercise bikes and have comfortable bucket-type seats coupled with a semi-reclining form. With recumbent bikes, your legs are stretched out to reach the pedals in front of you instead of hanging down as is the case with an upright exercise bike.

2. Your Budget: With exercise bikes, you usually get what you pay for as there’s no “best cheap exercise bike”. And you can classify different types of bikes into three main price categories. These are below $500, between $500 to $1000 and more than $1000.

For under $500, you can expect buy a very basic exercise bikes minus the bells and whistles. This is a good price point for those who don’t intend to use their exercise machine much or are on a strict budget.

It is possible to find some good quality, solid exercise bikes within the price range of $500 to $1000. In this category you will find bikes that offer magnetic resistance and high-tech consoles which give you feedback while you workout. Other bits you can expect include several in-built multi-stage exercise programs, heart rate monitors and foot-straps.

Finally, in the above $1000 category, you are probably looking at the best exercise bikes available anywhere. These are state of the art machines built for an advanced workout and can usually be seen in commercial health clubs.

3. Warranty: When looking for the best exercise bike, you should also consider the warranties that different exercise bike companies have to offer. For instance manufacturers give warranties ranging from as little as 90 days to a lifetime warranty. Oftentimes warranties can be broken up into several aspects such as parts and labor coverage for 6 months, electronics up to a year and frame for a lifetime.

It goes without saying that the better the quality of the exercise bike and its components, the longer the warranty. So, one can safely assume that comparing the warranty offered by manufacturers is another dependable method to help you choose the best exercise bike.

Thus by keeping the above mentioned features in mind along with few others such as resistance and exercise programs, you can make an informed decision when purchasing your exercise bike.