subject: Exercise Bikes -- Advantages Over Other Exercise Equipment [print this page] Exercise bikes remain popular as other machines come and fade away. These aren't a fad. Must be a reason why. See, often highly promoted exercise equipment is really quite limited in usefulness. In fact many special purpose exercise machines really do very little of what seems to be promised. In addition, no piece of fitness equipment will accomplish much if it's too hard or too inconvenient to use regularly. That's why the key to the popularity of exercise bikes is partly about burning calories but there's more than just that.
Many activities burn calories just about like riding an exercise bike. That makes exercise bikes as valuable as many other equipment types but then there are other factors too. But here's how some kinds of exercise compare when it comes to the very simple comparison of burning calories.
Pedaling like crazy on a stationary bicycle burns about 9.6 calories a minute. Be more reasonable and it's 7.9 calories in that minute. Your mileage may vary.
In any case, about 300 calories in 30 minutes of serious pumping. Now that's a lot of pumping folks. Thirty minutes of moderate to hard pedaling is quite the workout. It's one thing to go as hard as you can for a very few minutes... Extended, strenuous work is where the benefit really lies though. Work is the operative word sadly enough. Loafing isn't worth much after all.
Row a stationary rowing machine and it's about the same. Aerobics stepping, the same... Running about that too... Elliptical machines are similar as well... Bicycling... same... They're all about the same.
So why do many people choose stationary exercise bikes when there are so many other pieces of exercise equipment that could be used instead? Why does an exercise cycle still remain as one of the most popular pieces of fitness equipment even though there are so many newer and more flashy items available to buy and use at home or in a gym or fitness club? Here are a few of the possible reasons why, among many that keeps bikes as popular as they are...
An exercise bicycle works rain or shine, snow or sleet, winter or summer, day or night.
There's no need to go anywhere since with a home machine you can stay right at home.
Low stress exercise on the joints means minimal joint pounding for us old guys.
Works even when you're sporting minor hurts. That means the bikes work for rehabilitation.
Anybody can do it. Very little to no skill is needed and there is little danger of injury due to inexperience.
Not much back strain, unlike several other kinds of exercise machines.
Muscle builder, which is one of the keys to raising the basal metabolism and long-term weight loss.
Uses the major muscles of the back and legs so the work you can do is at a maximum.
Boosts metabolism better, again because of the possibility for muscle building and toning.
See exercise bikes do many things well and even high quality machines aren't very expensive. The metabolism boosting from bikes appears particularly important. Use the major muscles and turn your body into a better fat burner. That's the real key to long-term weight loss and the real strength of these machines.
Exercise Bikes -- Advantages Over Other Exercise Equipment
