Exercise fads come and go, some of them briefly capturing more attention than the stationary
bike, but this home-exercise standby continues to be the machine most people come back to
when the latest craze has run its course. While a quality treadmill will cost you well over £1,000,
you can buy a sturdy, effective stationary bike for as little as £300.

Stationary cycles have many other pulses as well. They provide greater lower-body workouts
and many, such as the Schwinn Airdyne and the Vision Fitness E4100, effectively work your
upper body as well. Most of us won't have to learn a new movement either. As the old adage
has it, you never quite forget how to ride a bike, even if it has been 20 years since you last
rode one. Exercise often seems out of reach for people with knee or back injuries. Running,
aerobics or even walking worsens their pain and most people soon give up. Biking, however,
may offer these people a low-impact fitness alternative. Finally, stationary cycles generally
take up less room than other fitness equipment. People living in smaller homes may find it
difficult to find space for a rower or cross-country skier. A bike fits into the smallest of areas.
The Tunturi F300, for example, takes up a space of only 36 inches by 24 inches.

Types of Bikes

Three basic styles of stationary cycles exist in the market today: uprights, recumbents and
semi-recumbents. Upright cycles are closest in style to outdoor bikes. With these bikes, you
sit on a triangular seat, have no back support and pedal downward.

Recumbents are the upstarts of the stationary-cycle world. Being first introduced about 10
years ago, they and the slightly different semi-recumbent caught on quickly. Why? Many
exercisers find the recumbent's design of having the seat parallel to the ground and the
pedals in front of them more comfortable than uprights, helping them bike longer. People with
high blood pressure or knee and back problems also prefer recumbents. They like the back
support and more comfortable leg positioning, although they take up more space.

Semi-recumbents offer the same advantages as a regular recumbent with one added benefit.
Their seat is set on an incline between that of an upright and a recumbent, making it easier for
older users or people with some back or leg disability to get on and off.

Cycles vs Ergometers

Home exercise bikes also can be divided between stationary bikes and ergometers. Stationary
cycles are just that - bikes that stay in one place. They provide few complex gauges of your
progress. Instead, you estimate the intensity of your workout, how many calories you burned
and so on, by how "far" you went and how hard it was to pedal. Ergometers answer these
questions exactly by measuring your wattage output (effort), taking the guesswork out of
exercising.

Resistance

Air Resistance: Cycles, such as the Schwinn Airdyne cycle, produce tension through air
resistance. Fan blades create resistance and often tension can only be increased by pedalling
faster. Although these machines can also be noisy, the cooling breeze created by pedalling
them is very pleasant.

Magnetic Resistance: This system uses two magnets surrounding a thin flywheel to create
opposition; the closer the magnets, the greater the resistance. This is the smoothest and
quietest system.

Features

Seat: A good seat is essential for a quality stationary-cycle workout. Your bike might be quiet
and sturdy and have all the latest features, but you probably won't use it if you find the seat
uncomfortable. A comfortable seat is the key to successful stationary-cycle workouts; especially
when just getting started on the road to fitness. Discomfort shouldn't be a problem with
recumbents or semi recumbents. They use a bucket-style seat with full back support.
Sitting in one of these feels more like driving a car than riding a bike. Easy seat adjustment
for uprights and recumbents are important as well.

Handlebars: Handlebars should be easily adjustable too. Ones that offer various hand positions
are a real plus.

Other Considerations: You should also look a these aspects of a stationary cycle when buying
one. It should:

- Pedal smoothly and quietly. Bikes using air resistance are usually loud, but devotees believe
the cooling fan action they provide more than makes up for it. Magnetic resistance is the most
popular choice.
- Have toe clips or straps. Without them, your feet will slip off the pedals. (Exception: Toe
clips and straps do not appear on uprights with arm motion.)
- Note wobble. Make sure your bike is a sturdy one or your time on it may feel more like a storm
at sea than an exercise session.