One of the most prevalent fitness exercise machines is the exercise bike but buying one is not as simple as going to the store and picking one out. There are lots of things to consider 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?

Evidently this is always the most important consideration but you don’t want to go for the cheapest bike on sale as it may not last for very long, be comfortable to use or give you good exercise. An entry-level bike at a minimum will set you back on the order of $200, and although this will be acceptable it may not have any of the features that can be found on more expensive training bikes. For not much more, between $350 and $650 you’ll get a better quality bike with some features such as heart rate control, magnetic resistance, a comfy seat and typically quiet and efficient operation.

For about $600 you will be able to purchase a high-quality exercise bike with all the features you may require. For this price you ought to expect loads of built-in exercise programs, simple to use resistance control and LED display console, handlebars that are easy to adjust and a good guarantee.

Exercise Bike Comfort

Certainly your exercise bike should be comfortable as you will be spending quite a lot of time on it! You will need a well padded seat and handlebars that can be adjusted without difficulty. Are you going to buy an upright or recumbent exercise bike? Many people think that recumbent exercise bikes are more comfy to use than upright exercise bikes as you sit in a more reclined position which puts a reduced amount of stress on your back. Upright exercise bikes, although not quite as comfy, do have the advantage that you can effortlessly boost the intensity of the workout by standing up to pedal just like you would on a regular bike.

Changing the Resistance

Resistance on exercise bikes is changeable in 2 ways. The majority of the cheaper models use tension and a belt, more costly 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.

Heart Rate Monitors

It is extremely crucial to be able to monitor your heart rate while exercising as increasing your heart rate is why you are exercising. Always obtain an exercise bike with an integrated heart rate monitor so that you can adjust your workouts appropriately. Virtually all the exercise bikes do have this while less expensive bikes will frequently only have a pulse rate monitor built into the handlebars. The more expensive exercise bikes will have workouts that are driven by your pulse rate so they adjust themselves to keep your pulse rate at a level that you fix. This is a very nice aspect but not essential if you can’t afford it.

Built in Training Programs

Many of the cheaper exercise bikes do not have exercise integrated programs. Although you may consider this is not too much of a drawback you will discover that simply sitting on the bike and pedalling will become boring very swiftly! With workout programs you can modify your exercising and the feedback you get will assist with your enthusiasm. Displays that give you feedback on distance covered,calories burned and heart rate etc. actually 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 realistic range of integral workouts and a fairly good display. More high-priced exercise bikes i.e. in the $650 and above range will have a large number of workouts and excellent console displays with a complete range of feedback information.

Conclusion

Certainly, as with other fitness exercise machines, when buying an exercise bike, you get what you pay for. It isn’t really a good idea to buy the lowest cost exercise bike you can find as it might not last very long and you won’t be pleased with the workout that it gives you. It is not necessary to buy a very high-priced bike but we suggest purchasing one for around $300 which will give you excellent exercise and keep your motivation high. Read more at Buying a Fitness Exercise Machine