5 Reasons Why Stationary Bikes Make for Good Exercise
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."
Need to get a convenient indoor workout in or maybe it’s too cold for outdoor biking? Indoor cycling, which uses stationary bikes, is one of the best cardio workouts to incorporate into training because it is low impact and causes less pounding on joints.
Stationary bikes were created to give cycling lovers the facilities to train without needing to go out of the home, says Jeyco Estaba, Regional Fitness Manager México Blue Diamonds Resorts. “It allows for more time to train, ease for a quick cardio workout, and a lower probability of risk as is found outdoors.”
Cycling classes have changed throughout the years, as well—they’re more than just individual sessions. “Today we can discover a range of classes unique to the rider, different coaching techniques, routes, and routines,” says Estaba. And, you can access classes from your home now too, thanks to monthly subscription programs from Peloton, SoulCycle, and more. And if all of this doesn’t convince you, maybe these health benefits will.
It's a great cardio workout
Indoor cycling can prove both mentally and physically beneficial. “Cycling is a great cardiovascular workout to strengthen the heart, lungs, and muscles,” says Erin Jalkanen, Certified Personal Trainer at Ascend Fitness and Spa. “This in turn also helps to lower blood pressure, improve your sleep, and lower stress levels.”
Cycling can help reduce body fat
Indoor cycling reduces body fat; increases metabolism; and reduces injury chances because of the low impact of the required movements. “Another great benefit to riding a bike is the simple ability to do interval workouts,” says Jalkanen. “Interval training allows you to alternate short bursts of intense exercise with intervals of less intense exercise. This type of training can increase your cardio endurance and burn more calories in a short amount of time. You can easily adjust the resistance on bikes which makes them very ideal for intervals.”
Ideal for those looking for a lower-impact exercise
Your ankles, knees, hips, and other joints can be put under a lot of stress when running, jogging, jumping, or doing other high-impact aerobic exercises. “When riding a bike, your body doesn’t feel the impact that it would with these other types of exercise,” says Jalkanen. “The bike is much kinder on your precious joints with less stress, and although the bike is less impact, it is still important to keep proper form while riding. This means your knees should bend just slightly on the down pedal stroke. If it is too bent or too straight, you will need to adjust the seat height.”
It’s not weather dependent
The hazards of riding outdoors are alleviated by indoor cycling. “By staying in one place without outdoor factors such as uneven and unpaved roads, traffic (pedestrian and vehicle), we have a better opportunity to maintain correct posture and footing,” says Estaba. “We can also adapt our stationary bikes for specific cases such as injuries or related conditions due to its low impact on joints as it is not an exercise that demands great efforts.”
There are many stationary bike options to choose from
If you are looking to ride your favorite outdoor bike, inside, you can get a trainer for racing bikes. A bike trainer will allow you to hook your bike in it to keep it stationary indoors. “There are plenty of apps and spin bikes out there that allow you to become part of a specific community,” advises Jalkanen. “Peloton and Nordic Trac spin bikes have screens attached to them where you can ride along with other riders either in a class, or choose your very own path to virtually ride.”
You Might Also Like
