Exercise Bike Buying Guide

When buying an exercise bike you need to consider a number of important factors to make sure you get exactly what you need at the right price. There are so many manufacturers of exercise bikes, and so many different models that cater to different needs, so you need to firstly assess what your needs are. Then consider the different features that each model offers. Naturally as you get more features and a better quality of bike, the price increases accordingly. That is why you must assess you needs, so you don’t end up with features that you don’t use, but have paid for.

No matter what end of the price spectrum you are looking at, all exercise bikes need to have easily adjustable handlebars and seat. The handlebars should adjust up the stem and also forward or back. The seat should also easily adjust up and down the stem. Look for a bike with a padded seat.

You will also need an exercise bike that is stable. Look for a wide base and solid frame. The wide base helps prevent rocking when you put in intense efforts.

Resistance is normally provided by three different methods. The cheaper bikes use belt resistance. The more popular choice is magnetic resistance as it is silent and smoother. Another form of resistance that can be used is air resistance provided by a fan on the wheel. This is not so common as it is noisy, but it is great to keep cool. The Schwinn Airdyne is one such bike with the fan at the front for resistance.

Next look at the display console. Even the cheaper exercise bikes normally have a display console. As you move up in price range you will get more information about your training session. You should be looking to get a display console that tells you the time you have been training, current speed, average speed, distance travelled, calories burned and cadence, or pedal revolutions per minute.

The better exercise bikes will have a heart rate monitor with a sensor built into the handlebars. Using your heart rate as a guide to your training session is valuable so you can get the most out of your training without over-training. The more expensive bikes will monitor your heart rate and adjust the intensity of the workout accordingly.

Other valuable features to look for include a water bottle holder, magazine holder so you can read while working out, a fan to keep cool, and wheels on the base to help you easily move and store your exercise bike.

These are a few of the important things to look at when buying a quality exercise bike.

By: Steve Garrett

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Once you have decided what you want check out this huge range of new and used exercise bikes for sale. A popular brand to review is healthstream exercise bikes for sale. This site gives comprehensive reviews of upright and recumbent exercise bikes. Good luck in your search.