One of the most well-liked fitness exercise machines is the exercise bike but purchasing one is not as easy as going to the shop and picking one out. There are many things to consider before you do this. You may want to think about not only the outlay, type of bike, whether you want an upright or recumbent exercise bike, and how comfortable and simple it is to adjust.

What is Your Budget?

Obviously this is always the most significant consideration but you shouldn’t go for the lowest cost bike you can find as it may perhaps not last very long, be comfortable or even give you a good workout. A beginner’s bike at a minimum will set you back about $200, and although this will be acceptable it probably won’t have any of the features that can be found on more expensive exercise bikes. For a little more, between $350 and $650 you’ll get a better quality bike with some features such as magnetic resistance, heart rate control, a comfy seat and usually quiet and smooth operation.

For around $600 you will be able to purchase a first-rate exercise bike with all the features you may need. For this cost you ought to expect lots of built-in workout programs, easy to use resistance control and LED display console, handlebars that are straightforward to change and a very good guarantee.

Exercise Bike Comfort

Of course your exercise bike needs to be easy as you will be using it for quite long periods. You will need a well padded seat and handlebars that can be adjusted easily. Are you going to buy an upright or recumbent exercise bike? A lot of people think that recumbent exercise bikes are more comfortable to use than upright exercise bikes as you sit in a more reclined position so there is not as much of pressure on your back. Upright exercise bikes, even though they are not quite as comfy, do have the benefit that you can effortlessly increase the intensity of the workout by pedalling standing up just as you would do on a normal bicycle.

Changing the Resistance

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

Monitoring Your Heart Rate

It is very crucial to be able to keep an eye on your heart rate while training as increasing your heart rate is why you are exercising. Always buy an exercise bike with an integral heart rate monitor so that you can adjust your workouts appropriately. Practically all the exercise bikes do have this although less expensive ones will often only have a pulse rate monitor integrated into the handlebars. The costly exercise bikes will have exercises that are driven by your pulse rate so they adjust automatically to keep your heart rate at a level that you set. This is a very nice feature but not crucial if you can’t afford it.

Built in Training Programs

Lots of of the cheaper exercise bikes won’t have workout built-in programs. Even if you may believe this is not too much of a disadvantage you will find that simply sitting on the bike and riding will become tedious very rapidly! With exercise programs you can alter your training and the feedback you get will help with your enthusiasm. Display consoles that give you feedback on distance covered,calories burned and heart rate etc. truly do improve your motivation and keep you exercising for much longer. Most of the exercise bikes in the middle range i.e. between roughly $300 and $600 will give you a reasonable range of included workouts and a reasonably good quality display. More high-priced exercise bikes i.e. in the $600 and over range will have a much higher range of workouts and first-rate LED displays with a whole range of feedback information.

Conclusion

Naturally, with exercise bikes, as with other fitness exercise machines, you get what you pay for. It is not really a good plan to buy the lowest cost exercise bike you can find as it might not last very long and you will not be pleased with the exercise that it gives you. It is not essential to buy a very high-priced bike but we endorse purchasing one for about $300 which will give you decent exercise and keep you motivated. Read more at Buying a Fitness Exercise Machine