Stationary Bikes

Stationary Bikes

This type of bicycle without wheels is a workhorse—and not just because it has a saddle. Health clubs’ aerobic rooms usually have fleets of bikes, and if a small hotel,motor inn, or cruise ship has just a modest fitness facility, it is likely to offer at least a bike. Before you start riding, adjust the seat height so that your knees are slightly flexed when the pedal is at the bottom of its orbit. If the seat of an upright bike is too high, your hips and knees must go beyond their normal range of motion. If it is too low,you can stress your knees and tighten up your hip flexors because you aren’t straightening your knees at any point during the exercise. Grasp the hand grips comfortably while you are riding but do not lean on the handlebars. You can often select the profile of your ride and the level of challenge, but your speed depends on how hard you pedal.
Pedaling on a stationary bike is a great cardiovascular workout.
The mechanism of most bikes is encased in metal housing, but other types have a flywheel in the front. If you have lower-back problems, look for a recumbent bike.Instead of a relatively upright body position, you pedal with your feet extended in front of you, and you sit back in a bucket seat or a chair-type seat with a backrest rather than astride a saddle. Some stationary-bike designs feature movable handles that you can pump back and forth as you pedal in a synchronized motion for a bonus upper-body workout. You also might see a machine that resembles a bike, but with pedals that are handles at chest height in front of the seat. This is an upper-body exerciser.