Exercise Bikes

Would you like to improve your fitness, lose weight, burn calories, improve your muscle strength, increase your energy level or perhaps you are in rehabilitation? Then an exercise bike is ideal. The exercise bike is one of the best-known fitness equipment for home use. This very accessible device is perfect for anyone who would like to work on their health. The big advantage of an exercise bike is that you can train from home whenever you want, whether it is bad weather or cold, train comfortably at home and achieve your fitness goals. 

What is an exercise bike?

An exercise bike, also called an exercise bike or fitness bike, is a fitness device with which you can work on improving your health from the comfort of your own home. The exercise bike imitates the movements of cycling, specifically the pedaling movements. That is why it is sometimes also called indoor cycling. Because the exercise bike is simple and accessible to use, it is a perfect device if you want to start exercising, but also if you are an experienced athlete, the fitness bike contributes to your sports goals. With an exercise bike you can work on your goals such as becoming fitter, losing weight or rehabilitation.

What are the benefits of training with an exercise bike?

Exercise bikes, like rowing machines, are one of the most popular fitness machines on the market. This is partly due to its very simple use, but the exercise bike also has several advantages, such as:

• Easy to use
• Easy to get started with
• Become fitter, burn calories and lose weight
• Train in comfort at home whenever you want
• No shock loads on your joints

Easy to use

Are you just starting to exercise or do you want to expand your current workouts with cardio training? Then you can go for an exercise bike. The simplicity of the exercise bikes makes them very easy to use, whether you are a novice athlete or an experienced one, which makes them perfect for anyone who wants to work on their cardio.

Easy to get started with

Whether you are just starting to exercise, are an advanced athlete or perhaps a bit older. With an exercise bike you can always train at your desired level. An exercise bike is easy and accessible to get started with. Set your desired difficulty level, sit back, turn on your favorite series or app (such as Kinomaps or JRNY) and enjoy your training.

Get fitter, burn calories and lose weight

Exercise bikes are the perfect equipment if you want to get fitter, lose weight and burn calories. You train your legs intensively. How much weight you can lose or the number of calories you burn depends on how often and how intensively you train.

You will notice that after a few weeks of training you will become more energetic and your fitness will improve. This is partly because you burn fat and calories and encourage your body to exercise. This way you will have even more energy to do fun things.

Train in comfort at home whenever you want

You may have already noticed that with a “home” trainer you can work on improving your fitness from home. With an exercise bike you can train at any time of the day. Training outside cannot always be pleasant and easy. During the colder winter months you can continue training comfortably from home. If you live in the city, you may not always be able to do your utmost with your training outside due to the crowds and many traffic lights. Bad roads can also hinder your training, such as a bad road surface or unpaved road surface. Do you normally train in the sports club? Then you can save valuable travel time that you normally need to go to the gym.

No shock loads on your joints

If you compare an exercise bike with a treadmill, your joints are put under a lot less strain. An exercise bike is often seen as one of the better devices for recovering from injuries. The cycling movements you make are always smooth and even. Due to these smooth movements, you will not suffer from shock loads, for example, which reduces the risk of possible injuries and promotes recovery. Cycling is a low impact exercise. If you compare cycling with running, your knees and joints absorb the impact of putting your feet down when running. During cycling training, your joints do not have to absorb blows.

What types of exercise bikes are there?

There are different types of exercise bikes, namely the 'normal' exercise bikes where you sit upright, the recumbent bike, air bikes and arm bikes. Each bicycle has its own unique effect.

The exercise bike (upright bike)

This is the exercise bike as we all know it. This type of exercise bike comes closest to cycling on a real bicycle. These bikes are designed so that you can train in a good upright sitting position. The pedals are positioned directly under the body, often in a slightly bent forward position.

The recumbent bicycle (recumbent)

The recumbent bike, also known as the recumbent bike, is a bicycle trainer that resembles an exercise bike but is slightly different. The biggest difference is in the position you take when you train on the recumbent bike. A recumbent bike is equipped with a backrest to support you. The backrest is especially helpful for people who need back support (e.g. if you are older). But they also have a larger and wider seat. They also have a low entry.

The Airbike

The Airbike is a special type of exercise bike. An air bike is a mix between an exercise bike and a cross trainer. In addition to the cycling training, you also train your arms due to the presence of the movable arms. This gives you an extra intensive workout. Because the air bikes have an air resistance system, you can make your workouts as tough as you want. The air resistance ensures that the intensity automatically increases during your training.

The arm bike

The name arm bike says it all, this is an exercise bike especially for your arms. This type of fitness equipment is often used for medical purposes such as rehabilitation.

What should you pay attention to when buying an exercise bike?

Would you like to purchase an exercise bike for your home? It is important that they meet your wishes and needs. There are several details that you need to pay extra attention to. That is why we would like to take you further into the details of exercise bikes.

• The flywheel weight
• Weight and size
• Adjustable saddle & send
• Entry height of the exercise bike
• Maximum body height exercise bike
• Resistance levels
• Maximum loadable weight
• Ergonomics
• Type of braking system / magnetic or induction ergo
• Display / entertainment options

The flywheel weight

One of the most important parts of the exercise bike is the flywheel. Previously it was the case that the heavier the flywheel, the better / more comfortable the bicycle. Nowadays the flywheel makes less difference because various new techniques have been developed that allow the mass inertia of a lighter flywheel to be greater than a heavier flywheel. In addition to the weight, the structure and design of the flywheel can also play a larger role in the mass inertia of the flywheel. For example, with the latest techniques, the materials from the flywheel are moved to the outer 'ring', which ensures greater mass inertia. In addition, new types of braking systems and other functionalities also play an important role in mass inertia.

Weight and size of the exercise bike

As a rule, the heavier the fitness equipment, the better the quality. The weight of the exercise bike affects, among other things, the stability of the bicycle. In addition, a heavier exercise bike can also handle a higher user weight. Although exercise bikes are fairly compact fitness equipment, you may prefer to store them away after your workout. If you would like to opt for a heavier exercise bike, it is desirable that it has integrated transport wheels so that you can move or store it easily and quickly.

Adjustable saddle and handlebars

During your training, it is important that you train in the correct position. Otherwise you may develop complaints and sustain injuries. That is why it is important to look for an exercise bike where you can adjust both the saddle and handlebars. For a good seat, you can adjust the seat height of the saddle at the height of your hip. This way you can always adjust the exercise bike properly for optimal training.

Entry height of the exercise bike

As you get older, getting on and off can become a bit more difficult. That is why most exercise bikes are designed so that they have a low entry. The position of the flywheel is often placed directly under your saddle, so you do not have to lift your leg over it. There is then an open space between the steering column and the flywheel.

Maximum body height of the exercise bike

For a good workout it is important to have a good posture. It is also important to look at your own height and what the maximum height is for the exercise bike. Are you taller than 1.90 meters? Then it is best to go for an exercise bike that is suitable for taller people. You have to be able to make good movements during your workouts.

Resistance levels

Depending on your goals, the resistance levels present play a major role. Do you want to go for an exercise bike to maintain or improve your fitness? Then an exercise bike with a large number of resistance levels at your disposal is ideal. Do you want to use an exercise bike for rehabilitation? Then resistance plays a very important role. For example, suppose you have just had an operation on your knee or leg muscles and you have to teach the joint or muscle to move again. Then you should be able to train with the exercise bike at a resistance level of (almost) 0. Very low resistance levels are more often possible with exercise bikes with an induction braking system.

Maximum loadable weight

An exercise bike is made to handle a certain user weight. Each exercise bike states the recommended maximum weight. Your own weight affects the exercise bike. Suppose you weigh 125 kg and you train on an exercise bike that is only suitable for weights up to 100 kg. Then the exercise bike may start to wear out more quickly. That is why we always recommend choosing an exercise bike that can handle at least 20 kg more than your own user weight. With heavier exercise bikes, more iron is often used for strength. This also means they can handle more weight.

Ergonomics of the exercise bike

Good ergonomics are important if you want to train on an exercise bike. Especially if you want to use the exercise bike for rehabilitation purposes. A good training posture prevents you from taking an incorrect position, which means you cannot get the most out of your training and can even suffer from back or shoulder problems. That is why it is good to look at the adjustability of, among other things, the saddle, the handlebars, whether there is a low entry and the pedal distance. Do you need extra support? Then you can also go for a recumbent exercise bike (recumbent bike). This type is less stressful on your weights.

Type of braking system

To be able to stop or take a break, every exercise bike has a braking system. Four different braking systems can be distinguished, namely, the induction braking system, the magnetic braking system (motor controlled), magnetic braking system (hand controlled) and finally the brake band system. The induction braking system is the most pleasant and precise braking system. You will therefore often find this type in the more extensive and luxurious exercise bikes.

Console / display on the exercise bike

Depending on the type of exercise bike, there is also a console / display available. This allows you to tailor your training even better and thus improve your fitness more efficiently. Depending on your wishes and needs, you can go for a console with more or fewer functions. Functions that always contribute to your training and goals are: heart rate measurements, calorie consumption, training time and cycled distance.

Which muscles do you train with an exercise bike?

By training on an exercise bike you train multiple muscle groups at the same time. The focus is on training your quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings and calves. But did you know that you also train your back and abdominal muscles as well as your biceps and triceps?

Who is an exercise bike suitable for?

The nice thing is that an exercise bike is suitable for anyone who wants to exercise, become more energetic and fitter and stay fit. Whether you are just starting to exercise or are already an advanced athlete, you can never go wrong with an exercise bike.

The great thing about an exercise bike is that it is especially suitable if you are older. They often have a low entry, which makes them easier to use if, for example, you have difficulty walking or are recovering from an injury.

What is the difference between an exercise bike and a spinning bike?

The exercise bike and spinning bike are sometimes confused in terms of names. Although they both offer a form of cycling, they are quite different from each other.

The biggest difference between the exercise bike and spinning bike is the position you have. For example, you can best compare an exercise bike with cycling on a (city) bike and a spinning bike with cycling on a sporty racing bike. On a regular bicycle you sit quite upright, but on a racing bicycle you cycle more in a sporty, leaning position.

In addition to the posture, the pedaling system of an exercise bike is also different. This way you can start your training and stop pedaling whenever you want. As soon as you stop pedaling, the pedals also stop turning. This allows you to stop pedaling (temporarily) if you are tired and want to take a short break. On a spinning bike, the pedals continue to spin due to the heavy flywheel. A spinning bike is aimed at cycling hard and briskly, while an exercise bike focuses more on the movements themselves.

Exercise bikes are comfortable fitness equipment that are suitable for both beginners and advanced athletes. They are comfortable bikes, ideal for maintaining your vitality, but you can also go for a good warm-up before you start strength training.

Is an exercise bike also suitable for rehabilitation?

If you want to use an exercise bike for rehabilitation, you can go for a classic exercise bike or a recumbent bike. Which bicycle is suitable for you depends on how you need to recuperate. What you can pay extra attention to if you want to purchase an exercise bike for rehabilitation is, among other things, a low entry, an adjustable handlebar and saddle, the presence of an ergometer, stability of the bicycle, a comfortable seat and nice handles, but simple operation is also nice to have.

Do you want to strengthen your shoulder muscles, arm muscles or leg muscles? Then you can do this with special exercise bikes for rehabilitation such as the Ergo-fit exercise bike Cardio Line 400, Flow Fitness Perform B3i Ergometer and the Nautilus U627. Is the focus on your shoulders or arms? We have special arm trainers for this. For rehabilitation, we always recommend that you first consult with your doctor or physiotherapist. This way you will achieve the best results and you can complete your rehabilitation properly.

With the exercise bikes with console you can adjust your training exactly the way you want. Keep track of your training time, heart rate, speed, cycled distance, calorie consumption, intensity and much more. This means you can always recuperate and train optimally.

Can you lose weight by training with an exercise bike?

A question we regularly receive is whether you can also lose weight by training on an exercise bike? It is certainly possible to lose weight through exercise bike workouts. Did you know, for example, that in addition to your legs and buttocks, you also train your abdominal muscles? In order to lose weight, it is important to look at the possibilities of the bicycle, for example, is it possible to train using heart rate zones? And which programs are available on the bike? One of the other important points of attention, in addition to the exercise bike, is to pay close attention to your diet. To lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. In addition, it is also important to do your training consistently.

Are there any exercise bike offers?

Are you looking for an exercise bike offer? We regularly have great offers with various exercise bikes. You can view the most current offer here. In addition to regularly having exercise bikes on offer, we also have demo exercise bikes and second-hand exercise bikes. For example, the demo models have been in the store and have been little or not used. The exercise bikes used have been checked by our own specialist team and parts have been replaced where necessary. 

Need help with your choice?

Would you like to buy an exercise bike? But are you still not sure which one would best suit your wishes and needs? We will be happy to help you with all your questions. You can reach our exercise bike specialists by telephone at +31(0)413-256800 or send an e-mail. Or visit our store in Volkel, the Netherlands.