Getting An Upright Exercise Bike

A stationary bike, or upright exercise bike, will give you the same workout you normally would get on a regular bike. But you can set it up in your home for easy convenience and get a good indoor cardio workout any time. A stationary exercise bike gives you a good cardio workout without putting a lot of pressure or pounding on your knees. This low impact workout will strengthen your legs without damaging your knees. Your average stationary exercise bike will have a solid back in an inverted "T" frame and a front wheel that moves freely when you are pedaling. There are also different tension settings that are similar to shifting gears on a regular bike. By adjusting the settings you can modify the difficulty of your workout. 30 minutes a day of spinning on a stationary exercise bike will provide you with enough cardiovascular activity to enhance your physical performance.

There are two kinds of stationary exercise bikes -- the upright or recumbent. An upright exercise bike is similar to a regular bicycle. The good thing about the upright models is that they simulate the position you would be on a bike outdoors. The downside is that it puts a lot of pressure on the lower back and groin, that can lead to discomfort or pain later on.

In a recumbent exercise bike you sit in a reclined position with your legs forward instead of downward. This bicycle design is favored by those who have any kind of back pain, especially problems with the lower back. The reclined position in recumbent bikes also gives the buttocks a better workout. Recumbent bikes often come with saddle seats that are larger and cushioned, providing more comfort for the groin area.

Stationary bikes have several adjustments so that you can be both comfortable and get the best workout possible. For example, you can adjust the height of the seat so that your legs are only slightly bent when you extend your leg at the bottom of the rotation. When you are pedaling, you should do so in a steady and rhythmic way. As your strength and endurance increase over time, you will also increase the tension on the wheel to make it slightly more difficult.

You may have seen some exercise bikes where the handle bars and/or seat move up and down, or back and forth. These were designed to provide an upper body workout in addition to a lower one while spinning. Whether these bikes actually are beneficial is up for debate. It may be best to avoid them altogether as they can cause injury to your back or knees. Since an upright exercise bike does not give you an upper body workout, be sure to include weightlifting for the upper body as part of your training. As with any new exercise program, talk to your doctor so that you can both decide what kind of workout program would be best for you.

You will find stationary exercise bikes being sold in department stores, or in stores that specialize in exercise equipment. If you check newspapers or online classifieds, you will often see used stationary bikes being sold cheaply that are still in excellent condition. If you decide to purchase a brand new upright exercise exercise bike, you can expect to pay around a hundred dollars for a basic model. For a couple hundred more you can get a stationary bike that has a digital display with features such as a calorie counter and programmable workout options.

If money is no object and you would like to purchase an upright exercise bike that is similar to the ones you would find in a gym, then you should expect to pay around three thousand dollars or more.