Exercise Bike Workouts

​Data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that about 34% of U.S. adults are currently obese. That is not good news as obesity has been linked to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other serious health problems. News like that is enough to make anyone want to go the gym and start exercising in order to lose a few pounds. Thanks to new technology, there are many different new machines available at your local gym these days that can make getting some quality exercise easier and more available than ever before. However, one piece of equipment that is not new at all yet still remains as one of the most fun and effective methods of working out is the venerable exercise bicycle.
 
Dedicated exercise bikes are often some of the most popular items at the gym, and since their features can vary as much as their purchase prices, they are also very popular for home use too thanks to their affordability. The retail prices range from just $100 to over $2000, and with variety like that, it can be difficult to find a good excuse for not working out more often, especially when you’ve got an exercise bicycle sitting right there at home.
 
Although exercise bikes are stationary equipment, users can choose to sit or stand while pedaling and a good cardio work out can be achieved either way. Exercise bikes force the lower body, legs and thighs to do most of the work and they correspondingly get most of the muscle strengthening and toning benefits. Bike workouts will increase your lower body strength, flexibility, and range of motion, without putting the stress on your spine that running or jogging can deliver. The most important part of a bike workout is the cardiovascular workout that comes along with the pedaling. You will get the maximum health benefits from exercise bike work outs by scheduling a 20-minute cycling routine that raises your heart rate 60 to 85 percent above your resting heart rate at least 3 days a week.
 
Exercise bikes allow the user to control the amount of energy they expend and to stimulate more muscle growth, the user only has to add more resistance or time to their workouts. Exercise bikes also put far less strain on your joints than equipment like treadmills and stair climbers do and regular cycle workouts can help you develop and strengthen your quadriceps, gluteal muscles, and hamstrings while still remaining very easy on your knee joints. Low impact exercise like cycling is also perfect for people with joint problems like arthritis too. The exercise bike may not be the most modern piece of equipment in the gym, but that doesn’t mean it is outdated.