How to Choose the Best Exercise Bike for Your Needs

If you’re thinking of buying an exercise bike, you can be overwhelmed by the amount of different bikes there are to choose from, with prices ranging between anything from under £100 up to $800+.  You may be dazzled by the amount of features a manufacturer claims to offer on their exercise bikes, such as a high number of programmable workouts or resistance levels, but there are a lot more things to consider when buying an exercise bike.

While you may be limited to the amount of money you want to spend on an exercise bike, it is important to consider factors such as the build-quality for long-lasting durability, how smoothly and quietly the bike operates, how much adjustability does the bike have in terms of user height, what the user weight ratings are, how stable and safe the bike is, and of course what warranties do the manufacturers offer on their exercise bikes.

When most people first think of an exercise bike, the first type of exercise bike that comes to mind is the Upright Exercise Bike.

Upright exercise bikes are the most common type of exercise bike and as the name suggests, you sit in an upright position as you pedal.

These types of bikes usually come with a computer console with an LCD display and offer a variety of workout programs to keep your workouts interesting, varied and challenging.  Your workout stats are displayed on the LCD monitor so you can keep track of your progress.

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But did you know there are several other types of exercise bikes which some people may find they are better suited to?

Health Benefits of Exercise

Regular exercise not only helps us to lose a bit of weight and tone our bodies, but has a whole wealth of health benefits as well.

Exercising doesn’t necessarily mean having to slog it out at the gym – there are many gentle forms of exercise that will still help to improve your overall health and fitness.  Low-impact forms of exercising like walking, swimming, and cycling are a great way to help improve your overall fitness levels as well as improving your cardiovascular health.  Low-impact exercise is easier on your knees and joints than many other forms of exercise, yet still gives you a good workout to bring about some great health benefits.

The good news is that even everyday activities such as gardening or housework can count towards your exercise goals.

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Health Benefits of Exercise

The benefits of exercise to your health include:

Tips on How to Choose the Best Treadmill for Your Needs

Treadmill

There are so many different makes and models of treadmills available to choose from nowadays, that it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one you should buy.

Most people look at the amount of features a treadmill has such as how many programmable workouts a treadmill has, but don’t be blinded by the quantity of features over the build quality and what you personally need from a treadmill.

If you’re thinking about buying a treadmill for home use, but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips on the important factors that are easily overlooked but which you need to take into consideration when choosing the right treadmill for you:

Are you going to be using the treadmill for walking or running?

Some treadmills are designed more for people who just want to get some walking exercise rather than running.  Treadmills designed for walking usually have a less powerful motor and a smaller footprint.

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If you intend running on a treadmill, make sure you buy a treadmill that is designed to take more of a pounding.  With this in mind, you will need to buy a treadmill that is more heavy-duty with a more powerful motor and a longer running surface.

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WaterRower versus Concept2 Rowing Machine, How do they Compare?

Both the WaterRower and the Concept2 are top quality indoor rowing machines for people serious about rowing and getting fit. The Concept2 has a more modern look to it, while the WaterRower is handcrafted in solid wood and looks more like a piece of furniture you would have in your home rather than a piece of exercise equipment.

 

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WaterRower Rowing Machine 
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Concept2 Rowing Machine 
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The WaterRower and the Concept2 not only look different but work in completely different ways too.  The WaterRower is considered to be more of a rowing simulator rather than a rowing machine as it is designed to emulate the movement of a boat paddling down the river.

The WaterRower features a “flywheel” that consists of 2 paddles that sit in an enclosed water tank, and offers unlimited resistance in the sense that the faster you paddle, the higher the drag will be increased.  This self-regulating resistance system eliminates the need for setting or adjusting the resistance throughout the workout as with other types of rowing machines.  This system is designed to give a smooth and virtually silent workout with even strokes to spread the work more evenly over your muscles groups and without the pronounced jerky movement that is common with other types of rowing machines.

In addition, the WaterRower is virtually maintenance free, with no messy lubrication that is normally required with other types of rowing machines.  In fact, the only maintenance necessary with the WaterRower is the purification of the water, which is easily done by adding water purification tablets (included) to the water.

The Concept2 on the other hand, does require some maintenance, although minimal.  The Concept2 is a more traditional mechanical rowing machine, featuring a Spiral Damper which allows you to adjust the airflow to the flywheel to change the feel of the stroke.  The Concept2 features a nickel-plated chain which although is low maintenance, does require occasional oiling.  The flywheel itself is designed to minimize noise whilst maximizing a smooth operation.

The WaterRower takes up less floor space than the Concept2, with the WaterRower measuring around 1ft (12 inches) shorter in length than the Concept2.

The WaterRower Oxbridge and the Concept2 both come with a Performance Monitor to track your workout progress in varying forms.  (See full features & specifications below.)

WaterRower Performance Monitor

Concept 2 Performance Monitor

Ad >>Click here to buy the WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine in Cherry (with S4 Monitor) at a LOW PRICE online<<

Ad >>Click here to buy the Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine (with NEW PM5 Performance Monitor) at a LOW PRICE online<<

Ad >>Click here to view specifications or to buy the Concept2 Model D (with NEW PM5 Monitor) Indoor Rowing Machine at a LOW PRICE online<<

Useful tip:  A 30 minute workout on a rowing machine can burn between 262-449 calories for ladies or 310-531 calories for men, depending on the intensity of the workout.

There’s so much more to these rowing machines!  Let’s take a look at the features in detail of the WaterRower Oxbridge and the Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machines to help you decide which one is best for you:

WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor, Reviewed

The WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine features a “water flywheel” that simulates the feel of outdoor rowing on water. The flywheel sits in an enclosed water tank, a combination that provides a smooth and quiet resistance system.

This type of resistance system is self-regulating and therefore eliminates the need for a motor.  As a result, there are no moving parts that could wear out over time like other machines.  Resistance is unlimited, as in the drag increases with the faster you paddle or decreases if you paddle slower, just as it would with real rowing.
 

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WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine 
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The WaterRower Oxbridge is amazingly smooth and fluid in operation, unlike other types of rowing machines which can have a jerky kind of feel.  Rowing is in fact a low impact form of exercise, meaning that it is kinder to your body and joints than many other forms of exercising.  Rowing is a good aerobic and cardio form of exercising and gives a good total body workout, toning and strengthening all the major muscles in the arms, shoulders, legs, buttocks and abdomen.

WaterRower Series 4 Monitor

The WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine is handcrafted in solid cherry wood which not only looks good, but also contributes to the smooth and quiet operation of the rowing machine as this type of wood helps to absorb sound and vibration.  The wood is hand-finished with 3 coats of Danish oil to bring out its warmth and give it a deep lustre color.

The WaterRower Oxbridge comes with a Series 4 Performance Monitor that enables you to view your workout progress, including:  stroke rate, intensity, distance, time, zone bar, and heart-rate.

Ad >>Click here to buy the WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine in Cherry with S4 Monitor, at a LOW PRICE online<<

Useful tip:  Just 30 minutes rowing on a rowing machine can burn between 262-449 calories for women or 310-531 calories for men, depending on the intensity of the rowing.

Let’s take a look at the features in detail of the WaterRower Oxbridge Rowing Machine in Cherry with S4 Monitor to help you decide if it’s the right indoor rowing machine for you:

Schwinn 470 versus Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer, Comparison Review

Both the Schwinn 470 and the Sole E95 Elliptical Trainers are impressive machines, with both of them being highly rated for their quality-build and range of features. How you decide which elliptical trainer is right for you will depend on your particular needs.

 

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Schwinn 470 Elliptical Trainer 
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Ad >>Click here to buy 
Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer 
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The Schwinn 470 is a high-end elliptical trainer suitable for home use.  It offers a wealth of impressive features, including 29 programs and 25 levels of Eddy Current Magnetic Resistance to keep your workouts varied and challenging.

The Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer is closer in build to a commercial elliptical trainer and as such is priced higher than the Schwinn 470.  It’s an impressive elliptical machine offering 10 programs and 20 levels of ECB magnetic resistance, together with a higher incline range than the Schwinn 470.

Elliptical trainers offer a low impact workout which means they are easier on your joints than many other forms of exercise while still giving you a good workout.

Ad >>Click here to buy the Schwinn 470 Elliptical Trainer Machine at a LOW PRICE online<<

Ad >>Click here to buy the Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer Machine at a LOW PRICE online<<

Useful Tip:  Just a 30 minute workout on an elliptical trainer can burn approx. 310 calories for women or 378 calories for men.

Let’s take a detailed look at the features and differences between the Schwinn 470 and the Sole E96 Elliptical Trainer Machines to help you decide which one is right for you:

Schwinn 520 Recumbent Elliptical Trainer, Review

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Schwinn 520 Recumbent 
Elliptical Trainer 
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Take the strain out of exercising with a Schwinn 520 Recumbent Elliptical Trainer.  Get the benefits of working your leg muscles with the striding motion of an elliptical trainer while being seated on an ergonomically designed seat similar to that found on a recumbent exercise bike.

The advantage of elliptical trainers over exercise bikes is that they work more muscles to make your workouts even more effective, while still being low-impact on your joints.

The Schwinn 520 Recumbent Elliptical Trainer features a comfortable ergonomically designed seat with back support to encourage good posture while exercising.  It is these types of seats on recumbent bikes and recumbent elliptical trainers, combined with the low-impact nature of cycling and ellipticals that make them so popular, particularly for people who have back problems or for people who are recovering from injuries and who have been advised to carry on exercising.

Schwinn 520's display

The Schwinn 520 Recumbent Elliptical Trainer uses Schwinn’s unique Airdyne fan system which is based on wind resistance – the faster you pedal, the harder the resistance will be.  This innovative Airdyne fan system effectively gives you unlimited resistance levels.

The Schwinn 520's Airdyne fan system, together with 3 workout programs, gives the user plenty of variety to keep your workouts interesting and challenging.  Workout progress is displayed on an easy-to-use and easy-to-read computer with scrolling display.

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Motivational tip:  Just a 30 minute workout on an elliptical trainer can burn approx. 310 calories for ladies and 378 calories for men, depending on the intensity of your workout.

Let’s take a closer look at the features in detail of the Schwinn 520 to help you decide if it’s the best recumbent elliptical trainer for you: