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FITNESS ARTICLES
ELLIPTICALS, TREADMILLS, BIKES, BENEFITS
Helpful Articles on Exercise Equipment
Last Update: Sept 7, 2009
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What Are the Benefits of an Exercise Bike?
By B. Massey
Ever wondered if you should bother using an exercise bike? If you have, you're not alone. In this age of iPod-compatible treadmills, elliptical trainers outfitted with Internet access, and other space age exercise equipment, the lowly stationary bike seems to have been all but forgotten.
It shouldn't be. An indoor bicycle is one of the most effective pieces of aerobic equipment that you can use. These machines offer a proven way to improve your cardiovascular health and strengthen and tone your legs, butt, and other muscles, all while minimizing the impact on your knees, ankles, and lower back.
Stationary bikes come in two basic flavors: upright, and recumbent. The model you'll choose depends upon your needs.
An upright bike resembles an ordinary outdoor bicycle. It includes a saddle (the more comfortable, the better) and pedals placed directly beneath your legs.
Since this style of bike lacks back support, proper form is especially important. If you don't suffer from lower-back issues, using an upright bike is a great way to put in an intense cardio workout and thoroughly exercise your thighs.
A recumbent bike, on the other hand, includes a bucket-style seat -- it's a bit like sitting in your favorite recliner. The pedals are positioned in front of you. Maintaining proper form is a no-brainer.
For these reasons, a recumbent is an excellent choice if you suffer from lower-back pain, or are overweight. As an added bonus, recumbent bicycles exercise your hamstrings and butt at a different angle than the upright models -- it can be a good machine to use for a change of pace in your routine and fresh muscle stimulation.
Both types of exercise bikes usually include consoles designed to make it easy to read a book or magazine while you're burning those calories. This is a clear advantage over treadmills and elliptical trainers. With those machines, you're bouncing up and down so much that it's virtually impossible to focus on a page.
Want to exercise your arms, too? Check out the dual-action bikes. These models feature movable handlebars, helping you to tone your upper body and boosting your calorie-burning efforts to the next level.
Think these machines are short on technology? Think again. Today's exercise bikes offer electronic features that rival anything you can find on a treadmill. You can track your calories burned and distance traveled, monitor your heart rate, adjust the resistance and speed, follow preprogrammed workouts, and on some models, even surf the Internet and play video games.
The next time you're visiting your local health club, or searching for exercise equipment for your home gym, give an exercise bike a spin -- the results might surprise you.
B. Massey runs http://www.exercise-equipment-advisor.com/, an exercise equipment reviews site. If you're looking for more great information about the exercise bike and other fitness equipment, visit his site today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Massey
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Smooth SB4 Recumbent Bike
The Smooth SB4 semi-recumbent exercise bike offers something for everyone: those undergoing physical therapy or who have difficulties with balance will appreciate the step-through entry.
Best Seller
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Where To Buy A Treadmill
So you've decided to buy a treadmill. But where can you look? Is there advantages of one place over another? There are in general 3 places you can buy your treadmill. This article will outline what you should know about each.
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