When it comes to choosing a home exercise machine treadmills and exercise bikes are among the most popular. Which one would be best for you? Let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages of both these types of exercise machines so that you can decide which one you should buy.

Advantages of Home Exercise Bikes

Most exercise bikes have built in programs to allow you to change the intensity of the exercise and to help to prevent boredom. Some have programs that randomly change the difficulty level and intensity which again is a big help to keep you interested. Some of the more expensive exercise bikes even have video screens so you can imagine you are cycling in the mountains or through a forest or play virtual games. Even the cheaper models let you change the programs so exercise bikes definitely have the advantage in versatility and boredom prevention.

Exercise bikes are also low impact so if you have problems with knee joints or your back an exercise bike is going to be better for you than a treadmill. Recumbent exercise bikes are more comfortable than upright exercise bikes with more padded seats and an easier exercise position.

Advantages of Home Treadmills

Treadmills do come with some programs which can change the intensity, speed and incline but are not so much fun, in our opinion, as exercise bikes. For features and variety of programs however the exercise bikes definitely win out. When it comes to burning calories however treadmills seem to have the advantage. In one study comparing treadmills with exercise bikes with around 700 calories an hour burned for the treadmill as opposed to around five hundred for the exercise bike.

Disadvantages of Treadmills

The biggest disadvantage of treadmills for many people is that they are not low impact and would not be a good idea for anyone with knee, ankle or back problems. A recumbent exercise bike is ideal for anyone with these problems as the position you sit in while exercising does not put strain on these joints.

Other Considerations

Before you decide which type of exercise machine to buy try both out at a local gym. You may hate the treadmill and love the exercise bike, or the other way around! Also look up some electric treadmill reviews to see what other people are saying about the ones you are interested in. You really can’t tell until you try them. It’s no good buying a treadmill because it burns more calories if you hardly ever use it.

One of the most well-liked fitness exercise machines is the exercise bike but purchasing one is not as straightforward as going to the shop and choosing one. There are a lot of things to think about before you do this. You may want to think about not only the price, type of bike, whether you prefer an upright or recumbent exercise bike, and how comfortable and effortless it is to adjust.

What is Your Budget?

Certainly this is always the most important concern but you don’t want to go for the cheapest exercise bike you can find as it might not be long lasting, be comfortable to use or give you good exercise. A beginner’s bike at the lowest will set you back about $200, and even though this will be acceptable it probably won’t have any of the features that can be found on more expensive training bikes. For a little more, say between $350 and $600 you’ll get a higher quality exercise bike with some features such as magnetic resistance, heart rate control, a comfy seat and generally quiet and smooth operation.

For approximately $600 you will be able to obtain a first-rate exercise bike with all the features you may require. For this price you should expect lots of built-in exercise programs, simple to use resistance control and LED display console, handlebars that are simple to adjust and a good guarantee.

Comfort of the Exercise Bike

Evidently your exercise bike needs to be comfortable as you will be spending quite a lot of time on it! You will want a well padded seat and handlebars that adjust effortlessly. Are you going to buy an upright or recumbent exercise bike? A lot of people find that recumbent exercise bikes are more comfy to use than upright exercise bikes as you sit in a more reclined position which puts not as much of stress on your back. Upright exercise bikes, although not quite as comfy, do have the benefit that you can effortlessly enhance the intensity of the workout by pedalling standing up just like you would do on a normal bicycle.

Changing the Resistance

Resistance on exercise bikes is adjustable in two ways. A good number of the lower cost models use a belt and tension, higher-priced models use magnetic resistance which is quieter and more dependable. Magnetic resistance is usually adjusted with a knob or a pushbutton. Most people find it easier to use a pushbutton.

Heart Rate Monitors

It is particularly crucial to be able to check your heart rate while training as increasing your heart rate is why you are exercising. Always buy an exercise bike with an integrated heart rate monitor so that you can change your workouts accordingly. Nearly all the exercise bikes do have this although cheaper ones will frequently only have a pulse rate monitor built into the handlebars. The high-priced exercise bikes will have exercises that are driven by your heart rate so they adjust themselves to maintain your heart rate at a level that you fix. This is a very nice feature but not vital if you can’t manage to pay for it.

Integrated Training Programs

Many of the less expensive exercise bikes do not have workout incorporated programs. While you may feel this is not too much of a shortcoming you will discover that just sitting on the bike and riding will grow to be monotonous very swiftly! With workout programs you can adjust your training and the feedback you get will assist with your enthusiasm. Consoles that give you feedback on your heart rate, calories burned, distance covered etc. really do help your enthusiasm and keep you exercising for longer periods. A large amount of the exercise bikes in the middle range i.e. between approximately $300 and $600 will give you a realistic range of built-in workouts and a fairly high-quality display. More expensive exercise bikes i.e. in the $650 and above range will have a very wide range of workouts and excellent console displays with a whole range of feedback information.

Conclusion

Certainly, with exercise bikes, as with other fitness exercise machines, you get what you pay for. It is not really a very good idea to purchase the lowest cost exercise bike you can find as it might not last very long and you won’t be pleased with the training that it gives you. It is not essential to buy a very expensive bike but we suggest purchasing one for about $300 which will give you good quality exercise and keep you motivated.