Exercise Bikes

There are no right and wrong answers to that question. It all depends on what you want to get out of your workouts. If you’re new to cycling or very out of condition, then it’s probably best to start very gently and cycle for only ten minutes the first time.

If, on the other hand, you’re pretty fit and want to get even fitter, we recommend that you aim to cycle for at least thirty minutes, including warming up.

1. You should start by being transparent about what goals you have for your workout. Do you feel like cycling at the same load and speed during the whole session? Or do you want to do intervals that mean you increase and decrease the speed and load several times during your session? Both options are suitable when riding an exercise bike.
2. Once you’ve decided what type of session you want, you need to decide how long you want to cycle.
3. Then it's time to select the desired training programme on your bike, and also enter how long you want the session to be. Often there are several different pre-programmed options, which give some variation to your workouts.

Calorie burn during cycling is completely dependent on how intensively you cycle. According to the Harvard Medical School, a person weighing 182 lbs burns about 311 calories in a medium-hard cycling workout lasting 30 minutes. That can be compared to a running workout of the same intensity, which burns 444 calories, or a session on a ski trainer machine, which burns 422.

Exercise bikes can be bought online. The market for exercise bikes is usually littered with promotions, with many online stores selling bikes at significantly discounted prices. Often, they will include free delivery. Exercise bikes usually come in a package and don’t require much skill to assemble. The tools needed for assembly are usually included in the package, but expect it to take you one to two hours to put it together.

Exercise bikes are more suitable for low-intensity cardio training, unlike a spinning bike, which is much more stable and built to withstand rapid position changes and high speeds.

An exercise bike is often perceived as more comfortable to ride for longer sessions, and there’s usually an exercise computer with a number of exercise programmes to choose from. Some have a shelf for a tablet, which makes it easier to watch TV while cycling.

Spinning bikes are often built to mimic real racing bikes, which means they have more setting options and a much narrower, more rigid saddle.

Exercise with an exercise bike is very gentle and is suitable for almost all people, regardless of age, weight and fitness background. Bikes put a low load on your knees and joints while strengthening your thighs, calves and hips.

An exercise bike is also good for fat burning and effectively improves fitness without risking injury. Compared to many other forms of exercise, working out on an exercise bike is very safe.